Skiing is like riding a bike!

For advanced skiers, one common concern is how to break away from a skidded turn and dive into something more pure and smooth. To allow for this fine tuning to occur the body needs to developed to maintain angles.

John Pawlak playing in powder with Zai Skis

Most people understand that in order to deal with the forces in a turn you need to lean to the inside. This is called “inclination” and is all about balancing in the turn. You make the same movement when you turn a corner on a bicycle. The faster you go and sharper you turn the more inclination you will need. However, when you make a sharp turn on a bike typically one foot  or pedal is lower than the other! If the inside pedal is low, you will scuff it on the pavement. If the outside pedal is low and the inside is flexed with your knee close to your chest, you will navigate the turn sharper. The same applies to skiing. The inside ski must "crunch" up toward your chest. That simple move will direct the weight /forces in the turn to the outside ski which is where the majority of the forces should build.

So next time you are willing to experiment with a technique..... "Go Ride A Bike." At the completion of a turn, pedal down with the now outside ski (extend it). This subtle move manages dynamic fundamentals. Next try to hook up the new edge sooner in the turn. You want to direct your movement down the hill and into the new turn. When you extend or pedal down your outside leg, don't forget to "pedal up" the other leg. That sequential movement will engage your edges to the snow earlier and give you more carve throughout the turn! 

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Jp

John Pawlak, PSIA-E, USSA, and Director of the Bretton Woods Alpine Club shares a ski tip of the week to help skier's up their game as they swish into the season.

JP's One-Ski Challenge

I’ve got a great exercise for you this week! Bode made this drill popular in Bormio, Italy after an incident. While traveling at over 60 miles an hour, Bode’s ski popped off and with hardly a flinch he was able to navigate the remainder of the course on one-ski and safely come to a hault. Ever since, the US Ski Team and USSA have championed one-ski skiing drills for all age groups.

One-ski skiing is a wonderful exercise for improving balance and other skiing skills. A good skier should demonstrate:

•     Ability to adjust balance along the length of the skis

•     Ankle awareness inside the boot

•     Engaging and releasing edges by tipping the feet and legs

•     Flexing and extending legs to control pressure

In this drill, a skier should focus on two tasks. First, you have to feel the tongues of the boots on your shins. Second, you have to feel your feet as your skis roll underneath you from your big toe (fully edged position) to your little toe (fully edged position again). This replicates the same sensation you will feel while carving.

How to Practice: You can start by simply lifting one ski in the air while skiing or jump right in and take one ski off. Standing on one leg and on one ski, make some simple movements to feel front, back and neutral position in the shaft of the boot. When you are ready and on a green circle pitch, travel in a straight line and really feel the front of the boot. After you have played with that drill, stand still and roll your ankle and knee right and left. Travels once again in a straight line, then apply the slight roll of the ankle /knee and you will switch directions. Mastering this minor task will give you a new found awareness of balance. The key is to use your whole foot and to channel pressure from your big toe side and little toe side of the foot, this is a precise movement that all good skiers learn to make.

John Pawlak, PSIA-E, USSA, and Director of the Bretton Woods Alpine Club shares a ski tip of the week to help skier's up their game as they swish into the season.

Skier's Tip of the Week

John Pawlak and Bretton Woods Alpine Club Kids

John Pawlak, PSIA-E, USSA, and Director of the Bretton Woods Alpine Club shares a ski tip of the week to help skier's up their game as they swish into the New Year.

JP's Tip of the Week:

An “athletic stance” is great but skiing like a robot is going to give you a rough ride. Good skiers are dynamic and always moving in order to maintain balance and control pressure. A good way to work on balance and mobility is to ski through all those bumps and jumps on the side of a run. Recently I introduced "The Berm" to a group of seasonal ski team members. The terrain tested all of their balance points and forced them to be aware of adjustments they need to make in order to stay on top of the snow. Another way to practice this mobility is to go over bigger bumps while keeping your skis on the snow. You will need to bend and extend the joints in different combinations for each situation. Playing and practicing these skills can be a challenge and lots of fun! Keep your hands "generally" in front of you- this is key. Frozen or stiff joints is jarring to the body so stay loose, move and have fun out there.

3 Tips for a Good Ski Stance

There is no better time for an advanced skier to move toward an "expert" level then in December! Let's look at some of the key basics to establishing a solid stance.

