Update 14: Week Three, Monday, Nov 25, 2019

Apparently, I sent out a calendar with some practice times crossed out. My goof.   The correct schedule is on our website and in our google calendar--for future reference.
 
Monday, Nov 25: 9th-12th @ 5PM-7:15PM and 7th-8th@6:30-8:45PM
Tuesday, Nov 26: 9th-12th @ 5PM-7:15PM and 7th-8th@6:30-8:45PM 
Wednesday, Nov 27: 7th-12th @  8:45AM-11:30AM
Friday Nov 29: 7th-12th @ 7:45AM-1030AM
Saturday Nov 30: 7th-12th @ 7:45AM-1030AM
(NOTE: Hyland has yet to confirm that Friday and Saturday's practices will be at 7:45am.  That was the original plan but that could change.  I will let you know if it does.  For now, plan on 7:45am.)
 
PLUS, don’t forget ...
Supplemental Training 
2:30pm - 10:30PM
Sign Up For Supplemental Training Here: https://www.mplsalpineski.org/supplemental-training.html
 
AND
Giants Ridge Camp
Dec 30-Jan 2
Sign Up For Giants Ridge Camp Here: https://www.mplsalpineski.org/giants-ridge-camp.html
 
Sprongo
As you now know, Sprongo is our video sharing site.   I shot video last week and loaded it onto our Sprongo site. Since we have so many skiers this year, I have to ask each one of you to figure out how to TAG your videos to your account and to do so every time I shoot video of you. If you can’t figure it out, please ask a coach or one of your experienced teammates.  You will usually know when I am filming because we make it quite obvious. The video is almost always uploaded when I get home that night.   It is very easy to TAG yourself.  Please do it. And feel free to TAG your teammates if you are certain of his or her identity.   It makes it much easier for you and the coaches to find your videos later when we want to watch them with you.   Besides, it tells the coaches that you are actually watching the videos we shoot.  If you don't watch your videos, I will stop filming you eventually.
 
If you don't have a Sprongo account set up, do so today.  I will be sending invitations again to those of you who do not have an account set up.  If you don't get an invitation, send me an email and I will send you one.  Please use YOUR first and last name when setting up your account.  No nick names and no parent names please.   
 
Performance of the Week
Speaking of Sprongo.... I want everyone to watch this clip of Elsa executing the Swiss Drill on Saturday. https://sprongo.com/video/3026344/163175  Watch it many times.  Use the slow-motion function. Turn it down to .25 speed.  Use the space bar to freeze and re-start the video.

• First, observe the big edge angles she creates soon after the transition while her skis are still pointing outside of the new turn.
• Second, note how she creates these big edge angles (strong flex at the ankles and knees, early lower leg engagement to get the skis up on edge).  
• Third, note how and when she applies pressure to the outside ski (by extending the outside leg to bend the outside ski and she does this when her skis are entering the fall line).  
• Fourth, note how her outside leg is "long" and her inside leg is "short" when she is pressuring her outside ski.
• Fifth, observe the "pinch" she gets at the hip when the forces are the strongest--her knees are driving into the center of the turn but her upper body angles back over the outside ski to maintain SUPER STRONG outside ski pressure.  
• Sixth, note how the skis return to a position right under her hips at the end of the turn and both legs are "short" again as she enters the very quick transition part of the turn.  
• Seventh, note how her shoulders and chest stay relatively square to the bottom of the hill throughout the turn shape-- they are at least pointing downhill of her outside ski tip.   This helps her keep her weight on her outside ski and forward.
• Eighth, observe how her inside ankle stays under her inside hip through the turn, allowing her to maintain strong ankle flexion in both ankles.
• Ninth, see how her hands and arms are relaxed yet held to either side of her shoulders and about chest high.  Her shoulders are "square" to the hill (in other words, the inside shoulder does not dip down or twist in the direction of her ski tips at the end of the turn).   Elsa is demonstrating the fundamental skill of "upper body discipline".   This allows her to stay in perfect balance at every point of the turn.  
• Tenth, note how she drives the inside hand down the fall line as her skis cross the fall line.  The forces of the turn want to cause the upper body to continue the rotational movement of the lower body.  By keeping the inside hand forward as her skis cross the fall line, Elsa is able to position her upper body for the next turn even though she still needs to finish the old turn.  Now we are getting really technical, so I will leave it there.

Please watch Elsa's video and learn from it.  There is much to emulate.
 
Chalet Security
As I told you last week, there are some miscreants roaming around the chalet who steal things from the bottom of our ski bags.  I have had a couple of parents offer to stand guard during practice to watch our athletes' gear.   One did so already on Friday evening and likely deterred a theft from our group's gear.  That night's offender stole from some other random adult who came back in to find his wallet missing.  Police were called.   
 
I am wondering if someone would be willing to take charge of such an effort as a security coordinator.   We could create a schedule and ask people to take a shift.  Please give me a call or send me an email if you might be willing to do this.   I am also going to ask the Board to work with the management of Hyland to find a solution to this issue.
Remember: store no valuables in your bags.  I suggest bringing a small backpack to practice and use that to store your valuables.  You can bring the backpack up to the training lane with you.  If all our bags are in one spot on the top of our lane, then we can easily protect our bags.   You can even include a water bottle or spot of hot tea, an energy bar, ham and cheese sandwich on rye with just the right amount of mayo and honey mustard....
 
I know some of you will be traveling this week and will miss some practices.  Have a wonderful holiday with your families and come back hungry to ski.   And sell some coffee so you can attend some supplemental training sessions this Winter.
 
I look forward to seeing the rest of you tonight.
 
Mark
612-275-8392
[email protected]