M.K. Dymock's Blog, page 5

A 30-Second Ski Lesson from a Ski Instructor

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There is one skill in skiing that if you can master it, you’ll be skiing the entire mountain in no time. Take 30 seconds in your ski day to improve you ski skills by doing one of the following:

One of the first things I learned when training to be an instructor is that skiing can be summed up in four basic skills: Balance, Edging, Rotation, and Pressure. What I learned while actually teaching skiing is that without proper balance, all the other skills don’t mean much. Most of the problems I see people have—heck, most of the problems I have—can be tied back to bad balance.

Proper balance in skiing is the key to everything and one of the hardest skills to master.

It doesn’t sound like it should be hard—we’re all upright when we get on skis. Isn’t that enough? Nope balancing on skis is a skill in and of itself. When you’re standing on the edge of a steep hill with skinny pieces of wood stuck to your feet, leaning back and into the mountain gives you a feeling of safety and of control. Yet this is the worst position to be in.

But it’s incredibly difficult to find the proper position. With a few tricks and thirty seconds, you can find your rhythm again.

First, let’s demonstrate why this is a problem.

Go to a flat area on your skis where you are safe and secure. Lean forward as much as you feel comfortable.Now try to lift one foot. Lean back in your skis and try to lift another foot.I am not ready for the next turn. My butt is sticking out too far, my left arm has dropped, and I’m hunched over.

Tough, isn’t it? It’s difficult to shift your weight from one side of your body when you’re not centered over your skis. And if you can’t shift your weight, you can’t turn.

Now let’s fix it.

Do a little hop on your skis. That’s it, now you’re centered.

Notice how your body situates itself on landing. Your skis are about the same width as your shoulders, there’s a slight bend to your knees and ankles. Now try to lift a foot. Much easier now. As I ski, I periodically do a simple hop to get me back centered.

Think about someone tying a rope to your belly button and yanking on it to pull your butt up and forward. You should be able to draw a straight line between your shoulders, front of your knees, and toes.

Good luck on your next ski day.

The snow is falling in Lost Gorge, filling the resort with skiers. When one goes up the lift but never comes down, it’s up to ski instructor Mina Park to search through the blizzard. What she finds changes the town forever. While Mina doesn’t believe in myths, she does believe in murder.

Paperback and ebook available on AmazonFollow on Pinterest! Pin on Pinterest!

A 30-Second Ski Lesson

There is one skill in skiing that if you can master it, you’ll be skiing the entire mountain in no time. Take 30 seconds in your ski day to improve you ski skills by doing one of the following.

One of the first things I learned when training to be an instructor is that skiing can be summed up in four basic skills: Balance, Edging, Rotation, and Pressure. What I learned while actually teaching skiing is that without proper balance, all the other skills don’t mean much. Most of the problems I see people have—heck most of the problems I have—can be tied back to bad balance.

Proper balance in skiing is the key to everything and one of the hardest skills to master.

It doesn’t sound like it should be hard—we’re all upright when we get on skis. Isn’t that enough? Nope balancing on skis is a skill in and of itself. When you’re standing on the edge of a steep hill with skinny pieces of wood stuck to your feet, leaning back and to the mountain gives you a feeling of safety of control. Yet this is the last position you want to be in.

But it’s incredibly difficult to find that position. With a few tricks and thirty seconds, you can find your rythm again.

First, let’s demonstrate why this is a problem.

Go to a flat area on your skis where you are safe and secure. Lean forward as much as you feel comfortable.Now try to lift one foot. Lean back in your skis and try to lift another foot.



I love this picture until I look a little too close. I am not ready for the next turn. My butt is sticking out too far, my left arm has dropped, and I’m hunched over.

Tough, isn’t it? It’s difficult to shift your weight from one side of your body when you’re not centered over your skis. And if you can’t shift your weight, you can’t turn.

Now let’s fix it.

Do a little hop on your skis and that’s it.

Notice how your body situates itself on landing. Your skis are about the same width as your shoulders, there’s a slight bend to your knees and ankles. Now try to lift a foot. Much easier now. As I ski, I periodically do a simple hop to get me back centered.

