A&A Performance Ski Camp - NZ

[AJM]

Well gals its actually going ahead next week - YAY !! I've been looking forward to this for nearly a year from when when it was first discussed.
After a super lean season I was reluctant to invest a huge amount of money on suitable ski's and its been a struggle to find anything but I've ended up with a used pair of Volkl Flair 72 SC E (2018 model) that have probably only seen snow maybe twice so in incredible condition.
The tag line for the camp is 'Smoother, Faster, Cleaner and Steeper" and although it will be mainly on piste there will be off piste training as well which I'm really looking forward to. We've been asked to bring along an All Mtn ski as well as a Piste/Frontside one.

The camp runs for 5 days (Mon - Fri) and we'll be training on snow for 2.5hrs in the morning then another 2 or so hours in the afternoon followed by video analysis/discussion and apre in the lodge... DH is already saying he's coming aloong for the apre

I'll try and write a running report either during or it may end up being once the camp is completed.

Hopefully I'll get a chance this week to actually get out and try the Volkls otherwise I'm going in blind!

To say I'm excited is an understatement

 

[liquidfeet]

I'll try and write a running report either during or it may end up being once the camp is completed.


To say I'm excited is an understatement

Can't wait to read your reports. I hope you can find the time to do them daily. These are going to provide serious vicarious on-snow fun!

 

[Rashika]

Absolutely agree, can't wait to see how it goes, would love to do something like this one day!

 

[tinymoose]

Just chiming in can't wait to hear your updates and hope you can do them daily!

 

[AJM]

No pressure then ladies
I'll try my hardest to write them up daily, it will actually be good for me as well to get it written down then it gets it out of my head which can sometimes be a busy place for info to be stored !!
I went up today just to have a few runs and Geeeez Louise its getting thin up there with this stupid warm weather, we desperately need a few really good freezes to lock it up, hopefully it can just hold out another week or so ... fingers crossed.
I wanted to have a test run on the Volkl Flairs but they are still at my local ski shop having a tune so I just bounced around on my Mindbenders. Hopefully I get the Volkls back in time to get back up before the camp starts otherwise its going to be a "quick lets make friends" situation on day 1.

 

[VickiK]

good for me as well to get it written down then it gets it out of my head which can sometimes be a busy place for info to be stored !!

I should do this too because I forget stuff.

 

[AJM]

Absolutely agree, can't wait to see how it goes, would love to do something like this one day!

Camps like this are pretty thin on the ground round here which is why having this one is so special. There's the Rookie Camps down at TC and the Sofa Ski Campers are currently at Porters training but to be honest I'm not so sure about the Sofa one from what I can see its a lot of "follow me" type instruction, I may be wrong but it dosent look like a good fit for me.
Porters is super busy at the moment with the Sofa crew, the L1 instrustors assesments and get this ..... the Chinese SkiMo Olympic team are training there as well and they are so impressive to watch, they skin up then ski down and they are so fast on the uphill, everyone is in awe of their fitness levels oh and there is still a Japanese race team training as well .... not much room for the rest of us

 

[AJM]

I should do this too because I forget stuff.

I either forget it or it just goes round and round in my head, I find it much better to get it written down then there's space for the next lot of info to land.

 

[Rashika]

I either forget it or it just goes round and round in my head, I find it much better to get it written down then there's space for the next lot of info to land.

I do this after any lessons, or even after watching some ski lesson videos. Even just short notes is helpful to keep the ideas in my head for when I need or want to practice them.
And u will have a lot of info going round, love that u are doing this!
Got everything crossed that the snow will b enough, looks like maybe more this weekend although more norwesters as well, damnit!

 

[Jilly]

There are a couple of guys on the Rookie camp reporting on SkiTalk. Conditions are not the best for sure. Hoping for some snow for you!!

 

[AJM]

There are a couple of guys on the Rookie camp reporting on SkiTalk. Conditions are not the best for sure. Hoping for some snow for you!!

Yes I've been following them, conditions this year in NZ are the worst we've seen for a very long time. Its been so warm and today the trend continues. We did have some fantastic cold dry snow last week and enjoyed that for a couple of days but now its back to rock infested slop or concrete depending on the aspect
I've been following the Chilean trip report on SkiTalk as well and it sounds like their powder did a similar transformation.
We are all getting a little anxious I have to say.

 

[scandium]

I either forget it or it just goes round and round in my head, I find it much better to get it written down then there's space for the next lot of info to land.

Definitely write it down! I have notes dating back to 2020, which is super helpful for remembering things

 

[Trailside Trixie]

I have notes I put on index cards from a weekend clinic I did and I keep them in my boot bag whenever I need a pick me up/reminder of stuff. Have fun at your clinic. Can't wait to hear about it.

