TR: Maggot Camp

[MTT]

Don't apologize AG - it was a good read from start to finish. And its certainly better than the other drivel on the front page right now.

Glad you guys all had a cool and solid time - I certainly can relate.

Yep your's and all others here are an easy read. There was soo much cool stuff happening @ that camp, its hard to put into words, but I think your first post was a good start.

[altagirl]

I think you've got that backwards.

Heh. Yeah, that's pretty much the way I see it too!

The snow did actually stay pretty damn good despite how warm and sunny it was. But it would have to be fresh to really qualify as good... Call me spoiled. I admit it.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Don't apologize AG - it was a good read from start to finish. And its certainly better than the other drivel on the front page right now.

Glad you guys all had a cool and solid time - I certainly can relate.

Cool AND solid. You don't have to tell me.

I hope Tarkman's knee is not to seroius, fingers are crossed for you man.

As always, way to go Gordy and crew (AG hasn't stopped talking about it since we both got home; stoke level is high, boarding on overstoke).

[DJSapp]

Heh. Yeah, that's pretty much the way I see it too!

The snow did actually stay pretty damn good despite how warm and sunny it was. But it would have to be fresh to really qualify as good... Call me spoiled. I admit it.

You're fricking spoiled with that 'icy' snow and 'big' crowds. Come out to Mammoth and shred some real hardpack gnar and wait in some brutal liftlines sometime. So much more core that Alta

Great write up, I really couldn't have said it any better. The camp was awesome. All of the drills (and simply trying to keep up) beat my body into submission. I can barely move today, but as I am walking I am thinking 'hands in front, apart, shoulders down the fall line and drive that downhill foot.' I carved some sweet turns walking my TPS reports to the xerox machine today. Gordy would be proud. This camp was the single best thing that has happened to my skiing in six years. The crew, the coaches, the video even with the prime wheel of destruction footage, avy training, etc. This camp was tits, even though it was a major bummer seeing Tarkman laid up after the first day. Heal fast mang.

Oh yeah, and for my first utah ski trip ever, it wasn't that bad.

[Squirrel99]

Great write up, AG!

And glad you came out 'rather unscathed'

[ptavv]

I'd like to reiterate that I had an awesome time skiing with my group and chilling with all the other groups.

[XtrPickels]

An echo... All of the write ups have been awesome, it shows how much stoke people are trying to portray.

I'm glad you all had a blast and made improvement. I suppose I ought to start saving now for next year...

[MTT]

L to R
Lying down: Rick Greener, st8line, Chris Collins
Sitting: lph, Tyrone Shoelaces, Altagirl, Andrew (non-maggot), Arty50, LaramieSkiBum, Raps
Kneeling: Phatfreeheeler, ptavv, SkiingBear, Szyslak, Shadow
Standing: MTT, WhiteHunter, Bagtagley, DJSapp, eug
Not Pictured: tarkman1
.

Swiped from the http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=47544

Tread about the same Camp.

[phatfreeheeler]

Not too much to add, it was a good weekend as everyone said.

I was with AG's group so I don't want to duplicate much, I’ll just add my perspective...

Day 1 I learned a valuable lesson I should have already known. Don't get greedy and cut tight to a rock band to get the fresh track There may be a reason it's fresh. Early that day I almost ended my camp on a hard carve when I found 10 feet of sharp jagged rock in 2 inches of snow. I should have listened when Greener told us there may be sharks teeth hiding near the walls.



This was through hard plastic hip pads too. The fabric is shredded but they probably saved me a major hip injury. How retarded would that have been? Luckily I stayed "mostly" on my feet. I'm just lucky Gordy didn't give out a whiner of the camp award because I'm sure I'd have won. Between the torn rotator cuff and this, I was making more gimpy sounds than any man should. I made it through all three days thanks to my good friend the inventor of Ibuprofen. It's amazing what you can do on 2400mg per day. I also learned how to pole on traverses with 90% one arm. Oh yeah, and Greener showed us the benefits of ankle angulation that day.

