Thank you to our Jumpstart Group this week! Our 23rd annual early season camp! (YES we’ve been around a LONG time!) Coaches Richie Jameson and Tom Murphy led 8 students to better early season skiing on GREAT conditions at Squaw Valley Dec 9-10, 2018. Thank you to alum student and welcome new ones to the NASTC Family!
We are taking TWO group this year to Chile: Portillo August 15-22, and Corralco August 22-29. The snow gods have smiled and our folks (over 35 of them!) will have a blast shredding summer pow with Chris, Kurt, Kim, and Ben. With lots of alumni on board as usual for these special trips, the new folks are sure to see their way quickly to a super good time. Thank you to our gracious hosts at each resort ahead of time! We wish you all a safe, fun adventure next month. May the snow gods keep smiling.
NASTC’s summer climbing school has been going strong with wonderful groups and privates on the world-famous granite of Donner Summit. Our guides lead groups and individuals of every ability, level, and age through the fall – until it snows. Come join us! As one recent teenage girl said “of all the things I did during my week in Tahoe, climbing was the most satisfying and memorable. I can’t believe I did it! I’m normally afraid of heights! I went all the way, I found things to hold onto. My friends encouraged me and I DID IT!! The view at the top was so, so good. I will remember this forever.”
Attention all 2015-2016 skiers: watch for a list of awesome destinations this year: St Anton, Niseko, Big Sky, Aspen, and Squaw Valley. Keep your ears open for early season discounts as we line up our best year yet!
And to get ready, click this link for photos and video of the best DRYLAND TRAINING DRILLS! http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/107241/u-s–ski-team-s-5-essential-ski-training-exercises
Don’t know what to get the skier who has everything? They’ve got the clothes, the gear, the gadgets, the season passes, they’ve even booked and paid for a ski clinic with NASTC already? Really? Well then, here’s some ideas:
SkiA Sweetspot Trainer
If you are not able to dedicate as much time as you would like to your dryland training, there is a tool that can help you ski better before you even click into your bindings. The SkiA sweetspot trainer is a balancing aid that will help you achieve better balance over your base of support (your feet). You clip the device onto your ski boots and forces you to find the optimum balance point as you stand, move around, tip and twist your feet. You find out very quickly what adjustments you have to make to not fall down and what muscles groups need to fire to assist in making and maintaining those adjustments. Check out the video link below “How to Use a SkiA Trainer” with Chris Fellows. http://youtu.be/wAVhaUyUJPA
Women’s Ski Day
Along with Coaltion Snow, we’re offering a Women-Only ski day at Sugar Bowl!
December 13, 2014 l Sugar Bowl Resort: Get your season on and celebrate International Women’s Ski Day! We are partnering with CoalitionSnow.com to help you fine tune your skiing skills before the season gets underway. Join this high-touch, high-impact all-mountain free-skiing clinics for intermediate to advanced skiers. Our instructors will do nothing short of improving your skills in a non-competitive and super fun environment. Only $75 secures your spot. Fee does not include lift tickets or food/drink. (But we know you have those four tickets from your Alpine/Squaw pass and now’s the time to cash one in.) Minimum 10 people required to run. Click on the link below to register. https://secure.squarespace.com/commerce/donate?donatePageId=544671d8e4b0664ae93f2c86
Total Skiing – THE book
If you consider yourself a serious student of the sport of skiing, this is a great resource. What type of skier are you? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? How can you improve your skills and your downhill experience? Total Skiing was developed specifically to help you answer those questions.
Author/ski instructor Chris Fellows shares his proven pyramid program for assessing skills and creating your skiing profile. Step by step, you’ll identify exercises to enhance those skills and create a personal training program to improve functional movement, including stability and mobility, ski-specific fitness, essential ski techniques, and tactics for performance on all terrains.
Total Skiing also includes sample programs for each skier type that offers guidance from preseason to postseason with dry-land and on-snow drills for foundational, intermediate, and advanced performance solutions.
