All Mountain Performance / Tips for skiing bumps

This month's 4 top tips are to help you ski the bumps with better control, painless knees and a feeling that you are in charge, not the bumps!

Rotate your legs and feet to twist your skis on the snow. The effect is like scraping the snow into the bump. This will check your speed and set you up for absorbing the bump.

Absorb the bump by allowing the legs to feel soft enough for your knees to be pushed towards your chest. This will stop you from being pushed off balance by the bump

Push your tips down, This will give you the time needed to push the skis into the next hollow, rotating and scraping the snow with the skis again to check the speed and direction.

Keep your upper body facing down the fall line. This will help you keep to the line and help agile quick movements. One other extra tip is to keep the skis quite flat on the snow ( not too much edge) this will help the pivoting of the skis and enable a more direct descent.

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By Mark Gear and Simon Halliwell from All Mountain Performance in Chamonix. BASI LEVEL 4 ISTD.

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All Mountain Performance / Basic tips for carving turns

THIS MONTHS SKI TIPS.   Carving turns 

What is carving ?

Carving is a form of ski turn that is non skiddy, ie using the shape of the skis and only two of the three steering elements (pressure, edging and not using rotation). If correctly applied, the skis will cut through the snow smoothly tracking forwards around an arc.

How to carve and initiate the turn:

Start skiing in a straight line on a suitably flattish piste with your feet at hip width apart. Without turning your feet, tilt both your skis in the direction you wish to turn. At the same time stretch your outside leg to push the ski against the snow. Feel the skis grip and allow time for the skis to start carving.  

How to hold the carve:    Resist the desire to rotate your legs and feet. let the pressure build up. As the pressure increases in the arc, you can increase the amount of edge tilt to tighten the carve.

How to finish the turn: When you feel the turn is complete, simply release the pressure built up in the turn by softening the outside leg, this will allow the feet to come naturally back underneath the body.

How to transfer to the initiation of the next turn: With a stretch down into the snow of the new outside leg, resist the new temptation to turn your feet and skis, using the tilting motion and stretch of the leg to create more pressure on the outside ski – so repeating the process used in the turn before.

Linking clean carving turns is a great sensation, it's fast but feels stable. We hope you enjoy the tips.

Mark Gear and Simon Halliwell ( BASI level 4 ISTD) All Mountain Performance Chamonix

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Every month this season AMP will be giving 4 top tips on chaletsdirect.com for better skiing.

4 top tips from  AMP for tuning your skiing back in at the start of the season.

It's always best to start on an easy piste, greens or blues are sufficient –even pros don’t hit the blacks until dialled back in!

1)Look ahead, just like driving a car, look beyond the bonnet/ski. Try to feel your skis against the snow rather than looking at the tips. Get into the habit of reading the ground ahead of you. It’s better to feel what your skis are doing, encouraging you to work from the ground up for more natural skiing.

2) Be centered Work on centralising the weight down through the middle of the foot. Try to become aware of where the weight is being transmitted onto the sole of the boot. Standing with your weight centered on the skis gets the skis working as they are designed.Being too far back or too far forwards on the skis does not work as well.

3) Go for smooth, linked turns. Try not to have any abrupt movements. This will help to keep you in balance and allow your skiing to flow.

4) Get the outside ski working in the turn to have more pressure than the inside one. Pressing early on the outside ski makes a good start to your turns. Do this by stretching the leg slightly to push down through the sole of the foot.

Simon Halliwell and Mark Gear run All Mountain Performance in Chamonix and are qualified to the highest level,(BASI 4 ISTD)

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The 4th of December and already 40cm of snow in Argentiere. We are all looking forward to skiing this weekend at the Grands Montets.  We look forward to see you all there soon.

New this season we are offering snowboard lessons in chamonix for all levels through out the winter with Gaby our snowboard specialist. Half day and full day private snowboard lessons include transport to the slopes. Gaby will select the best slopes available in the Chamonix valley for your level and snow conditions. She is fluent in French, English and Dutch and loves coaching her biggest passion to others.

Learn to snowboard with AMP

All MOUNTAIN SKI CLINICS IN CHAMONIX

Learn to ski the whole mountain with control, versatility and expression!

Our off piste / all terrain ski clinics provide our clients with high quality ski coaching in small groups by some of the worlds most elite ski teachers. Offering ski clinics / courses for intermediate, advanced and expert skiers The aim of each course is to develope your control and  versatility in a variety of snow conditions and terrain. We also offer transport for skiing with each group and video feedback after skiing to help further your progress. Check out our range of ski courses and clinics in our menu.

