Women with Edge

On March 13, 2009, a group of 17 women patrollers, from across Ontario, took part in the first ever, Ontario Division, Women with Edge, Ski Improvement Day at Osler Bluff Ski Club in Collingwood. This day proved to be a huge success.

Representing five Zones across Ontario, CSPS women came out to enjoy the camaraderie, fantastic ski conditions and terrain, sunshine, a great lunch and absolutely amazing ski instruction by CSIA Level III and IV Instructors, Lara Warll, Kirsti Suutari and Andi Ciotti.

The morning was dedicated to overall ski improvement and helping the women understand skiing unique to their skeletal structure, muscle mass and centre of balance. With the assistance of video we were each able to identify our individual areas of strength and areas of improvement.

In the afternoon we were given the option of skiing the bumps, holding an edge on steep pitches or easy cruising. Although the bumps were a bit rough, this group received some amazing tips about how to look good while moving and grooving through the mogul fields.

Perhaps for many women patrollers, holding their edge while on the steeps can be intimidating. This group worked on how to hold their edges and to carve through their turns while navigating steep pitches.

Easy cruising was anything but. It was all about fluidity, carving and edge control. It was about refining our skills and techniques and working toward overall ski improvement.

Peter Hibberd, otherwise known as “TURBO”, of Kuu Sports, put together a great ski tuning clinic at the end of the day. We learned the importance of drying our skis at the end of the day, keeping our bases moist with wax, taking the burrs off the edges and how to do general ski base maintenance to keep our skis in top-notch shape.

This was the first event of its kind in Ontario and the feedback given by the women who attended would suggest that it was a worthwhile endeavour worth repeating. Comments made included “fantastic”, “not long enough”, “should be more than one day” and “I met some great people, I can’t wait for it to happen next year”.

Thanks to Osler Bluff for accommodating the blue and yellow and to Tom Cat Designs for the great fleeces. Thanks to the following: Algonquin Outfitters and Surf Paradise in Huntsville, Select Sports in Kitchener, Kuu Sports, CSPS Muskoka Zone and CSPS Ontario Division for the donation of some great prizes to finish off the day. And, finally, special thanks to Lisa Suutari, without her expertise, knowledge and help, this day would not have been possible.

Click here to view photos of this day.

The proposed date for Women With Edge 2010 is March 12th. Mark your calender. Futher details to follow.

Friday
July 30, 2010

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Women with Edge

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