Day 2 Gordy decided to work me over a bit by inviting a former tele camper (Andrew) back who wasn't able to finish his original camp. (Gordy’s cool like that. Tarkman, hope he can hook you up for a couple days next year) Andrew obviously skied a lot more days than me this year and it really showed at the end of the day when he was still ripp'n and I was starting to flounder from fatigue. It was a good day with lots of big crashes from pretty much everyone. Raps, you’ve got to suck it up and crank those bindings to 8 at least. You rip way too hard to ski on 5.

Day 3 I wasn't even looking forward too as I popped my morning pills. It turned out to be the best day for me in that I felt some real breakthroughs happening with the off piste drills. I'm now convinced that this is the way to teach people who are already near that expert level. Take a good drill and go off piste where you are getting knocked around by the crud, bumps, and heavy snow. Hopefully my hands will continue to stay quiet and my shoulders down the fall line in years to come. Not as easy as it sounds due to the natural tele position.

In the afternoon I decided to mix things up and pulled out my alpine gear from the late nineties. Man I felt weird with my heels locked down. I guess I looked better than I felt from the comments, but it was scary as shit sometimes. It got a bit better once Gordy detuned my razor sharp 1080’s. Thanks again Gordy. It was a fun change of pace, but I’ll be free again the next time I ski.

Also, thanks Bagtagley for your cat like quickness in saving my ski at the bottom of the boot to Eddies. It was good skiing with a bunch of new faces and getting pushed on different terrain. Hope to see many of you this summer on two wheels.

I guess my perspective is long winded.

[splat]

Yeah, sorry about that. Believe it or not, I actually spent some time editing things out to make it a little shorter. And yet there are still things I managed to forget, like hoping that Tarkman's knee is alright. It was looking pretty swollen and bruised, but hopefully it can heal on its own.

God, no. That was a fantastic tr, but that paragraph was gripping.

cheating death is such a rush!

[altagirl]

Also, thanks Bagtagley for your cat like quickness in saving my ski at the bottom of the boot to Eddies.

That was an impressive move!

[Monique]

Thanks for the fantastic write-up, AG. (I'm very glad you came out of your smack down okay, ouch.) I've been eyeing these camps but so far this year my client obligations have conflicted with every one, and your TR inspires me to think it's worth some extra schedule juggling to do it. You described exactly what I need: tweaking fundamentals like hand position that translate themselves into bigger stance-loss issues in tight situations or crappy conditions. Hmmmm, gotta get there!

[WhiteHunter]

After multiple flight delays and a three hour bus ride to get home at 2am this morning, I am now finally getting to review everybody's take on the camp. I don't know how much I can add, but here's a few things that made strong impressions on me.

First, it cannot be overstated how enthusiastic and genuine Gordy, Rick, Ben and Chris were as instructors. If anyone has earned the right to front a little ego these guys have, but we saw none of it. When they told you that they were excited to be a part of the camp, you could see that they meant it. If they didn't, they've got the potential for other career opportunities in SoCal.
I think they were very effective at showing you what your weaknesses/mistakes are and how those things will break you down if not immediately over the course of a few turns. They also made sure to reinforce what you were doing well to keep your head in the game.

AG hit it spot on in describing that tension of choosing your group that first morning. Knowing some of the Mags in the camp have logged as many days in the last two or three years as I have in my life had my stomach churning. I had no questions about which group I belonged in, but was pretty concerned that I may be in WAY over my head. But in addition to being great skiers, everone I met was a great person too and I started getting comfortable pretty quick. Found out I was only in up to my eyeballs and can visualize getting to where I want go.

I thought the video review added a lot to the whole learning experience. When you are actually on the mountain and working to change the fundamentals Gordy and the crew are trying to teach you, you can feel like you are skiing so poorly. I was surprised to see that on video it usually (stress usually) looked a whole lot better than it felt and helped you realize that some small changes can pay huge dividends.

I actually went back out for a half day on Monday. One of the last things that Rick said to our group really stuck in my head that morning. Basically he said if you want to ski this terrain well stick to the fundamentals, ski aggressively and trust your equipment. Attack the difficult terrain just like you attack the groomers. I kind of replayed that statement at the top of each run that morning and could feel the results coming. Made for a nice flight home.

