Ogden Valley Winter Sports Foundation

  Hello everyone,
Here we are mid way through the 11/12 ski season. We finally have a mountain that we can utilize. Last week was a very productive week. Two groups went out to explore areas we did not see until last weekend. Some saw areas of the mountain they never seen before. This Saturday will be equally exciting as we received a few inches of some soft snow.

Beginning this week we will also be implementing a new group structure. As the number of athletes increases, the varying abilities are growing. We will be following the race program in a way and dividing the group into two groups. There will be a "developmental" group and a "team" group. The team group will be the more advanced skiers showing skills in all areas of freesking. The developmental group will be skiers that are working on their ability to perform the skills required to be considered for the "team". This Saturday we will be making decisions of who will advance into the team group and will make a formal announcement next week.

In late February we will be have short snow safety and avalanche safety clinics with the ski patrol. Most likely head out and dig a small test pit, and learn the basics of the snowpack. On another day we may learn the basics of beacon usage.

The Dew Tour will also be happening next weekend. I am working on some ride along runs with some pro riders. I am not 100% sure if this will be feasible as they will be actually competing at that time. We will see what happens.

 Hello, 

 Hello All,

SNOW LIKELY is the prediction for Saturday. I can’t remember how many times I read that so far this year and nothing actually fell. Either way it is nowhere near enough for us to venture off trail this weekend. So, we will most likely be working more on some skiing skills and breaking into two groups. One group will work on basic/advanced carving skills and the other will be for those who want to learn some basic terrain park skills. I have been up on the mountain every day scoping out the good snow for us to use.

 Hello everyone,

Welcome to the Snowbasin FreeSki Team. You are receiving this email because your son or daughter is registered for the season long Freeski program. My name is Jake Seipel. I have coached this type of program for many years. I am excited to bring it to one of the most diverse mountains in Utah. I am sure that you will notice a great advancement in your child’s skiing skills throughout the season. Some may go off to compete, other will become great all around skiers, and they will all become very aware of the joy that skiing has to offer.

We will meet for day one this Saturday the 17^th at the base of the John Paul lift starting around 8:45. We ask that you stick around for a short meet and greet starting around 9:00. Here we will go over a basic day and what to expect, finish off any unfinished paperwork and answer any questions you may have. We will make it short as we want all want to get out and ski!!

Thank you,

Jake Seipel

610-462-7065

All Mountain Free Skier Program

The Snowbasin Free Skier Team is a program that encompasses off trail free skiing, a little slope style and a little half pipe all in a fun and safe learning environment. This will be the first year of the Snowbasin Free Skier Team. The program is a partnership between OVWSF and Snowbasin Snow Sports. The program is designed around teaching strong fundamental skiing skills in a group setting combined with focus on all mountain ( off-piste) skiing, half pipe, avalanche awareness, skier safety and having fun on the mountain..

Choose from either a Saturday only or a 2 day Weekend program;

Full Season: December 17 – March 17 (Saturday only) December 24, 31 off
Weekend Full Season: December 17 – March 18 (Saturday & Sunday) December 25, January 1 off
$840 Full Season (12 days)
$1450 Weekend Full Season (24 days)
Both the Sat and Sunday programs will also include a 3-day Christmas camp. (dates to be determined)

Please contact Jen Leininger jleininger@ovwsf.org or Gordon Perrygperry@ovwsf.org  for more details

 FreeRide may seem like a new term to many people but it has been around for a long time. Back in the 20’s when alpine skiing was on the verge of being perfected, the pioneers had no idea how the sport would evolve into what it is today. Even I never expected the sport to grow as much as it did. Rocker technology and fat waist skis are allowing more and more access to what was untouchable terrain in the backcountry. With the equipment advances and growing popularity, comes the increasing risk factor.  The need for proper backcountry/big mountain training and safety instruction is growing considerably. Being able to read and scope big mountain lines is an asset for any future big mountain skier.

 Warren Miller gave a great example of the ability of the average freerider today when he compared him to one of the “pros” thirty years ago. He showed the pro performing a simple double back flip with a twist. That pro was close to 20 feet in the air and sailed a distance of about 20 feet. That was the hot maneuver to win medals back then. He then panned to a young skier pulling a 900 degree off axis rotation with a tail grab and landing backwards. This kid was about fifteen or twenty feet in the air and traveled about sixty feet in distance. These days that same kid takes what he/she learned in the park and moves it to the backcountry. Dropping a 10 foot cliff will seem easy, but they will do it backwards. So, yeah… the sport has evolved since the 20’s. And will continue to evolve with the creativity of today’s youth.

