[NMCCSC] Thanks to our fantastic instructors

[Michael Mcdonald]

Ditto that: Thank you Stacy, Barry and Marleen.

The big things I learned are that 1) leaning into my basic alpine skiing techniques, properly modified for our cross country skis, can really get me through some rough spots on the CC ski trails. 2) Time spent on the bunny hill (especially with people explaining how those skills translate to CC skis) is way valuable.

The techniques I found the most valuable are how to get that good old snowplow turn to work on CC skis, how to turn that snowplow into a parallel turn, and how to use side slipping to get down extra steep sections. Eventually I may learn telemarking, but I’m not sure how it will actually fit into the back country CC skiing I do. 

The time on the bunny hill was like being able to safely experience several year’s worth of steep encounters on the trail all in one day. I could get turns wrong and recover long before hitting the trees (not at all like on the trails), then stop and try it again over and over until I got it right. 

I highly recommend others give this sort of training a try. My plan is to make it a practice to warm up on my next few trips in the Sandias by stopping off at the bunny hill, skiing up and getting in a few turns before continuing on to ski the trails near the top.

Michael J.

> On Jan 9, 2022, at 9:36 AM, Amy Mathis via NMCCSCeGroup <nmccscegroup at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
> 
> HUGE thanks goes out to Stacey, Barry, and Marleen for spending so many valuable hours with us at the intermediate downhill skills clinic at Sante Fe yesterday.  I know I learned a ton and I’m so very appreciative of their time.  Thanks also goes to Dana, and although I wasn’t at her clinic, I hope that it went well.  
> 
> -Amy
> 
> Sent from my iPad