If any of you have an opportunity to get into one of the Str8line camps, DO IT!!

Tarkman, I hope your injury won't keep you down long. I know the last couple days had to be tough to sit through with your leg in the air. Get well and get after it again. If I am lucky enough to be able to go back next year, I'd like to see you get some and leave as happy as the rest of us.

Edit: Looks like Chris has his eyes closed in the group picture. Maybe I was a little generous on the enthusiasm point. Nice spot for a quick nap though.

[tarkman1]

Today, I saw an ortho who treats a lot of athtletes. My next step is an MRI. I'll know more about how much I damaged after the MRI.

[WhiteHunter]

For this being the slow group it was full of hard chargers. Not a slow person among the group, except me. I fully lived up to my expectations and was the worst skier at the camp.

Also, thanks to GT40 for following us around and taking pics. It was great to meet you and I look forward to seeing the pictures.

Point #1 - WAY too modest. #2 I'll second that, can't wait to see 'em.

[mojorisin]

GT, what gives? Where are the pics already?!? (ADD setting in...)

[tarkman1]

What I took away from the camp was had my body position been better I probably wouldn't have ate it like I did. The hand positioning and body angles/weighting do mean a lot. Had I been sharper and more refined, I may not be awaiting an MRI to survey the damage.

I skied with Gordy and Ben. Seeing those guys smoke terrain on their home mountain is a treat. They're so damn technically good that you may not realize how fast they are going or how something that doesn't throw them may well turn you inside out. I'll ski bumps 'properly' more in the future rather than arc GS turns. Why? To hone the technical skills.

I was fully stoked and charging on Friday. One mistake when your skiing hard and fast can have consequence. If you are technically sound as possible, you may not make that mistake that leads to consequence. Gordy and his crew paid attention to increasing everyone's technical base. I'll have to wait to work out some of those technical issues before dealing with some of the mental barriers that I was looking first to overcome at the camp.

[eug]

GT40 is away for a couple of days.

[GT40]

I just got back. It's great to read all the TRs. I felt the same way. I skied all the bumps I could for 2 days on 160s, and it really helped me. I plan on attending Gordy's camp next year also. Who knew learning could be so much fun.

I'll try to post some pics soon. But Utah just got new snow tonight and I'll be on the first chair tomorrow.

Start sending me PMs with your mail addy, so I can make up a list of who wants a camp pic CD. I'll burn some CDs and mail them out.

[meatdrink9]

I'll try to post some pics soon. But Utah just got new snow tonight and I'll be on the first chair tomorrow.

I'll be jealous. The snow stake has made some nice moves the last couple of hours. Hopefully it'll continue like this for a few days and I'll see you up there on Thursday.

BTW, if it snows a ton... stop MOE at Brigham and have him go up with you.

[Raps]

Sounds great GT40, i'll PM you my email.....get some tomorrow, wish i was still out there.....

I managed to take a few pics......so here are a few until the real deal hits when GT40 posts his......

IPH


Phatfreehealer


Coach Greener


and Gordy and Xover checkin out the other side of the canyon from on top of Eddies......



and damn James, that is quite a bruise - i was a witness to your fall and managed to glide into those rocks while trying out the new Squads......

[GT40]

Hey Raps, you rip and take great pics. Well done!

[GT40]

It my not make any sense, but here are the pics, but not in any order.

These pics are from Sat. afternoon.


Rick giving a demo, Mt Superior in back


LPH


MTT


? Sorry I don't remember


Tyrone








By Utah standards this is ice and hard pack.











Pull my finger.


Rick really does stay perpendicular to the slope.


The camp at 3rd entry


The "Point"


More pics tomorrow from earlier in the camp.

[splat]

Nice wave you're riding there in that first pic, Ty.
Nice shootin, GT.

[Arty50]

? Sorry I don't remember

Psst....


Someone needs to shove a pole up my...right sleeve.