I used to think I could ski moguls well. But upon closer analysis, I realised I couldn't ski them slowly and that highlighted the deficiencies in my technique. During my last trip to Canada, I spent a lot of time, working on turn techniques on piste and then transferring onto the bumps and realised how much I had improved by implementing a far more technical approach (versus trying to muscle my way down with sheer grit and determination... and a dash of madness too, ha!) To ski moguls slowly and precisely takes skill and good technique. But it's also safer too (and anyone over 50 years of age, can appreciate how safety becomes a high priority). This video, combined with Deb's other bumps video about side-slipping and pivoting on the bumps, really have made a HUGE difference to my mogul experience.
I like how Bridget gives feedback on how she's processing the concepts so Deb can know what's landing or what to try next/different explanation etc smart team
I’ve been skiing for 40 years and consider myself to be pretty advanced. But Deb, you continue to dish out the best lessons where I learn a new tool each and every time. Stuff for me to always keep improving at and share with my teenagers.
Beyond all the amazing knowledge shared, I always have to smile every time a video catches you just stopping on the slopes. It’s like a classic superhero landing every time! Thanks for all you do!
What I note with you (or any expert skier), Deb, vs a student is that experts are always in CHANGING motion. In contrast we intermediates find that “safe” position and ride it through most of the turn, then do whatever we need to in order to enter the new turn. I hear a lot of instructors (maybe even you?) saying, “Don’t rush the turn,” and I think you don’t rush because you’re always changing where you are in the turn, so it’s rarely necessary to speed through any one part of a turn. Even when you skied the bumps slowly, it was clear that your position was always changing. It’s such a pleasure to watch great skiing. Thank you!
That's a great insight! It seems to me that much of the art of sensual skiing is prolonging each movement class, and the associated engagement of each muscle group (steering, flexion, edging, weight transfer, etc) so that it can be changing throughout each turn and into the following turn. And the rate of change of each of these is also ever-changing, but smoothly. For me, the breakthrough was to realise that for the first half of each turn, although it's technically and psychologically the most difficult part to do well, it's actually just a question of surrendering joyfully to gravity, and waiting patiently for it to do all the work, while you smoothly position yourself to be at optimum strength and poise for the second half, where you will temporarily but firmly put gravity in its place. The result, when it all comes together, is that you end up tracing curves down the mountain which might have been lifted from the drawing board of a designer of fine sailing vessels... but you needn't look back because you felt it while it was happening, and that's enough.
From the very first reminder to ski foot-to-foot, starting with finding the new outside ski early - it was like a wormhole reopened and what would normally have taken years to travel was traversed in a split second. And thanks to your recent “Teaching hips for high performance skiing”, I can now see the hip-opening thing happening as well. Just magic. Thank you for another wonderful video.
When I wrote the above comment I hadn’t gotten past the beginning. I realize now you actually mention the recent hip video later on as well! It’s all coming together … now to do it myself on the slopes!
I am 72. Ski on my own most of the time as friends and family do not enjoy skiing as much as I do. So I watch ski instructors and good skiers and try to see what makes them good. Then practice. Watching you do your short turns with rotary movement then seeing you ski the bumps slowly, really very good. Thank you.
This is awesome.... Deb, a while back, you created a drawing of the ski turn with some notations on it. Can't remember how old that video is, but that diagram really spoke to me, since like you say, it's impossible to see what is happening in your boots when you ski. Would love to see more like this video combined with more drawings to really drive home the points you make. Thanks for your videos.
Agree! Love your videos, but get lost in the jargon a times. Would love your explanation with a overlay on the video. Can obviously see what good looks like when the video follows you. Not taking anything from Bridget who is a very strong skier. As you said there is always more to learn and improve.
Control , it’s harder to ski slowly and in control, fantastic reminder Deb on getting control and finishing the turn to control speed, to watch the first run on bumps at break neck speed and then the latter bump skiing was a joy to watch. Great job.
Such an impressive progression of Bridget in recent years O_O She is really confident on bumps now!!! I would like to progress as her, even if I ski for 40 years 🤗
This is a really good video. One of her best, as she ties a lot of things together. I’ve been trying to clean up my turn initiation and had to figure some of these things out through trial and error. Then I watch the video and she ties it all together and gives me confidence that I’m on the right track, and fills in some remaining gaps. Great videos.
The way you coach is sooo great and so specific to how the other person is skiing. It's amazing. This is a really informative video. Seeing this gives me more confidence when faced with a steeper slope, where i'd be freezing with fear at times
Amazing video as always Deb. Will be going back on snow after 3 years in a couple of weeks. The pointers you gave out were so focus that I can see I will be looping this video again and again. How I wish I can have your voice in my head telling me to ski "Foot to foot" & "Centre of Mass to the corner of the box" when I ski badly. Thank you so much.
Skiing involves so many subtle movements and adjustments, and this video addresses several beautifully for the advanced skier. I believe skiing is knowing what to do, doing what you know, then applying to a multitude of conditions, rinse, repeat, and build confidence. Start slow, feel, adopt, learn. You explain it so well. Thank you, Deb!👍
Hi Deb, I love how stable the point of your poles are as you turn. It looks like you're using your whole body to draw a perfect arc around a point with your skis. The release at the end of your turns (13:18) looks very clean and deliberate. And it looks even cooler here (5:54)!
