Whistler 2013 / 2014 - The Community Blog
Hey ads123 if you’re working for the mountain take advantage of the free lessons that they’re offering for staff.
I agree with mizu about steeps being helpful for learning those turns. With the amount of riding you’re going to get this season you’ll have you’re turns dialed in no time!
If you want to ride with me some time shoot me a text 6049027717. Should be sweet!
^^^^^ That’s an offer you should take up!!!!!
Riding with others is a great way to advance!!!!! Even if you only ride for an hour or two, here and there!!!!!
Hey Ads,
Two things…
Firstly, please feel free to start a thread in Rider Progression about this and I will be more than happy to help you. It’s actually really important to understand exactly how it works and what your body should doing. Then it will be a lot easier when you go out try it for yourself.
Also, have a read of this thread. It covers everything you would learn in lessons up to intermediate riding. https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/2596/
Secondly, send Andy Aitken a private message. I’m not sure if he’s in Whistler yet but he is an Instructor and will be heading over soon (if he hasn’t already). If you need something immediately, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with a great instructor.
Hahaha,
Thanks heaps everyone I knew there was a reason why I joined boardworld awesome community 
@ Wilms, for sure man ill pop you a txt tomorrow my work schedule allows me a few hours on work days and obviously all day on days off my no is 604-907-5462
@ rider, lol I already sent andy a pm before I saw the post as he has helped me out with some previous stuff before but will def getting in touch as I have goals of getting my riding to a standard for CASI lv1. I read that beginner thread over and over and as I said to Mizu theory is all good but it only gets me to a certain point like i’ve been out already with a full head of watching videos and stuff but strangely when im hurtling down the mountain that theory tends to get lost in translation lol.
Once again guys thanks, ill keep you updated on how i’m going as i’ve got a good board I want to be able to use properly
No worries, mate. Let us know how you go, and as I said, if you need help tracking an instructor down, please let me know.
Just quickly though, from what I read briefly, you should definitely read my response to another member who was having the same problems with toeside turns.
How strong are you on your toeside edge? i.e. can you traverse both ways and stop on your toe edge comfortably? Sometimes we find that some riders become a lot stronger and more comfortable on their heelside edge. We need to break that and develop your skills/confidence on your toeside edge, to be even with your heelside edge. Do you feel this is the case in your situation? This could be a contributing factor, but my main points are below:
When we first learn to link turns, the hardest part is committing to transfer from heel edge to toe edge. The biggest obstacle is the fear of pointing the board downhill and gaining speed (and having to control your speed on the most likely weaker toeside edge). You can understand why it’s such a common problem.
This is the key point right here: you must commit to pointing the board downhill to be able to make the toeside turn. Consider these three phases of a turn: you are on your heelside edge, you point the board directly downhill with a flat base, and only then can you engage the toeside edge. The turn can’t happen without that middle phase. When you release the heelside edge, actively think about looking, pointing, and directing the board directly downhill, with a flat base. As soon as the board is flat and pointed downhill, you will easily be able to turn onto your toeside edge. If you rush the middle phase, you will most likely tip over your toeside edge and fall (has this happened to you?).
Now this is the part most people don’t want to hear. Speed is your friend! I’m not saying to fly down the hill, but the speed you gain in the short moment you point the board downhill, will actually help you make the turn! If you take anything away from this, relax and be patient with the pointing downhill phase. Understand you will gain speed, you might be uncomfortable at first, but this is the big hump we all need to get over. You will become comfortable with this, it’s just a matter of relaxing, being patient, and executing the different phases of the turn at the right time.
Always start on mellow terrain. Build your skills, get comfortable, and only then challenge yourself on steeper terrain. The steeper the terrain, the faster we need to make our turns to control speed, but it takes practise.
