Catching Up

Smuggs' skiing continues to be great.  Lessons have been quite busy and I've had students from Australia to Florida to Ontario and everyone made significant improvement in their skiing.  Several people made the leap from Morse to Sterling.   

The weather has improved from Monday also.  We had especially beautiful scenery today.  It seems a shame that Winter is nearly half over already.  

Excellent clinic tonight including: thousand steps drill and leap turns.  Thanks Tom.

Skiing with my brother tomorrow.  Hoping for some snow for a freshening. Saturday is looking promising

Smugglers' Notch: Brrrr! but Good Snow.

 

Believe it or not the temp on the bank sign in Jeffersonville, when I drove by at 8:45 this morning, was -27 degrees Farenheit!   Now that is cold.  I'm thinking nobody will want to take a lesson in that weather and maybe I'll be heading back home in about 90 minutes.   But I bundled up with extra layers (I lost track of how many) including an extra parka and full face coverage so that no skin was expose and headed for line-up.

I'm down at The Village this week so that means some skiing to get there.  Normally that's a ride to the top of Madonna and some great skiing.   However, due to the extreme cold the M1 lift was closed (good idea!) so it was Meadowlark for me.

Did you know that when it gets really cold the snow isn't very slippery?  That makes for difficult ski skating and slow going on flat trails.  Meadowlark was more work than skiing this morning. That was the worst of it though.  The sun was shining and thankfully there was no wind.  Plus, the skiing was pretty good on the steeper trails.

That made it tolerable and 3 people showed for lessons including a couple of old friends.  We tried to work on sideslipping skills but it really wasn't slippy enough so we wisely spent our time on edging skills and improving balance for better carving.  Good progress was made by everyone.  Tomorrow should be better and give us a chance to hit some Blue Squares for the 1st time.

It was too cold for me to ski back to the big mountain and lunch so I opted for some warm rest instead.

After lunch it was a bit warmer, and I got to ski with Christopher & Mosat and we started right from the top of Morse and worked on getting our core into the right position through the shaping of the turn.  This allowed for better control, more confidence, and best of all more fun! With any luck we'll head to Sterling tomorrow!  Meanwhile I'm sitting next to the fireplace and sipping some hot tea as I attempt get my core up to something approaching warm!

Cold Is Coming

It's cold today (Saturday) so I'm happy to be home.  Tomorrow and Monday will be bitter cold at Smuggs' and I admit I'm not too eager to be headed to the hill but I'm committed so I'll be there.  

It was a great week for skiing even if the temps were on the cool side.  I think we got snow everyday.  The skiing is phenomenal.  Freefall yesterday was much easier than it had been just 2 days before thanks to big snow and big bumps. It was a great way to wrap up the week.

My Friday lessons were excellent. My morning class was a Max 5 with Sal from here in VT.  He's a really fit biker (the pedal kind) so we were able to accomplish a lot and he moved up a couple of levels.  We finished our lesson with a couple runs on ungroomed black diamonds.   Nice!  Great job Sal.

My afternoon was with a doctor looking to gain some ground on his wife & kids.  We did just that.  Improving balance and edging skills means better skiing every time!   Great improvement in the heavy powder.  Wait'll next time!! It'll be bumps for sure.

After that I hooked up with some other instructors who dragged my tired carcass up Madonna for that final run of the week down Freefall.  It was awesome!  Then we hit the Brewski (packed) for a nice Sam's Winter Ale before heading home.  

Sleeping last night?  No trouble at all. 

Ski Days, Beautiful Ski Days

By Wayne Bombard on January 19, 2011 5:37 PM | No Comments

Oh the irony!  The snow at Smuggs'  is the best and the lift lines are nonexistent.  It's quiet at the mountain this week so I've opted to take advantage of the great snow and uncrowded trails and just ski.

Although it was breezy yesterday and I skied only the forenoon, it was still wonderful snow to be on.  Today was nearly perfect ( I really can't think of anything that could be improved but I'm leaving a bit of room anyway.) and quiet as a library most places.  

