I am forever grateful to get to experience this level of instruction. Skills aside, having a coach with the ability to explain concepts well while matching the students learning pace is priceless. Lucky me! (Now back to the slopes for day #4 of my ski career!)
Your comment "A lot going on in my brain" made me laugh in sympathy. I remember my own struggle to mentally juggle the multitudinous rules of skiing before those rules started to get absorbed into muscle memory (still not 100% though). My ski runs often consisted of me muttering to myself all the way down the hill about all the things I kept forgetting to do.
@@nickjsky1 Golf is the absolute worst that way. With skiing even while learning something new, and struggling, it’s still a blast. Golf not so much. 😂
This is really amazing! Third day on skis!!! Very very impressive. Having an excellent instructor is so important. I ski for 40 years and still learn from Deb.
I know that you have an exceptional student, but still, the way that you teach is also exceptional. My guess is that a lot of ski teachers should emulate your approach, it would be easier for them an their students. Kudos for your videos, you’re in a class of your own.
Absolutely incredible progress. I feel lucky to have started so young after watching this series; even if you're supremely talented, it takes a lot of turns to figure it out. Very grateful for all the family, friends, and coaches who showed me the way. Deb, your videos are an invaluable resource for sharing the sport with new skiers who might not have the funds for professional instruction. Thanks as always.
@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong This is decent progress because the student is conscientiously athletic, but adults esp. tend to get stuck in this intermediate plateau if they don't start skiing foot to foot (or rather balancing from heel to heel). The real point of the pole plant or tap is to time the strong/outside heel pressure, by transferring body weight and balance onto that foot by using the arm on that side. He's far from that giving he's still backseat wedging, so pole "plants" at this point are just going through the motions without much purpose. Going to too steep of a slope (ie blue) isn't productive because it only causes people to ski scared/cautious, ie in the back seat wedge.
@@agenthex who are you? I find this comment silly. Aaron has been skiing for 10 hours in this video. Let mesay that again, 10 hours. Of course he is working the large, gross, muscle groups, not perfectly flexed, balanced. I have met his motivation and his athletic ability and given him all the content he needs to gain mileage for where he wants to ski. The entire mountain. On his own he will gain nuanced balance and muscle control. Your critique is odd considering the circumstance.
I'll just come to where you teach-coach. English is not my first language but I bet you cant find a better instructor than Deb. I feel like she is the mother of all skiers.
DEB, thanks so much for selecting an 'adult' skier (Aaron) to demonstrate your super techniques. (I know you have fun with the "kid videos" - their fearless joy & eagerness to please - but I appreciate you noting that many of your fans are "grown-ups" -- JUST as happy to learn and to please.) So much of today's fun of being a baby boomer skier is LEARNING! Those of us who started with the 'snowplow,' stem christie; wedge christie, all the way to parallel - even - GASP - wedeln! (back in the '60s & '70s) find it exhilarating and a fun challenge to learn the NEW ways. I love the way Aaron grapples mentally as he puts all your skills together. He is both a "thinker" AND an achiever, and he exemplifies many of your subscribers who embrace the learning process, as well as the sheer joy of ripping down a mountain! I wish you would feature MORE older skiers -- those of us who learned back in 'prehistoric times' and possess an enduring appetite to LEARN! (i.e., Embracing the shorter skis...keeping our feet apart more for balance!...& maybe best of all, the CORRECT POLE PLANT - boy, does that make a difference!) One last thought: One of the best ways I learned to be a better skier, was to follow those on the slope who were making the moves that I knew I should be making! I love when your students have the opportunity to FOLLOW YOU, and emulate what they see. (Lito Tejada-Flores' video "Breakthrough on Skis: How to Get out of the Intermediate Rut," was an amazing example of learning by following. If I'd worked as hard at school as I did on mimicking Lito's tips, I'd probably have gotten into Harvard. Lol! Quick funny story: my twin & I were skiing at Vail and saw "this awesome figure" flowing down the slope. I said "that has GOT to be Lito!!" And....it was.! P.S. For sheer fun, you might enjoy browsing an issue or two of 'Senior Skiing.' Particularly this recent article addressed to senior skiers re "how they learned" way back then: www.seniorsskiing.com/question-for-you-how-did-you-learn/ Thanks, as always, for your skills and inspiration! Kudos to Aaron! (And hugs/woofs to Charlie.)
