WINTER PARK VAN-2/6/14

Hey team!

We will be leaving the ranger station at 8 am tomorrow.

Rc

 

SNOW DAY

Hello everyone!

Since school has been cancelled tomorrow, we will have training all day. Let’s plan to freeski most of the morning, and then head to the course in the afternoon.

We will have to do at least 2 big steps on the course as a team. If anyone else happens to be on the mountain and has a lap in them, it would be very helpful if you run by cookshack and step it.

Athletes feel free to bring both powder and mogul skis tomorrow.

Thanks!

Rc

 

DURANGO!?!

Hello everyone!

For those who will be going to Durango, we will be leaving VSSA at 12 tomorrow.

As far as food, our hotel offers breakfast. Send some lunch items if want to store them in the mini fridge, and we will work dinner out. Rumor has it they will be grilling on the hill at the event… So that’s a good option too.

Feel free to contact me with questions.

Rc

Durango!?!-from Riley Campbell-1-19-14

Hello team!

I know it’s a quick turnaround, but I’m curious about who wants to go to Durango. We would leave this Thursday mid-day and return Sunday night…..
Any takers?
Rc

ASPEN LODGING COSTS

Hello everyone!

Sorry I have not got the lodging costs to you yet, Grigs and I will have to run some numbers because some are staying one night and others are staying two. Rest assured it will be more affordable than past Aspen ventures.

If you feel comfortable, please send a blank check with your skier, or I can pick up checks Sunday evening when we return.

Thanks!

Rc

 

 

ASPEN EXTREME!

Hello everyone!

For those riding in the van on Friday:
Pickup at the Ranger Station 7:45
Pickup at the Edward Shell 8:00

Rc

ASPEN EXTREME-FROM RILEY CAMPBELL-JANUARY 10, 2014

Hello everyone!

Who is headed to Aspen with Grigs and I? I need a head count of those riding in the van and stayin with the team!

Thanks

Rc

rcampbell@skiclubvail.orG

MOGUL TRAINING WEEK-JANUARY 7-12

Hi Team,

This week we host the Vail RMF Mogul and Dual Competition on Cookshack. We’ll be working all week to get the course prepared and can use help on hill prepping jumps and landings especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Event registration is at the Gold Peak Lodge on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  On Friday, official training runs from 11:00-2:00. Coaches will already be up on the hill prepping each day, so we’ll meet on hill Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The quickest way to get to the course is via cut-across from the Lionshead Gondola.

Last week at Steamboat we kicked off the RMF comp season. The tour marches on this week at home and then next week to Aspen, and then Durango.  Let’s keep working hard through these early comps to bring forward the kind of performance goals we’ve identified in training.  Each week is a chance to ski your best and challenge yourself to ski better.  Let’s build through the year to attain season goals. It takes toughness to look at each week’s performance and keep coming up with ways to improve.  One week’s successes or disappointments are small in the larger scheme, but must be addressed in order to move forward. If you want long term success, you have to be relentless in examining past performance to address flaws, what can work better, and also to recognize what’s working well.

See you on the hill!

John D

John Dowling
Freestyle Program Director

C-970 390-6471

O-970 790-5128

MOGUL TRAINING WEEK-12/28/13

Hi Team

Tomorrow morning I’m going up to put a groom on Cookshack at 5:30.  All athletes should load the Lionshead Gondola at 9:00 and traverse over to the top of Cookshack.  The sooner we get to work skiing in the bumps the better our course there will work out.  We need everyone to show up early ready to ski flags.  I repeat load Lionshead gondola at 9:00 and we will meet at the course in Cookshack.  Bring your backpack, snacks, water and everything you  need for the day.

See you on the hill!

John D

 

FROM RILEY CAMPBELL-12/27/13

Hello Everyone!

 

I am getting a headcount on those of you who are interested in lodging with the team for the upcoming Steamboat event. We will get a good deal and should have plenty of space for all of those interested, so please just let me know who is on board!

Thanks,

Riley C

 

TRAINING WEEK OF DECEMBER 17-22

Hi Team,

This week US Selections starts in Winter Park while training continues on Gold Peak.  Riley and I will be in WP for the week with Alex, Hunter, Emerson for the men and Hannah, Kaitlyn, Morgan, Lindsey, Erin and Taryn for the women. Grigs will run the show at home in Vail and Lance will be on for the weekend.

US Selections promises to be an exciting first competition of the winter season with an international field and a revamped competition hill at Winter Park. Competition is a big part of what we do with SSCV.  It brings an urgency to our training and heightens our awareness that the skiing counts.  Ultimately, sport is more than competition, but competition raises the stakes and brings sport into clear focus.  For most of the team competition is still a little ways off, but everyone should be thinking about the upcoming season, goals and performance in both training and competition.

In preparation for competition, each skier should have goals for their performance.  You’re working on your turns, air and speed and how you execute each technical and tactical piece.  Beyond that, you should also be thinking about how you handle the stress of competition.  How do you get ready for competition in your warm-up?  How do you focus in for your best skiing and feeling?  How do you react to unexpected events and occurrences?  How do you ski through errors and stay focused on completing your run? How will you maintain focus on skiing when there are so many distractions on comp day?  What kind of competitor do you want to be?  You get to choose how you encounter the day, and, if you’ve given it some thought, you also have a choice in how you respond when you cross the finish line and you get a result.  We have a season full of competitions and undoubtedly there will be successes and failures.  Know that both are on the table and be ready to deal with each in a way that benefits you and fits in with your vision for how you wish to engage in sport and competition.

See you on the hill!