Ha, I feel you Bridget, so many moving parts! We were on the hill yesterday and I commented to my husband that there is so much to remember trying to get to that next level. Thank you, Bridget, you are 100% relatable, I appreciate you doing these videos, great job. Deb's coaching is as dialed in as her skiing.
0:09 I have a baby…. Congratulations Bridget! 0:39 Always go back to the basics, the basic basics, when you know things are not right and don’t know why. Loved how you went straight back to how to make a turn. It is not always the easiest for an individual to pick out and figure out what needs to be corrected when things are not “right”. It is a sign of a great teacher to be able to pick out the part from the overall technic that works to make improvements. The change in Bridget’s skiing was remarkable just with the one “foot to foot” reminder. There is so much to learn from this video, not only with respect to technic, but with the thought process as to how to make one’s own corrections… by asking “What would Deb” say or do?”.
I have learned so much from these videos and the things I've picked up from them have brought a lot of joy to my skiing. In this video there's a line that I had to write down... "Let go of the mountain with your skis."
I really liked how Bridget films awesome!! Also I love how people from the States skis, I ski like them too, cause I was teached in Crested Butte to ride that way. Awesome video, Deb!!
Really awesome work Bridget! And yeah the nerves after having children is real, but really liked how your confidence grew in this video… this is the sort of thing I want to aspire to so well done Bridget and Debs!
The sound of the squeaky snow is not something I've heard at all on the Ice Coast this winter. I'll settle for living vicariously through these videos and plan a couple trips out west next season.
My daughter, son in law & I skied a couple of weeks ago in the local Southern California mountains. He hadn't skied for several years and a couple of years for the two of us. The runs were easy but even though they had groom marks they were hard ice. It sounded like skiing on rough asphalt! We struggled for a while then broke for lunch. My son in law talked about finding the full length of his skis & what a difference it was making in his turns leading to discussions of your videos! By the end of the day everyone was doing so much better - even this old guy! Thanks so much! I can always find helpful tips in every one of your videos (and in turn share them with the kids)!
This is such a great great great video. It's really hard for advanced skier to know what he is doing wrong and how to improve it. Your video helps thousands to progress
You know what I liked? The first run in the bumps - that you focused on the edging (and later, softer edging, steering, rotation, etc) while deciding not to tackle the down-unweighing; that partially came by itself as a consequence. You are doing it very well though, but didn't mention it. :) Great choice of exercises - this thought mechanism (I think) is what I learned here - thanks. :)
I hope I can come to Taos one day and meet you - you have really helped me with your videos and your ability to break down concepts for the casual skier. I live in Maryland so lots of skiing is pretty impossible :). I'm technically an "advanced" skier but like Bridget my form breaks down and I don't always know why - this video was soooo helpful!
This is a great video. I can relate a lot to what Bridget is working on (though she is much better than me). I hope to take these tips the next time I’m on steeps and bumps. Thank you for posting this video!
That was a really fun video that showed confidence return to an already accomplished skier. I relate to the eb and flow of confidence through my ski-life.
Just sharing my story, I started skiing 4 years ago with no proper lessons, I learnt the basics through elate media and stomp it tutorials and somehow made down the mountains in first 2 ski trips. I travel alone and never had any advice from anyone on the slopes. Then I found Deb's channel and since then I've been watching her videos and have improved to the point where I can do most easy to medium runs (and have come down few hard ones) and can handle different conditions. There are small things said here and there in these videos that make so much difference (like steering to the corner of square box here lol). Thank you for the generosity!
Deb your lessons and concepts continue to be spot on. Wish you were closer to PSIA e to provide clinics. I find value in viewing and listening to your instruction.
I wasn't sure about the "you're chill" thing until I realized I was watching this video in 1.25x speed. Damn, what a major change in the intensity of your lesson :D
Wow! Deb does a great job! I consider myself an advanced skier but I don't get out as much as I would like, and living in Michigan we don't get the steeps here I would like. Would love to work with Deb sometime to understand the finer points of skiing. Maybe I can find a Deb the next time I head out west :)
Great development and pink skis, I like it Deb, wow! An immediate transformation in the skier with the information that you provided her. I love the box concept and I use it but not often enough. I often have difficulty getting my students to grasp onto to getting on the new outside foot. I like also to use big toe little toe concept. Big toe is great for pressure control at the top of the turn, but small toe is less intuitive and harder to teach the touch. Bridgette is obviously a more advanced skier with skills who is just a little rusty. Let's see some analysis done with the intermediate skiers and thanks, great video.
I totally get what Bridget means by Deb is "chill" in her instruction. Some ppl get overly passionate, get very animated and loud when explaining what you're doing wrong. Deb see's it and addresses it in a very logical and relatable way.
Your`re an incredible teacher Deb. I’ll have to pull myself out of Montana and come to Taos for a lesson. Like this lady I’ve only skied 6 days this season. Work is really cramping my time on the hill.
