Lessons Learned From 25 Years Of Coaching Seniors
How Can Seniors Advance Their Skiing Skills?
The hardest challenge for me is convincing older skiers that you can change your skiing dramatically for the better no matter your age or gender. Not everyone wants to, but if you do, you can.
That’s the key to advancing your skiing as a senior skier.
Lesson One: The Key Is Belief In Change.
My most recent pupil—a man of 80—has powerful imagery skill, considerable confidence, and knows how to relax and reduce anxiety. He’s fit for his age. He also has years of skiing behind him: but not quality skiing, just “getting down things”.
But he didn’t know what to DO. In our first session he found two small actions that reaped big changes. In all those years no instructor had ever told him how to hold his hands for best results! From that moment on his self-belief, his hopes for the future, took off. He ain’t done yet!
Lesson Two: You Will Improve Faster If You Ski Slower.
Provided you know what you intend to do—what movement you will make and you know how you will know what you actually do, do. Don’t try to “ski”. Decide to make one movement only.
If you ski fast, you’ll have too much to think about. You won’t be able to focus, and you’ll be back to “getting down things”. Ski slower, improve faster.
Lesson Three: Patience Pays.
Be non-judgmental. The more patient you are, the sooner you’ll reach your goal. Being in a hurry slows you down. So does cussing yourself. Even older skiers with years of life experience still call themselves names.
Lesson Four: Your Learning Curve Will Be Steeper When The Slope Isn’t.
Once I have convinced my older skier that it isn’t “baby-ish” to work on changes on beginner slopes, we make faster progress. It’s an intelligent approach to do so; it’s not smart to work on new things on steep ones.
Learn your new techniques and become skillful with them on the easy slopes, where you have less to think about and “survival” is not an issue, and only then head up the hill.
Lesson Five: Work On The “Intention/Attention Feedback Loop”.
What has worked best in every instance for over 25 years has been what we ski coaches call the “Intention/Attention Feedback Loop”.
It works for everyone, but for my older skiers who for the most part are higher educated, mature, and thoughtful, it has worked even better. It has been a revelation for them.
It goes like this.
Decide before you set off precisely what movement you will practice. Decide which of your senses will give you the best feedback. Will you feel it, see it, smell it, etc.? When you stop, after only say 50 yards, mentally review it. Ski only very short distances at a time when you’re training.
The results all my older skiers get is the sheer satisfaction of finding they’re not washed up, and they are becoming more controlled skillful skiers than they ever believed they could. It pays huge dividends.
[Editor Note: You can read more in Bob Trueman’s books. Search Amazon here. And even more explanation on his new, free Youtube Channel “Ski In Control With Bobski” where you’ll also find some the movements to make.]
This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Oct. 25)
Get Thee To The Ski/Snowboard Shows!
The consumer ski shows are on! The Denver Ski and Snowboard Expo is on today!
The ski shows are a special time for all stakeholders. The resort industry gets a chance to strut its stuff, announcing new trails, lifts, amenities, and bargain price passes. Resort staff are there to answer questions, convivalize with familiar customers, gossip, and generally accentuate the positive about new and old features at the resort.
Some shows have clothing and gear retailers on site, lots of discounts in a bargain basement atmosphere. And clothing and gear manufacturers are showing their latest.
And then there’s the hodge-podge of other exhibitors who have miscellaneous products related to snow sports. Easy chair made of old skis? Check. Ski club? Check. Artisanal ski manufacturer? Yes. And publications and media companies, non-profits (museums, adaptive skiing groups), tour companies, discount ticket vendors, and many others.
For the consumer, it’s a time not unlike the coming of Labor Day is to a high school student. There’s a shift that’s been coming for a while, away from the remnants of summer activities, and toward winter, which is just around the calendar corner. Or which has already arrived in many places.
Get excited, pick up those Hersey Kisses, lollipops and free pens, trail maps, and ski magazines; every exhibitor has something to hand out. Put those in that big plastic bag and spend your evenings checking out and anticipating.