John D

John Dowling

Freestyle Program Director

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail

Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy

598 Vail Valley Drive

Vail, Colorado 81657

C-970 390-6471

O-970 790-5128

 

FREESTYLE NEWS-MOGULS TRAINING WEEK-NOVEMBER 27, 2013

Hi Team,

The first RMF event at Winter Park Dec 7 & 8 has been cancelled (since the course has not yet been built).  This means our first RMF event will be Steamboat January, January 4 & 5 (training on the 3rd).  US Selections dates remain unchanged.

Last Sunday’s Blue Ribbon of Death/aka Gutterrut Comp was our preamble to the comp season, and got us a taste of the start gate.  Everyone skied well and some showed big improvements from last season.  If there’s one focus that I’m hoping to see from everyone as a team, it’s a higher level of precision in skiing.  Most of you know that I’ve been basing some of our technical approach on Hannah Kearney’s skiing.  Her level of attention to detail and precision in skiing is a part of what distinguishes her as the best in the world.  Beyond what’s apparent in her mechanics and technique, though, is her drive to excel and her absolute commitment to making her skiing and jumping as good as it can be.  The real distinctions are made through hard work and persistent effort.  Competition and the series of events through the season gives you the forum to test yourself and to make advances throughout the year.  Precision is skiing means precision in preparation and in executing training throughout the year.

This week we’ll be adding a top air to the mix on the training course.  We will also have some visiting athletes joining us from Japan and Australia.   We are fortunate to have an early season venue and proud to be able to share it.  Please extend every courtesy to visiting athletes and teams.

See you on the Hill!

John D

FREESTYLE NEWS-MOGULS TRAINING WEEK-NOVEMBER19-24-NOVEMBER 19, 2013

Hi Team,

RMF Registration for WP Open Mogul comps is open which means that competition can’t be far off.  In preparation, take a look at the calendar and your training opportunities to prioritize specific focuses in your training.  We have a good advantage over the rest of the region in on snow training and early jump site.  Now is the time when hiking for extra reps on the jump, grooving your turn in flats outside the course, or postural work in your warm ups can make a difference.  Reconnect with your coaches about the crucial elements for your best performance.
We’ll also be organizing our first competition travels to WP and US Selections this week.  For RMF contests, athletes are invited to take part in team travel and lodging. Lodging with the team makes many of the details easy: arriving to training on time, meals, and team video are all part of the package.  Last year we had good success with some families sending along prepared dinners/meals. I’d like to do it again this year and figure out a fair way to split out meal costs so that all the burden doesn’t come down on the people who send team dinners along.  If anyone has suggestions or would like to help organize this piece, I welcome your input.
This coming weekend looks like a good opportunity for a comp sim on our training lane. I’d like to target Sunday so that our weekend gang can get a training day in prior.  So far we’re off to an excellent start with a great site and plenty of strong training.  Everyone’s help with site maintenance has been a big help.  As the club gets more busy (with Development programs added to the mix), please make sure to help out with clean up and site prep.  In order to have a great facility, we have to take care of it and share it with everyone.
See you on the hill!
John D
John Dowling
Freestyle Program Director 
Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy
598 Vail Valley Drive
Vail, Colorado 81657

 

FREESTYLE NEWS-NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Hi Team,

We’re on snow at Gold Peak with ski trainings every morning and afternoon this week. I have scheduled one tramp session for after school on Friday and that is all for dryland this week.  As we transition onto snow, the dryland load is reduced, but will resume in subsequent weeks.  I will be working with Jake Wurth to determine our schedule in the gym and at VSSA. I am looking to schedule plenty of tramp time.  I’ll be updating the online calendar as I build out the training to include conditioning maintenance.

Last night (Wednesday night) Coach Grigsby met with the cat driver and pushed up the jump knoll on the Golden Peak Mogul Lane, so jumping is back on the menu. Through the week we will continue to work on balance, posture and turn concepts.

The schedule for VSSA ski trainings for this week and next:

Monday – normal day

Tues, Wed, Thurs of the next two weeks: The bus is set to leave GP at 11:50 and arrive here around 12:20. The bus will stay here until 12:40 and pick up the Lower School to go back to GP for their training. No ski or snowboard equipment is allowed on the bus. 

Friday – normal winter schedule day. Alpine bus leaves at 11:40 and other disciplines leave at 11:50. 

This week, make sure to schedule a meeting with your contact coach for goal setting and season planning.

See you on the hill!

John D

FREESTYLE NEWS-OCTOBER 22, 2013

Hi Team,

We’re on snow! Friday and Sunday sessions marked the beginning of our early season snow training. All our early snow sessions will focus on balance, posture and body position. We do drills and exercises to focus in on these primary elements. Most of the exercises are very simple. While these exercises may seem boring or rigid, they are key to all forward progression. Without proper balance and position, good skiing is rare. Take the time now to focus in and make changes in your skiing for better performance in the season! Pat Deneen believes that all the big changes you make in your skiing occur in the flats. Creating the right posture and balance point determines turn shape, timing and most importantly defining your body position and overall look of your skiing. Precision starts in the flats!

For the rest of the week we have dryland as usual Tuesday-Thursday. Riley will be scheduling some late afternoon/evening dryland sessions with our Summit skiers.

The Ski Swap is this weekend. It’s a good opportunity for starting volunteer hours for the club. We’ll have ski training this coming Saturday morning again at the Basin. On Sunday, all coaches will be busy tearing down at Ski Swap in the morning, so we will aim for an afternoon session at Arapahoe.

See you on the hill!

John D