Well the storm came in as promised and it delivered one of those great powder days where your tracks are just filling in between every run.

After some self-arrest drills for steep terrain, Grant, Aleksi, and Mimi showed us what Montanans are made of, braving the bitter wind to shred lap after lap on Thunderwolf’s trees and open meadows.

We broke for lunch and the storm kicked up something fierce! It took some creative route finding to get back to our choice lines as most of the mountain was on wind hold. We made a snap decision to ski down the road back towards town to get back to Thunderwolf and man was that a good idea. The place was deserted; we had run after run of soft and smooth turns through the bumps and trees.

All in all this was a great clinic and we are now even more stoked for our next steep camp at Big Sky March 15 – 17. Check out the short video for more stoke!

We spent the morning honing our skills, focusing on tip pressure and edging so that when we got on the Tram to the top of Lone Peak after an early lunch to dodge the crowds, we were all ready to rip some turns on the steep chutes on the south summit.

The Tram at Big Sky is unique among North American ski lifts. With it’s base station on an alpine glacier and it’s summit house perched on the airy summit of lone peak, overlooking the notorious Big Couloir, it delivers a heavy dose of respect for the extreme terrain it services. Groups of 15 people are whisked up to the summit on a short ride where it feels like you are flying straight into a wall of rock and snow as the peak approaches.

Once on top, we skied down Lenin, a wide chute that cuts a beautiful line down the side of the peak for at least 1000 vert. Big turns through creamy wind buff and corn kept everyone smiling and wanting more. It was so good we just had to lap it all afternoon.

After some tasty runs off the summit, we headed back over to the steeps on Challenger lift and got a few more great runs in to finish the day before heading to the bar for a video review session. Everyone in the clinic made big progress and that was made clear in the video.

Today should be another great day as we’ve got 6 – 10″ in the forecast. Check back tomorrow to see how it goes.

Sure enough, when we got to the hill this morning and met up with Mimi, Grant, Alexi and the gracious hosts at Big Sky’s Snowsports School, all signs were pointing to a great day of ripping the creamy wind buff.

Up on the mountain, we weren’t disappointed. The wind had groomed the hill perfectly for us and we spent the morning laying down arcs on the Thunder Wolf and Lone Moose chairs. This place is so big, even though it was vacation week, we barely ran into anyone!

After lunch, the crew kept up the pace and shredded the Challenger chair all afternoon until the lifties kicked us off. It was soft and smooth in the trees and we couldn’t resist farming the pow.

Tomorrow looks like it’s gonna be another great day. Check back to see what new stoke Big Sky will drum up.

For instance, take the “Explore the Beast with Dan Egan” clinic running throughout this winter at Killington Ski Resort in Vermont. Imagine arriving at Killington on a classic eastern ski day and being greeted by the other enthusiastic people you will be skiing with over the next two days. In your company will be other coaches, instructors, parents, businessmen,  college students, people who ski fifteen days a year and people who ski eighty. The commonality among the group: everyone is excited to be there and ready to improve their own skiing.

So what’s the morning like with SkiClinics? First off, is the overlooked lesson on the importance of breathing. You may have had this lesson before in a yoga studio, but never on the slopes. See, the SkiClinics’ goal is for you to ski better, longer, and where you want to go and the first step is getting oxygen to your muscles and relaxing. The lesson won’t be about how to breathe, it will be to simply do it, which opens up immediate conversation among the group for several chair rides – how simple it is to relax and how much of an impact it has on your confidence. This will be a funny realization because we forget the basics of having a good time – confidently relaxed. SkiClinics will show you that skiing is not about being apprehensive over what to do, it is about complimenting the mountain in your own way. As skiers we are meant to channel our energy, not to control it. You learn this first with remembering to breathe; the first of many simple lessons you pick up with SkiClinics.

What is empowering about skiing with SkiClinics is their commitment to a personalized experience and their understanding of what is realistic. American Olympic skier Bode Miller will admit (beyond our own belief) that he is skiing a great run when 50% of his turns are good turns. That means for us mere mortals (SkiClinics coaches included), if we are doing 25% good turns, than we are skiing the run of our lives.  This freeing mentality combined with accepting that what is accepted as the “absolute right way” is not necessarily what is right for you, allows for you to ski in your own way.  Utilizing Weem’s Sports Diamond for self diagnosis you will learn that if you know why you ski, understand your attachment to the mountain around you, and are willing to do what it takes to ski better, than the technique will follow in suit.