The first time I watched this video, I didn’t realize where it was. Today rewatching it.. oh yes I skied there last season! Can’t wait to get back, what a magnificent place.
I’m enjoying your videos and learning lots! Thanks for putting them out there for all to see. Can you point me to one of your videos where you explain/expand on “foot to foot” concept? Thank you!
Great Lesson, and from the comments streaming in its certainly getting some traction. I started watching it and my ears pricked up when Bridgett said she had a confidence issue. I'm a pretty competent skier (for a Brit anyway) but get me on a steep or a narrow busy bit and it all goes out the window. I'll keep at it it .. foot to foot ... little toe to BIG TOE ... steer the feet . Anyway great video ... Bridgett is amazing in the moguls. She seems so at home in them.
Thanks Deb. I like the garlands for turn initiation. I think Bridget needs to slow down the turns even more and finish them, starting on groomed blue terrain (dial back on fear) then progress to the steeps. Using the shaping and finishing phase of the turn to control speed (maybe turning uphill to a stop as a drill, garlands?). Noli's mom is doing great!
I would make a note of Deb’s quads and knee/ankle range of motion; that doesn’t come from casual skiing! Lastly, note the tiny delay in initiating the turn in the bumps (just ever so slightly after the crest). The student here is really absorbing Deb’s teaching.
You can at the SkiStrong experience. This years info call to get on the waiting list: STEAMBOAT: Beginner/Intermediate January 8-11, February 12-15 970-871-5266 TAOS: Advanced/Expert/all mountain terrain January 18-21, February 8-11, Feb 29-Mar 800-776-1111 Included is a welcome reception on the first evening and three days of personal ski coaching from me.
Great video. Deb establishes such trust with her skiers and builds rapport. That’s a key element in breakthroughs we see here. I’m wondering about this student’s ski tune. The skis look simultaneously squirrelly and grabby - as if whoever worked on them de-tuned them too far at tip and tail. An occasional skier wouldn’t necessarily be in tune to this but would it would definitely shake the confidence and sense of control. Just a thought.
Really great video footage. So helpful to see both teacher and student skiing and comparing the difference. Love the way you encourage self reflection from your student. Have you come across John Clendenin in Steamboat? He mostly teaches in Aspen. A lot of what you said reminds me of the concepts in the Clendenin Ski Method.
Deb, do you do video analysis? I live in Australia and as much as I’d love to come to Taos, it’s not that practical for me. I would love, love, love your critique. Obviously I’ll pay.
I love the box! I also love skiing the bumps as slowly as possible when I'm not feeling it. Now, I wouldn't call Deb chilled, LOL!, But Deb's intensity come from her absolute love of skiing AND her passion for sharing information to make changes in folks' skiing that makes their experience that much better.
It's interesting you had a section on slowing down the skiing in the bumps. I'm wondering what the process would be to help someone who can ski bumps slower, to get more speed in the bumps. I'm sure it's like most things, experience, reps etc. I'll search your channel, perhaps you have this. I enjoy skiing bumps similar to the very end of this video. Steep, very icy, very technical east coast stuff, where really it's hard to ski these super fast unless you're 16 and made of rubber bands. She skied them great. But when we get a run a bit more shallow, and on rare occasion we have powdery bumps and no ice, it's fun to really speed it up, but that's where it get go wrong for a number of reasons.....and then spring bumps are also a bit different as they slow you down a bit and you need to keep up some speed.....I'm loving your vids, learning so much. thx
So a thing I noticed, and this is just about quick turns and non-comp technique in bumps... BTW your student skis very well, amazing for only her 4th day of the season after having a baby. But watching the vid, the difference between you and her, and things I've noticed in the wild... I once had the pleasure of riding up the lift with one of the Mahre brothers and then following him down the ridge to the left of Debbie's Gold (alpental), trying to match him quick turn for turn... On the lift we shot the bull about work and the the fact it was a rare blue-bird day, he was just a really cool older dude like myself, but I recognized he was one of them without saying so. Anyway I just had to follow him, just had to, and It was eye opening, and I consider myself an expert in most conditions and terrain. A thing you and elite skiers like him do so profoundly better and with ease than most of us mortals, the truly tricky thing to learn that all top skiers do well in almost all conditions is the smear without pushing the tails at the top of the turn. Good but lesser skiers (in moguls skiing moderate line or quick, non-carved turns) we are later in the smear, over-smear mid turn, and then need to push off the end of the turn, rise up off the pop, push, relying almost entirely on the bottom of the turn to edge for speed control (in bumps and otherwise) even if they are effectively steering (re-directing via pop or lift) their skis at the top of the turn. Your studen is clearly lifting to pop unlike you, which is the most difference I see. What you do so well, and the Mahre brother did as well, is quick smearing the skis for the direction change at the top of the turn, obtaining a ton of speed control up high without lifting or pushing (without extending at the knees in the transition), and without catching the tails laterally in the process (over-pushing mid-turn). Am I explaining it well? Just saying that what I'm trying to covey is a major hurdle for mortal skiers. I would appreciate it if you did a vid focusing on this "super-power" thing you can do. I want to learn a skosh that mojo! I've been working on it, and it ain't easy.