Whether you are looking to polish your skills, conquer the new terrain, or compete on circuit, Total Skiing is your total guide to exhilarating all-mountain skiing! Email NASTC for your copy, on sale now! [email protected]
This course is a step by step progression designed to help you move past your intermediate or advanced plateau and skiing the entire mountain well whatever the conditions. Getting 3 consecutive days of instruction and feedback from the National and Regional Demonstration Team members will elevate your skiing to a new level. Focus on addressing some of the fundamental flaws in your technique, learn new tactics and feel your performance increase as you rip around Squaw for 3 full days of skiing and coaching with the NASTC team.
Squaw Valley is one of the largest ski areas in the Lake Tahoe area. It has an abundance of terrain, with 6 peaks and over 100 runs all accessible by their network of 33 lifts including a funitel and tram. Squaw is a really fun mountain to explore, there are lots of fun “hidden” runs that only a local can show you how to get to. Squaw Valley almost has the same number of bars and eateries in their beautiful deluxe village at the base of the mountain. It’s always a good time at Squaw Valley, USA!
ITINERARY:
Sunday, February 22:
Meet at The Pocket by the fireplace in the Olympic House (next to Dave’s Deli). After a short introduction we will head up the slopes. After a couple of warm up runs you will be divided into groups so that you have an effective learning enviroment. You will ski with your group and trainer for the remainder of the day. Afternoon video review & apres ski.
Monday, February 23:
Meet at The Pocket. Boot-up and head out to the ski lifts. Ski with your trainer and group, the afternoon will be focused on consolidating what you learned and personal feedback and coaching. We will review video footage of your skiing at lunch. Depart Squaw Valley for home.
SAMPLE TRAINING DAY
8:45am – Meet up with your trainer and warm up
9:00am-12:00pm – Skill development via drills and technique work
12:00pm-1:00pm – Lunch with group on hill
1:00pm-3:00pm – On the snow: video, free-skiing varying conditions and terrain, personal feedback
4:00pm-5:30pm – Indoor clinic: video viewing/technical session
6:30pm – Dinner with group
Our schedule will vary day to day depending upon snow conditions, weather and desires of your group, and your group’s general progression and improvement. Throughout the week there will be video/video analysis, an indoor technical session, group dinners, and personal skiing evaluations.
We will meet you at 8:30am at The Pocket in the Olympic House Lodge next to Dave’s Deli. Please arrive ready to ski. We will begin promptly with a brief indoor orientation, pass out lift tickets, and head out to the Funitel to ski by 9:00am.
Directions:
Take Interstate 80 to Hwy 89 South, Squaw is 10 miles south on Hwy 89 from Truckee. Take a right at the light, entrance to Squaw Valley and follow Squaw Valley Road to the resort.
The following list may help you pack:
Alpine skis, boots, poles
Helmet
Several pairs ski socks
Top and bottom long underwear
Midlayers
Fleece layer, top
Ski pants
Ski jacket
Spring and winter gloves
Warm hat, baseball cap, headband, face mask, and neck warmer
Goggles and sunglasses
Evening clothes: pants, shirts, sweaters, sweats, (afternoon tech talks & dinners out)
Comfortable shoes
Toiletries, including sunscreen & chapstick, aspirin, body lotion
Workout clothes (optional)
Lodging Recommendations:
The Squaw Valley Lodge for lodging in the village at Squaw. www.squawvalleylodge.com 1-800-549-6742. The Squaw Valley lodge offers condominium style lodging in a ski in/out setting. In addition to cozy and comfortable rooms, The SVL has a Fitness Center & Spa that includes a sauna and steam room. Be sure to mention that you are with NASTC when you call to make your reservations.
Transportation: If you need to fly in, the closest airport is the Reno-Tahoe International airport. If you are renting a car, we suggest reserving a 4-wheel drive. If you do not wish to rent a vehicle, we suggest North Tahoe Executive Shuttle, 866.583.7685 or North Lake Tahoe Express at www.northlaketahoeexpress.com or 866-216-5222. Contact NASTC for carpooling opportunities.
