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Great Hotdoggers Twitch... Not Itch!

As discussed in our last postcard, CSM defines and teaches Passive Moves™ that make great skiing easy, efficient and powerful. Passive Moves™ and moves like The Twitch Move™ are what separate CSM from the toil and grind of other programs. Come take a CSM Camp or Gold Plan and learn how to Twitch to the Love Spot™

What about this Twitch Move™?
Most clients arrive at our camps having been taught how to engage their edges when turning. Unfortunately, few have learned the art of releasing edges to initiate a turn. In fact, most stem their turns in the bumps. CSM’s Twitch Move™ guarantees parallel turns with ski-snow contact.

4 reasons why you should Twitch and not Stem:

1) The Twitch Move™ is as easy as scratching an itch, it’s simple, and all Hot Doggers do it.
2) The Twitch Move™ is a little move that allows you to manage turn shape and the powerful forces of momentum and gravity.
3) The Twitch Move™ guarantees a Passive and Parallel Turn Entry™.
4) The Twitch Move™ releases the bottom ski first and that my friends, is a lynch pin of CSM. If you release the top ski first you Stem. If you Stem your body is out of alignment, your muscles fatigue, and your bump skiing life will end soon!

Here’s how you do the Twitch Move™
Stand up tall and relaxed in your living room. Now tip your feet like you’re edging both skis in a turn. Notice that one foot rolled toward the big-toe side and the other foot rolled toward the little-toe side, just like you’re edging skis. Pretend you’re at the end of a turn and want to change directions. Before you initiate the turn imagine the foot balanced on the little-toe side is Uphill, and the foot balanced on the big-toe side is Downhill. When you pretend to start your new turn, flatten the big-toe side to the floor.

As you flatten the foot to the surface, allow your core or center of mass to move with the foot as it flattens. Voila… the Twitch Move™.

The Twitch™ is an easy movement, but it does big, powerful things. When starting a ski turn, the twitch simply pulls your center of mass in the direction of the new turn. As the Twitch™ pulls your center down the slope, your UPHILL SKI automatically releases also.

When the Twitch Move™ of the downhill foot releases the edge grip of the Uphill ski, it’s known as a Passive Turn Entry™. This passive entry allows the Uphill foot to do its all-important job of securing balance while maintaining ski-snow contact. If you stem or step to release, then gravity, balance and momentum eventually wreak havoc.

Tune in next time
We’ll explore one of the most wonderful moments in skiing. When you release your edges with the Twitch Move™, you’re primed for the Love Spot™.

Continue reading »]]> 1) The Clendenin Ski Method (CSM) was created so you don’t have to decipher arcane terms, or understand physics, or hold a PhD in Biomechanics to be a great skier. Johnny C has already done the thinking, experimenting, and testing of the Clendenin Ski Method so you can get right to the learning.

“If you can walk and get up from the toilet without touching
the sides, you can become a great skier.”     Johnny C

2) CSM’s basic Keys to the Kingdom™ are the epitome of easy. We start by waking up sensations in the feet. Since there are so many nerves in the bottom of your feet, getting sensations started down there is easy.

3) We use terms that are easy to remember and Key progressions that are fun to learn, like the Love Spot™ and the Twitch Move™

4) The Love Spot™ is a part of every great turn. It’s the moment and place when your skis are edgeless, your stance is balanced, tall, elegant, and you are in control of your destiny. Once you see it, feel it and own it, you’ll Love it. You’ll want to play in the Love Spot as you begin your dance with gravity.

5) The Twitch™ is as quick and simple as the name implies. It’s a Twitch of the foot that releases the bottom ski into the new turn. Once you get the Twitch, all your turns will be parallel and the whole mountain will be yours.

6) CSM gives you a parallel entry and takes away your stem.  Parallel entry is easy with the Twitch™ and a proper Pole Touch. Touch to Twitch™, find the Love Spot™ and your life will change forever.

“Our job is to train your horse so you can manage her. Once you
know you can slow her down and turn where and when you want –
you’re free to ride wild through the glades.”       Johnny C

7) Since Johnny C and the CSM team have taken the thinking out of it, your mind is free to build confidence and focus on learning. When your mind is free of toil and worry, you are at your best to absorb new sensations in the feet, focus on the Keys, then ride your new horse wherever your heart desires.

