FDB Skiers Need One-Ski Before Two

One of the best things you can do for your First-Day-Beginner Skiers is to start them out on one-ski with poles---they learn several things: they learn to ski while they walk, to use their poles to go but not to stop, to operate their bindings, to get around, to be able to get up after they fall down--they learn tons of confidence, setting the stage for the rest of their ski life. Skip the one-ski scenario, and you teach them failure--and it only takes a few minutes,--otherwise they can't get started right . . . and learn to abuse or hate poles.

Should "Ski Bums" Be Instructors?

Too many Ski Instructors confess or even brag they're a "Ski Bum" . . . without ever considering what they're saying. When I joined Pro Ski Instructors of Am in 1980, I took pride in the idea of being a "Professional"--it had a nice ring; but little did I know They would laugh at me later for thinking I could make a living. I have nothing against Ski Bums always plotting their next ski days; but they shouldn't hog the lift tickets and locker rooms and uniforms away from the True Professionals who are few-n-far between, . . . and they shouldn't be getting paid for giving lessons they don't even want or know-how to teach.

Teachin n Learning--Opposite Sides of Same Coin

Teaching anything is tricky and requires a lot of Responsibility. A Student has a potential, and it's the Instructor's job to help bring this out. Too many teachers take all the credit for a student performing well, and too many students don't know when they've been taught right. Actually, a Great Teacher knows more about just setting up the right circumstances for Comfort Zone and Learning . . . and then getting out of the Student's Way; . . . and it might help if progressive students could recognize when they've been taught right, instead of just taking it for granted. Our current socio-economic systems are not conducive to recognizing this fundamental truth, hence most great teachers go totally unnoticed, which is unfortunate for any students to come. Oh, I might cry in my beer about not getting very far in Life, but at least I know I've done what I can (which is good for the soul in the  long run),---and a few Great Students will know as well, as Teaching and Learning are opposite sides of the same coin.

The GH Syndrome

I realize what I do as a Ski Instructor may be just water under the bridge at this late date. But my books are out, and the Powers-That-Ski are reading them---that sure counts, as They're probably learning from me even if They don't admit it. Call it "the GH Syndrome: those who affect change . . . don't always win." Surely a small percentage of you give-a-damn and agree with my philosophy and methods and good intentions: Don't be afraid to stick your neck out like myself. It's not just about Ski Instruction, it's about doing what is right in all walks of life, and ultimately Saving Mankind and even The Planet---otherwise we're all just a bunch of ski bums not caring of any consequences. No, I'm not Jesus, and I don't have his support---but I don't make promises I can't keep. I'm just a damn-good Ski Teacher doing what I can when I can. Personally, I'd like to avoid or post-pone any shit hitting the fan, to ski-n-teach forever-and-ever-Amen . . . or at least an extra day.

A Skier's Natural "Differential"

It's not feasible or even possible to carve equally with both skis at the same time. In "RailRoad Track" Turns, when the skis stay exactly parallel, it's not because they carve totally the same, it's because the skier has a built-in "differential" in his body--your bones are all connected, so the inside ski just natually goes along for the ride as it is lighter than the outside working ski, much like the wheels on the drive-axle of your car. For the inside ski to really carve, it would actually need more edge-n-pressure than the outside ski, because the inside ski has a slower-tighter arc to make--and you don't want to ski "bowlegged" and risk putting your inside knee in the snow. Anyone who tells you to "work" that inside ski just as much or more than the outside ski is either ignorant or just playing PSIA Politics--they harass a lot of students and Certification Candidates with this one. When the "Shaped" Skis became twice as easy, they found a way to make some techniques triple-difficult and even impossible. Oh, they might have you carve on one-ski left-n-right, which is fine for some real hard-core experts, but this is not nice to force upon most people. GARY HEINS shows how easy skiing should be, not how hard.

HeinsianSKIING: Some GARY HEINS Ski Books Offered FREE

HeinsianSKIING: Some GARY HEINS Ski Books Offered FREE: Available for FREE are: The PROHIBITION Of SnowBoarding The GREATEST SKI INSTRUCTOR In the West Mixin' Misery & Skiin'--Heinsian SKIBOY-n...

