Looking for a freestyle mogul coach

[Dynastar]

Does anybody have any recommendations? Can go through the school or private, does not matter to me.

Things are starting to click for me. But I need someone to spend a day just to work with me to work out the kinks (a lot) and show technique/tips etc. I'm 47 so never going to be a racer, but would like to "run" them a bit. Was thinking of getting a lesson, skiing a month or so, then a tune up in March. But I am looking for a freestyle coach, not someone who is going to teach the PSIA method.

Name and # appreciated.

Thx!

[180]

There is a dedicated core group that skis every weekend. Just hang out on the mogul trials you will find them.

[Mister Moose]

There is a dedicated core group that skis every weekend. Just hang out on the mogul trials you will find them.

Are there mogul juries too?

(Fellow dsylexci typer here)

[madhatter]

There is a dedicated core group that skis every weekend. Just hang out on the mogul trials you will find them.

Are there mogul juries too?

(Fellow dsylexci typer here)

pretty much just judges and executioners...

[Dynastar]

There is a dedicated core group that skis every weekend. Just hang out on the mogul trials you will find them.

No, already have done that. I need an actual instructor who will sit with me.

[Mister Moose]

First off, reset your expectations just a little.

Watch a lot of bump skiers. Watching helps in between coaching sessions. There is no one set technique. You may evolve towards one style like what you see you want to emulate, or a combination. Similarly is there is no one style of teaching. People vary. You could probably identify two main themes though, as you alluded to: PSIA and competitive freestyle.

Bump skiing is elusive. It looks way easier than it is. On any given day, find someone who makes it look easy. Then notice how few there are that make it look that easy. What the observer is missing is how many critical parts go into good bump skiing, ie making it look easy.

Don't write off PSIA. Any good bumper will tell you the fundamentals are key. And PSIA can teach you the fundamentals you need. Anything wrong with your turns, stance or timing will eat you alive in the bumps. Make sure they know you want a bump lesson. You will likely be in a very small group.

However PSIA will never teach you freestyle fall line absorbtion mogul skiing. The freestylers will have to teach you that. Problem is, most freestylers haven't spent any time becoming good teachers. They have spent their time becoming good competitors. They are full of phrases like "just turn", or "just don't turn". If you're set on pure freestyle instruction, ask around KMS, but they're more set up for in house instruction.

Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off. Don't cheat on the fundamentals. Can you turn twice in one second? One-thousand one. Two turns. If not, go back to wax on, wax off.

Repetition is key. Frequent short instruction is better than one marathon you can't absorb all at once. You need to build muscle memory and muscle tone. Expand your lesson frequency expectations. There is no magic phrase that will make you a mogul skier in one hour. Expect to spend a lot of hours. Ski a lot.

Madhatter lives nearby, and needs a reason to come out on the hill except on Wednesdays when he races. He'd be one source. Donna Weinbrecht gives a few mogul clinics if you want gold medal top of the line.

Read a book or two. Dan DePiro wrote a good one. There's also some good videos on Youtube.

If you really want to get good at bumps, come ski with us in the spring. It's warm, soft, bumps are big and there's tons of talent from all over New England. Ski it a lot. 180 will be there, along with Radio Ron, The Hammer, and many faithful. 2 things you need to bring:

1) At least 20 days under your belt this season to be in decent shape.
2) Beer, preferably with a score of over 88 on Beer Advocate.

In the meantime, ski every chance you get. Seek out easy and intermediate bump sets and get excellent on them. Forget about the hard bump runs that are out of your learning zone. Just because you can "get down them" doesn't mean you're learning much.

[freeski]

This will get you started...
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[Highway Star]

This thread is hilarious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWBkCDdgj2E[/youtube]

[ANGUS]

I agree with all that has been said in this thread. Moguls are an art. Not the same as ripping it up on groomers. The fundamentals are key. Put your time in. Good physical conditioning is important. Go at your own pace. A mogul can F*#k you up just as fast as a semi truck. Learn to choose your lines and adjust accordingly.
You can try Jon Lamb. Excellent instructor. Did wonders for my daughter. He spends a fair amount of time in the bumps in the spring. 802 779 5590 jklamb007@comcast.net The email address is a couple years old. I think it still works.
Good luck finding your ZEN.
P.S. It also helps to have a couple screws loose.

[madhatter]

there is no magic phrase...

there is, and Tony Knows...just ask him...he may not be the doctor but he always knows what's going wrong...that said there's many a slip between the cuff and the tip...Tony will help eliminate that widespread panic...


180 is one of the best guys out there, ya might be able to catch him in the parking lot if yer lucky, good luck out on the hill...you can learn a lot trying to chase him if you can keep sight of him...

( or do what I do, ski past him when he's stopped and watch him ski down)

[madhatter]

I agree with all that has been said in this thread. Moguls are an art. Not the same as ripping it up on groomers. The fundamentals are key. Put your time in. Good physical conditioning is important. Go at your own pace. A mogul can F*#k you up just as fast as a semi truck. Learn to choose your lines and adjust accordingly.
You can try Jon Lamb. Excellent instructor. Did wonders for my daughter. He spends a fair amount of time in the bumps in the spring. 802 779 5590 jklamb007@comcast.net The email address is a couple years old. I think it still works.
Good luck finding your ZEN.
P.S. It also helps to have a couple screws loose.

never ski'd bumps w him but he's one of the top contenders in both ski and bike bum races ( grrrrr... ) I'm sure he's good at bumps too...

[Highway Star]

How I envision the results of this thread:

[skibikeclimbguy]

Jon Lamb is good at loving to hear himself talk.

If you want to learn to ski bumps, ski bumps. Watch good bumpers. Ski with good bumpers. No substitute for paying your dues.

[asher2789]

John Lamb is good (and a great mountain biker as well), but id recommend steve shaw. request him at the private office at snowshed. great bump skier and an instructor with a bunch of high level psia certs and used to compete back in the day at a high level (new to the mountain last year from gore).

i also work for ski school, but i can't help you with skis - I'm a snowboard coach, i can help you ride bumps haha!

[RENO]

John Lamb is good (and a great mountain biker as well), but id recommend steve shaw. request him at the private office at snowshed. great bump skier and an instructor with a bunch of high level psia certs and used to compete back in the day at a high level (new to the mountain last year from gore).

i also work for ski school, but i can't help you with skis - I'm a snowboard coach, i can help you ride bumps haha!

To me, a lot more fun than skiing bumps!