V1DIGITAL COACHING SYSTEMS:
NASTC’s MOST IMPORTANT TAKE HOME TEACHING TOOL: V1
Here is the way to get the most out of your NASTC course: you will literally take your ski course “home” with you. After all that your trainer tells you on the snow, you need to take something home to keep it all fresh on your mind. NASTC’s technology partner for this cutting edge teaching tool is V1 Digital Coaching Systems. This program will allow you to see your video on a secure website, a virtual “locker.” You will be able to look at your video at your leisure with skiing analysis and tips from your trainer. The trainer does voice over critiques and offers drills to improve your skills. You can log on anytime you want to remind yourself what you are working on. You can use this system for multiple courses to see your progress and continue to receive expert coaching and tips in-between your NASTC courses. You can even send us video your friend or spouse shoots, we will review it, coach you on it and send it back to your locker for you to view and learn from. Sign up for this take-home bonus feature prior to your course by contacting the NASTC office.
Chris Fellow’s new book, Total Skiing is now available. This book is the ultimate ski training resource. It will help reinforce your on snow experience together with learning materials that you can view at your leisure. Visit our website or call the NASTC office to order 530.582.4772.
**PLEASE NOTE OUR CANCELLATION POLICY**: If you have to cancel for any reason (including medical), we require written notice in our office 14 days in advance of the first day of the course. With 14 days or more notice we can refund your payment minus 10% for administrative costs. Once we are within 14 days of the first day of the trip, we unfortunately cannot refund any portion of your payment even in the event of sudden illness or injury to you or your family. We recommend that you buy trip cancellation insurance (available through your travel or insurance agency) in case you get sick or injured (please stay healthy!!) before or during the trip, and baggage insurance (check your Homeowner’s policy or consult your travel or insurance agency) for your ski gear and clothes.
The word “portillo” means “opening or road between two heights” – an apt descriptor for both the Chilean ski resort as well as the transformations that occur on its slopes every summer. The highs and lows, laughs and cries of this annual trip set a standard for personal exploration unlike any other ski experience. To truly immerse yourself in the adventure, start by clearing away any preconceived notions you might have of what a ski vacation entails. Full-immersion summer training in Portillo will redefine your expectations.
Portillo is located approximately 100 miles and at least 37 switchbacks from the Chilean capitol of Santiago. Approaching the grand yellow Hotel Portillo feels a little like seeing land after a long time at sea. You can smell its essence and feel its terra madre. The soul of Portillo greets you upon arrival, transporting you into a trancelike state, a combination of the warmth of the hotel and the immensity of the outlying environment.
Get off the shuttle and just try not to gawk at the infinite skiing possibilities. With more than 2,500 vertical feet and 1,300 skiable acres serviced by 14 lifts, the Chilean Andes resort offers steep groomers, couloirs, deep powder runs, and trails that look like expansive tongues lapping up the sides of the rocky summits. Adding to the locale’s formidable physical strengths is the logistical icing on the cake: Portillo limits the number of guests to 450 to avoid the long lift lines and crowded restaurants that are the hallmarks of many U.S. resorts.
The summer training ground for many national ski teams, Portillo comprises two sides of a huge valley where the slopes fall steeply from the summits to the more moderate terrain surrounding the shores of glacial blue Lake Inca. The higher reaches of Portillo skiing are serviced by five-person Poma lifts that rocket you 1,500 vertical feet in seconds. (A hair-raising tortuga/ turtle ride on your back can result if you’re unprepared for the abrupt stop at the top.)
The steep runs available off the Roca, Condor, Vizcacha, and Cara Cara lifts will challenge even the most advanced skiers. The Juncalillo and Plateau lifts can satisfy any level but are known for excellent cruising and carving possibilities. And for those who like to take their boards out of bounds, there are ample options as well. Traverse out into “El Estadio” (The Stadium) after a short climb from the Roca Jack, and ski huge bowls or dramatic chutes before carving it back into the ski area boundaries.