Five Common Mistakes Parents Make Teaching Kids to Ski

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As a ski instructor, I have a first row seat to parents teaching their kids to ski and the chaos that entails. I also get a lot of those same kids the next day when the parents realize they’re in over their heads. Even if you intend to put your kids in ski school for most days, these ski tips will help the time they ski with you. Below are five tips to help the day go much better and not end in tears—yours or theirs.

SKI TIP 5: Proper Terrain

One season I watched two fathers unload their first-timers off a ski lift at the top of a green run. These kids had never so much as put on skis and they were faced with a tough, icy green run. The dads assumed green meant easy. Green means beginner NOT first-timer and definitely not easy for a newbie. Start on the flats and move to the conveyor belts.

Another day, I was on the lift and glanced down to see a father tying an edgie wedgie to his son’s ski tips. The problem with this scene: they were parked at the top of a blue mogul run. If your child still needs an edgie wedgie, get back to the learning hill.

I know you’re bored. You’ve gone down the kiddie hill and around the cones a zillion times. If you have to go up the rope pull one more time, you will jam a pole into the mechanics to shut that thing down. It’s your one day off and if you can’t ride a real lift, life is unfair.

Remember you’re not teaching your kid for a day, you’re teaching her for life. To help your kid develop a love of skiing and the skills to challenge you, she needs a foundation of safety, trust, and fun.

If it’s a powder day, put her in ski school and go bomb the mountain.

SKI TIP 4: Letting Them Get Out of Control

Picture this: It’s your five-year-old’s second day on the hill and she’s already rocking turns and stops. You take her up on a little steeper terrain totally confident in her ability. You’re right behind her to keep her safe. As she comes down the steeper part, she doesn’t make her turn. Her speed gets faster, and you yell out “Pizza,” but instead she clicks her skis together and shoots straight down the mountain. You chase after her, but a fence catches her first.

By the time you reach her, she’s in tears and screaming, shaken but otherwise unhurt. You feel like a huge cad for not keeping your daughter safe. This is an easy mistake to make but one you can usually avoid.

Depending on ability and age, it’s usually a good idea to have your child follow ALWAYS behind you. And not just because you have a better chance at grabbing them if they get out of control. For many kids, making a wedge and turning is not their default action. So when they get scared or get in steeper terrain, they go straight down the mountain. And the faster they go, the less likely they’ll be able to get back in control. If you’re in front of them, you’re leading them. You should be making turns and asking them to follow your turns. And even without you asking them, they will subconsciously copy what you do.

I tell my kids that my skis are pencils drawing a line in the snow, and their skis are erasers erasing my tracks.

Always be very aware of what you’re doing. Make sure your turns are large enough and slow enough for your child to stay in control. Be aware of the mountain and people in front of you, so you can steer your child around upcoming obstacles. This is a be reason, I don’t use straps when teaching. It gets kids into bad habits like trusting the strap to stop them and not themselves, leaning back, and flying down.

Always be between them and the bottom of the hill.

Just a quick side note. Kids pick up skiing very quickly. When you see them out on the mountain charging the bumps, it’s easy to forget that your little expert skier doesn’t have the maturity or instincts to make the right decisions on the hill. They still need you to be the adults—as hard as it is.

SKI TIP 3: Giving Kids Poles

I’ve see your kids out there (adults too) dragging their poles behind them down a run. They only put the poles in front when traversing the flat or using them as brakes. So many things wrong with this scenario.

If their poles are dragging behind them, they are skiing way too far back. A skier can’t properly turn or edge, if his weight is on his heels. Poles can also catch in the snow, pulling the kids down. If they’re using them to stop or hold themselves up, they’re not in control and run the risk of injury.

I know kids loves poles. They see other skiers with them and they look so cool so they’re begging for them. And I know your tired of dragging the kids behind you on the flats and waiting for them to catch up because you only have two hands but three kids. But if you make it something they have to earn, they will progress quicker.

How do you kids earn their poles? When they can ski easy blues with mostly parallel turns, give them poles.

