by Vailsteve » Wed May 18, 2016 7:16 pm
HI Harald:
Thanks for the long reply. You may very be right...I may not have a good enough eye to discern good skiing As some of you may know, I came to skiing late in life. I was able to retire at 54 after doing four startups in Silicon Valley and Boulder. We bought our retirement home in Vail in 2009 and I started to learn to ski that 09/10 season. Like most, I started with lessons at Vail and Breck. I liked it, but I know something was not quite right. So, as an engineer, I did what I always do-- research, research and more research. I first found out about LIto Tito Flores, and thru his books, I found about about this guy called Harald Harb. Went to Youtube and Holy $hit, this guy can ski!!!. And his movement-based approach made PERFECT sense. So four years ago, I began my journey into PMTS while simultaneously getting my certification to teach at Vail. (Which I did....)
As everyone here knows, you have to choose I did...
Please let me say I am NOT NOT NOT a PSIA supporter. I am not a fan at all of their teaching progression. And I no use for their mushy pablum on "how to ski". I have not been a PSIA member for three years now. (I was for the first two... ). Truth be told, I have been "de-certified" (but who cares...). Fortunately, the ski school supervisors like the way I interact with the guests, and let me teach when and if I want. I do not get ANY grief when I incorporate PMTS movements into my teaching. Heck, I am even called on to demonstrate Javelin turns to incoming instructors! And like I have posted before, there are at least 4 of us who practice PMTS movements during our morning milk runs. Bottom line, I LIKE Vail.. I like the mountain, I like the people I work with.
Let me also say Harald is flat out the best skier I have EVER seen in person. (Although watching Ted Ligety carve a turn from 15 feet way as a Gate Judge and Talon Crew member at the 2015 Worlds at Beaver Creek was pretty neat!). But I stand by what I said... there are a lot of good skiers out there. This forum has showcased selected skiers from Korea, Japan, Austria, Australia, etc. I watch their videos as closely as I watch Harald's and Diana's. I am not sure that these skies were formally PMTS trained, but they all do utilize PMTS movements.
I will never be as good a skier as Harald, Diana, Geoffda, et all. Started too late.. and basically I am still total non-athletic engineer nerd. But I can and will better. This past 2015/16 season has shown you can ski 105 days with a half inch hole in ones heart (shunting blood between the atrial chambers and bypassing the lungs, net minimal oxygen getting to the legs...). This was all due to PMTS. Harald has written extensively about the requirement and/or ability to RELAX and flex into a turn... boy do I get that now. There is no way PSIA roatary movements would work.
Anyway, thanks again Harald. My eye will get better!
VAILSTEVE
PS... I knew the A$$ comment would get a response!. It is a compliment. It is never easy to receive criticism even when warranted when they themselves perceive their job is to criticise.