Yes, he's still coaching, at the J4 level.Quote:
Originally Posted by BRUTAH
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Yes, he's still coaching, at the J4 level.Quote:
Originally Posted by BRUTAH
You don't need a coach.
On groomer days get out there and go as fast as you can. Stand on your edges (no side slipping allowed), keep your arms forward, stay in a low powerfull stance and haul ass.
Can I have those $1400 now?
No because they're going to the coach who can tell me when to bank turns and when to angulate turns. He'll probably also be able to tell me how much knee flex I need and other pretty subtle stuff that I wouldn't think of on my own. It's all about adaptability, I think, and racing will probably help that if I get the right knowledge base.Quote:
Originally Posted by GheePup
I tried hauling ass on groomer days but I felt like I was skiing the exact same every day. No better or worse really. I've always been a firm believer in coaching, and I think this is definitely worth it.
If you want to be a good racer, then race. If you wanna become a good freeskier, then spend all your time freeskiing.
I think its a stupid idea at this point.
Just my 2 cents, but do whatever is fun for you max.
Mileage. Your sig says you've been on snow 21 days this season. You wanna get better? Ski more. It doesn't matter if it's in the gates or free skiing - just get on 'em more often.
If racing is accessible and it forces your arse out more often than you'd likely go skiing ...
21 days isn't so bad for someone who broke his frickin' neck uhhhhh, three, four months ago?
Max, look into Quantum sports club in Breck, A racers edge can point you in the right direction, or google them. As well look at Team Ski, an adult race league full of front rangers. Quantum isn't as expensive as the program you mentioned, and you will get some top level training. Also, at copper on wednesdays they have training sessions with a masters level coach, something like $25 per session, I have done several of the sessions and found them beneficial to my racing. Then take what you learn and lap the NASTAR course. If you are not interested in competition, this will be the way to go. You will find that you will most likely get competitive. I know I have grown more competitive.
I started racing as a kid, and always looked at it as a way to get more days in. Skied on my college team, and have since bounced around on adult leagues and have considered other levels as well. Racing will make you a better skier, and will humble you in the beginning. Being a strong skier does not make you a good racer. But on the same note, many racers only race and train. they have lost site of the real fun in skiing. whatever you do, do not forget why you are skiing in the first place, because it is FUN.
racing is fun as hell. i still wish i could spend time in race courses every time i see one. however, 12 yrs of dealing with all the shit that went along with racing got me pretty burnt out. I still miss that 2min in a GS or DH course though. Not much that can compare.
oh, and it will make you better too.
Excellent info. Thanks, dude.Quote:
Originally Posted by INDY GS
Max,
Racing and skiing with superior athletes is sure to improve your game, no doubt--an icy course doesn't lie about your technique, unlike groomers w/ hero snow...
However, I've gotta say that just getting yourself into race courses a la Nastar won't do too much. Far more important is getting some well-qualified feedback. So if you're going to drop money for a program, check out thoroughly what level of coaching you'll be receiving: Who is doing the coaching and what is their experience? Will there be personal attention on the hill? Will you be running technique drills? And most important, I think; will you get video analysis?
Run gates all you want, but without a good coach working with you (occasionally) one-on-one, and without video to show you how you're NOT doing what you think you are (hands are back when you think they're not, etc) it's hard to convince yourself to adjust your position and technique, and to what degree, and progress is--in my experience anyway--much slower.
I loved racing, but I didn't really improve much until I started attending summer camps at Mt Hood, where you get a couple of weeks solid of working on your issues, day after day, with the same guy barking at you and reminding you of your f'ups and how to fix them, and showing them to you at nite on video replay. You get real humble, real quick. And you'll do anything to fix how stupid you look on-camera. My camps were a long-ass time ago, but I never had such a dramatic improvement at anything in my life. Fifteen-plus years later and I still marvel at how it changed every single thing about my skiing... And you wouldn't even need to race in the winter--you'd just have the racing foundation to build up your freeskiing with.
AAnnnd CUT! End infomercial. :D
Anyway, have at it, man. Let us know what you end up doing.
Been hanging with a kid tonight who just so happens to be PSIA I, which is nice. He used to race A LOT and is very eager to help out. He's suggesting doing the "B" team for CU's racing program, which I guess is a feasible possibility. I'll figure it out eventually.
I'm freaking stoked, either way.
Max,
Anybody can be PSIA level 1 for shits sake! I don't mean to diss on your friend, no doubt he is a fine skier and all but don't be impressed with the PSIA stuff. Find a coaching program that fits into your life and train gates. It will make you a better overall skier. BTW, slalom shin and arm gurads are not all that expensive. You will do fine.
Second that. PSIA Level 1 means that you can breathe and you can afford the yearly dues.Quote:
Originally Posted by bdog
On the topic of racing: I know absolutely nothing about racing, but I do know that skiing isn't just chasing gates, nor is it just hitting rails, nor is it just skiing deep powder. I think variety is really important in everyone's skiing. The skiers I look up to are competant skiers in ALL conditions, from the race course to the bumps, to the steeps. If you can afford it, get some race training (in general I think you'll be surprised by how serious coaching will improve your skiing).
Max, another thing about the training sessions at Copper, they sell a punch card that can be used when you can make it. So if you need to take time off to study or there is a foot of blower, you didn't waste your money. You use them as you need them, they are transferable and can use more than one per day if you want to sell one to a friend.
The sessions end before noon. Take the feedback from the coaches and put it to use immediately around the hill. Just watch out for the yellowjackets.
You will train Slalom, GS, & Super G, so you can learn a whole bunch of new skills. This will make you a better skier.
Slalom & GS will teach you action and reaction, Super G will teach you to not fear speed.