But for the love, don’t just give them out. Teach them proper placement and use. And if your child reverts back to their wedge or uses them as crutches, take the poles away. Repeat to yourself so that you can repeat it to your child, “Poles must be earned.”

I start them holding their poles but not using them Their hands should be out front with their baskets behind. Once that becomes more ingrained, then we start working on pole plants. There is no rush in this process.

SKI TIP 2: Not Making it Fun

Skiing is a blast, right? Kids should enjoy it from the get go, of course. You just spent a ton of money on equipment, clothing, and passes so why are they crying?

Guess what! Kids don’t always know skiing is fun. They know it’s cold; they know it’s new; they know it’s scary.

It takes time for skiing to be fun for kids. There is a huge learning curve that they must overcome. The first day I have a kid on the snow, I’m not only teaching her to ski—I’m singing songs, throwing snowballs, playing games, and making her comfortable and happy. We’re also taking breaks. An hour tops for a three-year-old’s first day, a few hours for a four-year-old with a break in the middle, and longer for older kids but with breaks through out.

I’ve played cops and robbers, we’ve hunted for gold, I’ve skied fully doing the Hokey Pokey. One kid asked if we could play cow. I had no idea what that was but said, sure. Apparently all it requires is skiing while making mooing sounds. With older kids, I implement competition, more rewards, and even tell stories on the chairlift.

If you want your kid to have fun skiing, then ski like a kid.

Also, don’t be so focused on going from point a to point b. Slow down and look around at all the fun things to do. Go over jumps, around obstacles, and through trees.

SKI TIP 1: Teaching Them Yourself

Don’t get me wrong, some parents are totally capable of teaching their own kids to ski. However, a lot of adults who’ve been skiing for years forget how difficult learning can be and don’t know how to break down skiing into learnable skills. Screaming “pizza” as your kid zooms down the hill out of control is not helpful, but it’s the only thing some parents know what to do.

Here are some good questions to ask before teaching them yourself:

Will you be happy and patient spending all day and possibly more days on the bunny hill?Do you have expertise to offer beyond yelling “pizza” or “French fries?”Can you ski backwards—even very slowly?Can you let go of expectations of how quickly your kid should learn? IE, my kid won’t need an edgie wedgie. My kid will be on the lift before lunch.Can you accept that having fun is the most important outcome of the day?

If you can answer yes to all these questions, you might have a chance at teaching your kid to ski. But even if you can teach your child to ski, there’s something to be said for you being the parent and not the teacher. Sometimes kids respond better to an authority figure, and they can advance more rapidly when watching their peers. A few days in ski school can bump them up a few levels and get them out on the hill with the rest of the family.

Good luck and remember you’re teaching you child to enjoy skiing for life.

The snow is falling in Lost Gorge, filling the resort with skiers. When one goes up the lift but never comes down, it’s up to ski instructor Mina Park to search through the blizzard. What she finds changes the town forever. While Mina doesn’t believe in myths, she does believe in murder.

Paperback and ebook available on Amazon



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10 Things I Learned as a Ski Instructor

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I’ve learned more about skiing as an instructor than I ever could’ve as a student. Scroll on for lessons that will make your day more comfortable and way more fun.

10. “Pee before you ski” isn’t just for kids. Those are words of wisdom for five or sixty-five year olds.

9. At lunch stuff your gloves, gator, and mittens into your helmet and hook it to the back of your chair. No more rolling around the table or floor and scratching up your goggles.

8. Put a chapstick in each coat and a snack in your pocket.

7. There’s a good chance you’re skiing with the wrong equipment. If you bought your ski boots because they felt comfortable, they’re probably too big.

6. Once you reach a certain age, keep a handful of ibuprofen in your pocket.

5. You need a ski lesson. (I know I’m biased but you need a ski lesson.)

4. You can hide a lot of bad skiing on the groomers but it comes out on the bumps. Leave the piste now and then if you ever want to improve.

3. Don’t bomb a green run; you just look silly.

2. You will never have enough ski equipment; never.

1. Don’t just ski from point A to point B, because along the way are trails, trees, jumps, and bumps you’re missing. Ski with a child and a run you’ve done a thousand times will become a whole new adventure.

