Messages posted by : pavelski
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Let's be honest here, we are talking about ski lessons and getting to that sacred "expert level" fast!
As someone who was on the jury instructor certification board, it amazed me at the great variance of instructor "quality"! Not all instructors are equal! Here is a short list of points you should consider BEFORE you hire a ski instructor. However before we present these point, some background information is needed. Most countries have an umbrella organization that "certifies" ski instructors. Note the term used "most"! Find out before you go on holiday or before you hire a ski instructor if such organisation exists. Also ask if your instructor is certified and what level of certification he/she has.. Most serious ski schools will have the staff certificates on their wall. This certificate means that in that in a specific country all ski instructors will speak the same pedagogic language and use the same type of exercises and teaching techniques. This means that you can have another instructor, in another ski center and your teaching progress will be uniform. Once you get to know the various ski schools all over the world you will discover that some are rated "better" than others. My goal is not to rate these schools but rather to help you select the very best instructor for you! ( thus allow you to progress fast). I will share with you one of my 'biases" related to teaching. I believe teachers are born with that magic "desire" to share knowledge, techniques or life skills. Such persons get fulfilement by seeing their students progress. A course possibly can make them better teachers but if they do not have that "aptitude" to teach,,,,,,, no academic degree or certificate will make them a good ski instructor! Let me illustrate. An Olympic ski racer might have won 10 gold medals but if he/she does not have that teaching "aptitude" all that you are going to get is, "follow me and do as I do classes". So much for my biases, now for the considerations of an "effective" ski instructor! 1. Effective communicator I am not just talking about "verbal" communication here. I mean someone who can demonstrate a complex skill or concept to a student. This can be done with physical action, a story, a symbol, etc.... Very quickly an effective instructor will "discover" how the student learners and use this means of communication! He/she applies Gardner's principles of the 7 inteligences we all have! Here is the essential of this point, the effective instructor modifies his/her teaching to the student. Not the other way around! I often tell students, " if you do not understand, it is my fault, thus tell me you do not understand and I will find another way to show you" 2. Student happiness is central to the effectiveinstructor. For some instructors the central issue is "showing" student how good the instructor is! That is not why you hire an instructor. An effective instructor will pick the perfect slope and the perfect exercise to highlight your great skiing abilities. It is so easy to show "what poor technique" skiers have, but to illustrate that good move, that great turn or edge set,,,that is much harder. Look for the instructor that stays on the positive! 3. Availability Again I am not talking about social availability here. I mean by this term ,the instructor that will be there for you during your holiday, during the ski season or during your rise to the expert level. How many times have you had instructor A who tells you to do "this" while instructor B two days later tells you to do, "that"!! No consistency ! No progression! The certification process is supposed to eliminate this teacher variance! My very best advice I can give is, take the time to select your instructor, then stick with her or him. 4. Personality mesh. What I mean by this word "mesh" is that you have to be comfortable during the learning experience. The "in" word now is interface! There is a famous finding by a noted American educational researcher which seems so evident. If a learner enjoys the learning situation he/she will come back and learn better! So it is in learning skiing. Regardless of nationalities, ski schools, certification levels what is very very important is how you-the learner and the teacher interact! The way to do this is very simple. At the end of your hour of lessons, if it seemed 15 minutes you are "meant for each other". If that hour seemed an eternity...... 5. Certification levels I have to be very careful what I say here since I am sure to get ski schools directors, ski area staff, and national ski instructor certification boards denying the next sentence. A secret that all ski instructors know but will not tell you, is that many "ski instructors" are not certified, have no pedagogical training and some can not even plan a basic lesson plan. They use the , "do what I am doing" technique!!!! Many "young" ski instructors graduated from the very ski school you are "hoping" to get ski lessons. They may be great skiers and often are friends with staff but can they teach? In North America there are subtle clues that tell the aware skier what level of certification an instructor has. All certified ski instructors have a patch on jacket which indicates they are certified! All serious ski instructors also have a small metal pin which indicates to others what level they are. Here are the levels; Level 1 : Entry level (usually first year) instructor Used mostly for very young