Some GARY HEINS Ski Books Offered FREE

Available for FREE are:
The PROHIBITION Of SnowBoarding
The GREATEST SKI INSTRUCTOR In the West
Mixin' Misery & Skiin'--Heinsian SKIBOY-n-WESTERN Music
RimesOfAnAncientSkiTeacher--Heinsian SKIBOY POETRY

Sorry that the manual is too thick to upload,
but this one's available at www.Amazon.com/GARYHEINS
OneGoodTurnDeservesAnother--Heinsian DOWNHILL SKIING
--this is the manual they do not want you to get ahold of

Caught On Tape: The Dangers Of Snowboarding Into A Tree Well « CBS Los Angeles#comment-87315#comment-87315

Caught On Tape: The Dangers Of Snowboarding Into A Tree Well « CBS Los Angeles#comment-87315#comment-87315

TV To Find GREATEST SKI INSTRUCTOR

      Due to recent debate in the Media concerning Myself versus PSIA Ski Instruc­tor Politics, I GARY HEINS, U.S. SKI TEACHER, do challenge any PSIA Certified In­structor, any World Cup or Olympic Skier, any World Famous Extreme Skier, any Ski School Director, any Ski-Bum, or Whoever . . . to see who can take a dozen college-age beginning ski students through twelve weeks of ski instruction, . . . and see who ends up with the best batch of skiers. The winning teacher could be deemed The GREATEST SKI INSTRUCTOR In the West.

      But these dozen-or-so college-age ski students have to be First-Day Begin­ners, and they must be drawn at random to each Instructor or Coach, similar to the way Rodeo Cowboys draw their Broncs.  At the end of the twelve-week period, say mid-December to mid-March, these students could be evaluated by General Public Opinion, on safe slopes of varying steepnesses, with common tasks such as: hard-pack cruising, short-swing, powder, crud, moguls, gentle Giant-Slalom Racing, and even teaching a group of First-Day Beginners of their own; how good a time they had, how much they learned, and how many injuries suffered . . . should definitely be considered. 

      I figure we can talk a World Class Ski Area into this proposition, as well as a Reality TV Network and plenty of Sponsors.  Some may argue: "What gives you the right to have your own Reality TV Show?"--well, I'm just looking for an avenue to get credit where credit is due, because PSIA Politics have kept me down at the pov­erty-level and in-n-out of exile for decades.  I am tired of being leveraged-n-forced, by the Powers-That-Be of an unfair socio-economic system, . . . to take dead-end crappy jobs away from a career I have paid my dues in and earned the right to try to excel in.  Besides, this is my idea.  This program would be a fair test to see who's Qualified, not just Politically "Certified."  And wouldn't a show like this be much more fun and productive than watching Charlie Sheen's Rants-n-Raves, John-n-Kate's Divorce, White-House Party Crashers, or Snooki Getting Drunk-n-Fal­ling-Down all day? 

      This move is healthy proactive behavior on my part, and it invokes a crucial point in the Dale Carnegie book How To Win Friends and Influence People: "When all else fails, throw down a challenge."  The author of the books The GREATEST SKI IN­STRUCTOR In the West and One Good Turn Deserves Another--Heinsian DOWNHILL SKIING, I have been criticized time and time again by jealous people who claim I cannot know that much--let's lay it all out on the table where everyone can decide for themselves.  If this GREATEST SKI INSTRUCTOR Reality Show does not happen, we shall take it that all these other so-called "Professionals" in-charge are afraid of The Truth and afraid of my skills and talents and expertise. 

                              --GARY HEINS

                              U.S. SKI TEACHER

A Savvy Skiboy's Seven Silky Sayin's

From The GREATEST SKI INSTRUCTOR In the West:

by GARY HEINS

A Savvy Ski-boy's Seven Silky Sayin's For Skillful Skiin'

                I              Nobody can train

                                             a good skier in a hurry,

                                                          and anybody can spoil 'em

                II             Get mounted on ski equipment

                                         as you would a horse-n-saddle,

                                                for your own compat-ability level

                III           Ski every turn . . .

                                        as if it could be your last,

                                              and make thy turns multiply

                IV           Develop three basic skills

                                     for balance--pressure, edge, turning,--

                                                        and be the ski-teacher's PET

                V             Monitor three primary variables

                                 --slope, snow, task--for your comfort-zone,

                                                             and ski fluently in any context

                VI           Ski down the mountain,

                                           not across it, . . . and

                                                be S-turn stern, not Z-turn zingy

                VII          The Golden Rule:

                                   One Good Turn Deserves Another

                                            . . . and then another and another

#

The TURN COMMANDMENTS

The TURN COMMANDMENTS of the Ski-School Gods

For all you skiers n teachers not reaching your full potential, here's why:

I               Thou shalt not have any other Ski-School Gods before us, as we, the Lords your Gods, are jealous and greedy Gods; and Thou shalt not take PSIA's name in vain, nor tell the truth about PSIA or our Pyramid-Scheme Ski Schools.  (--You can covet them though.) 

II             Thou shalt buy ski boots too tight even with thin socks, so that your feet may often be cold and numb; and, once your boots "pack-out" in thirty-five days or so, thou shalt buy a new more-expensive pair.  (Hence SnowBoarding, so that the Ski Gods look even more elite.)

