School is in and David Tewell's the Bus Driver

Less Turns in the Bumps

by Nelson Wingard

It was a beautiful day at Crystal and I was doing my favorite thing, free skiing. There were about five of us young, rookie instructors venturing into the North backcountry. Those of you who are familiar with Northway at Crystal have skied killer powder for well over a thousand vertical feet, then bounced through another several hundred feet of small, irregular bumps. If your legs aren’t burning by the bottom of the run, you are incredible. This particular day was great and I was skiing hot. The small bumps were soft and clean, so they were easy for a tight-stanced-hip-wiggler to rip a zipper line through.

After about ten turns, I was tired and had to stop. As I look back to check my cool line, I see one of my clinicians, ski school veteran, David Tewell come flying through the bumps. So, being a cocky young pup, I start out intending to ski next to him down the bottom pitches. I kept up… for ten turns then collapsed exhausted. Okay, schools in and David’s the bus driver.

As I watched him slip away, I noticed that in a space that I would make ten turns, David made four. He just blew over, around, and through, whatever bump got in his way. He could ski faster with less effort using a big GS turn. I remember seeing his legs suck up some big bumps, then reach down into the trough to keep contact with the snow. This massive GS turn totally defied my theories on skiing moguls.

So there I am, after feeling on top of the world, now lying panting, feeling as though I have no skills what so ever. It wasn’t that I was out of shape, I was training five days a week for the upcoming soccer season. Sure it was a long run, but I had been resting plenty (ever ten turns). So what the hell?

As I reached the bottom and fell into a heap, I could hear David laugh. Replaying the image in my head I looked at him and thought, "Man I want to be able to do that." So, I tried to salvage a little pride and simply asked him. He told me not to turn so much. Stretch out the turn and let it take you farther down the hill. That’s it. No secret pill, just stretch it out.

So, what’s the point? I guess that was the day that I learned that there is more than one size of turn. Also, at anytime that I am going to be making big turns in bumps, that is the image that I bring to mind. Then just go out and stretch ‘em out.

Crazy