As usual, lots of great stuff here..take away nugget for me…”pay attention to the last 1/8th of your turn”! Worked on that my next time out and had the sensation of small button-hook effect transitioning on to my new outside ski🤷♂️💥 16:49
Hi Deb, I have this issue that I am afraid of going fast (because I think it is easier to fall when going fast and it hurts more). Ok, when I say “fast” it is actually not fast to other people, but “fast” for what I feel. That is why I keep braking and braking so that I feel safe and be in control. I heard that what I made is called the Z turn shape. I also tend to traverse along the hill too long to slow down, which would make it dangerous for me and people skiing downhill. I tried to search for videos to get away from the Z turn shape but have not found one. Thank you!
Please give us a bit of information about skiing slow. Does it all result from the last 5th of the turn or is there more ?. In your video I can definitely see a difference in he final part of the turn ( going a little farther into turn?). Does edge angle have any part?
Broken record on my comments. Bridget feels unsure about her skiing, but looks pretty smooth on some steep moguls. I’m impressed you can even film and ski that at the same time.
In America ski is more a sport that a leisure. Like going to gym to get fit. In Europe people come more to relax, breathe fresh air, they stop often at the bars on the slopes to get hot drinks or even a beer and enjoy the view.
I backslid to the point of being totally confused just like what Bridget was saying about skiing the steeps. For me, the bumps. Recently, I watch the Clendenin method videos. Now, I am CONFUSED to the moon and back. When it comes to bumps, my mind goes blank when I stand and look down on them. What really is the best way to slow down? If I do the J-turn, make me hard to start on the next turn. Your video of where to ski on bumps did help. Thanks, Deb.
The thing about turning to slow down is that you're only trying to slow your SKIS down. The skis do an aggressive hockey stop (or most of one), but the rest of you must not. If you're really needing to scrub off a lot of speed, you can still apply lots of pressure to the snow without unduly involving your upper body if you skid your skis around ahead of you before you edge them agressively (if you didn't do the edge set, you would be off-balance up the hill, and end up sitting down). So now when you do the edge set, let your centre of mass (imagine there's a cannonball behind your navel, in which all your body weight is concentrated) flow steadily more or less down the fall line, and cross over your skis on its way towards the downhill corner of a shorter version of the "box" Deb drew. (It can be shorter because your skis are doing their hockey stop on the humpbacked upside of a bump, so the part engaging the snow is a lot shorter than usual; also because you're going slower.) That way you don't have to start each turn afresh, because that move will cause your skis to change edges and shoot around the bump and back under you, while your cannonball sails steadily over the bump. Ditto until you run out of bumps! For this to work, keep your body, from the waist up, facing down the hill. It's only the skis which need to do the J turns. This is what guarantees the skis will whip around as described above, due to your core being loaded up like the midsection of a twisted metal ruler.
I used to think I could ski moguls well. But upon closer analysis, I realised I couldn't ski them slowly and that highlighted the deficiencies in my technique. During my last trip to Canada, I spent a lot of time, working on turn techniques on piste and then transferring onto the bumps and realised how much I had improved by implementing a far more technical approach (versus trying to muscle my way down with sheer grit and determination... and a dash of madness too, ha!) To ski moguls slowly and precisely takes skill and good technique. But it's also safer too (and anyone over 50 years of age, can appreciate how safety becomes a high priority). This video, combined with Deb's other bumps video about side-slipping and pivoting on the bumps, really have made a HUGE difference to my mogul experience.
Great!!!!
I like how Bridget gives feedback on how she's processing the concepts so Deb can know what's landing or what to try next/different explanation etc smart team
True!!
A coaches dream! Be part of the learning process 😊
I’ve been skiing for 40 years and consider myself to be pretty advanced. But Deb, you continue to dish out the best lessons where I learn a new tool each and every time. Stuff for me to always keep improving at and share with my teenagers.
I’m glad!
Thank you for supporting the channel. So glad you appreciate the content🙏
I like the idea of the box. You can see Bridget improve so much in a short time. Well done Deb.
Beyond all the amazing knowledge shared, I always have to smile every time a video catches you just stopping on the slopes. It’s like a classic superhero landing every time! Thanks for all you do!
Love it
I was thinking exactly the same! Deb, you need a cape!
Deb your nuero congitive ablities are a true gift to human kind!
Ha! Wow, thank you
It's amazing how you communicate what you teach. Really inspires me while im becoming a ski teacher.
Thank you
What I note with you (or any expert skier), Deb, vs a student is that experts are always in CHANGING motion. In contrast we intermediates find that “safe” position and ride it through most of the turn, then do whatever we need to in order to enter the new turn. I hear a lot of instructors (maybe even you?) saying, “Don’t rush the turn,” and I think you don’t rush because you’re always changing where you are in the turn, so it’s rarely necessary to speed through any one part of a turn. Even when you skied the bumps slowly, it was clear that your position was always changing. It’s such a pleasure to watch great skiing. Thank you!
That's a great insight! It seems to me that much of the art of sensual skiing is prolonging each movement class, and the associated engagement of each muscle group (steering, flexion, edging, weight transfer, etc) so that it can be changing throughout each turn and into the following turn. And the rate of change of each of these is also ever-changing, but smoothly.
