North American Ski Training Center – Tahoe, CA

Tag: ski improvement

  • Want to work on your skiing in the summer but can’t get to the slopes?

    The one thing that you can work on this summer without hitting the slopes, is getting into a balanced and centered stance.  A centered stance is the corner stone to good skiing.  Many high end athletes put a large amount of energy and focus on balance and a centered stance during their on-hill and dryland training.  More tools and information are becoming available to recreational skiers as studies make progress on the mechanics and physics of dynamic balance.  The pursuit of excellence in skiing is now applicable through devices like the SkiA trainer.  Our NASTC coaches have tested the SkiA sweetspot trainer, and find it a highly effective in training not only balance but that coveted centered stance.  It consists of two plates that you put underneath your ski boots with different sized balancing plates.  As you work up in difficulty, practice using the plates on a carpeted surface and then on a hard surface.  After trying to balance fore and aft, work on lateral movements.  The makers of the SkiA sweetspot trainer, have made a scientific presentation at the International Sports Symposium in St. Christoph, Austria with relevant results from a survey taken from 250 participants.  Any device will help, whether it be a SkiA trainer, slackline, balance board, tree posts etc; the closer you can get to balancing in a centered stance and the longer you sustain this position and repetitively practice it, the more transfer it will have on your skiing.

     

  • Ski Resorts Apres Ski & Dining

    http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/11/ski-resorts-restaurants-apres-ski-dining?mbid=nl_daily_traveler

  • NASTC Climbing: Group Summits Mt Shasta – 15th year

    NASTC Climbing: Group Summits Mt Shasta – 15th year

    NASTC Climbing: Group Summits Mt Shasta – 15th year
    On Sunday morning May 13, under sunny, crisp skies a group of strong advanced skiers summitted California’s 5th highest peak, the 2nd highest in the Cascade Range: the dramatic and rewarding Mt Shasta.  This represents a huge accomplishment!  When you summit Shasta you have ascended and descended a combined 14,000+ vertical feet in just a weekend. That’s huge! We work with guides from NASTC and Shasta Mt Guides for this 3-day alpine climbing and ski mountaineering trip.  We start at the Fifth Season shop, sort gear, and do a bag check. Once we’re sure everyone is set, we head up to the Bunny Flat trailhead and leave our cars there. We were a group of 4 plus 2 guides: Chris Fellows and Dane Brinkely.  Our group included 3 climbers who flew all the way in from Mexico, from a new partner program called Ski Madness (stay tuned for some big mountain skiing they’re going to be doing with us around the world).  In addition to Pablo, Joan, and Luis, our man Jack drove in from San Francisco and completed the well-rounded, fun group.  They all headed up to Horse Trails and made camp the first day, did some ice axe and crampon skills work, and a short climb before dinner.  The second day they did a more significant tour in order to continue to acclimatize. One of the forces that gets people on Shasta is the altitude and certainly if you come from sea level you have your work cut out  for you.  Around 10 or 12,000′ we humans start to “feel it.” Its an indescribable feeling: lethargic, lackadaisical, low-energy.  Makes it extra challenging to get to the top of a 14,000 peak! So they pushed through and after the tour, more skills work, and an early dinner it was off to bed. Alarms rang at midnite and the guides got the hot water going.  By 1:30am they were suited up: crampons? check, headlamps? check, moleskin? check. beacons on transmit? check.  Off they went.  Nine hours later – via the Helen Lake route – they were on the top and staring across the state’s open expanse beneath.  Its an amazing feeling being up there.  They had an epic, great ski down – perfect conditions for 6,000 vertical feet – then broke camp and made their way to the cars.  Good job everyone!
    Here is what one of the climbers had to say: “It was an awesome experience…  Chris is an amazing human being, guide, skier and friend.  I could not ask for more…The mountain is impressive, the views astonishing, the runs long and fun…What a journey!  We will be back exploring other routes.  Thanks again a lot for all you did for us.”

     

  • Ski Tip: Pole Usage

    The function and correct use of our poles can seem as ambiguous as a politician’s speech.  Good pole usage complements and aids upper body movements in dynamic skiing.  Missing pole plants, poorly timed pole plants or directionally inappropriate pole swings can create dysfunctional elements in your skill set.  Diverse terrain requires attention to rhythm and strong core movements that are directed down the fall line.  The pole swing is timed with an extension move at the start of th turn, this aids in directing your momentum toward the apex of the turn.  As the pole is planted it helps stabilize your body as you change from the uphill set of edges to the downhill set of edges.  The pole swing should originate from the wrist and not the elbow.  As your turn shape changes, the direction and timing of your pole swing adjusts accordingly.  When skiing steep terrain and bumps your pole swing will directed more towards the fall line rather than the apex of your turn, your pole plant will happen as you pull away from the fall line and the skis turn across the hill.  Next time you are out on the hill think about the timing and directionality of your pole swing and plant and what it does to your rhythm and stabilization of the upper body.

  • One of the Best Days of the Year!

