Teaching lessons

[Jim Callen]

I'm hoping to teach lessons next season at Snowmass. Does anyone here teach using their hardboots, even when teaching people on softies? I frankly would prefer hard boots, just because my soft ones hurt my legs and ankles.

[outsider]

it can be a little harder for the intermediate riders, but for beginners and advanced riders it is ok. i prefer to teach most of my beginner lessons off my board, and for the advanced lessons an alpine board is good for showing the over exageration required for some demonstrations

[Jim Callen]

Yeah, I'd most likely use my boardercross board when teaching lessons, but I still would prefer the hard boots. At least with the wider board, I can use lower angles. You must get a lot of odd looks from some of your students at first.

[D-Sub]

can I come with you to snowmass? I'll be your maid for the season!

[Jim Callen]

Hey, I do need a roomate, albeit they have to be employed by the hotel as well. Or there's always the couch. Heh, that'd be a sight, 3 people to a hotel room. For a year.

[Jack Michaud]

I taught for 4 years (part time), 97% of the time in hardboots. It was great - so easy to get in and out, and also to ride one-footed.

Never ever ever teach off your board. That's like the cross-country coach who rides alongside his runners in a golf cart. (hmm, maybe that's pretty common, but my rowing coach in college did all the workouts along with us. It was very motivating.) Your students want to see how you use your snowboard, even when you don't think you're doing anything. Also it's the quickest way to get around.

[bobdea]

I see this alot at many resorts coach standing there or walking around and watching his/her kids falling all over gaperville
with a coach like that you would be just as well off to buy a LTR book or video

[Jim Callen]

What kind of board did you use while teaching? I assume a square tail must be a pain to teach beginners, seeing as it's pretty much directional.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Jack Michaud

Never ever ever teach off your board.

What do you do with never-evers, especially small kids? I would think demoing on the board plus assisting them while on your feet would be best.

[Jon Dahl]

will get it (hopefully) in this order; explain technique, show them yourself, then help them do it (on or off the board). Sometimes you can mirror what you are teaching if you are in front of them, facing the student, holding hands to support/give them confidence. Thats what has worked for me in the past. Hopefully PSR or someone else with more teaching experience will chime in here, though I seem to get all the beginners when I teach for the private school when I go with 'em. And, yes, I always use hardboots when I'm out. You should be able to do everything an beginner/intermediate will do, even ollie/jump and fakie riding.

[Jack Michaud]

Originally posted by Neil Gendzwill
What do you do with never-evers, especially small kids? I would think demoing on the board plus assisting them while on your feet would be best.

I rarely had real little kids, but yes sometimes they need you to be off the board. Not always though.

As for your typical never-ever lesson, I would spend about 80% of my time with my front foot in and back foot out. The rest of the time I would have both feet in. Very rarely would I step completely off the board to do something, and only briefly.

Standing around on your feet telling people what to do is just too "traffic cop" for me.

And yes, I used square-tail boards with no problem.

This is part of how we can "spread the gospel", people.

[D-Sub]

Originally posted by Jim Callen
Hey, I do need a roomate, albeit they have to be employed by the hotel as well. Or there's always the couch. Heh, that'd be a sight, 3 people to a hotel room. For a year.

hotel, eh? is the hotel owned by the hill? meaning you get a pass?

the idea of being able to ride pretty much whenever I want is incredibly appealing. been almost 10 years!

[northcoast]

Last month I was down at Mt Hood Meadows (for filming and AASI Level 2) and saw a group of 1st timers (all in a slightly ducked out but goofy soft setup) being taught by a woman in hardboots (regular). Curious to see how it was working out I did a couple of laps on that chair to see how the lesson was going. When after 2 laps the group had only moved about 20 ft and one of the students was headed in the opposite direction and becoming visibly upset I decided I to help out. The group was working on toeside traverses so I gave the flailing student a quick 123 lesson and guided her back to the flock. Upon returning the student to the class the instructor asked if I wanted to join them. Delighted to be of assistance (I love teaching) I said "I'd love to." Then she told me I could go pay for a lesson and come back. I tried my hardest to contain myself especially when she immediately told her students she couldn't demo the maneuver she was trying to teach because she was in hardboots but she would try. As I rode away slowly I heard and saw the worst lesson in my life. I kept envisioning someone backing up a Mack truck including the beep...beep...beep. I don't know if she thought I was trying hit on the girls in her class or if her ego was bruised for getting her student up to speed in 30 seconds compared to 1 1/2 hours she had just wasted.