Your videos have been immensely helpful to me as a 35 year old learning to ski for the first time. After watching many of your videos and remembering the concepts explained in your videos, I was confident enough to make it from top to bottom in control on blue runs my second day on skis. Thanks for everything.
Watching these has convinced me to take some one on one lessons next season. I was a pretty good skier when I was younger, but never learned to properly carve and I ski quite intermittently, so I've just relied on bad technique to get me through. I ski on Ohio too, so the runs aren't very long and conditions are usually crappy. I'm learning more about gear and stuff too now, so hopefully I can take a nice step forward in progression next season. Love these vids btw
The pole touch was a game changer for me! I was struggling going from wedge to parallel and making turns until I saw another video about this. This video reinforced what I was practicing the last time on the hill. This is my first season skiing and I'm 56 btw.
I like the term pole touch because that is an accurate description. The touch helps with timing. As skiers progress in their skills they will use this touch in short radius turns and eventually fine it useful when skiing moguls , off piste in ungroomed snow and definitely in steep narrow terrain.
What an amazing combo of teacher and student! Awe inspiring!! (BTW glad he dumped the red NorthFace jacket. I used to have that exact one and it stinks).
I like holding the pole above the head as a drill to get Aaron to focus on turning his legs. Well done! Another similar drill I like using is having the skier hold their poles in one hand and move it around their waist transferring from hand to hand as they make longer radius turns on relatively flat to moderate terrain. They get so focused on keeping the movement of the poles going they completely forget about using the upper body to get the skis turning!
Great progress by Aaron. Multiple touches with the ski pole? Wow! That will give the wrist a head's up. Everybody else: no need to apply the position is filled!
So grateful for you, DA. Never a bad video lesson. My skiing has improved from these and I always watch several before I head out. Any vids on here on making quicker turns? I'm trying to shorten turn radius to regulate speed on steep runs. I've got 2 days left on my pass and want to use your coaching before the end of season. Thanks and all the best.
Same movements quicker tempo. Establish the new outside leg earlier, the uphill foot, with good ankle flexion. The earlier you establish the new outside leg, the uphill foot, the quicker you can be. Active, active legs!
Deb, your teaching style and level of instruction are amazing. These videos are helpful. I know instruction is very individualized but have you ever thought on doing a instructional series either on RUclips or downloadable on your website for step by step basic instruction on how to ski ? Thanks
Nice thought. Lots of work. Not sure yet😉 on my youtube home page I do have various playlists for different levels of skiing and various ski related topics. I am happy you are appreciating the content.
Deb,as a ski instructor now in my early 60's, I have been watching with great interest some of your clips for years now. You are doing a great job with this very capable newbie! My experience is that physical capabilities are premium (looks like he's got that) to obtain great progress.... as well for all levels...Then comes what I consider the tough ones to acquire: Understanding where are the inges, ie.: ankles, knee and (waste)or more so the hip ball socket where the leg pivots and turn!! and that upper and lower body seperation to create direction and angles to provide grip on the steeps .This should come come from turning the legs in the socket and not turning the lower back which is somewhat very typical and what I am seeing here with your newbie.....What is your approach to help your students realise the difference between turning the leg s -vs- turning the lower back?
Having only been skiing for 1 full season, I guess I'm confused as to what the point of the pole plant is used for? I was taught to keep my arms in front of me and poles pointed down and back towards me but also at an angle, like in a V shape, if that makes sense. I've seen other videos of yours, I use sort of a Super G pole hold position but hands aren't together. I've heard you mention pole plants before but it doesn't make any sense to me. Once I'm warmed up, I often hold both poles in one hand since I don't really know what to do with them unless I'm in the flats or controlling myself in line for a chair lift. How to pole plant is easy to understand once you went over it with Aaron. But the why, I don't get it lol. Thanks for the videos tho, they really are helpful to us newbs!
You don't 'need' to pole plant, but think about a human brain and what it will tell the body to do if presented with a very steeply graded pitch? It will stand up and not want to make the body perpendicular with the pitch. If your body is in the position where it can reach forward, down the pitch, and pole plant in front of your downhill ski, on a steep pitch, then the pole plant has done its job of putting you in an excellent skiing position - and it really helps keep your torso pointing down the hill and stable.
