Portillo with Clendenin

[Gary]

Hey gang....been a wet summer highlighted by my 61/2 days of skiing in Portillo last week with John Clendenin. I was honored to go as an assitant coach and really enjoyed the experience. We had some great steeps and awesome snow conditions to play in. John is such a fluid skier, powerful in the bumps skiing at high speeds or just drifting. His coaching staff is made up of instructors who are hand picked by John and have taught all over the world. Theses guys rock and roll in all terrain.

This trip focused on drills in the morning to wake up the feet, feel how all edges of the skis perform, development and conscious use of the uphill edge of the uphill ski, and when it came to steeps, keeping the full length of the ski in contact with the snow. Another goal was a soft entry in the top 3rd of the turn to begin each turn. along with pole touch positions down the fall line...huge in skiing the steeps. Skiing from 9:30 to 1:30, we broke for lunch and then free ski or ski with the coaches. till 4:30 or 5. Each day we also review video taken of the different groups. Very helpful and the improvements made by all that week were fantastic.
We also saw the US and Canadian Downhill teams practicing on runs we skied next to, above and around.....very cool.

Check out Johns manual on his web site....aviailable on line and he also is releasing a DVD on his skiing technique....well worth the investment...we saw clips from it at camp. This skiing style is so versatile and useful all over the moutnain and to top it off....easy on the body.

I also learned my new boots cuffs are a bit too far forward  and will get some work on them this Friday....plus a wee bit of canting adjustments.

I'd rate the quality of terrain, instruction, food and service a 12 out of 10...top notch all the way.
As a special gift....we had the best spring snow coverage they had seen in years. So much so that avalanche explosives were set off 2nd day of the trip.

So looking forward to getting back on the snow and putting all that experience to good use....Best to all,
Gary

[Liam]

I love John's stuff-his book has been incredibly helpful and the best 'smooth bumps' advice I'e encountered yet.  I love what few clips of his skiing I've seen (really love the stuff with Scott Brooksbank-there's a guy I'd like more footage of!).

'm pretty excited that he's put together a DVD (at last) Hope to have that before Christmas)  One of these days I'll travel to aspen to get the full JC experience...or maybe Portillo (that's an awesome trip, huh?).

Thanks for the report.

Liam

[Gary]

Liam...for me it was a true eye opener working with John...worth the trip to Aspen or Portillo...love to make some turns with ya...we'll be in Aspen Jan 10-16 and in clinic with John the 13 an 14th...

Stay in touch and let me know if you can make it....we are also looking forward to the new DVD...should be soon.

Best,
G