kids, large groups at beginner level Certification is done by local ski resort ie Ski School Director. Level 2 : National certification. This means instructor must pay for one week course with national standards, national trainers and national examinations. The success degree of mastery at this level is usually 60-70%. That is 70% of skiers who enroll get their "pin" after one week. Level 3 : This is now getting to the serious level of teaching mastery. Not only does this instructor ski well,,,,no,,,no,,,, not well - very well IN ALL CONDITIONS, but he/she can diagnose what the problem is with the skier. I can not stress how important this is! Effective teaching begins with correct diagnosis of the skier. That often is an art. Graduation level is 50% ! Allow me to illustrate. A ski school direct in a large ski center was "confused" why one of his ski instructors failed his level 3 exam several times. he seemed to be a very proficient instructor, fit with a gregarious personality. The director asked me to "check out" this instructor! I enrolled in his class ( without him knowing who I was or the reason of my enrolement) and after 5 minutes it was clear this instructor loved his job, had great "people skills" was an effective communicator and really had great skiing skills! I was his worst pupil since I could not do "exactly" what he wanted the class to do! It was a simple technique for the "expert" class and I was not doing it the "orthodox" way. I am sure you are all thinking, "ha that Pavel, he is giving him a hard time"! Truth be told I was not! At the end of the class, I did not progress. The class felt ( as I did) my failure and yes the class lasted at least one if not two eternities! Now I had to meet this instructor and his Director and give them my "perceptions" and suggestions! Here is my perceptions and explanation of the situation! First you should know that I have some physical limitations ( that I try to hide)! You see I have had several knee operations and now must wear a brace! It is an old ACL injury and I have had re-constructive knee surgery. In short my right leg is very different to my left leg! As a result I have "adapted" my skiing style and technique to compensate for this "shortcoming"! I think you all know what my explanation was to the Director! This very good instructor, who knew all the standard techniques and standard "moves" did not perceive that I was not a "standard" student! I could not edge my inside right ski "as was required in the manual" since my brace had a "locking mechanism" and I no longer had an anterior cruciate ligament! He failed in the "diagnosis" portion of the teaching! He was "producing" great skiing robots! I suspect many skiers are like me, with "limitations" ! An effective ski instructors takes the time to "observe" his students and allows "individual" adjustments! I always let my student ski free in various slopes in order to "diagnose" his or her technique! I even have a little black book to note all my student's skiing "techniques". It is interesting how great racers often were "critiqued" for their style that was not like the rest of the team, yet when they begin to win......... Diagnosis is the bedrock of effective teaching! Level 4 : The summum in ski instructor certification. You can tell a level 4 instructor by the way other instructors lower their voices when he/she enters the room. At the packed bar, bodies just move apart like the sea for Moses allowing "the master" find his/her spot! Level four is the goal of all ski instructors and if you really want to learn and progress look for that rare bird! Graduation levels is in the 30% level! That is only 30 out of 100 ski instructor candidates pass! Most have already booked their clients for 2007! Group Management Skills I do not know how to define the many subtle skills associated with this category! I can however indicate some tangible examples of effective and ineffective group management skills that instructors use! - Positioning group on slopes I am sure you have all seen classes going on just below a steep section or around a tight turn, or in the middle of a crowed slope! NO COMMENT I am sure you have all seen a class meeting at to top of chair lift in that narrow path where only three skiers can pass. I am sure you have seen a class of 15 skiers going down a slope with the instructor 15 meters ahead while class is like some young ducklings trying to follow "mother"! Again the focus is on the effective management of the group, NOT on the demonstration of how good the instructor is and how "poor" the class is! Class management is selecting a correct slope to make students look good! Class management is letting "others" be the first skier that follows the instructor. Class management is going up the chairlift with a new skier every time. Class management is skiing last in some runs to see how group is doing! I am sure others will come up with more effective instructor characteristics. I hope they share them with you. What you must do as a "wise" consumer is to observe your instructor, ask around and you chose the teacher that fits your needs! If you ever go to Whistler ask for Mike W....., now of the very best instructors at this resort. Now he is a level 4 instructor! |
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I hope you noted the "humble" tone of the first presentation, since I do consider myself a sinner. I sometimes take out "old" pictures of my ski attire. Of course in context they seem correct. Now!!!