III            Thou shalt be confused about ski technology, full of smoke-n-mirrors and planned obsolescence, often having skis too short for your stability and braking needs.  When ski technology gets double-easy, PSIA shall legislate ski techniques quadruple-difficult (--that is, less wedging or stemming, too much carving, less pole-work, and too much contrived technique assigned to the inside ski). 

IV            Thou beginning skiers shalt not be allowed to snowplow or wedge for their initial speed control and gradual-turning needs, because most teachers don't know how to let you let-go of this when the time comes (--it takes confidence and momen­tum to not wedge or stem). 

V              Thou beginning skiers shalt not be allowed the benefit of ski poles in their first lesson, for ease of getting skis on-n-off and balancing, because most teachers don't know how to introduce poles, and because many rental-shop employees don't like dealing with poles (--they make poles sound evil).  (Hence more dysfunctional SnowBoarding.)

VI            Thou shalt be taught to carve more turns than skid, even though carving does not slow you down (unless you dangerously ski uphill, against "the Code," like a runaway truck ramp).  Thou shalt be taught to carve "equally" on the inside ski, even though this is not possible since it has a tighter-radius turn, and even though learning independent-leg-action and favoring the outside ski more is safer and more efficient.  (Any time you cross your tips or do the splits, it's probably because there's too much weight on the inside ski.)

VII           Thou shalt not know about the benefits of intermediate-hardpack linked side-slips for understanding speed-control, . . . nor skidded short-swing turns simulat­ing the steep-n-narrow.  (When was the last time you saw someone going too fast on totally-turned-skidded skis?)

VIII          Thou advanced skiers shalt not know the prized secret blocking pole-plant to help you link short turns in powder, crud, and moguls, and to help you have speed-control down the steep-n-narrow.  (You can't be quicker without this earliest of pole-plants.)

IX            Thou shalt be led to believe that "parallel skiing" is the main goal, even though parallel is the most natural position for your feet to begin with; and Thou shalt not realize that it is okay to independently stem a ski and do One-Good-Turn-at-a-time even in an advanced class whenever going to a new steepness or snow condition. 

X             Thou more cautious and sensitive ski students and low-ranking instructors shalt be deemed "head cases" without access to the banished wiser gentler teachers like GARY HEINS; and Thou shalt always be shown how difficult skiing is rather than how easy it can be.                                                                                                                                                   #

SnowBoarders Are VULNERABLE

Recently, there was a tragic accident in Wyoming involving a snowboarder creaming a Mom and her 5-yr-old daughter---two died.  While there was probably some Terrain-Park Mentality going on, without independent-leg-action or poles, SnowBoarders do not have the same control as skiers either.  This also makes snowboarders vulnerable out-of-bounds, around tree-wells or in avalanches---it is not uncommon to hear about missing snowboarders nowadays.  Skiers with poles and independent feet can get around and even climb when they want to; they can get themselves out of tree-wells before they suffocate upside-down; but a snowboard on or off the feet is like a turtle upside down if the slope isn't just right.  When snowboarders resort to snow-shoes or split-boards and pole to get around in the Back-Country, it's important to note that they are then more in skier-mode rather than snowboard mode; . . . but snowboard mode is always a lot less safe and makes them vulnerable.

A CHAIR RIDE Before Christmas

'Twas a chair ride before Christmas, when down from a cloud,
Big snow-flakes came falling, and branches were bowed.
My long boards were waxed by the mantle with care,
In hopes that deep powder soon would be here;
The ski-bums were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of face-shots danced in their heads;
And I, in my ski-boots, for a novel nightcap,
Had just settled too, for a long winter's nap. 
. . . When, deep in a dream, there arose such a virgin,
I mounted a chair-lift, to satisfy my urgin': 
Way up on the mount, I rose like an eagle,
Through the forest so white, 'cause of snow, oh, so regal;
When, what to my widening eyes should appear?--
--But a wide open bowl, and-- . . . I emoted a tear. 
. . . Soon there I found myself reaching the summit,
With goggles and snorkel all set now to plummet;
Adrenalin flowing as I jumped off the cornice,
I knew that, with Heaven, this must be the nexus;
And, boy, let me tell you, in this powder-filled bowl,
I knew, in a pole-plant, . . . I had just found my soul. . . . 
But, during these first turns, though I had not a care,
The snow here got so deep! I got gasping for air!
For, when you've found new love in blazing that cold smoke,
You get gasping so hard, it can make a man so choke. 
--More rapid than reindeer, on long boards I came--
As I rode them I shouted and called them by name:
"Now, Fischer! Now, Volkl! Now, Spalding! and Hanson!
On, Rossi! On K2! On, Hart Ski! and Olin! 
To the top of the lift!  To the top of it all! 
Now, Ski Away! Ski Away! Ski Away, All!
. . . Too soon there, I found myself reaching the bottom,
Where I met with the lift-man, whose job is to load 'em:
As I took off my pole-straps and was turning around,
I got a nod from the lift-man, as he made not a sound;
I too spoke not a word, with my head gave a quirk,
And was then on his chair as I sat with a jerk--
But I heard him exclaim . . . as I rose out of sight:
"Happy Skiing, To All! . . . And, To All, . . . A Good Chair Ride!"