I’ve been an expert skier so long I haven’t thought much about pole plants. Pole plants are essential to progress. They set the timing and body position properly when turning - especially fast linked turns. It’s hard to explain not being a teacher lol. It should be fairly easy to see however. In this vid note how much better the student is turning at the end of the vid versus at the beginning. He is turning more freely with less effort. His upper body isn’t statue stiff. All due to introducing pole plants.
@@RobRikerTechChannel you will find this to be a complete game-changer as it will move your torso mass forward, maybe almost as much as 1-foot (maybe even more), and all of a sudden the skis will start working how they should - being flexed from the middle of the ski - you may even find that you can carve down a steep pitch which might freak you out - but then you will finally understand how ski racers carve down steeps - good luck
@@wallstreetoneil The general purpose of the pole plant (or tap rather) for advanced carving skiers is to time weight transfer to the new outside foot. It's only really on stuff like moguls where the pole plant is blocking, ie. fixes upper body position.
Спорт
I am forever grateful to get to experience this level of instruction. Skills aside, having a coach with the ability to explain concepts well while matching the students learning pace is priceless. Lucky me! (Now back to the slopes for day #4 of my ski career!)
Have fun out there today Aaron. Working with someone like yourself is extremely rare and such a pleasure!!!!! Thank you😉😉
Great progress… day 3 on some challenging terrain as well. You even had a couple jump turns in there.
Your comment "A lot going on in my brain" made me laugh in sympathy. I remember my own struggle to mentally juggle the multitudinous rules of skiing before those rules started to get absorbed into muscle memory (still not 100% though). My ski runs often consisted of me muttering to myself all the way down the hill about all the things I kept forgetting to do.
@@nickjsky1 Golf is the absolute worst that way. With skiing even while learning something new, and struggling, it’s still a blast. Golf not so much. 😂
@@mrsmartypants_1 agreed. That's why I dumped golf a loooong time ago. It was all struggle but no accomplishments and fun.
This is really amazing! Third day on skis!!! Very very impressive. Having an excellent instructor is so important. I ski for 40 years and still learn from Deb.
I know that you have an exceptional student, but still, the way that you teach is also exceptional. My guess is that a lot of ski teachers should emulate your approach, it would be easier for them an their students. Kudos for your videos, you’re in a class of your own.
Absolutely incredible progress. I feel lucky to have started so young after watching this series; even if you're supremely talented, it takes a lot of turns to figure it out. Very grateful for all the family, friends, and coaches who showed me the way. Deb, your videos are an invaluable resource for sharing the sport with new skiers who might not have the funds for professional instruction. Thanks as always.
Great!!!! Thanks for the comment. .that is my intention, to make content accessible for everyone. Then hopefully more skiers who can ski skillfully😉😉😉
@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong This is decent progress because the student is conscientiously athletic, but adults esp. tend to get stuck in this intermediate plateau if they don't start skiing foot to foot (or rather balancing from heel to heel). The real point of the pole plant or tap is to time the strong/outside heel pressure, by transferring body weight and balance onto that foot by using the arm on that side. He's far from that giving he's still backseat wedging, so pole "plants" at this point are just going through the motions without much purpose. Going to too steep of a slope (ie blue) isn't productive because it only causes people to ski scared/cautious, ie in the back seat wedge.
@@agenthex who are you? I find this comment silly. Aaron has been skiing for 10 hours in this video. Let mesay that again, 10 hours. Of course he is working the large, gross, muscle groups, not perfectly flexed, balanced. I have met his motivation and his athletic ability and given him all the content he needs to gain mileage for where he wants to ski. The entire mountain. On his own he will gain nuanced balance and muscle control. Your critique is odd considering the circumstance.
@@agenthex i suggest you watch the first video in this wedge to mogul video series as well. You may get a bit more context.
OMG that run at the beginning of this vid!!!! So pretty!
I'll just come to where you teach-coach. English is not my first language but I bet you cant find a better instructor than Deb. I feel like she is the mother of all skiers.
Unbelievable progress and teaching. Amazing job both of you! and thanks for sharing this, Aaron- you are helping others improve even as you do.
Thanks Deb! I'm planning on returning to teaching next season and I will be channeling my inner Deb!
