Excuse me, my phone’s ringing!

Welcome to 2014 and may the New Year bring you new found prosperity, continued good health, and the opportunity to improve your skiing and riding abilities. Did you get any new ski or snowboard equipment for Christmas? Well, I didn’t. I did get a new iPad Air, which is not made for skiing but brings me forward to the 21stcentury. Call me a Luddite but I still don’t own a smartphone. Yes, numerous friends have told me that I need new gear. Well, maybe this will be the year I demo some new equipment (I need it all – skis, bindings, and boots).

Armand’s Skis and Boots!

A week before Christmas I ventured up to Tahoe and skied Heavenly and Northstar. Heavenly only had the Nevada side open, and Northstar also had limited lift operations. Yes, skiing wasn’t the greatest but at least it was skiing and I enjoyed being on the slopes and meeting people. But let’s get back to improving your skiing or riding. If you want to improve your skiing or snowboarding, then it’s a must that you plan on several ski trips to Tahoe (or your favorite area). I’ve always told people that there are two things that you have to do to improve your skiing/ riding:

  • Ski or snowboard at least ten days in a season, and
  • Ski or snowboard with people that are better than you are.

Why ten days? Anything less than that will keep you from improving and you will stay at your present level. Repetition is important so you can develop muscle memory on the slopes.  That’s why firefighters practice putting out fires and disaster scenarios. When it comes time for the real thing they are prepared with automatic reflexes. Skiing or riding with people better than you provides the opportunity of informal lessons. Follow a good skier/ boarder and you’re bound to pick-up improved techniques and style. Plus, there is the added motivational factor to keeping up with a good skier / rider. By the time our weekend trip to Squaw Valley/Northstar comes up there should be plenty of snow. Let’s see how many members, and friends, we can get to sign-up for this trip for some good skiing and riding and perhaps the opportunity to improve your skiing and riding abilities!

Although we’re in some sort of drought for snow I’m still planning on going up to Tahoe for another weekend of skiing. The California side at Heavenly is now open so that will mean more runs to take, and hopefully Northstar will open up a few more runs as well.

~Armand ~