Skiing, racing and all the space in between
Ode to an old friend, Pianta Su If you go to enough junior ski races this year, there is a good chance you will run in to “skills assessments,” also known, at the national level, as “Skills Quest.” Whatever they are called, these on-hill evaluations attach a value to the fundamental skills upon which all good (and ultimately great) skiing is based. Essentially kids are scored on their ability to execute certain drills that, when … » read more
Three cheers for teammates, the friends who never leave really leave you. ‘Tis the season of giving thanks for all that we have. ‘Tis also the beginning of ski season. To honor both of those things, I want to give a shout-out to a gift that has lasted me a lifetime—the gift of a team. That may sound odd coming from someone who spent her formative years immersed in an individual sport, battling daily for … » read more
Last year I spent the most spectacular weekend of fall standing around on a landfill. I was not alone. Many parents were there too, watching our many children chase soccer balls back and forth across said landfill, and a host of other once-barren areas that had been repurposed into mega soccer complexes. These fields are needed to accommodate the seemingly bottomless rosters of young soccer players, many of whom were in the process of kicking … » read more
It was a typical evening scene in our house. My husband and I were chatting about current events lite—weather, gas prices, potential carpet colors—while my youngest son was ensconced in a project at the kitchen table, paying us little to no attention. That is, until the conversation turned to Tyler Hamilton’s newly released book, The Secret Race, and Lance Armstrong’s demise. From his seat at the table my son suddenly engaged into our discussion. “You … » read more
Raising an Olympian– the case for stepping back and chilling out vs hovering and pushing.
Edie’s Book! Available in print, on Kindle and on all e-readers. Shut Up and Ski is aimed at athletes, coaches, Olympic fans, skiers, young adults and the parents hoping to understand them. Want more? Click on the link below!
Note: I first wrote this on March 1, 2012. Since then I’ve reposted it every year in early March. Deep breaths and smiles everyone. It’s quite possibly a long, rollercoaster month ahead! It’s that time of year. March Madness. And of course I’m talking about skiing not basketball. This is when it all happens—regional champs, state champs, Junior Olympics, etc. Lofty goals and supercharged energy converge as the biggest events in a young ski racer’s … » read more
Early January, 2012 I went upstairs to wake the kids a few days ago and the first thing my younger son uttered was, “Is it raining?” “No,” I answered, a triumphant hint of optimism in my voice. “It’s cold and gray.” Something on the other side of the room made a quilt-muffled snurfling sound, and Thing 1 piped up again, cheerlessly, “This is like the worst winter ever!” He’s not far off, though old timers, … » read more
“When can I cross block?” Once the slalom gates are set in the snow that is the most common and the most cringe-worthy question a ski coach for junior racers gets asked. The answer? “How about never?” First off, the term cross-blocking is misleading. It is often referenced as a good thing, a sign of advancement, while in reality it is quite the opposite. “Blocking” is simply clearing a gate out of your path. “Cross,” … » read more
An abridged version of this ran in SKI this fall, but the part about the guy I almost killed got cut. So here’s to you…well, you know who you are. “Can I ski this?” The question, asked with a smile that belied terror, came moments too late. A friend and I, on our first multi- family ski vacation together, had just crossed a knife-edged ridgeline traverse, and dropped into an unexpectedly steep chute. Above us, … » read more