It is like looking at hair styles in the 60's and 70's!!! Mind you I did not mind the ladies dress styles then! As far as "fur suit" must be very warm so is it sinful? or just a tad "gauche"! You have given me an idea. In September I will offer a prize for the most outrageous ski outfit. You Keith and Mike can be the judges. I am sure I can locate a pair of skis or bindings. I know I have a rare Spyder Spring shirt that can do the job! Better is a Spyder race outfit! Keep looking for SINFUL outfits! Cheers |
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Trencher, Yes you can "place" a skier"s decade by those turtlenecks. Worst that those turtles necks is the following.
Wearing a bright red short scarve around the neck!!!! Or that small wine bag!!!!! I actually wrote this five months ago but decided to keep winter on our minds by printing this story! By the way, Spyder is on of ther top quality and price outfits. Great stuff! I have to share with you that I at home I am considered the spyder man since I have get stuff from them since 1984. The president is/was Canadian and skied on the national team! Try their ski gloves! If ever you put on a Spyder ski racing outfit you will understand the expression, "fits like a glove" " It is designed to fit perfectly only when you are in the correct ski position. |
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Seems skiers are interested in SINS!
To be more specific skiing related sins. You know those faux pas the new skiers are just not aware of, yet every other skier knows that you should never, but never dare even think of transgressing into the world of sin! We will look at ski clothing sins. I am not talking about taste here, but rather at real real sinful selection of ski attire. The very first that comes to mind is using very very tight jeans. This sin is often done by the "other sex"! I understand that women ( and some men) like to "highlight" the hard wok they have done at the gym! They desire to show the various curves, muscles and other attributes, however in skiing using tight jeans is not the way to go! Jeans have no wind-proofing properties so you might look great in the chalet but on the slopes you will very quickly freeze. Skiing is an active sport. Tight jeans have little give thus the blood circulation is minimal in the lower areas. Decide if you want to ski or "cruise" in the chalet and pretend to ski! Jeans also have a "magnetic attraction" to snow. Snow seems to bond to jeans and then freeze on the surface. In short order your "sexy" body looks more like the Michline tire ( sorry tyre) man! Another very sinful choice is the "haute couture" look which I like to call the Bogner look! If you know anything about your ski history, you know that Bogner invented the tight stretchy ski pants! Again looks great in ski magazines or in ski bars, but the tight black ski pants, with the tight short fur trimmed ski jacket is out! Once you sit on an icy ski chair lift you will know why! The key is functionality and warmth! One of the very top sinful ski sins is the goumer look. The term comes from my kids. What you do know know the goumer look! Let me give you the picture. Take an old hockey sweater, better still and old NASCar shirt, or an old torn rugby shirt ( you know the old stripped ones), add an old pair or work pants with some paint or grease on the seat! Of course the in hat is an old log tuque with a small hole where the moths have entered! The very best then is a long bright scarf which hangs 2 meters down (ready to hang the sinner on the trees, tows or corrals). You must of course finish off the "look" with great big leather mitts given by the grandfather . A leftover from his arctic exploration days. Did I forget the googles! Yes yes the WW2 army surplus glasses! You get the picture. Now let us focus more on the major male sins! The very common one is the "fluo look"! Many years ago ski industry wanted to lower the accident rate so they sold very very very bright ski clothing in many shades of blinding fluo colors. The idea was this "color" would blind other skiers or at least "momentarily" paralyse the visual neural sensory system, thus allow the skier to escape ! The opposite occurred ! The first side effects to these suits was noted by a noted swiss geophysical researcher who found that the sun's ray reflected so well ( in fact the suits increased the sun's ray) that the ski runs where such sinners were found had greater snow melt. There are some American weather specialist who have proposed the theory that global "melt down" was begun by these suits. As an illustration of the power of these suits , an American who was on the moon actually caught a reflected beam of sun light from such a suit and was nearly blinded. After this incident such colors wear "forbidden" because of possible