The Wonder Reels S2: The Eye Of The Storm
Storm chasing. It’s a labour of love for Whistler Blackcomb avalanche forecaster Tony Sittlinger. This story follows Tony and the Blackcomb patrol on their early morning ritual, readying the mountains for the rest of us while we’re snug in our beds.
that had some nice riding in it! Not all ski patrol 
Well yesterday was my first day of working on the mountain and was assigned to the top of creek side gondola! Let me say it’s not a day I will ever forget!
So we had our morning meeting before jumping on the village gondola and heading up. It was still dark outside for most of the trip up and most of the group was still half asleep or getting over hangovers from the night before. The closer we came to the top the more light was breaking over peak. Freaking breathtaking!
In Australia I hate riding fresh groomers they’re icy and a really hard pack but riding fresh groomers here was amazing the cover was fast and light and really fun to carve it didn’t hurt that there were some nice powder stashes across the designated route.I didn’t ride the whole day because that one run was just amazballs.
So I ran the top of the gondola all day and saw some amazing sights and strange people but all in all was a great day especially when my supervisor told me I’d be doing closing down on the lift and riding back on a snowmobile! So the rest of the day passed by without too much drama or incident.
And that’s when the dramas started..
So I’ve been crook with a chest infection since Sunday and still went riding and work. So at the end of the day I’d lost my voice and felt like death but completed closing down procedures and got ready to ride down on the snowmobile with my supervisor.
Riding down to the village gondola mid station had some view equal to the ones we has in the morning. Just breathtaking..
About 5 minutes away from the gondola we had to drive across a bridge over a creek but there was a buildup of snow on the bridge sloping down on one side. My supervisor leant out on the opposite side of the sled to counter balance our weight but without me knowing what to do and without instructions I kept my weight right over the middle and well next thing you know I’m falling..
I fell I think about 7 feet into the creek onto the rocks. I don’t remember landing but when I opened my eyes I just saw the sled slipping in its side down towards me and my supervisor yelling at me to grab our gear out of the water and climb out while he held the snowmobile up to stop it sliding in.
We got the snowmobile flipped upright and finished riding back cold and wet. Long story short I ended up with a crazy concussion and wrecked shoulder and an even worse cough and cold from it so I’m out of riding for a few days again.
Moral of the story wear a freaking helmet! I don’t know where if be right now if I hadn’t been wearing one.. Looking forward to getting on the hill again soon!
Oh dude!!!!
but sorry i am 
a little!
Glad you were wearing a helmet!
Whats the rule about them and snowmobiles etc?
Holy crap!!!!!
What a start!!!!!
Oh dude!!!!
but sorry i amGlad you were wearing a helmet!
Whats the rule about them and snowmobiles etc?
I’m not allowed to drive one… Yet.. Need some experience driving them and a BC drivers license.
The rule generally is supervisor drive and one on the back following designated routes and snowmobile helmets must be worn.
Oh dude!!!!
but sorry i amGlad you were wearing a helmet!
Whats the rule about them and snowmobiles etc?
I’m not allowed to drive one… Yet.. Need some experience driving them and a BC drivers license.
The rule generally is supervisor drive and one on the back following designated routes and snowmobile helmets must be worn.
Yeah figured you weren’t allowed to drive it!
Meant about the helmet? Whats the rules?
In aus as staff you must wear a helmet when on a skidoo.
Yeah mandatory for snowmobiles and mandatory for staff to wear a normal helmet when skiing or snowboarding in uniform.
Wow, that’s an impressive first day at work! Haha. Good to hear you’re OK, mate.
Did you look into the yoga links I posted a few days ago?
It’s here if you missed it: https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/14493/P60/#226976
Wow, that’s an impressive first day at work! Haha. Good to hear you’re OK, mate.
Did you look into the yoga links I posted a few days ago?
It’s here if you missed it: https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/14493/P60/#226976
Yeah cheers man I’ve found a few groups around the place and found out one of the guys who I work with is a yoga instructor and they run a class in my building so should be sweet to start that once I’m back on my feet..