The shows are part of the rhythm of snow sports. Enjoy the official start of the season.
You can get a $3 discount if you get tickets through SeniorsSkiing.com by clicking on the banner ad in the top right of the home screen.
For a schedule of consumer ski/snowboard shows around the country, click here. Thanks to Mary Jo Tarallo of SunAndSnowAdventures.com for sharing her article.
This Week
The role of ski patrolman on monitoring out-of-control skiers and boarders has been an open question since SeniorsSkiing.com and readers have started questioning who is responsible for lifting tickets.
So, we asked Meegan Moszynski, Executive Director of the National Ski Patrol, for clarity. Click here for her response. Your thoughts?
How does a typhoon in the western Pacific ocean impact weather in the US and Canada? As with most things related to the weather, all phenomena are connected. The Skiing Weatherman Herb Stevens explains “The Typhoon Rule” which is one of the few reliable long range (two weeks) predictors of weather. Interesting stuff. Click here.
Correspondent Pat McCloskey explains how familiarity with terrain and trails can lead to confidence. Even gnarly, challenging terrain. If you could do it before, you can most likely do it again. Here’s his story.
Our Mystery Glimpse this week shows us an aerial view taken just this week of a notable resort dusted with beautiful covering of October snow. Tell us where it is. You’ll also learn where that apres-ski disco from last week is located. Here’s the picture.
Thanks again for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Tell your friends! Remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.
Short Swings!
Imagine an extensive road network in which single and double lanes merge with big highways. No stoplights. No speed limits. Highway patrol rarely issues tickets.
Driving these roads doesn’t require a license. Anyone willing to pay the steep toll gets on. Vehicles aren’t safety checked. Tickets issued at the tollbooth carry a well-lawyered statement about individual responsibility for safety when entering the system.
The private company that owns the network fills potholes and posts warning signs at major intersections. Occasionally, it stations highway patrol where it wants drivers to slow down.
Many of the larger roads have a slow lane for drivers who want to use it, but fast motorcyclists weave in and out, just as they do with the other lanes.
When there’s an accident, highway patrol gets there quickly, as does EMS. Those badly injured are treated and evacuated to the nearest medical facility.
The Department of Transportation doesn’t require the company to report accidents, injuries, or deaths.
Older drivers report hit and runs and near misses to Highway Patrol and the company. Little, if any, corrective action is taken.
Imagine such a crazy system. Just imagine.
Againer Exoskeleton Increases Skiing Strength and Endurance
Againer Exoskeleton is a leg-assistance device that increases leg muscle performance and reduces pressure on the knees and back. It is especially useful for older skiers as well as those with injuries or disabilities. Worn on the outside of ski pants, the lightweight device uses adjustable gas springs to improve leg muscle performance. US Sales Manager, Murray Jacobson, is a new advertiser. He sells directly to customers and is available to answer questions about Againer. The product will be reviewed in SeniorsSkiing.com in the next month or so. In the menwhile, click on the picture above and/or visit the Againer Exoskeleton website.
Feel Young, Act Young; Feel Old….
This report about perceived age vs chronological age in The New York Times should interest most older skiers. The takeaway: feel young and you’ll behave that way.
Ski Racing $$$$
World Cup downhill and slalom winners in Kitzbuehel this January will receive 100,000 Euros ($111,447), per event, setting a new prize money high.
Displaying Old Season Passes
Jan Brunvand’s season pass collection.
Jan Brunvand, a frequent SeniorsSkiing.com contributor, sent in this photo of a clever and creative way to display years of season passes. His earliest Utah pass is for Park City (1968).
UK’s Ski TV Now Available on ROKU
UK-based SKI TV is dedicated to the ski and snow industry. It’s now available in the US via ROKU. Click here for the link.
Warren Miller’s Timeless
The new film is screening around the globe. To locate a showing near you, click here.
The Secret of Skiing
Comedian Larry Miller
Stand up comic, Larry Miller, tells the hilarious account of his frst time skiing. I laughed throughout the 35-minute routine. Audio, only.
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