marzNC
Angel Diva
Sorry, when I asked about walking around on a flat with only one ski what I was curious about was whether you had ever been asked to do that last season as a novice skier in a beginner lesson. Probably shouldn't have called it a "drill." My sense is that it's often part of the introduction to the first experience on skis. As explained to me by my friend who has a PSIA-E Master Teacher Certification and I observed at Loveland. He's been an instructor for a long time and in our age bracket.Yes, definitely the "good for me" type. I felt like a never-ever, but I didn't do any drills. Just tried to get around.
I remember watching the never-ever class for young kids at Massanutten just walking around on snow in ski boots before they ever get to put on their skis. On my daughter's first day at age 4 (13 years ago), she got bored during the first 45-min segment because they were just playing games in ski boots and not sliding on skis. She was much happier after the morning break when they started taking the magic carpet. She was was riding the lift with the instructor and three other 5yo girls after lunch. By 2pm when ski school was over, I had a budding ski buddy in the making.
Since we've also been talking about the first two days on snow, I was thinking that for a skier who is still a beginner or even intermediate later in life, getting re-aquainted with the feel of sliding on snow during the first day or two of a season with only one ski so that there is less chance of a fall might be useful. Especially on a day that's icy all over the open trails.
The scariest part of my first ski day this season was making my way down the icy slope to the K1 Lodge in my ski boots only when going in for a break. By the end of the day I decided that going the long way around that was much flatter to go in the doors that face up the slopes was a better idea.