The days in Chile can blend into a weeklong continuum of exhilarating alpine ski descents, lazy lunches at slopeside restaurant Tio Bob’s, sweaty hikes to untracked powder in the Laguna runs, wine drinking and interesting conversation in the main living room, lounging by the pool, fine dinners in the dining room, and rowdy, highly entertaining hours in the bar and disco.
This summer, why not forego the usual vacation for an experience that will push your personal limits and challenge what you know about ski adventures? Arrange a trip to Portillo through Lake Tahoe, California-based North American Ski Training Center (NASTC). By pairing small groups with experienced coaches and guides who have received extensive custom training, NASTC strives to fill each participant’s cup with knowledge, passion, and adventure – and to develop a supportive environment that’s void of distractions such as self-criticism and unrealistic expectations. During the Portillo experience, participants must open themselves up to the idea that extraordinary feelings don’t have to be infrequent. In Portillo, they’re virtually inescapable, and the magic resonates with young, old, and everyone in-between.
Next NASTC Chilean Adventure August 15-24, 2014
The North American Ski Training Center (NASTC) will run its 19th annual All Conditions/All Terrain Adventure Skiing Week August 15-24, 2014, in Portillo, Chile. Perhaps it’s because skiing in August is the perfect opportunity to refine your skills for the approaching season, or the fact that the resort has taken care of everything you need for a seamless ski vacation, or maybe it’s the instantaneous bonds that form among our coaches and students … whatever the reason, the August trip is one of our most popular.
At Portillo, you’ll enjoy the finest food and famous Chilean wines, skiing right out your door, the spectacular Andes, world-class personalized instruction, and vacation amenities that include massage, pools, yoga, and movies. The NASTC goal is to guide you to some epic big mountain skiing (whether you are intermediate or expert) and advance your skills by a full level.
Life is simple at Portillo. When you are on a NASTC ski training vacation at Portillo, you need only think about your skiing, sleeping, and eating. Sure, you can think about a lot more – meeting new friends, partying at the bar and disco, working out alongside the Austrian and U.S. ski teams, unwinding with yoga, stretching, or massage, watching a movie, or practicing your Spanish – but the beauty of Portillo is how it embraces the simple life. You eat at the same table with the same waiters four times a day; your room is 30 seconds from the slopes, the dining room, and other hotel amenities; and the warm Latin culture lures you into a relaxed state of mind.
Portillo – the perfect “Ski Training Center” in the NASTC name. At the Portillo facility, we have access to the movie theater for video screening. (Don’t worry, only your supportive NASTC friends will be watching as we gently critique your slope-style.) And the optional morning routine is hassle-free: rise, walk 30 seconds to NASTC’s trainer-led morning stretch, upstairs to a healthy breakfast, and then don your ski clothes and head out to the slopes. Quick, easy, and the ultimate in convenience. You’ll enjoy the opportunity to ski in small groups, benefit from coaching by the best instructors in the world, and talk about your ski day over delicious lunches.
Summer skiing ties your seasons together. Feel like you never left your boards (or your newfound skills) when you jump back on the snow in December. A full week of honing your skills under the watchful eyes of top NASTC trainers will work wonders for your skiing and confidence level. One memorable NASTC week will give you insight into and solutions for your equipment issues, too, and leave you with a solid action plan for continued improvement during the upcoming season. For an eye- and mind-opening Chilean experience, bring your lofty goals and insatiable appetite for fun.