eyes damage but also based on "good taste"! Every sport has is "look" and adaptive clothing! Yet many sinners think that what is effective in one sport can be effective in another arena! Such was the thinking of the next sinner. I swear this is true! Imagine one very cold day I see a skier in a diver's dry suit! You read correctly A DRY SUIT! You know the black neoprene all body suit all that was missing was the hooded top! Now if you have these sinful urges ( and we all have them) here is the solution! Every ski ski center has a "crazy day" often called also Spring Day. or Carnaval Day! Get out your most bizarre wild clothing and flaunt it! But only on that day! I know when I prepare myself for THE DAY my kids all ask me where I am going, then do not come near the resort! My wife allows me to wear such sinful clothing on one condition! I must wear a mask! Also I must leave the house at 5 AM so the neighbors will not see me! So next time you watch a Warren Miller movie and it shows a "spring festival" at Sun Valley, look carefully at one clip where a "wild man" in very strange attire is jumping from mogul to mogul. Notice you do not really see his face due to the colored zinc sun proof! It is me! We all are sinners! As you get older you learn to sin in appropriate places so do not do as I did. Look around you and if you see strange glances, smiles, your pants fly might be opened OR your new 1960's jacket is sinfully old! Hope you enjoyed my sins! |
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Ellistine,
Several years ago ski companies would have a service in which you could send skis to factory and get new ski base for $25! Of course this was the time when skiers kept their skis for at least 6-7 years. Now ski companies have discovered that it is more profitable to get skiers to "change" skis every 3-4 years ( like cars). However I will inquire if this service still exist just for you! I suspect that in a few years there will be skis just for "artificial" slopes. I suspect that the base will be a "slick metal" such as used in the stealth planes used by the US air force. Again Mike could design such a base! |
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The following is the proposed course outline for the persons who wish to register for the course.
Why register, you ask? The most important reason is that I will answer all technical questions and issues you might have as we progress in this course. Also the course will be modified in reference to your needs. Via PM pictures and videos will be shared on tuning process and final product. Finally all persons registered and who follow course ( with summative evaluation) will receive via snail mail a course certificate. All sessions will be weekly , thus every week a new topic will be introduced. Students will be required to do some "outside work" There will be formative evaluation as we progress in the course. Modifications will be made to the course content and course schedule based on registered students' needs. Sessions 1. Introduction to course 2. Why tune; skis, boots, bindings 3. Characteristics of a ski tuner. 4.Equipment 5. Safety issues and cost issues 6. History of tuning and some basic concepts 7. Boot modifications or "personalizing your boot" 8. Binding Adjustments and tuning bindings 9. Ski Tuning ( general procedures and issues) 10. Base Preparation 11. Vertical edge bevel ( issues and techniques) 12. Base edge bevel ( issues and techniques ) 13. Tools and correct procedures using these tools 14. Waxing Theory 15. Waxing preparation 16. Wax selection 17. Wax application 18. Final ski preparation 19. Basic Tuning Rules and Principles 20. Final Course Examination In order to support participants I have possibility to provide individual help via; PM, video conferencing and audio conferencing. Please suggest any modification that you consider important. The course will begin on September 1, 2007 Yes this course is for women and men and even teenagers whose parents allow them to use a workbench! What you can do to prepare for the course is visit second hand stores or church bazzars for old irons. The older the better. The heavier the better. Hoping to have you in the course, Respectfully Pavel |
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James,
Those are just "initiation" challenges to see if you have the "stuff" to continue to ski! |
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Can you be more specific?
Where are the dents? What kind are they? Locate interface surface on bindings are see what part of bindings does this! I know the units you have and they do not damage ski boots! If your boots are "cheaper" models with soft plastic the problem might be the boots! Do you know how to check for the forward pressure level? |
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