SkiClinics’ creatively different coaching continues with the permission that our natural range of motion is in fact ski technique. Is skiing skeletal or muscular? SkiClinics doesn’t get there. It’s not how they think about skiing. They teach the feeling of skiing – maximize your movements, duplicate, internalize, and the learning will follow. If your committed to whatever it is your skiing purpose is, you will discover a rejuvenated wildness in your skiing – maybe not Dan Egan’s Wild World of Winter material, but wild in your own way.

After experiencing a day with SkiClinics you will be left saying, “Wow, I can’t believe I can do that!”.

The conditions were great all weekend, Saturday was warm and the snow was creamy, Sunday with a bit colder temps we had grippy surfaces which were perfect for our our range of motion drills and top to bottom runs.

Check out www.edgechange.com for Sports Diamond and send Weems a thank you note for providing the foundation of our “purpose, touch, will and technique.  Do come on out and ski with me this winter, plenty of opportunities at both Killington and Big Sky.  Or if you want to organize a private group let me know.

With conditions the way they are, instruction is a great way to spice up your day and expand your skill level!!

With yet another great loss in the ski world with the passing of Jamie Pierre in an avalanche in Utah, please remember that early season ripping has its hazards.  Here are my top ten things to be aware of for early season snow fall.

10. Check your equipment make sure your bindings are working
9. Untracked snow in Nov and early Dec is Mother Nature way of sweeping things under the rug
8. Ski good or eat wood
7. In December remember the days are short, the season is long
6. Don’t be stampeded by the herd mentality
5. Stop above water bars and mountain roads
4. No BLT’s (Bad Last Turns)
3. If you’re over 40 and you think you’re as good as you were in your 20’s….you weren’t very good in your 20’s
2. Rock, Stumps and Bumps are buried yet
1. Savor the mountains, your friends, family and give thanks for the blessings in your life.

We will miss you Jamie, may God bless your family in their time of need!

Get all the big mountain action you can handle without having to leave the east! Join Dan on his annual weekly pilgrimage to Tuck’s April 13, 20, and 27 and experience one of skiings most historic venues. Bring the whole family or even just send your kids out to ensure a great day of burning off steam in the mountains. This trip is a great way to get head up Mt. Washington with a group and ski together, learn a bit and have a safe day without the crowd of the weekends.

TRIPS INCLUDE: We will work on the following:

• How to pack your gear
• Hiking in steep terrain
• Creating anchors on the steeps for putting on skis
• Steep skiing techniques
• Classic routes on Mt. Washington.
• FUN

PRICE: $130/pp. Please confirm by the Wednesday prior.

Contact us for more info!

You’ll be met in Geneva and picked up in a van and driven to the best snow in the Alps.  We will ski 3-4 resorts during the week and drive to the best snow in Switzerland, France, Italy and Austria. Plus you’ll ski between countries, and ski tour the most scenic locations in Europe. This camp will focus on backcountry skills, snow safety and big mountain skiing. Accommodations will be 4 star hotel and chalets.  Trip includes ground transportation, breakfast, 3 Dinners, 6 day lift pass, daily back country instruction.

Cost is only $2450.00

Dates: April 1 – 7, 2012

Contact us for more info!

VAL D’ISERE, FRANCE
March 24– 31, 2012
Adventure Guided Skiing and Avalanche Awareness

Join Dan Egan and avalanche expert Henry Schniewind for some off-piste skiing on the steeps and in the couloirs of this massive French ski resort! An epic ski vacation with top guides for your skiing safety and enjoyment.

TRIP INCLUDES: 7 nights lodging at Les Cretes Blanche, daily breakfast, 6-day lift pass to Val D’ Isere and the resort of Schniewind days coached skiing with Dan Egan and guided off-piste skiing with Henry Schniewind. Henry is a professional ski guide and an expert on avalanche safety.

This trip also includes 2 nights of avalanche awareness talks, use of beacons, probes, route finding, hazard evaluation, snowpack stability evaluation and more! Note: This professionally guided ski trip is for upper intermediate and advanced skiers. Limited to 10 clients. Ground transfers NOT included. Trip must be booked by 1/14/12. Contact us for more info.

View Video on past Val d’Isere Ski Trip

PRICE: $3,299.00 (ppdo) / $3,599.00 (single) if booked prior to 12/1/11. Booking within 45 days of departure will incur a $250 late charge.

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