John Clendenin (The Aspen Method) Questions

[Gary]

uphill .....is that on groomed or hardpack 

[Ron]

or powder? 

[hozel]

Hi guys

Not to be a smarta$$ or anything but we just finished day 5 of the Clendenin Method camp here in Portillo. A lot of drills in the morning, where the "scrape it in" move is practiced as well as a host of other moves. The "tip and tuck" move where the inside ski is lifted momentarily and tucked toward the uphill ski where the balance is on the little toe edge has worked wonders for my crud skiing. This is a great jump start to the season.

[Gary]

Hey Joe, you are a smart guy....skiing in Portillo....man...a wesome!

So....are you a believer? I am without a doubt.
THinking about going there for 60th next year!

Tell us about your trip:

Where do you live:

Long flight:

Getting to the resort:

Accomdations:

SNow conditions:

Tell us all!!!

Gary

[Philpug]

What part of you body initiates the "tipping"?

[Gary]

Ankles!

John teaches a very square technique. SHoulders moving in the direction of the skis, arms, John call Superman, out to the side, light touch of the poles. Everything very relaxed and stacked.

But in terms of the body part that starts the tipping, it's the ankles.

G

[Philpug]

Ankles!

John teaches a very square technique. SHoulders moving in the direction of the skis, arms, John call Superman, out to the side, light touch of the poles. Everything very relaxed and stacked.

But in terms of the body part that starts the tipping, it's the ankles.

G

what is your ankles range for tipping, being isolated in a boot, vs. tipping your knee, which has a much free'er range?

[Ron]

Just to clarifysome points about PMTS that were poorly explained in the past on epic,

tipping ankles means to apply pressure within the boot, the ankle doesn't really articulate more than a mm or 2; it can't move beyond that. It does however, start the knetic chain of events, ankles, knees and so on. The pressure against the boot starts the skis moving up on edge. It's very simple if you think about it. I just spoke with Phil about this and he understands now. In the past a certain person maintained that by some miraculous feat (good pun) an ankle tighly held in a boot had range of movement.......

[Glenn]

uphill .....is that on groomed or hardpack?

Yes. 

[Gary]

Ron, excellent job with your clarification.

If ankles are moving in the boots...literally.. ..them there is the wrong boots! THe kinetic chain says it all..the foot big toe and little toe edges connected to the ankles the ankles to the knees, the knees to hips and so on.

Glenn...you are the Mercury of the Snow Gods!? ?

G

[Ron]

thanks gary, not bad for a guy who supposedly is anti- PMTS huh? 

[Glenn]

Ha! Thanks Gary! That could come in handy if I ever ski with some of you. I'll be able to keep my top sheets "pee free".

[hozel]

Gary

We will get 7 full days and 2 half days in down here. The snow cover is still excellent although it is now warming into the low 60's during the day. We had a group of 20 students covered by JC and 3 other instructors.

I live in the San Francisco bay area so had a 4+ hour flight to Atlanta and then a 9 hour overnighter to Santiago. I seriously recommend using miles for an upgrade to business class for the long part of the flight. The ski doc had all transportation arranged as part of the package. We stay at the hotel slopeside with excellent accommodations. The dining room has first class food. This is all included in the package. You pay for the alcohol.

In all, I seriously think that 6 days of instruction in a row provides for numerous breakthrough opportunities in your skiing. Or as the ski doc calls them, "epiphanies". I will not hesitate to come down here again in a couple of years. The skiing and camaraderie  with a great group of folks makes for a memorable experience.

Joe

[Gary]

Thanks Joe, sounds like a memorable trip.

I'm considering a trip there this coming  year in August.

Hoping you can join in on some of our ski outings...

Thanks for the info,
Gary

[hozel]

Gary

I'll be in Colorado mid February for a week and a half.  Let me know if you'll be around.