Oh, and any chimp can become Level 1.
I wouldn't do the NASTAR in hopes of getting better, the courses have very little pitch nor turns you need to set up for.
Training gates should not be your main focus. You learn technique doing drills outside the course. Training in the course teaches you tactics mostly; line, strong start, where to tuck, etc... So again, your technique will not improve in the course.
running gates is for people who ski on the least coast to make boring terrain somewhat challenging:wink: . i grew up racing youth programs in VT and while it laid a foundation for decent technique, it bored the shit outta me and got me totally burnt on skiing. actually wasn't interested in skiing at all for many years after that until i moved out west. don't waste your $$$ unless you've got it to burn. you live in CO so just get out and ski as much as you can trying different shit all the time and you will get better. i think signing up for one of str8lines camps would be $$$ much better spent if you need some coaching.
Naysayers: can it! I'm doing it, and you can't talk me out of it (unless you post a report of how all ski coaches secretly fall in love with their racers and poopenhausen then before each race... that could change some things). But as I said, I just need to figure out the right program.
Indy: I would need a season pass to copper for that, right? In which case I'd be best off getting the copper/wp "colorado pass" or whatever it's called? The other question is if they tell you about what you'll be training that day. Do you do one discipline each day, and is there a set schedule for that? Or can I just show up with my slalom skis and say "I wan't to go bang some gates today"? Kind of a JONG question, but I don't mind being a JONG if you don't mind answering.
Either way a maggot has offered me some slalom gear--shinguards, etc.--for cheap, and also some atomic 9.16's (probably be cause he is the freakin' mang, thanks dude), so this thing looks like it will happen.
I'd love to get to Gordy's camp, but I still don't think I have enough of the fundamentals to benefit enough to make the $$$ worth it. 3 days of coaching from a rad pro is worth a lot, yes, but if I can get coaching for a season for about the same amount of dough, I think I'd be better off at this point in my skiing. Also, this is probably less likely to burn me out on skiing (particularly with Indy's suggestion) because it'll be one season as opposed to many.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Z
I agree with Z - i guess i'm a little too late on this but whatever...
I grew up racing and am a much better freeskier because of it. All of the coaches at Gordy's camp could tell i grew up racing from my first turns of the first day. You learn about your edges and stability in ways that you wouldn't get without gates. HOWEVER, i stopped racing 4 years ago to focus on freeskiing and i will never turn back. Racing is fun, espcially when young or when growing up on the east. But for you, you have great mountains around you and you are in college. Spend your time and money on some lessons and just ski. Racing may be fun but you spend a lot of time slipping, etc...and not a ton of time actually skiing. You will regret picking up racing when you have to miss a powder day to ski some gates....
But i guess you already decided to do it so good luck and enjoy.....oh and if any deals fall through i still got a pair of 161 Rossi Race Stock slalom sticks.....
I Love racing. And it has made me a much better freeskier just like doing more freeskiing has made me a better racer, I never train gates all day, freeski in the afternoon, and that has put me above many people who do spend all day in the gates. I suggest Loveland Race Club, As much training as you want $800 a year, great coaching staff. http://lovelandracing.com/masters.htm If You need it i can sell some slalom shin guards and pole guards and slalom skis, GS skis later in the year/summer. PM me.
you don't have to do a copper season pass, although day passes would get expensive. If you normally do the 5 mtn pass, do that, then get a few 4 paks for copper that should cover the training days, and you won't have to do a full season pass.
But what you will save from doing the eldora deal, buy the 5 mtn, copper/winter park pass and you will be set. and not have to deal with multiple 4paks.
Or loveland... Right???
Nick, does that come with a season pass? Edit: the site doesn't say.
Loveland seems like a cool place to ski, but I'll have to check on the price of the copper/wp pass. Might actually do close to $400 worth of sessions at Copper, so it might be worthwhile to do Loveland. I'd like to focus on racing particularly in early season and during dry spells so I'm not missing anything. Gotta find out which program starts earlier. That will probably be 3 days a week until the season gets going--tuesday, thursday, and fri/sat (freeski inbounds/get bc experience whichever weekend day I don't race)--which is like what, 5 weeks' worth? That's $375 worth of individual sessions.
Anyway, thanks for all the guidance, and I'm sure I'll figure out something by the time the season comes around.
Thanks for all the gear offers, guys!!! One of the beloved benefits of being a maggot.
I grew up racing and I would say I'm a better skier because of it. But then, skiing 6 days a week is going to be beneficial regardless of whether or not your are racing. Whenever I see a course I still have a pretty big urge to go bash some gates. I guess it's pavlovian at this point. I almost made red baron let me race for him in the media day at solitude this weekend.
Regardless, slalom training will make me quicker on my feet. I NEED that. I think it would probably come quicker with formal training than with just skiing a lot.
Edit: I'm young yet and I'm WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY early in my skiing career/learning curve I hope. Who's to say I can't race this season and then learn from maggots seasons thereafter (if not during)? I love skiing with people better than I am, and I'd like to do that whenever I'm not racing. This season and any other.
And Gordy... watch out for me in 07-08. Europe is on my list of "to do before college graduation", and a Straightline Europe thing could be just what I need. (If not, I'll cut class for the maggot camp FOR SURE!)
Depends how you learn man, I know for a lot of people just getting out there and skiing with friends better than them helps way more than formal training. With friends you want to push yourself and learn more about yourself while yer at it. If you think you benefit more from the coach (sounds like thats what you think) then go for it, if you think you'll probably be better off with just pushing yourself and learning from the occasional fall, then do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Gosey
It's so hard to tell from your posts. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Max Gosey