OFF PISTE SKI CLINICS AND COURSES IN CHAMONIX FOR INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED AND EXPERT SKIERS

This exciting new venture combining All Mountain Performance (AMP) in Chamonix and Gap year course providers Flying Fish This will be the first ski instructor gap season course to run in the resort of Chamonix.  This 11 week course takes place in the French Alps. With skiing to 3,800 metres and Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, towering over the valley, Chamonix is a spectacular place to train as a snow pro.

Eligible for UK Armed Forces resettlement funding for service leavers.

Chamonix, France

The location offers challenging winter sports and a great apres ski scene. Our aim is to maximize your potential as a skier - and to make sure you enjoy the winter on some of the world's best ski terrain.

AMP and BASI ski instructor training

Professional ski coaches deliver high level training, taking you up to BASI Ski Instructor Level 1 and on to Level 2. The BASI method is guaranteed to improve your technique and increase your knowledge, ensuring you can enjoy skiing safely in a high mountain environment.

Throughout your time with us you will develop your own instructional skills and coaching ability. The programme includes ski school shadowing to introduce you to life as a ski professional.

The course is run by BASI ski instructors from All Mountain Performance. All are qualified to the highest international level, are fluent in English and work at the forefront of modern ski coaching in Europe.

Ski instructor gap course  weekly schedule

 Weeks 1 and 2:

You start with a week of ski training in preparation for your Level 1 instructor course in the second week. Your BASI trainer now takes you through five days of learning and assessment, leading to Ski Instructor Level 1.

Weeks 3 to 5:

Now the fun and hard work really starts! On one day each week you go on a ski adventure, including trips to Switzerland and Italy. We incorporate training days, targeting your off-piste skills, as soon as you have completed the avalanche and crevasse rescue course. Skiing is physically demanding and we provide specialist training in injury prevention and ski fitness, as well as the essential BASP First Aid course.

Weeks 6 and 7:

Devoted to teaching experience. You will become familiar with the working life of a ski instructor, both on and off the slopes, while you log the 35 hours of ski school experience required before you go for BASI Ski Instructor Level 2. This period includes race coaching, equipment tuning and customer service modules, to broaden your skills base.

Weeks 8 and 9:

Intensive ski coaching to fine tune your technique, ensuring your begin the Level 2 Instructor course with confidence.

Weeks 10 and 11:

Training and assessment for BASI Ski Instructor Level 2. You will finish the programme on a literal high. Once you've completed final assessments we take you up to ski the world famous 25km Valley Blanche with a UIAGM High Mountain Guide. Apres ski drinks on Flying Fish!

Gap Course/Event Ski Instructor Pro Traineeship in Chamonix, France

 Training 11 weeks Start date  January 2011 End date 21 March 2011

Note:  Arrive Geneva on your own flight between 15:00 and 17:00 on the start date, Sunday - Transfer to your accommodation is provided - Welcome briefing on Sunday evening - Training starts Monday - Course finishes Sat 20 Mar - Depart on the end date, Sunday - Transfer to Geneva provided.

What you get

Resettlement funding for UK Forces

BASI Ski Instructor Level 1 BASI Ski Instructor Level 2

BASP First Aid

BASI Child Protection

Ski school experience

Introduction to race coaching

Avalanche awareness and crevasse rescue

Equipment tuning Boot fitting

Customer service training Flying Fish online recruitment

Before you start You need to be reasonably fit and a strong skier, happy to be on the mountain for five hours a day You are in control on the slopes, making parallel turns on red runs.

Bring your own gear for the course or buy it in Chamonix. We will introduce you to experienced ski technicians and boot specialists. You need skis, boots and poles / ski jacket and trousers / thermal first layer and fleece second layer / goggles, sunglasses, gloves and beanie / daypack, avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.

What next

You can expect to leave the course with the skills and qualifications to teach at the world's best winter sports destinations. Use the Flying Fish online recruitment service to help in your job search If you decide to stay and ski the rest of the season in Chamonix (with your Season Pass), we can help you to find accommodation at reasonable rates Included in the price Shared, self-catering accommodation in twin share apartment, airport transfers. Season Ski Pass for the Chamonix Valley (includes Verbier, Switzerland, and Courmayeur, Italy), tuition and training materials, transport around the Valley on programmed training days.