I spent most of the day on Sterling skiing Harvey's Hidaway.  It's one of my favorite runs and it was especially sweet today.  The snow was creamy and the bumps were soft and fluffy; the kind you dream about just before Thanksgiving when you've tuned your skis but the lawn still lingers green.

After a brief lunch and bit of warming, two very lovely ladies invited me to ride up M1 and investigate Freefall.  One took a detour (equipment problem).  We two remaining found  the snow was deep and soft and puffy all the way down.  

At the bottom my ski partner had to run and teach but I found the re-equipped detourer (is that a word?) and we headed back up for another workout.  It is that!  

One more trip to irresistible Harvey's and I was done for the day.   11 grand trips is a fine day, thank you very much!   

Tags:

• Freefall,
 
• Harvey's Hidaway,
 
• Powder,
 
• Skiing,
 
• Smugglers' Notch

Ski Days, Beautiful Ski Days

Oh the irony!  The snow at Smuggs'  is at its best and the lift lines are nonexistent.  It's quiet at the mountain this week so I've opted to take advantage of the great snow and uncrowded trails and just ski.

Although it was breezy yesterday and I skied only the forenoon, it was still wonderful snow to be on.  Today was nearly perfect ( I really can't think of anything that could be improved but I'm leaving a bit of room anyway.) and quiet as a library most places.  

I spent most of the day on Sterling skiing Harvey's Hidaway.  It's one of my favorite runs and it was especially sweet today.  The snow was creamy and the bumps were soft and fluffy; the kind you dream about just before Thanksgiving when you've tuned your skis but the lawn still lingers green.

After a brief lunch and bit of warming, two very lovely ladies invited me to ride up M1 and investigate Freefall.  One took a detour (equipment problem).  We two remaining found  the snow was deep and soft and puffy all the way down.  

At the bottom my ski partner had to run and teach but I found the re-equipped detourer (is that a word?) and we headed back up for another workout.  It is that!  

One more trip to irresistible Harvey's and I was done for the day.   11 grand trips is a fine day, thank you very much!














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Cold & Crispy

A little chilly at Smuggs' today. It was near 0 degrees f. today, so I left no exposed skin.  The snow was cold and not very slippery.  Since it's going to be warm tomorrow I opted to leave my wax unchanged and deal with it.  It got better as the day progressed. 

I had a nice private lesson with Betsy & Jeff on Sterling.  Balance was the lesson of the day.  It's amazing what good balance does for turns.  Great job today folks.  Thanks for skiing with me. We all had fun and improved our skiing.

Skiing was terrific.  The mountain is in great shape.  Lift lines: non-existent. Snow: packed powder, deep. Views from the top of the mountain: breathtaking.  Winter in Vermont: sublime.

Still Snowing at Smuggs'!!!

I had to say goodbye to my friends on Friday after a great week of skiing with them. The snow was a terrific again.  Still, spending the afternoon skiing with my brother was pretty good consolation!  

I took yesterday off (on the seventh day I rested).  It was cold; I was tired; a few tasks needed doing; and I need to spend some time with my main squeeze.

I got up to 14 degrees with some in the sunshine forecast and skiing seemed like a good idea.  Was it ever!  The sun did show a few times briefly. And then it started snowing hard again.  The powder is pretty deep (nearly 4 feet in the last week) but more snow is always welcome. (duh!)   With more snow expected this week it's going to keep getting better.  

I started the day on Sterling making about 5 runs on a nearly empty Harvey's and Jolly Roger.   Just as I was about to take a quick lunch break my friend Gary recruited me for a couple of runs on Madonna.    Bonus time!  There was no line at M2 and the skiing was incredible if you knew where to go.. and he did.    The powder was deep, the bumps were soft and we were nearly alone.  Great stuff. 

After a quick bite I hooked up with my brother and we did the M2 runs several more times then wrapped up the day with a run down F.I.S. off Catwalk down to lower Doc's and then to McPherson's.  A great day and snowing hard when I left.  

I'll have to dress warm tomorrow but it should be special.

Epic Day

It continued to snow all day long adding to the 18 inches we got yesterday at Smuggs'.  Skiing was fabulous!