I guess the lesson I learned was the ability to do a good demo is paramount. Alot of students learn visually and if you can't demo something don't; especially if you're in the wrong equipment. I'm not saying you can't ride switch in hardboots (Nate W kicks ass at it) but for the "never ever" it's like teaching someone to telemark when you're riding a snowskate. Where I was going with it I forgot but hopefully you get the picture.
________
Lovely Wendie

[jason_watkins]

northcoast: do you remember any details about this person's identity, and if they were a resort employee? Meadows has tapped a few of my friends for feedback this year, so there is a (slight) chance that we could do something to improve the situation. If what you said was true, it sounds like she has little business teaching... but sadly meadows has convinced me over the years that they seek out the worst employees they can.

Oh... but on a happy note that instructor with the radio on his backpack is really something to watch, whatever his name is.

[Pre School Rider]

Jack,I applaud your trying to stay on your board,but,where I've taught(excepting Suicide 6 and Bromley),I've had to deal with being on a constant slope,with virtually no flats(the Ski Instructors get Dibs on the best 1st-timer terrain).So,teaching a sideslip,leaf,or garland means that your charge may Not Stop without a little 'hands-on' assistance.I demo what I want,and then(using a long,stretchy runaway leash)sling my board over my shoulder so it's resting on my back.That frees my hands,and feet.Now I can work on the edging at a pace my new students can deal with.Keep "in touch" with a student means that I can use gentle hand-pressure to guide the intensity and direction of their edgework.This means that I don't need to SAY where I want them to go,I can Lead them.Often a mere feather-light reasurance can keep an otherwise tippy + unsure rider in an Upright ,Balancing, and Steering body posture(they're Not looking at their Feet!).It's in this crucial phase,where new riders are going slower than they walk,that the sudden "Tip-Over" falls occur.[ALSO! Make damn sure your student Know to Touch the Snow ONLY with a Closed Fist!!Landing on an Open Palm is going to Injure the rider,so break That Habit before it Starts!] Falling over takes up a Lot of energy,both physical,and mental.If you keep your students Upright and Gliding,they'll get it.If they're on they're arse,they're not learning how to Ride.Coming to an easy,controlled,no-tipping stop is a good sign,btw.As a rider gains in edging skills,the speed will increase up to where balancing is being dealt with almost automatically,like when one learns to ride a bike. Once the student is past the speed that I can comfortably walk/jog,well,it's time for me to strap the board back on.Using Plates on aggresive freeride boards means that I'm in quickly,and that I can ride/demo in any direction.However,I have one true weakness in my riding;I cannot get Off a Chair switch! GGRRrrrr... Speaking of Chairlifts,I ALWAYS take the Time to sort out Gliding,Stopping,and Chairlift Operation to my students.Chairs are large,cumbersome,uncaring machines,and it's REALLY Important that the Chairlift is something that is respected,but NOT Feared.One of the things that has driven me nuts over the years is the Skiers "face to the Outside to see the chair coming" when loading. NO!!!! Look over your "REAR" shoulder,regardless of which side you're on at the Load Area.If you look over your FRONT Shoulder,you can easily catch an edge,twist a knee(Badly!),or get caught with your legs crossed.Down at the FEET,be sure your student loads with the rear foot on the TOESIDE EDGE of the board.I've seen many 'new schoolers'(AASI Pro Staff included) load with the rear foot on the heelside edge.If they get crossed up in the load zone,the resulting edge-snag is a potential leg-breaker. As for off-loading,be sure that one-footed steering is a skill that's understood,and that using the rear foot to 'toe-drag' Lightly (LIGHTLY!) to stop is almost second nature.This avoids all kinds of ugliness at the top of the chair.Exiting Chairlifts in the U.S. is a dangerous time for snowboarders.Having to balance on one leg from a moving seat is a pretty risky thing to have to do.Too bad our Lawyers insist that it's like that.{Having BOTH feet on the board makes exiting a chair so much easier!}So,make sure your charges are aware of how to use that chair.After that,it's just getting in some 'practice laps',and then get the Garlands/Leafs to 'Link' into turns. By then,you've usually got yourself a new SNOWBOARDER!