For me, the breakthrough was to realise that for the first half of each turn, although it's technically and psychologically the most difficult part to do well, it's actually just a question of surrendering joyfully to gravity, and waiting patiently for it to do all the work, while you smoothly position yourself to be at optimum strength and poise for the second half, where you will temporarily but firmly put gravity in its place.
The result, when it all comes together, is that you end up tracing curves down the mountain which might have been lifted from the drawing board of a designer of fine sailing vessels... but you needn't look back because you felt it while it was happening, and that's enough.
Both of these comments are excellent; once you ‘grok’ the technique, the spiritual aspect takes over, and it’s and endless search for transcendence!
From the very first reminder to ski foot-to-foot, starting with finding the new outside ski early - it was like a wormhole reopened and what would normally have taken years to travel was traversed in a split second.
And thanks to your recent “Teaching hips for high performance skiing”, I can now see the hip-opening thing happening as well.
Just magic. Thank you for another wonderful video.
Fantastic. Thanks
When I wrote the above comment I hadn’t gotten past the beginning. I realize now you actually mention the recent hip video later on as well! It’s all coming together … now to do it myself on the slopes!
I am 72. Ski on my own most of the time as friends and family do not enjoy skiing as much as I do. So I watch ski instructors and good skiers and try to see what makes them good. Then practice. Watching you do your short turns with rotary movement then seeing you ski the bumps slowly, really very good. Thank you.
This is awesome.... Deb, a while back, you created a drawing of the ski turn with some notations on it. Can't remember how old that video is, but that diagram really spoke to me, since like you say, it's impossible to see what is happening in your boots when you ski. Would love to see more like this video combined with more drawings to really drive home the points you make. Thanks for your videos.
Nice idea
That's would be great!
Agree! Love your videos, but get lost in the jargon a times. Would love your explanation with a overlay on the video. Can obviously see what good looks like when the video follows you. Not taking anything from Bridget who is a very strong skier. As you said there is always more to learn and improve.
Really quick improvement! It's always so tricky to translate language into movement. I always appreciate how you explain things Deb!
Transformational teaching, courageous learning. Foot to foot, starting to flatten uphill ski early. Wow
This is EXACTLY what I need to work n. The comments, visual, physical cues are so helpful. Thank you!
Control , it’s harder to ski slowly and in control, fantastic reminder Deb on getting control and finishing the turn to control speed, to watch the first run on bumps at break neck speed and then the latter bump skiing was a joy to watch. Great job.
I have learned so much watching your vids. Thanks so much!!
Such an impressive progression of Bridget in recent years O_O
She is really confident on bumps now!!!
I would like to progress as her, even if I ski for 40 years 🤗
Deborah you are an inspiration to instructors with your attention to your students needs. I Think your student is ready to carve!
This is a really good video. One of her best, as she ties a lot of things together. I’ve been trying to clean up my turn initiation and had to figure some of these things out through trial and error. Then I watch the video and she ties it all together and gives me confidence that I’m on the right track, and fills in some remaining gaps. Great videos.
The way you coach is sooo great and so specific to how the other person is skiing. It's amazing. This is a really informative video. Seeing this gives me more confidence when faced with a steeper slope, where i'd be freezing with fear at times
Amazing video as always Deb. Will be going back on snow after 3 years in a couple of weeks. The pointers you gave out were so focus that I can see I will be looping this video again and again. How I wish I can have your voice in my head telling me to ski "Foot to foot" & "Centre of Mass to the corner of the box" when I ski badly. Thank you so much.
Thanks! Good to see you out playing😊 Love your coaching.
Skiing involves so many subtle movements and adjustments, and this video addresses several beautifully for the advanced skier. I believe skiing is knowing what to do, doing what you know, then applying to a multitude of conditions, rinse, repeat, and build confidence. Start slow, feel, adopt, learn. You explain it so well. Thank you, Deb!👍
What a difference between the beginning and end of the video on her skiing and confidence! I love watching the dynamic progress! Deb is so “chill” 😂
Ha!!!
“Chill” and passionate! 😊
Wow. Just an amazing transformation in Brigit's skiing over the course of the video.
Deb...great as usual! Its really cool to see Bridget get better and better too! She's quite good!
Deb your video's are getting better and better, I think this is one of your best, congrats.
Deb (and Bridget) are awesome! Such great info here!
Deb, you are a great communicator, clear, polite & concise.
Hi Deb, I love how stable the point of your poles are as you turn. It looks like you're using your whole body to draw a perfect arc around a point with your skis. The release at the end of your turns (13:18) looks very clean and deliberate. And it looks even cooler here (5:54)!
Ha, I feel you Bridget, so many moving parts! We were on the hill yesterday and I commented to my husband that there is so much to remember trying to get to that next level. Thank you, Bridget, you are 100% relatable, I appreciate you doing these videos, great job. Deb's coaching is as dialed in as her skiing.
"Your body becomes perpendicular to your skis" - that is such a profound statement! Thank you! 🤩
Yep 😉 have fun
0:09 I have a baby…. Congratulations Bridget!