DEB, thanks so much for selecting an 'adult' skier (Aaron) to demonstrate your super techniques. (I know you have fun with the "kid videos" - their fearless joy & eagerness to please - but I appreciate you noting that many of your fans are "grown-ups" -- JUST as happy to learn and to please.)
So much of today's fun of being a baby boomer skier is LEARNING! Those of us who started with the 'snowplow,' stem christie; wedge christie, all the way to parallel - even - GASP - wedeln! (back in the '60s & '70s) find it exhilarating and a fun challenge to learn the NEW ways.
I love the way Aaron grapples mentally as he puts all your skills together. He is both a "thinker" AND an achiever, and he exemplifies many of your subscribers who embrace the learning process, as well as the sheer joy of ripping down a mountain! I wish you would feature MORE older skiers -- those of us who learned back in 'prehistoric times' and possess an enduring appetite to LEARN! (i.e., Embracing the shorter skis...keeping our feet apart more for balance!...& maybe best of all, the CORRECT POLE PLANT - boy, does that make a difference!)
One last thought: One of the best ways I learned to be a better skier, was to follow those on the slope who were making the moves that I knew I should be making! I love when your students have the opportunity to FOLLOW YOU, and emulate what they see. (Lito Tejada-Flores' video "Breakthrough on Skis: How to Get out of the Intermediate Rut," was an amazing example of learning by following. If I'd worked as hard at school as I did on mimicking Lito's tips, I'd probably have gotten into Harvard. Lol! Quick funny story: my twin & I were skiing at Vail and saw "this awesome figure" flowing down the slope. I said "that has GOT to be Lito!!" And....it was.!
P.S. For sheer fun, you might enjoy browsing an issue or two of 'Senior Skiing.' Particularly this recent article addressed to senior skiers re "how they learned" way back then:
www.seniorsskiing.com/question-for-you-how-did-you-learn/
Thanks, as always, for your skills and inspiration! Kudos to Aaron! (And hugs/woofs to Charlie.)
Fabulous. Thank you
that is unbelievable for just 3 days. Nice job guys
Your videos have been immensely helpful to me as a 35 year old learning to ski for the first time. After watching many of your videos and remembering the concepts explained in your videos, I was confident enough to make it from top to bottom in control on blue runs my second day on skis. Thanks for everything.
Watching these has convinced me to take some one on one lessons next season. I was a pretty good skier when I was younger, but never learned to properly carve and I ski quite intermittently, so I've just relied on bad technique to get me through. I ski on Ohio too, so the runs aren't very long and conditions are usually crappy. I'm learning more about gear and stuff too now, so hopefully I can take a nice step forward in progression next season. Love these vids btw
Your channel is fantastic Deb. I am using all your tips and drills and I had a great progress! Thanks.
Great!!!!!
The pole touch was a game changer for me! I was struggling going from wedge to parallel and making turns until I saw another video about this. This video reinforced what I was practicing the last time on the hill. This is my first season skiing and I'm 56 btw.
I like the term pole touch because that is an accurate description. The touch helps with timing. As skiers progress in their skills they will use this touch in short radius turns and eventually fine it useful when skiing moguls , off piste in ungroomed snow and definitely in steep narrow terrain.
thats a great lesson, the active steering. i ski at breckenridge and i see alot of skiers who dont know anything about steering. arron is doing great!
What an amazing combo of teacher and student! Awe inspiring!!
(BTW glad he dumped the red NorthFace jacket. I used to have that exact one and it stinks).
I like holding the pole above the head as a drill to get Aaron to focus on turning his legs. Well done! Another similar drill I like using is having the skier hold their poles in one hand and move it around their waist transferring from hand to hand as they make longer radius turns on relatively flat to moderate terrain. They get so focused on keeping the movement of the poles going they completely forget about using the upper body to get the skis turning!
Fantastic STEP BY STEP
Great teaching.
Great progress by Aaron. Multiple touches with the ski pole? Wow! That will give the wrist a head's up. Everybody else: no need to apply the position is filled!
I would love to have a day long lesson with this fabulous instructor.
Brilliant 3 days 👏 I can't do that after 5 weeks lol 🙈
Love it
Wow, olympic moguls by the end of the week. 👍😄😄
I got a lot out of these vids, see myself at times.