Extra to pay locally: Carte Neige insurance EUR 55 

Course or event price  9,450.00€

If you would like to reserve a place on this ski instructor gap course or make an enquiry please use this link to the Flying Fish website.

http://www.flyingfishonline.com/courses_and_events/search_courses/193.as...

GAP YEAR SKI INSTRUCTOR COURSE IN CHAMONIX 20010/2011

Why do a Gap ski instructor course?

A gap ski instructor course is a great way to spend a winter season in a ski resort. Experience life in a ski resort and dramatically Improve your skiing with elite professionals.  Get a very well recognised qualification from BASI to teach skiing in most countries in the world!

Gap Year BASI Ski Instructor course in the world class ski resort of Chamonix 2010/2011.

We have just returned from Tignes where we skied for 5 days on the Glacier of the Grande Motte where the snow conditions were very good for the month of July.

We started skiing every morning at 7:30 and finished around 11:30 when the snow starts to get a little too slushy.

A great week was had by all and everyone was very happy to find that they could still ski as well as they were at the end of last winter season. What is even better is that good progress was made through the week on technique for piste performance and everyone was carving like the pro's by the end of the week.

  Chamonix off piste skiing.  '' More than a lifetimes worth   of off piste skiing descents amoung the most dramatic mountains in the Alps.''

 Chamonix town, at 1035 meters above sea level, sits at the foot of western Europes highest peak.  Mont Blanc towers above the valley floor at a current altitude of 4810 metres. The summit elevation can vary by a few metres depending on wind and precipitation over a period of time.

  The Chamonix valley is forested and deep,  the mountains are very high!  There are more 4000 meter peaks here than any where else in the Alps. The lift system in Chamonix , for off piste skiers and alpinists, is a massive acheivement in enginering with many cable cars and telecabines taking skiers to altitudes of up 3842 meters.

 There are 5 main ski areas in the Chamonix valley offering what is said to be more than a life times worth of off piste skiing routes.  With a vertical drop for off piste skiing of up to 2807meters and a great lift system, Chamonix  is with out a doubt one of the best off piste skiing destinations in the world.

Chamonix off piste area by area

Les Grands Montets / Chamonix off piste

  Les Grands Montets is a massive mountain with undoubtedly some of the best off piste skiing in the world. This is where famous freeriders hang out.  Glaciers on the upper sections lead down to wide open bowl skiing with steeps and couloirs. This is Chamonix off piste skiing at its best. The tree skiing and into valley couloirs are also great for expert skiers. This place is where we often ski 10000 vertical metres per day on our expert ski courses and freeride courses. A great lift system opens up 3 sides to this amazing off piste skiing mountain. Best spots. Le Grand Mur, Pylones, Point de Vue, La Combe de la Pendant, Combe de la Rachasse. The Magic Forest/ Dream Forest also offers very good typical Chamonix off piste tree skiing.

Le Tour / Chamonix off piste

 Le Tour at the high end of the Chamonix valley is great for all levels on piste and off piste. The front side is easy terrain for beginner off piste skiers. This is an ideal place for us to take intermediate level ski courses on the first couple of days of the course. The back side offers very nice terrain for more advanced and expert skiing. Best spots. All of the back side area and off the Possettes drag lift for some classic Chamonix off piste.

L' Aiguile du Midi / Chamonix off piste

 The Aiguile du Midi lift takes skiers and alpinists from Chamonix town to an impressive altitude of 3842 meters. This is not a ski area for piste skiing. All the runs are off piste and on a glacier making the skiing more serious. A High mountain guide is advised for this.

Le Brevent and La Flegere / Chamonix off piste

These areas are linked together and offer very good couloir and open bowl off piste skiing. Most of the off piste in this part of Chamonix  is south facing so avalanches can be frequent on warm afternoons. Best spots. La Floria, Brevent summit, Col Cornu. Combe Lachanal for more great Chamonix off piste skiing.

Les Houches / Chamonix off piste

Les Houches is situated as at the lower end of the Chamonix valley and offers very nice tree-lined piste skiing and some shorter off piste runs. Best spots. Under the Prarion cables, The hidden meadows and secret off piste spots that only us locals know about.

Chamonix piste map and more info about Chamonix off piste

http://www.allmountainperformance.com/photos/piste-map/chamonix-piste-map

 CHAMONIX OFF PISTE / OFF PISTE SKIING CHAMONIX