1) Shins and upper torso in line…

We ski instructors often tell people to get into an “athletic stance” when skiing. This generally means flexing slightly in all the joints in a position of readiness… kind of like a soccer goalie or a tennis player, ready to move anywhere at a moments’ notice. One way to gage if you are maintaining and athletic balanced stance is if your spine angle is parallel with your shin. Try it on a green trail in a very basic straight run. Slowly (patiently) build to adding a turn shape and then blue square runs. This is a consistent "stance" position of all higher performance levels…

2) Feel your feet…

In order to maintain balance throughout your turns try to think about the sensations you are feeling on the bottom of your feet. You should feel pressure more toward the ball of your foot. Especially at the extended first half of the turn. as you flex slightly through the second half of the turn you may feel a bit more pressure towards the heel.

3) Turn with the legs…

Many intermediate and even advanced skiers initiate their turns by rotating their upper body. This can easily get you out of balance and put you in a position where it becomes difficult to effectively edge the skis. Instead try turning with the legs (rotate the femurs inside the hip sockets). This advanced move is initiated with the knees and fine tuned with the ankles. Making this move will allow you to keep a quiet upper body to maintain balance. It will also allow you to more effectively create “angulation”.

This seems like a lot to focus on all at once so please be patient. Having a instructor or coach ski with you for an hour will help assist with these basic principals. (Video will also assist in the introduction phase of these drills.)

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a time to ski with a professional, please give me a call.

Give it a try!

John Pawlak, PSIA-E and USSA

________________________________________________________________________

John Pawlak is well acquainted with golf and skiing in New England, drawing on several years of experience. Prior to his Director of Golf position here at Omni Mount Washington Resort, he was Director of Golf/General Manager of the Tater Hill Golf Club at Okemo Mountain Resort in Windham, Vermont. In the winter, John was Assistant Director of the Competition Center at Okemo. In addition to overseeing 70+ races a year, ranging in ages from U10 to Masters skiing, he was the Head Coach for the U14 Team.

In the mid 90’s, John accepted the Head of Development and Staff Trainer position at Pats Peak Ski Area. Overseeing 90 +/- staff and encouraging all to join PSIA and to be a part of this wonderful sport. In 1996, he obtained his Level III certification in ski teaching and wanted to further his education to a regional level. He qualified for the Development Team in 1998 qualifying 2^nd out of some of the best Level III skiers in the North east  to earn his PSIA Level III status.

John Pawlak currently serves as Bretton Woods’ Director of Golf and Bretton Woods Alpine Club.

http://brettonwoods.com
http://brettonwoods.com/general/bretton_woods_club/overview

  

Bretton Woods Offers FREE Junior Winter Mountain Ski Pass!

Bretton Woods Offers FREE Junior Winter Mountain Ski Pass! With lease or purchase of a Junior Equipment Package from select retail partners. Bretton Woods, NH (August 28, 2013) – Bretton Woods – New Hampshire’s largest ski area – has partnered up with some of New England’s finest ski and sports shops to offer a free 2013-14 Junior Winter Mountain Pass with the lease or purchase of a junior equipment package. This exciting new program was designed to introduce skiers and riders ages 5-12 and their families to Bretton Woods’ family-friendly terrain and programs, while offering some great added-value to their equipment investment. “Bretton Woods has always been known as a great family mountain, and now our younger guests can experience award-winning terrain for free while skiing and riding on the latest equipment from our partners,” says Chris Ellms, Director of Ski Operations. The Junior Winter Mountain Pass – valued up to $489 – includes unlimited skiing and riding during the 2013-14 season, including night skiing! Plus each Junior passholder can save $15 on one full-day, all-mountain lift ticket per day, which means mom or dad can share in the savings too! To learn all the benefits of the Junior Winter Mountain Pass, please visit brettonwoods.com/seasonpasses or call 800.258.0330. Participating shops include: Country Ski & Sport: www.countryski.com 161 Quincy Ave., Quincy, MA (617)-773-3993 101 Winter St., Hanson, MA (781)-826-2022 335 Providence Highway, Westwood, MA (781)-326-3993 Rodgers Ski & Sport: 5 Main St. Lincoln, NH www.rodgersskiandsport.com (603)-745-8347 332 Route 1, Scarborough, ME www.rodgersskimaine.com (207)-883-3669 Zimmermanns: www.zimsport.com 314 Daniel Webster Highway-Nashua, NH (603)-888-2155 Quantities are limited, pass is non-transferable and other restrictions apply. Contact individual retailers for specifics on their seasonal Junior Equipment Package programs.

Do your kids love Santa's Village?

Do your kids love Santas's Village? Check out our new package at The Lodge & The Townhomes! http://ht.ly/nZtKn (mobile: http://ht.ly/nZuQl )

Daily Pic - 8/16/13 - Hang on Newt, we're headed for the rhubarb!

How much fun is this little guy having?? ow.ly/i/2THYl

DH MTB anyone?