For some ridiculous reason, known only by maybe Einstein or Freud, a lot of us approach improvement in skiing or anything else we do, with the attitude of “NO Pain, NO Gain.” We’ve bought into the idea that we can’t be great at something, like learning to ski bumps or off-piste skiing, without a lot of sweating, grunting, and risk taking.

I don’t buy into the idea of “No Pain, No Gain.” With CSM and our great coaching you can find a new level with ease. I’ve run CSM through the gamut and it works. I’ve tested, calculated, and felt the pain so you can breeze through it. 

Come – join me and my team of coaches. You’ll quickly learn how CSM = Great Skiing!

You don’t have to be Einstein to Get IT.
 
Johnny C

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You start out OK in the bumps, but after a few turns you start to lose control going faster and faster until you have to pull out in a mad traverse or crash. Like this guy.

You look like this after one moderate bump run.

Don’t ruin ANY day with the Skier’s Flu™. If you have the Flu, the SkiDoc knows how to fix it. Come to a CSM Camp or take a CSM Gold Plan lesson and we’ll cure your flu. In its place, we’ll give you the gift of parallel skiing and the freedom to ski the whole mountain.

Continue reading »]]> “Poles?”

“I don’t need no stinkin’ poles”

Poles make all the difference in the world…

We’ve been planting the idea that mogul skiing doesn’t have to be like riding a wild pony, that by drifting and properly managing the pressure on the bottom of your feet, you can manage your speed and control your new pony. The full-blown idea is that if you master the Keys to the Kingdom™, you will control your speed and ski moguls without Thump. Good mogul skiing is not about riding a wild pony. Just the opposite, good mogul skiing is about efficient, deliberate, and specific movements that give you the control to ski moguls effortlessly, smoothly, and in complete control of your speed. Whether you chose fast or slow, straight or round, you are in control. Being in control for an entire mogul run is great skiing and lots of fun. Here are 3 Keys to the Pole Touch that will give you better control and help make your mogul skiing more fun.

Do You Touch or Do You Plant?

Stemmers plant and use the pole as a brace to step out of center into their new turn. Most stemmers have to look down to see where they are stepping. They can’t look ahead until they have eliminated the stem step. They use the pole plant to brace themselves for the stem step. It is impossible to ski in the future when you are planting and stepping.

On the other hand, a Pole Touch is soft and light, easy and efficient. Planting or sticking the pole firmly in the snow throws off your balance, promotes a weight shift, a stem step and leaves you in the past. A Pole Touch makes it easy to move your balance forward and down the hill. This simple move cues your feet to release the ski’s edge into the new turn, keeps the skis parallel, the bones stacked, allows speed management, and it looks a whole lot better. Come on, let’s touch, tip, and GO have more fun.

The Pole Flick

When the pole tip (basket) is flicked in front of the ski tip prior to the touch, you’re planning and looking ahead. Looking ahead allows you to ski in the future rather than reacting to the past. It’s just a smooth flick of the wrist, as any arm swinging, shoulder dipping, or violent moves will throw you off balance. This subtle flick is effortless and will actually save your ass by taking you out of the past, committing you to the future smooth and in balance.

The Pole Touch Cues the Twitch™

As the feet pass the pole, they tip (Twitch™) into the turn. The bottom foot twitches releasing its big-toe edge. This simple effortless Twitch™ moves your center (balance) into the future, down the hill, and into the new intended turn. It’s easy and it gives you great control as you embrace gravity.

Confused? Come to a camp and we’ll show you how easy it is.

Continue reading »]]> 1. The ability to Drift™ (smear) on your uphill ski is critical. Practice this on easy, groomed snow. Think of it as a simple sideslip, with your balance primarily on the uphill ski.

Next, add turns to the slipping. Remember, before each turn, feel balance on your uphill ski. Turn and slip on one uphill ski, then turn to slip on the other uphill ski.  Practicing this Key on easy groomed terrain prevents a stem and promotes parallel turn initiation (click here for more information).   Now do the same sideslip between easy bumps. This ‘Slipping Key’ gives you a solid parallel turn and the slipping controls your speed. Start slow; then let it go. You’ll love it.

Up the Bump

2. Turning ‘Up the Bump’ (up the side of bumps) is the quickest way to slow your horse. ‘Up the Bump’ is rarely used because most people stem in the bumps and, if you stem, this tactic for control is not available. In fact, stemmers can’t even imagine a turn that has their skis pointed uphill, but it’s going slightly uphill that will… “Whoa Nellie” and slow ‘er down.