Lessons were phenomenal.  Anita & Andrew broke through a new level shaping turns right through the deep powder and fluffy bumps.  It was exciting.

Plus, I got to make some incredible runs with my brother.  Snow Snake was mind blowing!  I hope they don't groom it.  Please, please, please!!

Epic.

All Day Long!

It snowed at Smugglers Notch.  12 inches of fresh powder!  My hood filled up with snow. I put goggles on my helmet for 5 minutes and they filled up with snow.  

So... Andrew & Anita & I took advantage of the conditions and learned to stay over our feet.  NOT sit back like the bad advice my students were given by a "friend"!  The snow kept piling up and we kept getting better by staying relaxed and letting our legs absorb the ungroomed snow and growing bumps.  It was sweet skiing. 

Kathy in the afternoon had a breakthrough when she found out how much it helps to keep your hands forward!   Congratulations Kathy.

All that and a terrific workout this morning made for a great day.

Tomorrow should be epic!!

The View

The View! 

From the top of Madonna Mtn. today, the view was incredibly beautiful.   The snow this morning was perfect!  Perfect!!   A great day for skiing and lessons.  Ruthie's was thick and creamy and ungroomed.  SWEET!! 

Beautiful

 

6' - 8" of fresh light powder. My 2 favorite students in for the week.  It doesn't get much better than this.

Andrew & Anita picked up right where they left off last year.  We made good progress today and they are right on the verge of moving into bumps and steeps.  It's going to be great week!

This afternoon (your best chance for a small class) I skied with Kathy from R.I.  We had a great lesson.  She's ready for the big mountain tomorrow.  She doesn't know it yet but she's ready!!  It really is going to be a great week!

More snow on the way!!!   I love Smuggs' in Winter.

Where's the disconnect?

Today's Time Magazine has an interesting note in the briefing section:  

89.7% of people in this country think their diet is a healthy one. 

However, most of us are overweight!  Are we ignorant or delusional?

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Coming down the mountain that is!   It was so beautiful at Smuggs' this morning.  It has been snowing steadily now for days.  Conditions were just excellent.  Chilcoot can get ugly with all the traffic it gets.  Not at 8 am this morning, however, as there were few people on the mountain.  (Go figure?)   Beautiful scenery, beautiful skiing, sweet! 

Good Advice

Although I wish they had cautioned about the high sugar content in most cereals and had suggested brown rice here is some good advice from realage.com 

http://www.realage.com/eat-smart/food-and-nutrition/top-11-foods-for-weight-loss?eid=8917&memberid=29593348

On The Bright Side

Sure it's the depths of winter with short cold days and quiet on the mountain. It's the week after the huge holiday week.   But hey, the slopes are much less crowded. Students are in much smaller classes.  And, not the least important thing, I get to each lunch!  Well, except for today. LOL

Today, I was lucky enough to have a one-on-one with James from NYC.   You have to admire successful people who tackle new challenges with enthusiasm.   James jumped on all the instruction I gave him in our hour together and quickly improved his skiing a full level.  Not a bad way to spend a cold January afternoon.  Next time he'll be ready for some beginning bumps.  

The days are getting longer.  We've picked up 17 minutes (by my reckoning) of daylight in the afternoon and now the sunrises are beginning to sneak in a bit earlier.  You better head up to the mountain soon.  Smuggs' is skiing pretty nicely right now and winter will be over with soon.   Golf's news season started this week.  Baseball's spring training starts in about a month.  I'm thinking I'll head up on Sunday and try to get an extra day in.  Opportunities are limited and I'm not getting any younger.  I have a feeling, however, that time spent skiing is not deducted from out allotted time here.

Improving Steadily

All day long at Smugglers' Notch.  The temps were better today.  The skiing was better today and it got better all day long as the snow began to accumulate.  More is expected overnight and later this week. 

Better than all that, was the better skiing by John from Long Island who spent his second day with me.   It always a wonder how student are able to take the skills they learn in drills and apply them in the proper blend to really improve their skiing.   That's exactly what John did and moved up a full level in just 2 lessons.  Well done!  

No wonder I'm so excited to get to the mountain every day.