 

The snow is falling in Lost Gorge, filling the resort with skiers. When one goes up the lift but never comes down, it’s up to ski instructor Mina Park to search through the blizzard. What she finds changes the town forever. While Mina doesn’t believe in myths, she does believe in murder.

[image error] Paperback and ebook available on Amazon



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Top Ten Things Outdoor Women Say

10. Do we have exfoliating soap? I need to scrub the race number off my arm.

9. I would buy new clothes, but I’m saving for skis (or harness, or bike, or other favorite toy).

8. Does my ball cap match this shirt?

7. I need waterproof mascara but not like ‘that was a sad movie waterproof,’ but ‘I just slammed my face into a rapid waterproof’ mascara.

6. You’ve never been camping? I’m not sure we’ll have a second date.

5. Sure, it’s a nice car but can I get my SUP board on top?

4. I would go out for drinks but I want to make first tracks in the morning.

3. If I haven’t ran at least three miles before breakfast, my day can’t start.

2. To the pedicurist: Do not file off my callous, it took too long for me to form it.

1.if it’s liquid soap that can’t do my dishes AND wash my hair while I’m camping, it’s not worth carrying. (Courtesy of Katie at adventure-inspired.com)

And one they will never say, I can’t jump in the water because I just did my hair.

The Wondrous Tree Carvings of the Lonely Basque

One drizzly summer day, my friend and I hiked a lovely and lonely trail in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. The only person we ran into on the way down was an old man still spritely making his way up. We stopped to talk; always eager to share and learn tips of the trail.

“Have you heard of arborglyphs,” he asked us.

We shook our head no. He proceeded to give us a brief lesson in one of the most interesting bits of history I’ve learned about the mountains and very vague instructions on where to find one.

The Basque people hail from the Pyrenees mountains straddling France and Spain—yet they are neither French nor Spanish. They are distinct people who are believed to be the oldest indigenous group in Europe. Like many, they sought their fortunes in America during the nineteenth century with many settling on sheep herding as a way of life.

This group of people wasn’t much for journal writing or record keeping, but they kept their own records of their lives in intricate tree carvings. Some messages were personal, others political, and some like the below downright risque.

Apparently these young men were a lonely bunch who liked to remember their favorite prostitutes in all their naked glory.

Most of the carvings are found in the Great Basin Region in Nevada with some in Oregon, California, and Idaho. They are more rare in the Rocky Mountains, making this find in Utah truly remarkable. Like much of the Old West, these carvings are rapidly disappearing as the Aspen trees only live so long.

[image error]The Basque sheepherder definitely took advantage of the tree’s natural gifts to enhance his drawing.

You might ask me where you could find this amazing glance back in history, but I might not tell you. To protect this tree for as long as possible, I won’t post its whereabouts online. However, if you ever find yourself in Utah, I’d be happy to hike up with some discrete hikers—that is if I can find it again. The old man’s instructions were quite vague. Turn at the rocks where the trees are. Apparently there are two arborglyphs, but we only ever found the one.

May you one day stumble onto an old man with glorious stories to tell.

Haunted Halloween Hikes

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Looking for a more excited and less crowded Halloween activity, go on a Halloween Hike! These four Utah hikes will bring in the fun and scary spirt of the season. Scroll through for the silly, creepy, and downright haunted.

Ghost Falls

We start out with a good hike for the little kiddies! This one made the list based on its name alone—not on the scare factor. The little ones will love the distance and the name. And like all of the best hikes for kids, it has water. Ghost Falls is named such because it disappears at times due to low water. Try again in the spring if it’s vanished for the year.

This trail is in the Corner Canyon area of Draper, Utah.

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Goblin’s Lair (Chamber of the Basilisk)

Goblin’s Lair is an oft-missed part of Goblin Valley State Park. I had visited the park several times but never made the short hike. Beguile the kids with tails of the goblins who call the cavern home. Don’t stop exploring once you descend into its creepy depths. On the same wall of the entrance is another small cave waiting to be explored. This trail requires a small amount of scrambling for kids, which ups the adventure factor!