[outsider]

Originally posted by Neil Gendzwill
What do you do with never-evers, especially small kids? I would think demoing on the board plus assisting them while on your feet would be best.

when teaching younger kids who havnt found their center of gravity you almost always have one or two that need that first couple of hand held runs. Working directly with the kids gives them a sense of what their edging should feel like without having to get a sense of what falling on their asses feels like (at least for the first couple glides and skidds).

[D-Sub]

holy **** preschool! try that enter key a couple times!

[boostertwo]

It sounds like you have a great season ahead of you.

Hard or soft? For me, it depends on the situation. Most times I teach guests on whatever equipment would be most fun and appropriate for that particular lesson--and sometimes on which equipment is less broken!

In or out? Whichever will produce the best experience for the student. I'm out of my bindings a fair amount--mostly when hiking with guests to secret powder stashes!

Anyways, at Snowmass, you may have opportunities to book more than a few of high performance hard boot carving lessons.

[northcoast]

Jason, the young lady (mid 40's or so) had dark brown curly hair and drives a brown chevy conversion van. She was a mountain employee and I felt bad because I left a message with the TD about her teaching. I felt so bad that I didn't even say anything to her when she parked next to me before going into the instructor party.
On another note...my recent shoulder surgery was a result of being taken out by students while exiting the chair. Since that day I never sit on the inside...at least with a class. Preschool you've mention alot of things that I use. Teaching people how to fall (if they need it) is important. Also giving people a helping hand to balance (if they need it) is an excellent way to start. It's also a great way to get someone down the mountain when fear (negative excitement) sets in. Usually they're rollin' solo after the first 100'. Using this technique is where switch riding skill come into play bigtime.
________
LovelyWendie

[northcoast]

Originally posted by boostertwo

Hard or soft? For me, it depends on the situation. Most times I teach guests on whatever equipment would be most fun and appropriate for that particular lesson

You hit the nail on the head...at least for what I was trying to say earlier. Having A.D.D. sucks sometimes Cliff notes are often not included with what I'm trying to say even though it would be nice.
Oh yeah...hard or soft? Using the right equipment for what's appropriate is definitely the way to go. I do agree with Jack though in that we need to "spread the gospel". There is a serious lack of hardbooters where I'm at. My "home" mountain even shot down my proposal to be a host mountain for USASA events due in part to lack of participation in race events. (Even though we all know alpine sticks aren't just for racing anymore)
________
WWW.CYCLECHAOS.COM

[Jim Callen]

D-sub, to answer your question, I don't think the hill owns the Stonebridge Inn, but yeah, I do get a pass. My pass and housing come to 100 bucks a month. So I'm stopping school for now and taking advantage of this crazy opportunity.

I'm frankly tempted to sell my softies and highbacks and ride exclusively in hardboots. Think I should? They're top of the line equipment, and I used them for less than half a season. As much as I enjoy them they kill my feet and legs.

[Jack Michaud]

Of course I defer to PSR as the resident guru of instructors. I can see where being off the board can facilitate good individual hands-on attention which the student will appreciate.

My comment was directed towards the approach of an instructor I once saw merely standing in one spot and barking orders to a group lesson. Not cool.