0:39 Always go back to the basics, the basic basics, when you know things are not right and don’t know why. Loved how you went straight back to how to make a turn. It is not always the easiest for an individual to pick out and figure out what needs to be corrected when things are not “right”. It is a sign of a great teacher to be able to pick out the part from the overall technic that works to make improvements. The change in Bridget’s skiing was remarkable just with the one “foot to foot” reminder. There is so much to learn from this video, not only with respect to technic, but with the thought process as to how to make one’s own corrections… by asking “What would Deb” say or do?”.
Thank you. Love it
What a great teacher and…. A great student !
I have learned so much from these videos and the things I've picked up from them have brought a lot of joy to my skiing. In this video there's a line that I had to write down... "Let go of the mountain with your skis."
Great
I really liked how Bridget films awesome!! Also I love how people from the States skis, I ski like them too, cause I was teached in Crested Butte to ride that way. Awesome video, Deb!!
Really awesome work Bridget! And yeah the nerves after having children is real, but really liked how your confidence grew in this video… this is the sort of thing I want to aspire to so well done Bridget and Debs!
The sound of the squeaky snow is not something I've heard at all on the Ice Coast this winter. I'll settle for living vicariously through these videos and plan a couple trips out west next season.
My daughter, son in law & I skied a couple of weeks ago in the local Southern California mountains. He hadn't skied for several years and a couple of years for the two of us. The runs were easy but even though they had groom marks they were hard ice. It sounded like skiing on rough asphalt! We struggled for a while then broke for lunch. My son in law talked about finding the full length of his skis & what a difference it was making in his turns leading to discussions of your videos! By the end of the day everyone was doing so much better - even this old guy! Thanks so much! I can always find helpful tips in every one of your videos (and in turn share them with the kids)!
Love it
This is such a great great great video. It's really hard for advanced skier to know what he is doing wrong and how to improve it. Your video helps thousands to progress
You know what I liked? The first run in the bumps - that you focused on the edging (and later, softer edging, steering, rotation, etc) while deciding not to tackle the down-unweighing; that partially came by itself as a consequence. You are doing it very well though, but didn't mention it. :)
Great choice of exercises - this thought mechanism (I think) is what I learned here - thanks. :)
those quick turn and stops you do, damn! they're so good! and again, with the camera work in the bumps, mad skills!
Thanks!
I hope I can come to Taos one day and meet you - you have really helped me with your videos and your ability to break down concepts for the casual skier. I live in Maryland so lots of skiing is pretty impossible :). I'm technically an "advanced" skier but like Bridget my form breaks down and I don't always know why - this video was soooo helpful!
Great!
Those runs look amazing. Beautiful mountain. Always appreciate the content and can not wait to get back on the slopes!
This is a great video. I can relate a lot to what Bridget is working on (though she is much better than me). I hope to take these tips the next time I’m on steeps and bumps. Thank you for posting this video!
That was a really fun video that showed confidence return to an already accomplished skier. I relate to the eb and flow of confidence through my ski-life.
Just sharing my story, I started skiing 4 years ago with no proper lessons, I learnt the basics through elate media and stomp it tutorials and somehow made down the mountains in first 2 ski trips. I travel alone and never had any advice from anyone on the slopes. Then I found Deb's channel and since then I've been watching her videos and have improved to the point where I can do most easy to medium runs (and have come down few hard ones) and can handle different conditions. There are small things said here and there in these videos that make so much difference (like steering to the corner of square box here lol). Thank you for the generosity!
Love it
Deb your lessons and concepts continue to be spot on. Wish you were closer to PSIA e to provide clinics. I find value in viewing and listening to your instruction.
Deb is effortlessly fast with her "invisible" foot to foot technique.
Awesome instruction, newly subscribed and learning a lot. Thanks Deb!
Welcome!!!
Nice turns Bridgette. You could definitely see a difference at the end of this video 👍
Thanks, Deb! do you have any mini mogul camps coming up?
I do not sorry
Another gr8 🎥, my favourite ski technique channel on UA-cam ❤
I wasn't sure about the "you're chill" thing until I realized I was watching this video in 1.25x speed.
Damn, what a major change in the intensity of your lesson :D
Ha!!!!!
Her skiing has really improved - so teachable.
Awesome job.. love the content keep up the amazing work
Wow! Deb does a great job! I consider myself an advanced skier but I don't get out as much as I would like, and living in Michigan we don't get the steeps here I would like. Would love to work with Deb sometime to understand the finer points of skiing. Maybe I can find a Deb the next time I head out west :)
amazing how much earlier she engaged her new ski by the end of this video. Nice job Debra
Great development and pink skis, I like it Deb, wow! An immediate transformation in the skier with the information that you provided her. I love the box concept and I use it but not often enough. I often have difficulty getting my students to grasp onto to getting on the new outside foot. I like also to use big toe little toe concept. Big toe is great for pressure control at the top of the turn, but small toe is less intuitive and harder to teach the touch. Bridgette is obviously a more advanced skier with skills who is just a little rusty. Let's see some analysis done with the intermediate skiers and thanks, great video.
Another masterpiece teaching video by Deb.