This trail is in Goblin Valley State Park, Utah.

[image error]The entrance to the Lair is hidden from sight.



[image error]Drop into the Lair. To the left is another cave to explore.



[image error]If you’re up for more of an adventure, some rappel in from above.



Spooky Slot Canyon

Spooky has well earned its name. With its high walls, much of this canyon never experiences daylight. The tight walls require going sideways for long distances, making it a no-go for a lot of people. DO NOT attempt if you are larger framed. The tight turns keep you from knowing what’s around the corner—making each step an adventure.

Spooky Slot Canyon is in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park, Utah.

[image error]You can go through or you can go over.



[image error]Hard to believe, but this hole is the trail. Hold your breath and squeeze through.



[image error]The spookiest part of Spooky Canyon.



Memory Grove/City Creek

You can’t have a Halloween hike list without including one haunted hike. Memory Grove stands at the base of City Creek Canyon. As the story goes, a married couple was driving down the canyon after their wedding. Some sort of massive accident occurred killing both occupants but only the husband’s headless corpse was found. If you come down the canyon after dark, you can spot the bride in her blood-stained white dress. In some stories she is looking for her husband; in others she is carrying his head.

Memory Grove is in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.

[image error]The creek divides the the trail from the road.



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[image error]Memory Grove is named for the several memorials throughout the park.

For a an outdoor adventure without ever having to get out, check out the Lost Gorge Mystery series!

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Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

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Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a 1.9 million-acre secret in southern Utah. Not quite sure how it’s remained so hidden but I’ve lived in Utah my entire life and barely knew about it. But within its vast borders are more slot canyons than you can swing a cat at. It has replaced Zion as my new favorite red rock area.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Zion but going there now feels like standing in line for Disneyland on the busier trails. While in Grand Staircase, there are plenty of places in the Park where there isn’t a footfall, let alone a line. There is only one maintained trail in the park and one campground, Lower Calf Creek Falls. Whatever you do, hit the Escalante Interagency Visitor center first. Here you can pick up maps, permits, and plenty of tips on where to go. Because once you hit the park, you’re on your own.

 

[image error]Zebra Slot Canyon is a tight squeeze.

Whatever you do, don’t refer to any of the trails as “trails.” The rangers don’t much like this.

The ranger corrected me three times during our conversation when I used the word “trail” to talk about the pathway to a slot canyon I was searching for. He explained that the park doesn’t maintain any trails so whatever path I may find myself on may or may not lead anywhere. (He was right, learned that lesson for myself.) While I understand his concern, I think he’s fighting a losing battle keeping visitors from using the word trail.

The lack of established trails and campgrounds is a big part of why the monument is far off most people’s radar. All of the roads through the park are maintained gravel roads and most of the trails (excuse me, paths) are several miles off the paved road. I got lost on the way to the first slot I visited because I followed a beaten path to nowhere. Luckily, I had a map to get me back on track.

The closest slot I found to the highway ten miles down a gravel road. But you know what else I found there—no line of people heading down the path. Difficult to get to but the beauty and the wildness, so worthwhile.

Where it is: Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument is the size of Delaware. Where isn’t it, might be a more apt question. Highway 12 runs through the north side of the monument and is the most popular side. That might be because the south side borders Lake Powell so you’d need a boat. You may be familiar with this highway from visiting Bryce but don’t stop at Bryce, keeping going. The road between Bryce and Torrey is a road that should only exist in the imagination and even as you drive it, you question its existence.

For a an outdoor adventure without ever having to get out, check out the Lost Gorge Mystery series!

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Need Outdoor Gear? When to Buy, Rent, or Steal

We do one of two things when it comes to buying outdoor gear for our newest sport. We either go all out and buy the most expensive gear, including matching clothes after trying the sport once. Or, we beg, borrow, or buy the cheapest stuff available. Either way, we’re in for some problems. Keep scrolling for how to know when to buy, rent, or steal. 