3. The Squeegee Move™ is a magic way to quickly shorten your turn radius and center on the uphill ski. Sounds complicated? It’s not. Join us for a Camp or Gold Plan lesson and we’ll show you how. Or, check out more info on the Squeegee Move™ in the DVD Finding the Love Spot.

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Do You Thump?

Seven Secrets for Thumpless Skiing™

1) A simple rule for Thumpless Skiing™ is to maintain ski-snow contact. If you’re catching air unintentionally, you’re thumping.

2) Thumpless means ski-snow contact. A great Thumpless bump skier always has the top ski in contact with the snow during the transition.

3) Bumpers can only maintain this all-important contact when they are in control of their speed. If you’re going too fast, you’re going to thump.

4) With speed managed, thumpless skiers control pressure sensations in their feet by retracting to relieve pressure (getting lighter) or extending to maintain pressure (reaching to maintain snow contact).

5) Thumpless bump skiing is smooth, controlled, and effortless.

6) Thumplessly is the only way a bump skier can age and ski moguls. Thumping makes you old. If you’re a Thumpless Skier™,  you can ski the bumps your whole life.

7) Watch any film of Jean Claude Killy skiing moguls.

On the other hand, most skiers thump in the bumps. Thumps (unintended air) bang your chins, thighs slam into chests, backs jar and fillings fall out. These bumpers soon look like monkeys riding  wild ponies. Managing speed with ski-snow contact is the only way to ski bumps and age. (See our next blog for more on managing speed in the bumps)

Joubert the great French technician best describes this ultimate skill in the bumps:

“Watching a great skier absorb massive moguls by swallowing them with the entire body was a beautiful sight. It was a sensuously slithery dance of deep flexion followed by elongation. The skis followed the snow, arching smoothly with no abrupt jamming of edges, no tips exploding into the air as they hit the bumps, no dramatic linked recoveries.”

Stu Campbell’s article on Joubert in Ski Heritage, September 2002

Continue reading »]]> First, you don’t need to be a bump skier to be in a camp. All we require is that you can ski comfortably on all groomed terrain and that you want to be better.

Do you see the bumps and picture yourself having fun, but you’re afraid to get in there?

Do your friends ski bumps, but you have go around the easy way and meet them at the bottom?

Or, have you tried the bumps and you start out OK, but then something happens, and you find yourself on a wild pony ride?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we’ll take it from there. In fact, we’d prefer to get a hold of you before you “try” to learn the bumps on your own, or worse yet, before one of your friends “tries” to teach you but gives you the “skier’s flu”.

Second, most of our first-time campers have some sort of the “skier’s flu.”

Do you like to ski the bumps, but after one run your back hurts, your knees ache, and you’re pooped?

Do you ski the bumps well, can hit it hard most of the day, but you see some people who are smooth and look effortless?

Did you want to jump in and show off your silky style, but you know you looked like a monkey ?

If you said yes to any of these questions, you probably have the “skiers flu.” We have the cure. Take a Camp and we’ll tell you exactly what’s causing your flu and how to cure it.

Third, good strong bump skiers without the “skier’s flu” take our Camps and keep coming back. In fact, some of these Campers have years of camps under their belt and they are getting so good, they could be a CSM Coach.

Do you ski the bumps well, but still know something is missing?

Do you think you might have the “skier’s flu” but you don’t know what that is?

Are you a great bump skier, or even have some professional experience, but you want to keep learning and improving?

If you’re already a good bump skier, taking a camp will not only help you ski the bumps faster, longer, smoother, better, but will help you master the whole mountain, including steeps, powder, and racing.

We’ll take video of your skiing and breakdown your turns, giving you the tools to keep improving no matter how strong you are.

You’ll be cured of the flu, smoothed out, with the knowledge, tools, and techniques to ski like a CSM coach.

Fourth, no matter what your ability, we teach to your comfort level.

We know that real changes can only be made when you are comfortable. You get rid of the “skier’s flu” only when you’re calm and not threatened. If you’re fearful, you’ll resort to old defensive habits. We practice ALL of our Keys to the Kingdom on easy groomed terrain. The Keys wake up your feet and let you practice bump skills where you are confident and at ease . Once mastered on groomed, the Keys rid you of the ‘flu’ and you’re ready to ‘Ski in the Kingdom’. Johnny C says, “If you can’t do it right on groomed, you’re not going to learn it in the bumps”.

Once you master the Keys, you’ll be rid of the flu and ski “thumpless bumps” and save your back and legs for other exciting things.