Goals

                The goals of this program are limited only by the determination and talent of the student. Each athlete will set a set of goals early in the season. From time to time the goals will be reviewed and special attention will be given for the student to obtain those goals. Once a goal is achieved, a new goal is set and so on. The coach’s goals are to see the athlete evolve over the course of the season and to have all the students end the season injury free.

Safety

                Of course safety is a major concern. With spanning a 60 foot gap jump 20 feet in the air, dropping blindly off a cornice or even learning to slide a feature 12 inches off the ground comes some risks. Students will be taken out of their comfort zone ever so slightly, but never pushed beyond their limits. Avalanche safety and beacon, Burton Smart Style, and general safety will be a constant topic. Beacon use and avalanche rescue training will be covered early on in the season with the Snowbasin Ski Patrol.

Equipment

                Until recently freeskiers needed a handful of different skis to handle the varying conditions and . You probably heard of “twin tip”, “rockered”, “powder”, and “park” skis. There are finally skis that combine all of the great technology available today. Hybrid skis are great for a one ski quiver. No need for 4 pairs of skis anymore. They have camber under foot for groomers and crud. Early rise or rocker in the tip and tail to keep you afloat in powder. And of course twin tips for skiing and landing backward. Not so fat hybrids are also very good in the terrain park and halfpipe. One good set of hybrids is recommended. Body armor is also a good idea and a helmet is required. If you need advice on any of the gear listed feel free to contact us to discuss. Avalanche beacons are not required but their usage will be discussed. Beacons are always recommended as we will be skiing in steep terrain.

Saturday only/Weekend Program

Saturday only Program: December 17^th – March 18^th  Saturdays only                                                                                                                                              

December:  17, 27, 28, 29                                                                                                      
January:  7, 14, 21, 28                                                                                                                                                                      February:  4, 11, 18, 25                                                                                                            
March: 3, 11, 18

Full weekend Program: December 17^th- March 19^th  Saturday and Sundays                      
 December:  17, 18, 27,28, 29                                                                                                  
January: 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 28                                                                                                   
 February:  4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26                                                                                                              March: 3, 4, 11, 12, 18, 19

Holiday week Camps:   December 27-29                                             
Private coaching is also available with a reservation.

 The typical day runs from 9am to 3pm with a one hour lunch from 11:30 to 12:30. We will meet on each scheduled day at 8:45 at the base of the John Paul lift. At 9:00 we will head out. At 11:30 we will meet once again at the base of John Paul for lunch. At this time you can meet with your child for lunch or they can go off and eat by themselves. If you would like one of use to eat with your child, please inform us and arrangements can be made. At 12:30 we will meet again and head out for the rest of the day. At 3:00 we will finish at the base of John Paul. You can pick up your child or they will be free to go on their own.

In the event of an injury, the student will be treated as if any other visitor to Snowbasin. Parents will be notified as soon as possible on his/her status and location.

General Outline

• Smart Style. Thoroughly teach the concept of terrain park safety and etiquette.
  • Make a Plan

o   Look before you leap

o   Easy style it

o   Respect gets respect

• Basic skiing skills. Asses and correct students current skiing skills.
  • Parallel skiing
  • Stance
  • Range of motion
  • Rotation
  • Flexion/extension
• Intro to Switch. Teach student the fundamentals of skiing backwards.
  • Stance
  • Benefits of skiing backwards
• Air Awareness. Teach student all aspects of catching air with ATML method.
  • Approach
  • Takeoff
  • Maneuver
  • Landing

• Rails and Boxes. Teach the basics of tackling terrain park features.          
  • Flat boxes and rails
  • ATML method

• Halfpipe. Teach entry level tactics of the pipe.
  • Start mound
  • Deck
  • Lip
  • Vert
  • Tranny
  • Walls
  • Exit area

• Backcountry/Big Mountain. Teach what all it has to offer.
  • Powder
  • Reading terrain
  • Cliffs
  • Natural terrain
  • Freestyle in the BC
  • Avalanche safety and beacon use
  • Avalanche rescue techniques
  • Trees
  • Switch powder skiing
• Teambuilding.
  • Life skills
  • Friendship