Over the last two days I've been teaching Rick who always loves to come back to Méribel and kickstart his skiing as soon as the resort opens. Rick is a high-level recreational skier, one of those skiers that you would look down on from a chairlift and think "Wow, he most be a local who's been skiing for years". Unless you class Cheltenham as local then no, he just loves continuously working on his skiing.
But on his first day back on skis with me, he went through the same process that I did last week, and the process that you all go through on your first day's skiing. He found himself being a little defensive the first couple of runs. During this time we spoke about being balanced over the skis, and effectively steering the skis around the curve of the turn. This all helped, but I could tell this wasn't the Rick I've known for many years.
The Oxford dictionary defines assertive as 'having or showing a confident and forceful personality'. Being assertive is not being aggressive. Being assertive is the opposite to being diffident. This was it, we had to become more assertive. Rick had to be 'a pilot on the skis and not a passenger'. We had to make sure that we were both standing on the sweet spot of the ski, we both had to create a curve shape with our skis as we turned. Let's have a look of this next photo with Rick in the foreground.
He is balanced and looking dynamic in poor visibilty. But notice how the other three skiers behind him look hesitant. Their body language is visibly tight. So is being assertive a ski technique, or is it a state of mind? It's not only good technique that can help a skier, it's mental strength (ie psychological) as well.
I had a couple of interesting emails this week from a TV production company in Los Angeles, California. They are making a series that examines paranormal phenomena and may use a couple of my photos. "Where are you going with this Martin, you are a Ski Instructor in Méribel in the French Alps?"
Regular readers of this blog may remember a post back in April 2009. Underneath the Cote Brune chairlift in the Méribel valley, we experienced two large patterns in the snow that looked like winter versions of crop circles. Last time I mentioned these patterns I got blasted with emails from enthusiasts wanting more details and dimensions of the patterns, so please don't try again, my memory is awful.
I'm busy with work again over the coming days: teaching Neil later this morning in Courchevel, who has one week's skiing behind him; then I'm back with Karin who also loves getting in a cheeky weekend with friends before Christmas. Lisa will arrive soon. Plus Rick has more sessions booked. Also Méribel is about to be invaded by rubber-legged skiers from around the globe. The resort is hosting a World Cup Bump skiing competition on the bottom of the steep Olympic race piste. Do you think that bump skiers need to be assertive? Oh yes.
Martin
Gorgeous views from yesterday on the top of Saulire.
But on his first day back on skis with me, he went through the same process that I did last week, and the process that you all go through on your first day's skiing. He found himself being a little defensive the first couple of runs. During this time we spoke about being balanced over the skis, and effectively steering the skis around the curve of the turn. This all helped, but I could tell this wasn't the Rick I've known for many years.
The Oxford dictionary defines assertive as 'having or showing a confident and forceful personality'. Being assertive is not being aggressive. Being assertive is the opposite to being diffident. This was it, we had to become more assertive. Rick had to be 'a pilot on the skis and not a passenger'. We had to make sure that we were both standing on the sweet spot of the ski, we both had to create a curve shape with our skis as we turned. Let's have a look of this next photo with Rick in the foreground.
He is balanced and looking dynamic in poor visibilty. But notice how the other three skiers behind him look hesitant. Their body language is visibly tight. So is being assertive a ski technique, or is it a state of mind? It's not only good technique that can help a skier, it's mental strength (ie psychological) as well.
I had a couple of interesting emails this week from a TV production company in Los Angeles, California. They are making a series that examines paranormal phenomena and may use a couple of my photos. "Where are you going with this Martin, you are a Ski Instructor in Méribel in the French Alps?"
Regular readers of this blog may remember a post back in April 2009. Underneath the Cote Brune chairlift in the Méribel valley, we experienced two large patterns in the snow that looked like winter versions of crop circles. Last time I mentioned these patterns I got blasted with emails from enthusiasts wanting more details and dimensions of the patterns, so please don't try again, my memory is awful.
I'm busy with work again over the coming days: teaching Neil later this morning in Courchevel, who has one week's skiing behind him; then I'm back with Karin who also loves getting in a cheeky weekend with friends before Christmas. Lisa will arrive soon. Plus Rick has more sessions booked. Also Méribel is about to be invaded by rubber-legged skiers from around the globe. The resort is hosting a World Cup Bump skiing competition on the bottom of the steep Olympic race piste. Do you think that bump skiers need to be assertive? Oh yes.
Martin
Gorgeous views from yesterday on the top of Saulire.
1 comment:
Thanks Martin...invaluable pointers kept me safe and in control (mostly!) for the rest of my skiing...in fact, they made for a more enjoyable time on the slopes...all the best squire, hopefully catch up next time I'm there.
Neil.
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