SnowBoarding's Less INTERESTING

On a snowboard, there is only so much to talk about and explore. But, on a pair of skis, you have a wide variety of interesting things you can do with your independent legs. And ski poles have several different modes of purpose. Further, snowboarding is a paradox on the bunny-hill: there is nothing harder for a snowboarder to deal with than totally flat terrain, either trying to move or just trying to get up--so beginning snowboarders have a handicap from the get-go. Snowboarders need things just right all the time, not-too-flat and not-too-steep, hence expensive Terrain Parks to accommodate them. Skiers can enjoy it all without having a bunch of self-imposed special needs.

Race COACHES Ain't INSTRUCTORS

Ski-Racing Coaches should not be confused with Ski Instructors, and vice-versa. Whereas a good ski instructor tries to help all skiers improve at their own level, race coaches tend to only deal with skiers who are expert already. A race coach may break a lot of bones and blow out a lot of knees in pursuit of that one World Champion; but a good instructor may only have a few minor injuries per thousands of students. The Racing World can be brutal and cruel to almost everyone involved, but regular Ski School should not have that same Militaristic Atmosphere. When Ski Schools subject their students to Ski-Racing, it should always be on the easiest, most-fun type race course, like Giant-Slalom on low-intermediate hard-pack--anything else would probably be harrassment.

Beginning SNOWBOARDERS Versus SKIERS

When people try SnowBoarding their first time, a high percentage fail for many simple reasons. People who take to snowboarding tend to be skateboarders, surfers, and people who already ski. The innocent people who don't have a head-start often get traumatized that first day even in a formal lesson--they become afraid of the slope-n-snow and the lifts and everything associated with skiing. Then, because of Satisfaction Guaranteed, they try skiing on day-two, but below ground zero. PSIA gods don't see this FUBAR, and they don't care, because they aren't the ones dealing with beginners. But astute instructors notice, when a beginning skier trembles needlessly before the lesson even starts, chances are they were in a very brutal snowboard lesson the day before.

SnowBoarding's TIPPING POINT

When snowboarding came along in the '80s, it got its foot in the door by barely getting on the chair-lifts. Then the Rental Shops noticed, "If we rent out a board instead of skis, we won't have to mess with ski poles or binding settings!"--so lazy rental employees were instrumental in pointing newcomers toward a snowboard instead of a pair of skis. And the infiltration of dysfunctional snowboarding closely paralleled the passage of the American Disabilities Act. Shackled snowboarders played the handicapped card and won. The funny thing is, snowboarders are not handicapped . . . until they shackle that board to their feet. Fact is: SnowBoarding is a SOCIAL EPIDEMIC, and many skiers would not be caught dead on one--but it is not Politically Correct to admit it.

Not Being SHACKLED Is Nice

Independent-leg action is nice. SHACKLED SnowBoarders give up this functional luxury. This is why skiing's been around thousands of years, and SnowBoarding will be a flash in the pan. Still, PSIA-type instructors insist on making skiing more difficult than it is: When the equipment got easier to carve with, they decided to make some of the "New Techniques" triple difficult, like skiing more on your inside ski than is natural. Even though equipment is easier, great instructors and skiers still see it as the same sport it has always been, requiring the same necessary skills.

Getting SOULS In Skiing

It's almost a "Real-Edgious" War. Everyone is scheming for power. PSIA is a pyramid scheme that lives off the high turnover of instructors at the bottom. The Ski Bums masquerading as instructors--if they work full-time, get fed-up within a season or two, and move on; if they work weekends only, they try to avoid the tough job of teaching beginners at all costs. The general public gets crappyskilessons all the way around, and the PSIA gods know it. But the PSIA gods are not living off the business from the public, they are living off the high-turnover of instructors at the bottom. Their approach is GREEDY, while my approach is Spiritual, and I intend to help as many millions of skiers and teachers as possible.

Setting GOALS In Skiing

It's obvious that umpteen thousands of skiers want to be the greatest skier in the world. Then, when I wrote my book The GREATEST SKI INSTRUCTOR In the West, a whole bunch of people told me: "You can't be that!" It's mostly other older instructors who are jealous of my clever titles--but I don't need their permission, and neither do students who want to reach their potential as a skier or teacher. In truth, when clients spend $700-a-day for a private instructor, they want to know they've got the best, and I am proud to oblige them.