And yes, the bunny hill where I taught had a few flats running across the slope which made it easy for students to stop.
-Jack

[Jon Dahl]

you da' man! You reminded me of several gaps in the progression that you just start to take for granted. And, yaeh, the twin tip board w/plates is my usual way also, 'cause softies just KILL my feet!

[D-Sub]

Originally posted by Jim Callen
D-sub, to answer your question, I don't think the hill owns the Stonebridge Inn, but yeah, I do get a pass. My pass and housing come to 100 bucks a month. So I'm stopping school for now and taking advantage of this crazy opportunity.

I'm frankly tempted to sell my softies and highbacks and ride exclusively in hardboots. Think I should? They're top of the line equipment, and I used them for less than half a season. As much as I enjoy them they kill my feet and legs.

All up to you, man. I still prefer a soft setup in powder. Probably always will.
$100 for lodging and pass?

wow.

[AlpentalRider]

Originally posted by Jim Callen
I'm frankly tempted to sell my softies and highbacks and ride exclusively in hardboots. Think I should? They're top of the line equipment, and I used them for less than half a season. As much as I enjoy them they kill my feet and legs.

If your softies are killing your feet, then you should get new boots which fit better. Softboots should not hurt your feet at all, and it's VERY important to try all different types of brands and boots to get the best fit. Ignore all the BS about which boot is better, fit is the #1 factor in a softboot setup.

[Mike T]

Originally posted by AlpentalRider
Ignore all the BS about which boot is better, fit is the #1 factor in a softboot setup.

Wholeheartedly agreed...

You can always try aftermarket footbeds and/or moldable liners to improve softie fit, just like you can with hard boots. My Malamutes fit "well enough" off the shelf, but when I added the custom footbeds I had made for my hard boots, they fit even better. If I rode softies more often I'd try some Intuition liners, hoping to get 'em as comfy as my hard boots.

[Jon Dahl]

if you have a high instep, as I do, you may not find a setup that will work for you, 'cause you have to factor in what happens when you ride/walk in them. The best I was able to do in soft boots was cut my foot pain in half using footbeds, because straps, even on stepin boots, put constant pressure there, which is aggrevated by agressive riding. The balls of my feet would go numb in whatever soft boot setup I tried, which is much more than an inconvenience! If you can find one that works for you, great! I'll stick to my hardboots, thank you very much, 'cause no foot pain is worlds better than a little foot pain(or more).

[Jim Callen]

I've tried many different brands of soft boots. Burton, ride, oxygen, northwind, nitro, etc. I like nitro the best, because they tend to break in only a little, and therefore have more support. I even have a realy low arch, and footbeds help a lot.

My problem is with the bindings. The straps always create pressure points on my feet, cutting off the circulation. I don't like loosening the straps because I feel the performance of my board is affected. I've tried rotating the backs of my bindings to give more support. No luck. I usually have to loosen my front foot on the lifts, and that's on the small hill around Western NY. I can't even imagine what the pain will be like in CO. I've pretty much had it with being in pain all the time.

[AlpentalRider]

When I first used strap bindings 8 years ago I had the same problems. I then switched to Burton Step-Ins and it eleviated that issue. I hear that the straps nowadays are alot better about the pressure point thing then the ones in the past.

Maybe try demoing some Drake bindings. They have an anotomical strap which should help with distributing the pressure if the heel strap is causing the issue. If the toe strap is what is causing your pain then the new Burton CapStrap will not only eleviate that problem, but will really make your foot seat better in the binding.

[slam]

I teach on a freestyle set up because I can demo anything regular or switch, also if they need to I can show them 360s or coach a 720s.

I do have some agressive freeriders, I teach them with my carving set up (it is soft, but it has agressive angles, 30, 25). That and they like me draggin my hips in the snow.

My recommendation is be prepared to teach anything. You are teaching the student what they want to learn, not what you want to teach them in more advanced lessons. This may includ some minimal freestyle.

So boy scouts motto here.