I totally get what Bridget means by Deb is "chill" in her instruction. Some ppl get overly passionate, get very animated and loud when explaining what you're doing wrong. Deb see's it and addresses it in a very logical and relatable way.
Your`re an incredible teacher Deb. I’ll have to pull myself out of Montana and come to Taos for a lesson. Like this lady I’ve only skied 6 days this season. Work is really cramping my time on the hill.
Deb is awesome, but the whole ski school at Taos is one of the best in the country. It's a fantastic place to take lessons.
Such a good one. Thanks Deb!
The first time I watched this video, I didn’t realize where it was. Today rewatching it.. oh yes I skied there last season! Can’t wait to get back, what a magnificent place.
I’m enjoying your videos and learning lots! Thanks for putting them out there for all to see. Can you point me to one of your videos where you explain/expand on “foot to foot” concept? Thank you!
11:20 this is brilliant! Comparison with the student is subtle but categorically different ❤❤❤
I love watching deb do turns on the flat.
Great video Deb...we just got 2 feet of new snow in Lake Tahoe, CA....I can't wait to go up and practice this! Thanks :)😀
Thanks for this. This video was helpful! Do you have a video where you talk more about the foot to foot?
Great Lesson, and from the comments streaming in its certainly getting some traction.
I started watching it and my ears pricked up when Bridgett said she had a confidence issue.
I'm a pretty competent skier (for a Brit anyway) but get me on a steep or a narrow busy bit and it all goes out the window.
I'll keep at it it .. foot to foot ... little toe to BIG TOE ... steer the feet .
Anyway great video ... Bridgett is amazing in the moguls. She seems so at home in them.
wow that last mogul run was so nice> cant belive she is doing this with just six days of skiing. kudos to her confidence
Ok ladies you both nailed that one. Fun to watch 🙏
Thanks Mugzy!!!!! Glad you like. So fun seeing you out there
Thanks Deb. I like the garlands for turn initiation.
I think Bridget needs to slow down the turns even more and finish them, starting on groomed blue terrain (dial back on fear) then progress to the steeps. Using the shaping and finishing phase of the turn to control speed (maybe turning uphill to a stop as a drill, garlands?).
Noli's mom is doing great!
More falling leafs would be good
Such a great video. Classic Deb.
I will first “stomp on it” then will try to “make it invisible”
How nice to spend a day on the slopes with your lovely wife!!!
Bridget is doing fine! Fast learner ✌️
This is beautiful to watch
I would make a note of Deb’s quads and knee/ankle range of motion; that doesn’t come from casual skiing! Lastly, note the tiny delay in initiating the turn in the bumps (just ever so slightly after the crest). The student here is really absorbing Deb’s teaching.
Nice!
She didn't look scared at all at those steep moguls! Great video again
This is amazing, I wish that I can have a lesson with you
You can at the SkiStrong experience.
This years info call to get on the waiting list:
STEAMBOAT: Beginner/Intermediate
January 8-11, February 12-15
970-871-5266
TAOS: Advanced/Expert/all mountain terrain
January 18-21, February 8-11, Feb 29-Mar 800-776-1111
Included is a welcome reception on the first evening and three days of personal ski coaching from me.
Great video. Deb establishes such trust with her skiers and builds rapport. That’s a key element in breakthroughs we see here. I’m wondering about this student’s ski tune. The skis look simultaneously squirrelly and grabby - as if whoever worked on them de-tuned them too far at tip and tail. An occasional skier wouldn’t necessarily be in tune to this but would it would definitely shake the confidence and sense of control. Just a thought.
Really great video footage. So helpful to see both teacher and student skiing and comparing the difference. Love the way you encourage self reflection from your student.
Have you come across John Clendenin in Steamboat? He mostly teaches in Aspen. A lot of what you said reminds me of the concepts in the Clendenin Ski Method.
Don’t think I have
3:38 "Your body becomes perpendicular to you skis." I'm going to play with this tomorrow.
Damn you are good Deb.
You are so nice and early on the new ski in the bumps
Deb, do you do video analysis? I live in Australia and as much as I’d love to come to Taos, it’s not that practical for me. I would love, love, love your critique. Obviously I’ll pay.
second one I've watched with Bridget. She looks so smooth. Was she a racer or a freestyle skier in a past life?
Was not. Grew up in Kansas and took a winter family trip to Colorado every year as a kid 😉
I love the box! I also love skiing the bumps as slowly as possible when I'm not feeling it. Now, I wouldn't call Deb chilled, LOL!, But Deb's intensity come from her absolute love of skiing AND her passion for sharing information to make changes in folks' skiing that makes their experience that much better.