 

[santacruz skier]

Very unlike me, but I actually wrote "Ski Tips" in the "Notes" app on my iPhone from Taos ski clinics... I suppose I should look at them now and then.

 

[SkiBam]

Yeah, for sure write stuff down. As a CSIA member I've been in dozens of clinics over the years – and I started noticing a theme in the comments. Mainly it was something like "get more over the outside ski." But that only really happened when I focused on getting more weight OFF OF the inside ski (and pulling the new inside foot back) and I'm not sure I recall ever being told specifically that. Though I guess in different ways I was hearing the same thing and now (at an advanced age!) I think I ski better than ever. (Not saying I want to tackle really hairy terrain and I do like to stop and smell the roses a bit more than I used to.)

Anyway, have a great clinic. Can you feel the envy coming from the Northern Hemisphere? (And wishing you some colder temps!)

 

[AJM]

I have notes I put on index cards from a weekend clinic I did and I keep them in my boot bag whenever I need a pick me up/reminder of stuff. Have fun at your clinic. Can't wait to hear about it.

Thats what I do !! I use DH's business cards and keep them in my boot bag as well xx

 

[AJM]

Yeah, for sure write stuff down. As a CSIA member I've been in dozens of clinics over the years – and I started noticing a theme in the comments. Mainly it was something like "get more over the outside ski." But that only really happened when I focused on getting more weight OFF OF the inside ski (and pulling the new inside foot back) and I'm not sure I recall ever being told specifically that. Though I guess in different ways I was hearing the same thing and now (at an advanced age!) I think I ski better than ever. (Not saying I want to tackle really hairy terrain and I do like to stop and smell the roses a bit more than I used to.)

Anyway, have a great clinic. Can you feel the envy coming from the Northern Hemisphere? (And wishing you some colder temps!)

I've a feeling I'll be writing down "get more over the outside ski" as well !!
I'm hoping we get to ski off piste too as although that is my preferred zone its also the area where my bad habits come back.
I've had a few tips from one of the coaches over the last couple of seasons and have really noticed a difference which is why spending a whole week with him is pretty exciting.
Now we just need to get rid of this crazy warm, wet and windy weather pattern thats plaguing us !

 

[AJM]

Just as a sidenote, quite a few people (local people I ski with or have interactions with when I'm up skiing) have asked bemused why I'm doing the camp and seem confused by the fact that someone who can ski pretty well wants to participate almost to the point of being dismissive
Has anyone else come across this or is it a Kiwi "she'll be right just point em and send em" mentality ?

 

[marzNC]

Just as a sidenote, quite a few people (local people I ski with or have interactions with when I'm up skiing) have asked bemused why I'm doing the camp and seem confused by the fact that someone who can ski pretty well wants to participate almost to the point of being dismissive
Has anyone else come across this or is it a Kiwi "she'll be right just point em and send em" mentality ?

It's very common for adult skiers who are past the beginner stage to think there is little reason to do a clinic or any sort of group lesson. For that matter, at my home hill, most never-ever adults don't bother to get the package for lift ticket, gear rental, and a starter lesson. They think lessons are for kids. When there used to be a 90-min group lessons for intermediates, it was a great deal because there were rarely more than 4 students even during weekends. Alta has group lessons for intermediate adults and the groups are always small. Some of the most experienced instructors teach those lessons midweek.

It's fair to say that most recreational skiers don't know what they don't know about whatever the next level of skiing could be for them after working with a very experienced instructor/coach. Could say the same about many recreational tennis players, golfers, etc.

Had I known what I know now about finding good instructors, I would've found a way to take lessons regularly as soon as it was obvious that my daughter loved to ski. I put her in ski school at age 4. I was a confident adventurous intermediate back then. She was better than I was by age 11 even only skiing 10-14 days a season, mostly at a small hill plus 1-week spring break ski trips to Alta starting at age 7. Took me several years and lots practice and mileage to be able to ski the advanced terrain she was skiing as an older tween.

 

[Jilly]

There are people out there that do not understand why anyone would want to take lessons. I'm not one of them either.

I currently hold a CSIA L2 instructor. I've been a ski instructor actually for 40 years. Every season I like to start my season with our Pro Days. It's a great way to get going. The CSIA also offers many Pro Day events through out the year. These are great if you're working on your next level. I'm not!!

So this year I have planned the Pro Day Camp at Tremblant which ends with the Women's WC GS on the weekend. Then in February I'm taking the Warren Jobbit Ski Congress at Mont Ste Anne. That is one expensive week, but well worth it. Last year the one course conductor got me skiing brushes and mini-gates......I don't race!! That put me so far out of my comfort zone, it was good!

That's what lessons will do... get you comfortable where you didn't expect to be. Be it moguls, trees, brushes, big craving turns...take the time and $$'s. It should be worth it.

I'll be interested to hear your take on this camp.