Mountain bikers! Love lift-served riding? Bretton Woods has some great terrain, including several new trails! http://ht.ly/nxiBS (map)

What? Scenic lift rides are FREE?!

Yup!! Looking for some inexpensive fun with beautiful views? Scenic lift rides are FREE all summer! http://ht.ly/nxhjU C'mon up! (mobile: http://ht.ly/nxhZk )

Bretton Woodstock - July 27/28, 2013 (video)

Whether you were participating in or watching the mountain bike races, or enjoying any of the myriad of fun outdoor activities available, Bretton Woodstock had something for everyone! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIPTaiAH8yE&feature=share&list=UUprSR--kiXoYJZfW3sE3BMA

Bretton Woodstock Starts Tomorrow!

The Bretton Woodstock Mountain Life Festival - not just for mountain bike racers, and it all starts tomorrow! http://ht.ly/nlGmF

Daily pic, 07/24/2013 - Slopestyle Course Under Construction

Daily pic, 7/24/13: Slopestyle course under construction for the Bretton Woodstock Mountain Festival this weekend! http://ow.ly/i/2HbuV

Spa Time?

Need a massage? A mani/pedi? This weekend, receive 20% off all treatments at The Spa! http://ht.ly/mTYnf (mobile: http://ht.ly/mTZc9 )

Bretton Woodstock Mountain Life Festival Comes to Bretton Woods, July 27-28

BRETTON WOODS, N.H. (July 1, 2013) – The Bretton Woods Adventure Center will partner up with Coca-Cola® and The Main Event® for Bretton Woodstock, a two-day mountain life, bike and music festival on the slopes of New Hampshire's largest ski area, July 27-28.

This action-packed event will feature three different types of mountain bike competitions and two open-format jam sessions, lots of live music, great food and brews, family friendly games and lots of demos and raffle prizes from various local vendors.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers of each event, as well as for the "All-Mountain Enduro," meaning those who compete in all three events.

Admission is free for spectators, and a $20 per race fee for riders, with a $10 savings for signing up for all three races. Cash BBQ and bar available, no coolers or pets permitted. Lawn chairs and blankets recommended. Event is rain or shine.

For more information, call 800-258-0330 or visit BrettonWoods.com/BrettonWoodstock. To plan an extended stay, visit OmniHotels.com/MountWashington or call 800-843-6664.

About the Omni Mount Washington Resort The Omni Mount Washington Resort is an all-season resort destination in New Hampshire located at the base of Mount Washington and surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest. In September 2009, Omni Hotels began management of the property, which is now home to the Omni Mount Washington Hotel, site of the International Monetary Conference of 1944, and Bretton Woods, New Hampshire’s largest ski area. Recent renovations unveiled a restored 18-hole Mount Washington Golf Course, a new 25,000-square-foot Spa, 20,000-square-foot Conference Center, outdoor pool complex and renovated guestrooms, lobby and public spaces. The Bretton Woods Canopy Tour was also added to the resort’s list of amenities, which includes top-rated Alpine and Nordic skiing, 27 holes of championship golf and a full slate of additional seasonal activities. A variety of lodging, dining and activities is offered year-round, along with many traditional and cultural events. For more information, guests can call 1-800-The-Omni or visit omnihotels.com/mountwashington. # # #

This Weekend - Special Offer at The Spa!

Need a massage? A mani/pedi? This weekend, receive 20% off all treatments at The Spa! http://ht.ly/mTYnf (mobile: http://ht.ly/mTYT7 )

Kids ATV Park!

Kids' ATV fun! The Polaris RZR Kids ATV Park at the Bretton Woods Adventure Center - open daily! http://ht.ly/mS4Fw (mobile: http://ht.ly/mS4W3 )

Bretton Woodstock Mountain Festival - July 27/28, 2013

Mountain bike downhillers, hill-climbers and XC racers (and anyone else!) - join us for the Bretton Woodstock Mountain Festival on July 27-28! http://ht.ly/mNihr (mobile: http://ht.ly/mNiPD )

Escape the heat for lunch!

A delicious 67 degrees at the mid-mountain Latitude 44 Restaurant... is it lunchtime yet?? (Free lift ride to get there, too!) http://ht.ly/mIcyS (mobile: http://ht.ly/mIcCl )

Daily Pic, 07/05/2013 - Finishing Strong!

Dad and son finish their round, crossing over the Ammonoosuc River on the 18th with ease... http://ow.ly/i/2xlgO

Beat the Heat!!

Looking for an easy and fun way to beat the heat? Take a FREE scenic lift ride to the top of Bretton Woods! http://ht.ly/mEWev (mobile: http://ht.ly/mEWkc )