True😉
It's interesting you had a section on slowing down the skiing in the bumps. I'm wondering what the process would be to help someone who can ski bumps slower, to get more speed in the bumps. I'm sure it's like most things, experience, reps etc. I'll search your channel, perhaps you have this. I enjoy skiing bumps similar to the very end of this video. Steep, very icy, very technical east coast stuff, where really it's hard to ski these super fast unless you're 16 and made of rubber bands. She skied them great. But when we get a run a bit more shallow, and on rare occasion we have powdery bumps and no ice, it's fun to really speed it up, but that's where it get go wrong for a number of reasons.....and then spring bumps are also a bit different as they slow you down a bit and you need to keep up some speed.....I'm loving your vids, learning so much. thx
So a thing I noticed, and this is just about quick turns and non-comp technique in bumps... BTW your student skis very well, amazing for only her 4th day of the season after having a baby. But watching the vid, the difference between you and her, and things I've noticed in the wild... I once had the pleasure of riding up the lift with one of the Mahre brothers and then following him down the ridge to the left of Debbie's Gold (alpental), trying to match him quick turn for turn... On the lift we shot the bull about work and the the fact it was a rare blue-bird day, he was just a really cool older dude like myself, but I recognized he was one of them without saying so. Anyway I just had to follow him, just had to, and It was eye opening, and I consider myself an expert in most conditions and terrain. A thing you and elite skiers like him do so profoundly better and with ease than most of us mortals, the truly tricky thing to learn that all top skiers do well in almost all conditions is the smear without pushing the tails at the top of the turn. Good but lesser skiers (in moguls skiing moderate line or quick, non-carved turns) we are later in the smear, over-smear mid turn, and then need to push off the end of the turn, rise up off the pop, push, relying almost entirely on the bottom of the turn to edge for speed control (in bumps and otherwise) even if they are effectively steering (re-directing via pop or lift) their skis at the top of the turn. Your studen is clearly lifting to pop unlike you, which is the most difference I see. What you do so well, and the Mahre brother did as well, is quick smearing the skis for the direction change at the top of the turn, obtaining a ton of speed control up high without lifting or pushing (without extending at the knees in the transition), and without catching the tails laterally in the process (over-pushing mid-turn). Am I explaining it well? Just saying that what I'm trying to covey is a major hurdle for mortal skiers. I would appreciate it if you did a vid focusing on this "super-power" thing you can do. I want to learn a skosh that mojo! I've been working on it, and it ain't easy.
Yep, great comment. Keep at it and thank you for sharing
a good student for this segment.
As usual, lots of great stuff here..take away nugget for me…”pay attention to the last 1/8th of your turn”! Worked on that my next time out and had the sensation of small button-hook effect transitioning on to my new outside ski🤷♂️💥 16:49
Hi Deb, I have this issue that I am afraid of going fast (because I think it is easier to fall when going fast and it hurts more). Ok, when I say “fast” it is actually not fast to other people, but “fast” for what I feel. That is why I keep braking and braking so that I feel safe and be in control. I heard that what I made is called the Z turn shape. I also tend to traverse along the hill too long to slow down, which would make it dangerous for me and people skiing downhill. I tried to search for videos to get away from the Z turn shape but have not found one. Thank you!
Good idea for a video. I’ll try to work on that
Great video, Deb. What part of the mountain is this?
Front side Taos. Jeans glade
A Masterclass ladies!
Please give us a bit of information about skiing slow. Does it all result from the last 5th of the turn or is there more ?. In your video I can definitely see a difference in he final part of the turn ( going a little farther into turn?). Does edge angle have any part?
Yes, a flatter ski is important, not high edge angle.
Broken record on my comments. Bridget feels unsure about her skiing, but looks pretty smooth on some steep moguls. I’m impressed you can even film and ski that at the same time.
In America ski is more a sport that a leisure. Like going to gym to get fit.
In Europe people come more to relax, breathe fresh air, they stop often at the bars on the slopes to get hot drinks or even a beer and enjoy the view.
Look at Taos looking beautiful!! @Deb What would be the ideal underfoot width for a day like that in Moderate Moguls (for Taos at least)
Mid 70s to mid 80s
I backslid to the point of being totally confused just like what Bridget was saying about skiing the steeps. For me, the bumps. Recently, I watch the Clendenin method videos. Now, I am CONFUSED to the moon and back. When it comes to bumps, my mind goes blank when I stand and look down on them. What really is the best way to slow down? If I do the J-turn, make me hard to start on the next turn. Your video of where to ski on bumps did help. Thanks, Deb.
The thing about turning to slow down is that you're only trying to slow your SKIS down. The skis do an aggressive hockey stop (or most of one), but the rest of you must not. If you're really needing to scrub off a lot of speed, you can still apply lots of pressure to the snow without unduly involving your upper body if you skid your skis around ahead of you before you edge them agressively (if you didn't do the edge set, you would be off-balance up the hill, and end up sitting down). So now when you do the edge set, let your centre of mass (imagine there's a cannonball behind your navel, in which all your body weight is concentrated) flow steadily more or less down the fall line, and cross over your skis on its way towards the downhill corner of a shorter version of the "box" Deb drew.
(It can be shorter because your skis are doing their hockey stop on the humpbacked upside of a bump, so the part engaging the snow is a lot shorter than usual; also because you're going slower.)
That way you don't have to start each turn afresh, because that move will cause your skis to change edges and shoot around the bump and back under you, while your cannonball sails steadily over the bump. Ditto until you run out of bumps!
For this to work, keep your body, from the waist up, facing down the hill. It's only the skis which need to do the J turns. This is what guarantees the skis will whip around as described above, due to your core being loaded up like the midsection of a twisted metal ruler.