Those of us who must have the best and need to have it now all have garages, attics, or closets filled with sporting equipment we don’t use. There’s the bicycle from that triathlon you were going to do but then your running buddy got pregnant, not to mention the clip-in shoes that the salesman swore would decrease your time. Now they’re collecting dust and you don’t want to sell it because that would be giving up on your dream to compete (and admitting your spouse was right).

On the other extreme are the cheapskates among us who refuse to buy new or expensive equipment because it’s not like they’re pro. The last skis you bought were in the seventies when you got that snazzy one-piece snowsuit thrown in for paying cash. Your skis stand a foot above your head and often hear the comment on the lift, “You ski on those?” But after all, you reason, hundred-dollar skis get you to the same place as thousand-dollar skis.

I’ve made both of these mistakes in my life. The first skis I bought, I picked up at a garage sale for $15, my boots at a swap for $5. My instructor wouldn’t let me ski until he took me into the rental shop to get a wax on them. He told me to get the rust edged off before I came for another lesson.

They were too skinny, too long, and too stiff for a person of my ability level. I spent the season at the back of my class, struggling to keep up on basic greens. If I hadn’t found a pair of beginner skis for $100 at a ski swap the next winter, I probably would’ve given up the sport for good.

Then the season before last, I lost a pair of skis (turns out if you leave your skis in the resort parking lot, they’re gone for good). I became obsessed with a certain set of skis, which after demoing for one hour, I was determined to own. No shop in Utah had them, so I ordered them special from California for way too much money. But I decided the “right” ski was worth it. The skis were taller than I was used to, but all the “experts” said that since the skis were rockered that wouldn’t be a problem. After buying them and trying to ski on varied terrain, it was a problem.

Turns out rockered skis should be on average 5 to 6 centimeters longer than what you’re used to. Unfortunately my new skis were 14 centimeters longer. I had to punch the brakes on anything steep and couldn’t get out of my backseat. I fought all season before admitting defeat when I realized that hills I had skied with ease now challenged me.

I learned my lesson. I went to Christy’s at Deer Valley and paid the demo fee to try out different skis. Christy’s is right next to the mountain base and for the price of one daily demo, you can take out different skis all day long. It was an eye-opening experience for me to feel the difference between skis of different brands and slightly different sizes. One ski would have me charging down steeper stuff and the next, crawling down an easy blue.

[image error]Taking my first surf lesson, which provided all the gear I would need. Unfortunately, I don’t live near a beach so I didn’t buy. To make up for it, I’ve since bought two paddle boards.

What I’ve learned from my experiences is to not buy the cheapest nor the most expensive, instead buy what works for you. Don’t let a salesman pressure you into a decision you’re not ready to make and always give any big purchases thought. You don’t want to end up with a bunch of gear you don’t need because you didn’t know better.

If you’re just starting a sport or wanting to try a new one, find out where you can rent or borrow the equipment. Go a few times to ensure that this is something your committed to and not some passing fancy like when you were totally going to take up rock climbing but then realized after you bought the gear and went once, you hate heights. Take lessons or go with experienced friends and ask them what you really need to participate. You can ride a bike in jogging clothes, no one will mock you.

Good luck on your new adventure. I’m off to go snowshoe shopping even though I haven’t been yet. (It just looks so darn fun and I need more snow-based sports. And after all, I only need the shoes…oh and a new outfit. Does it require poles, a GPS? I bet the guys at the store will know. Better grab the credit card.)

Free Printable for Autumn Activities BINGO Card

Add a lot more fun to your fall with these autumn BINGO cards. The game is simple, call out the fall activity and the first person who gets five in a row, wins!

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Play this game in person or online. For an example of how this could work, check out the Team Clean Romance Facebook page on October 21. Click on the link below for the printable PDF.

Use this interactive activity to tell some fun memories and stories! It’s a great way to start a conversation and get to know your loved ones. Share the memory of the time you lost your grandkids in a cornmaze (or is this just my mom?) or time I drove to see the fall colors and almost hit a photographer and bride (who stands in the middle of the road?).

Downloadable Autumn Activities BINGO Card

Cuddle up this fall with a sweet romance. Mirabelle brings romance alive each autumn for her guests, but she’s determined to stay single. Will her heart be stolen before the last leaf falls?

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