If you’re a great skier and you think you don’t need to practice the Keys, then two-time World Freestyle Champion and Ski Hall of Famer Johnny C says, “Bring it. Let’s see it.”

Fifth, you are the one that does the learning and we do the coaching.

CSM is not a pill or elixir, but it can make bump skiing easier, faster, and more efficient. In fact, CSM can give you the skills to ski bumps late into life, but you’ll only get out of it what you put into it. The good news is that the CSM and its coaches can get you there faster than any other method.

Sixth, if you are planning on taking a Camp, we recommend watching the DVD Finding the Love Spot and/or reading the book Four Words for Great Skiing before the camp.

The book and DVD will give you a head start on understanding CSM, the Keys to the Kingdom, and better bump skiing.

Continue reading »]]> When my buddy Drew Wahlin sent me this rooster, I knew it would fit well with some of the other material I’ve been collecting.

It doesn’t matter how your day has gone.

Plucked, pounded, mistreated…

Always go home with your head held high, with dignity.

Attitude is everything. 

I subscribe to Spirit of Golf, which provides daily insight into golf and also applies to skiing and to life in general. Like the rooster, these little pearls of wisdom always bring a smile to my life.

The greatest, although not always easiest, gift we can give to ourselves on the golf course is to relax and have more fun.  It’s when we learn to chill out that happier, feel-good thoughts arrive more effortlessly in our field of awareness.  Our bodies, too, can move more freely and with greater rhythm and efficiency when we stop resisting “The Flow.”  Even the Universe has a special way of smiling back at us as we learn to smile and have more fun.  Actually, the Universe never stops smiling at us even when we’re cranky and ornery; it’s we who temporarily shut down to ourselves, with a Universe that is not going to join us in a pity party until we relax and chill out and begin to have more fun.

Spirit of Golf, February 17, 2011

Continue reading »]]> What Makes a Great Coach…

…having a Camp With Hot Chicks!

On a more serious note, every year I attend Professional Golf Association (PGA) educational seminars in order to maintain my PGA status. This past year I attended a presentation given by the legendary golf coach Butch Harmon. His golf camps are the models I use in my ski business. One could say he’s my CSM business mentor (even though he doesn’t know it). He began by sharing his thoughts on what makes a great coach. His points relate directly to ski coaches. I have used most in my instructor certification and decide to add the rest of his gems.

From my notes, these are his thoughts on great coaching:

1)   Always conduct yourself professionally

2)   Always show tremendous enthusiasm

3)   “Less is more”

4)   Fix the 1 thing that will help 6 – not 6 things to fix 1

5)   Never say, “I think…” or “I want you to…”  If you do start with either phrase students will say, “If he’s just thinking about it, he can’t be sure!”

6)   Be positive and assertive

7)   Find the cancer, not the symptoms.

8)   Use your own personality.

9)   Listen to instructors you disagree with – you can always learn something

10)  Fundamentals are most important

11)  Never take away what someone does naturally

12)  Explain why it’s important to take lessons –

13)  Explain change takes time

14)  Use teaching aids (video) but don’t become dependent on them

15)  Never stop learning

16)  Don’t be afraid to teach ‘out of the box’.

You should look for these qualities when deciding on a coach, whether you’re selecting a coach for golf or skiing. To see more of John’s thoughts on Butch’s requisites for great coaching – go to http://mogulmasters.us/forum/

Continue reading »]]> Time on the simulator is the quickest and safest way to learn or improve your skiing.

1.  Your coach is right in front of you the entire time. Coaches can’t do that on the mountain.
2. You get immediate feedback from your coach while you’re moving. Immediate input has ten times the value in the learning process.
3. You will feel safe in the belt. You can’t fall. This security frees you to focus on the task rather than worrying about falling.
4. The feeling in your feet is exactly the same as on snow.
5. Your reflection in the mirror gives immediate visual feedback. Immediate feedback is the most valuable.
6. The simulator lets you ski or ride the equivalent of a much longer distance. You can practice over and over again on a mellow slope for a distance about two times the height of a major resort mountain.
7. The little muscles in your feet get a work-out on the simulator. Get those little muscles conditioned indoors before your first day on snow.
8. Overall conditioning – There’s no other activity in the gym that exercises your inversion/eversion muscles as well, or directly applies to skiing.
9. Rehab – When you’re healing ligaments and other injuries, time on the simulator is the best exercise for putting a spring back in your step and developing more confidence/less fear before getting back on the slopes.