    The skiing out there is unreal!! Probably one of the best spring skiing days ever! Hands down.  The mountains are buffed out and smooth and the snow is just right.  Get out there and make some turns you will feel like rockstar.  You can go just about anywhere as the coverage is great and the conditions are so forgiving.  If you are backcountry buff, there is a gold mine out there – have fun!

  • A Great Article on Portillo

    Here is a great article that sums up the Portillo experience albeit it was written a few years ago.  The essence of what it is like to visit Portillo is difficult to capture as Portillo “hits” everyone differently.  http://www.everettpotter.com/2006/07/summer_skiing_i/

  • Zeb’s Most Recent Eastern Sierra Adventure

    Zeb’s Most Recent Eastern Sierra Adventure

    NASTC guide Zeb Blais at the top of East Peak, with Mt. Gibbs in the background

    Wind ripping across Dana Plateau and deposting snow on the eastern flanks of East Peak

  • Freeski Training Center in La Parva, Chile

    From The Ski Channel: http://www.theskichannel.com/news/skinews/20110414/World-class-freeski-training-center-to-be-built-in-La-Parva-Chile

    “With the latest announcement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approving men’s and women’s Ski Halfpipe for the 2014 Olympics, La Parva is on the forefront of building the ultimate training facility to be ready June 2012. 

    It’s location in the heart of the Andes mountains and provides excellent snow conditions from June through October, creating an ideal off season training destination for Northern Hemisphere athletes. The resort has begun the process with the addition of the new high speed “Fabres” chairlift that gives access to five new on piste runs and will be fully operational by 2012. This sector is the prospective location for the new halfpipe and freestyle training area.

    In addition to on snow training facilities La Parva expects to build an exclusive “Athlete Lodge,” that encompasses all aspects and needs of today’s elite athletes. Dry land training area, media rooms where teams can review footage of training runs, and cafeterias for team meals. This facility will be a complete on and off snow destination where teams can harness the skills they need to be the best in their sport.”

    It is great that the South American resorts are stepping up and starting to stake a bigger claim in the snowsports industry.  An investment of this sort is also proof of the growing global popularity of skiing and snowboarding.  Events like the X-games and Olympics are offering these sports and athletes some global exposure.  It is also making skiing and snowboarding more attractive to younger generations as it provides them with an outlet for creative expression. 

  • Winter season wind down

    The sun sits higher in the sky, the air is warmer, birds are chirping and the snow around town is melting really fast.  These are all the signs that Spring is definitely here and Winter is on its way out.  In previous years, most people would already start wearing flip flops and shorts but this year Mother Nature is keeping us guessing.  One day it’s sunny and warm and the next day looks and feels like a mid-winter storm.  After a delightful winter season filled with almost innumerable powder days, most people are exhausted with skiing.  It’s understandable when the Spring temps climb and the snow gets extremely mushy by 1:00pm, the idea of sweeping off the deck and firing the barbecue is more inviting then fighting that stop and go feeling when you’re skiing the afternoon slush.  Though, a day spent with good friends and great snow conditions can re-energize one’s mind toward skiing. Spring is a great time to reel things in and focus on your technique and spend some time re-working those basic skiing fundamentals.  There is hardly anyone out there and you are no longer charging for those big lines like you did when there was pow on the ground which gives you more time, patience and focus.   You don’t need to spend the whole day out there  just a few hours is all you need.  If you are wondering how to afford skiing a few hours – take advantage of the Spring pass deals that the resorts are offering.  Alpine Meadows has one of the greatest deal $99 Spring pass followed by Squaw Valley with a $199 Spring pass.   We are lucky this season to have such a solid snowpack that the conditions on the slopes are excellent, there are no melt through spots, rocks are still covered by the 500 inches of snow that sit on top of them.  Sometimes Spring skiing can be depressing because all the brown spots start appearing and the run keep shrinking but not this year.  Take advantage of the warm weather and the great snow to get some focused practice in before you hang your skis up for the summer.

  • Gates & Freeskiing Camp at Mt. Hood

    Spring has finally sprung!  Blue skies and warm temps abound and the skiing is incredible.  Gotta love that California Corn snow!  We are going to let the cat out of the bag and let you know that we will be hosting a Spring Gates camp at Mt. Hood. NASTC will be bringing a group of clients to Mt. Hood for it’s first ever Adult Gates Training Camp, joining forces with Sugar Bowl’s Danielle Nichols and the Start Haus of Truckee.  Some of you might be thinking, “eh, I don’t race so I don’t need to do a gates camp.”  However, skiing through gates is one of the best things you can do for your skiing.  It is a great way to step-up your technique and become more comfortable and in-tune with how the skis perform.  Turning at precise points down a run helps with the timing and direction of your movements.  Notice how racers tend to be really good freeskiers also? Because they spend so much time in the gates working on being technically precise, they are able to transfer those skills to the off-piste seamlessly.   Food, lodging and coaching will be provided for.  The camp will be 5 days long at Mt. Hood which is the “go to” destination for freeskiers, racers and National Team members to get some training in before the summer season sets in.  The camp will take place mid-June – mark it on your calendar dso you can plan accordingly.  Please call the NASTC office 530.582.4772 for more information.