Getting to Chile
Getting to Chile is a painless, overnight flight and at most a three-hour time change. Travel times from the following U.S. cities to Santiago average:
Dallas (9 hrs)
Los Angeles (10 hrs)
Miami (8 hrs)
New York (10 hrs)
San Francisco (12 hrs)
If you live on the East Coast, the time change is nil: Chile is in the same time zone as New York City. For those coming from the West, the biggest adjustment you’re looking at is a three-hour time change – negligible when you compare it to the eight-hour hit you take traveling to Europe, which can require a couple of days just to get over the jet lag. When heading to Portillo, you land in the morning, shuttle up to the mountains in three short hours, enjoy lunch and a nap, and hit the mountain for some skiing.
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The Mt. Shasta Climb & Ski is kicking off this weekend; we are looking forward to hear back from the crew for stories from their weekend adventure on one of California’s highest peaks.
BOOK NOW for your rock climbing adventure or lesson with NASTC over Memorial Day Weekend! Escape the crowds and take in beautiful views as you play on the rocks. Donner is summit is a highly acclaimed area for rock climbing and comes with the extra bonus of big views of Donner Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail is right there if you wanted to add a little hiking to your day. NASTC’s fun and friendly guides are ready to show you and your family a fun time on the rock. Our guides are AMGA certified and NASTC provides all the gear you need. All you have to do is show up in your athletic gear ready to climb! Call 530.582.4772 or email the NASTC office to reserve a time slot. https://skinastc.com/about/rock-climbing-instruction-and-guiding
KidsClimb! is June 27 & 28: Our annual kids rock climbing camp is always a sold out event. Reserve your spot early! The two day camp is from 9:00am-1:00pm each day. The first day is spent at the Ropes course at Squaw Valley, where kids warm into climbing and learn the basic movements and problem solving skills. The second day is spent on Donner Summit where kids will have the opportunity to climb a variety of pitches ranging from introductory climbs to intermediate/advanced pitches. Your kids will be on belay at all times and work with our awesome team of guides to literally reach new heights. https://skinastc.com/all-courses/162
Women’s Climbing Workshop – July 20th: Our women’s climbing workshop is returning after its successful launch last summer. This one day workshop is open to all levels of climbers. This is a great event to get your feet wet if you have never climbed before AND a great day to spend climbing with other women and sharing technique and tips for climbers with more experience. This day is about camaraderie amongst women in sports and building a stress-free, anxiety-free supportive environment to learn something new and with the freedom to share tips and ideas with each other. https://skinastc.com/all-courses/244
Portillo, Chile – August 17-24: A summer dream skiing adventure. Join NASTC in Portillo, Chile for a unique summer vacation. Our weeklong ski improvement camp will help you step up your skiing and move off that intermediate or advanced plateau. You will build the necessary skills and tactics to descend the famed runs of Portillo, like Rocajack, Lake Run and Primavera. Coaches are selected from across the United States and are ranked amongst the best in the country. You will also learn valuable free-skiing skills such as how to read terrain and how to select which aspects to ski. The on-hill instruction is complemented with a selection of indoor presentations on a variety of topics including how to tailor your off-season cross-training to help improve your skiing, equipment and skiing performance and more. This is an education filled week in the beautiful location of Portillo, Chile combined with lots of mileage on the slopes, the hospitality of a world class resort and the warmth and friendliness of the Chilean culture.
NASTC – Portillo, Chile
Ski Improvement Camp, August 16-24, 2013
One week of skiing and coaching by PSIA National & Regional Team members
Work on skiing fundamentals, technique and tactics to master the whole mountain
Focus on specific skills & tactics for steeps and off-piste (powder) skiing
Portillo is a world class private resort in the heart of the Andes
and the number one destination for skiing in the southern hemisphere.
Find fun, adventure and relaxation with NASTC in this South American winter paradise!
Includes: 7 nights lodging, 4 meals/day, lift tickets, daily instruction in intimate groups of 6 or fewer, video reviews, tech talks, and roundtrip ground transportation from Santiago, a welcome cocktail reception and an abundance of amenities. Heli –skiing option. Tours in Santiago and the surrounding areas after the ski week are available. https://skinastc.com/all-courses/82