So grateful for you, DA. Never a bad video lesson. My skiing has improved from these and I always watch several before I head out. Any vids on here on making quicker turns? I'm trying to shorten turn radius to regulate speed on steep runs. I've got 2 days left on my pass and want to use your coaching before the end of season. Thanks and all the best.
Same movements quicker tempo. Establish the new outside leg earlier, the uphill foot, with good ankle flexion. The earlier you establish the new outside leg, the uphill foot, the quicker you can be. Active, active legs!
A great teacher and a great student! I cannot wait to ski like this but the fear of steep slopes prevents my progress. ☹️
Found a bunch!
I’d like to see more of his progression; please.
Soon😉
Deb, your teaching style and level of instruction are amazing. These videos are helpful. I know instruction is very individualized but have you ever thought on doing a instructional series either on RUclips or downloadable on your website for step by step basic instruction on how to ski ? Thanks
Nice thought. Lots of work. Not sure yet😉 on my youtube home page I do have various playlists for different levels of skiing and various ski related topics. I am happy you are appreciating the content.
Deb,as a ski instructor now in my early 60's, I have been watching with great interest some of your clips for years now. You are doing a great job with this very capable newbie! My experience is that physical capabilities are premium (looks like he's got that) to obtain great progress.... as well for all levels...Then comes what I consider the tough ones to acquire: Understanding where are the inges, ie.: ankles, knee and (waste)or more so the hip ball socket where the leg pivots and turn!! and that upper and lower body seperation to create direction and angles to provide grip on the steeps .This should come come from turning the legs in the socket and not turning the lower back which is somewhat very typical and what I am seeing here with your newbie.....What is your approach to help your students realise the difference between turning the leg s -vs- turning the lower back?
Watch my video, "for steeps how to turn the legs independant of the upper body". I think this will answer your question. Thanks!
Wondering if you have any suggestions for skiing in heavy snow. Yesterday, I struggled because of it.
Deb, has he moved on to carving? Please post the video. Luv ya. James
Very good video; it gav me a lot to chew on.
Having only been skiing for 1 full season, I guess I'm confused as to what the point of the pole plant is used for? I was taught to keep my arms in front of me and poles pointed down and back towards me but also at an angle, like in a V shape, if that makes sense. I've seen other videos of yours, I use sort of a Super G pole hold position but hands aren't together. I've heard you mention pole plants before but it doesn't make any sense to me. Once I'm warmed up, I often hold both poles in one hand since I don't really know what to do with them unless I'm in the flats or controlling myself in line for a chair lift. How to pole plant is easy to understand once you went over it with Aaron. But the why, I don't get it lol. Thanks for the videos tho, they really are helpful to us newbs!
You don't 'need' to pole plant, but think about a human brain and what it will tell the body to do if presented with a very steeply graded pitch? It will stand up and not want to make the body perpendicular with the pitch. If your body is in the position where it can reach forward, down the pitch, and pole plant in front of your downhill ski, on a steep pitch, then the pole plant has done its job of putting you in an excellent skiing position - and it really helps keep your torso pointing down the hill and stable.
@@wallstreetoneil ok, that actually makes sense. I've always struggled on black diamond runs and that might be why.
I’ve been an expert skier so long I haven’t thought much about pole plants. Pole plants are essential to progress. They set the timing and body position properly when turning - especially fast linked turns. It’s hard to explain not being a teacher lol. It should be fairly easy to see however. In this vid note how much better the student is turning at the end of the vid versus at the beginning. He is turning more freely with less effort. His upper body isn’t statue stiff. All due to introducing pole plants.
@@RobRikerTechChannel you will find this to be a complete game-changer as it will move your torso mass forward, maybe almost as much as 1-foot (maybe even more), and all of a sudden the skis will start working how they should - being flexed from the middle of the ski - you may even find that you can carve down a steep pitch which might freak you out - but then you will finally understand how ski racers carve down steeps - good luck
@@wallstreetoneil The general purpose of the pole plant (or tap rather) for advanced carving skiers is to time weight transfer to the new outside foot. It's only really on stuff like moguls where the pole plant is blocking, ie. fixes upper body position.
can you teach me moguls? I love your videos...:-)
Have you found my mogul playlist on my channel? Check it out
@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong not yet...I look it up!
This has been a great segment for myself, thanks Deb! As a 39 year old who didn’t start skiing until 37, these are great tips! You’re the best!