To more experienced PMTS'ers, what's your first ski day like after a long layoff?.... Does this get any better as years go on?
Yes, much better as the years go by. Or, my memory isn't what it used to be?
The more thousands of repetitions one had done over the years the deeper the learning is ingrained. That makes the opening day's drills go better. It is fun to get on an easy run and do the basic drills. Just tip. When that's working very well, tip & lighten & pull in. When that's working very well, tip, lighten, pull in, and pull back. When those are working very well, go through your repertoire of releases. When those are working very well, drill counter acting and counter balancing. Still on the easy run, put it all together. It's there; it'll be back. There is a basic scientific principle at work here. During the summer your skis forgot everything you taught them last winter. You need to put them through a refresher course, one thing at a time. Skis are slow learners. Mine are really slow learners.