Posts by Rick
Commitment to Write
It’s always at the back of my mind. I want to write. I read a short article somewhere this morning about the benefits of writing. I know the benefits. Then the article talked about how to make it a habit. I already know how. The answer is to write. Just do it. With so many…
Read MoreLots Happened
A lot has happened over the winter. I’ve completed my final day of commitment to ski school and there are three days remaining in Monarch’s season. I’ve got lots of pictures, lots of names of students, lots of experiences. I’m sorry I have not kept up with this blog. Seems once I start getting busy…
Read MoreFun With Gunnar
Got to ski with one of my favorite students, Gunnar, yesterday. As far as his technique goes we’re working on getting him to use his legs more to initiate and steer his turns. He has a tendency to swing his shoulders to get his skis to start turning and so he ends up using primarily…
Read MoreA-Framing
I’ve been told recently that I am “a-framing” in my skiing. At first I thought that it’s still early season and I happen to be unnecessarily outside ski dominant. I blame it on old learned habits where I am pressure biased, counter rotated, and predominately skiing one leg at a time. Or you could simply…
Read MoreContent is Still King
A HubSpot article I read in my Google Reader, but lost the citation to, said, “. . . it is critical to provide news, information and thought-leadership content in a format that allows for maximum consumption and engagement from prospects, leads and customers.” That quote wanted me to make a poster out of it and put…
Read MoreCassandra
Cassandra “Cassy” M. is a really great student that I get to be with for at least 5 three hour lessons, hopefully more. Her dad requested me for all the lessons, which makes it all even more special. Our first was on the 27th. She’s 9, from Denver. She and her family stay in Buena…
Read MoreChristine, Heidi
Christine B. is a nurse in Colorado Springs. She signed up for a Level 1 Group lesson on Nov. 27th. Heidi is a new instructor at Monarch this year and was allowed (asked) to “shadow” this lesson. The lesson began at 9 am and was scheduled to last 1 hour and 45 minutes. Christine is…
Read MoreMy First Official Guest of the Year
Monarch Mountain opened yesterday. The snow is a little thin but in pretty good shape. Had my first student of this season yesterday in a private lesson. Melissa P. is a student in Ft Collins. She’s from Pueblo, Colorado. She very excited to get going on her brand new ski, boots, and poles that she…
Read MoreAttended PSIA Fall Training
Had the opportunity to attend PSIA-RM-AASI Fall Training in Breckenridge last week. Clinics I attended on day one: Movement Analysis Applications, Area Representative lunch (sort of), Coaching Exam Maneuvers, 2010-2011 Exam Process clinics. Day two clinics I attended: Personal Riding Improvement in the morning, Progression Building in the afternoon. All in all it involved a lot…
Read MoreTwo Fundamental Models to Teaching Well
Two models found in PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors Association) Rocky Mountain Division, are the Teaching Model and the Guest Centered Teaching (GCT) Concept. These should be ingrained in every instructor in all they do. They should be second nature to how they conduct snowsports instruction. Overlayed on the graphic example of the GCT model below is…
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