In an era of skiing and riding where helmets use has now, by most accounts hit almost 50%, one has to, at times, question the quality of the products on the market.
Most snow sports helmets available to the consumer have an impact rating of what? 12 MPH? 18 MPH? 30 MPH? While not claiming any accuracy with the math involved, I'm guessing that if a skier traveling only 5 MPH down the hill catches an edge and falls directly on their head, the impact with the snow would be easily in excess of 30 MPH. You see the problem?
Don't misunderstand me, I am not arguing against helmet use. In fact, I believe that some protection is better than none. Skiing in the East, where one finds larger crowds relative to the available skiing acreage, I wear my helmet almost every time I'm on snow.
There is a move with some resorts to mandate the use of helmets for on snow personnel such as race coaches and ski instructors during all on snow working hours with no workers compensation coverage for those who fail to comply. I do question this when the quality of the helmets available is, quite frankly, not what it should be. We can do better.
The path is two fold: First, mandate higher standards with the products. While most of the helmet companies today have done a great job with improving fit and offering personality with every model, the impact ratings need attention.
Second, when it comes to resort staff setting an example, resorts need to find a positive way to encourage this, not threaten a loss of workers compensation. In fact, I suspect that in a given case, if the staff member who got hurt without wearing a helmet establishes that the helmet would have had no effect on the situation, the law will dictate that workers compensation be provided. After all, who ever heard of a helmet preventing an ACL injury?
Positive approaches produce the best results; let's hear your thoughts on how to accomplish a positive result with helmet protection.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Ski World Relationships; Fortunate to Have Them
As the temperatures warm and dry land training starts, it's nice to have those moments to reflect on the year gone by as I run, ride, suffer on a cross country machine or groan on a squat rack in a musty gym.
In those moments I can see clearly the faces of those I spend time with during the winter, from the closest friends to those I reconnected with or came to know this past season.
More than anything I think about the strength and character that some of those people showed this year and are still showing. Some have had incredible burdens to bear while managing their own busy ski careers, taking care of clients, families...you name it. Never once did these people let their personal burdens affect others...or even their own performance, both on and off the snow.
In fact, in retrospect, they clearly used their personal troubles as motivation to achieve new successes... a true sign of an indomitable character and something to be greatly admired, as not all of us have such iron will and self control...or even such an ability to bear up under these strains.
In my runs through the woods I think of several of these people in particular and feel blessed to know them and be able to call them friend. They set an example for others just by being who they are. The world could use more people like them.
I hope they read this and know how much I appreciate who they are and how glad I am to be fortunate enough to know them. You rock!
In those moments I can see clearly the faces of those I spend time with during the winter, from the closest friends to those I reconnected with or came to know this past season.
More than anything I think about the strength and character that some of those people showed this year and are still showing. Some have had incredible burdens to bear while managing their own busy ski careers, taking care of clients, families...you name it. Never once did these people let their personal burdens affect others...or even their own performance, both on and off the snow.
In fact, in retrospect, they clearly used their personal troubles as motivation to achieve new successes... a true sign of an indomitable character and something to be greatly admired, as not all of us have such iron will and self control...or even such an ability to bear up under these strains.
In my runs through the woods I think of several of these people in particular and feel blessed to know them and be able to call them friend. They set an example for others just by being who they are. The world could use more people like them.
I hope they read this and know how much I appreciate who they are and how glad I am to be fortunate enough to know them. You rock!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
It's that time
Wake up pro skiers and riders...it's that time of the year. The past dusting is fading from the western "snirt" and it's time to accept that the snow is gone here for this year.
Does this mean the season is over? Yes. Of course, that just means next season starts "tomorrow."
It's time to start evaluating what your body needs in preparation for dry land training to heal this year's hurts and develop more power, speed and flexibility for the upcoming season.
What does that mean? Well, let's start with what you put into the machine before trying to tune the motor.
Eat smart during your off season and make your training exponentially more productive. Fruits, vegetables, carbs only to the extent you need them and please, please, please...lay off the fatty foods! Above all else, increase your intake of water!
Get into a daily stretching routine that can become a habit you need not think about....get going before your morning coffee, right after your morning coffee...whatever it takes to have it work for you. Be sure to fuel your body in the morning; no more skipping food because you "don't feel like eating." Find food you can eat in the morning and your body will thank you, as will your mind.
When you have your body stretched out and your diet adjusted, get some input from a strength and conditioning coach before committing to a training plan. Our clients come to us for skiing information; talk to a conditioning coach to get the information necessary for your productive training.
Most of all, develop a training schedule that you KNOW you can stick to. In some cases consistency may well be "the hobgoblin of little minds," but not here. Here, consistency is everything.
We're all looking forward to being back on skis full time again next winter; now is the time to make the right moves to assure success next winter.
Does this mean the season is over? Yes. Of course, that just means next season starts "tomorrow."
It's time to start evaluating what your body needs in preparation for dry land training to heal this year's hurts and develop more power, speed and flexibility for the upcoming season.
What does that mean? Well, let's start with what you put into the machine before trying to tune the motor.
Eat smart during your off season and make your training exponentially more productive. Fruits, vegetables, carbs only to the extent you need them and please, please, please...lay off the fatty foods! Above all else, increase your intake of water!
Get into a daily stretching routine that can become a habit you need not think about....get going before your morning coffee, right after your morning coffee...whatever it takes to have it work for you. Be sure to fuel your body in the morning; no more skipping food because you "don't feel like eating." Find food you can eat in the morning and your body will thank you, as will your mind.
When you have your body stretched out and your diet adjusted, get some input from a strength and conditioning coach before committing to a training plan. Our clients come to us for skiing information; talk to a conditioning coach to get the information necessary for your productive training.
Most of all, develop a training schedule that you KNOW you can stick to. In some cases consistency may well be "the hobgoblin of little minds," but not here. Here, consistency is everything.
We're all looking forward to being back on skis full time again next winter; now is the time to make the right moves to assure success next winter.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Work together to solve common problems? What a concept.
Is it possible for teaching professionals, ski schools and the manufacturers of the equipment they rely upon to work together to solve commonly shared problems?
What problems?
For all three, in a nutshell, it boils down to declining revenue (for a multitude of reasons) and rising costs. It is not simply a reflection solely of our troubled economic times; that is far too easy an excuse to fall back on.
For a teaching professional, each new season on snow requires a fair bit of equipment, from skis & bindings through boots, goggles, gloves, hats or helmets, sun glasses, etc… A teaching professional is expected to look a certain way and set a certain example, from the manner in which they engage their clients down to the last piece of equipment they wear.
What does this cost? Granted, teaching professionals do not pay full retail cost for their required equipment, yet is can easily cost a ski pro in excess of $1,000.00 each season for their “necessaries.”
Similarly, today’s manufacturers also face a decline in sales, a rise in production costs, increased development costs, material costs and so on. It’s not a pleasant picture by anyone’s estimation.
At the same time, resorts are facing declining skier visits, declining room occupancy rates, drops in the purchases of ancillary items by guests during ski trips.
Everyone is in the same boat.
How do we start climbing back up the hill known as “profitability?”
We work together.
Manufacturers need to start recognizing the value of the teaching professional as the front line representative of the products they use by returning to the days when they valued having such professionals on their equipment, rather than simply as the current source of potential sales they now view them as. Those who make what we use need to return to the days when a “Pro Form” actually meant a price for the equipment that did not make the ski pro consider forsaking his next few meals.
These professionals are the number one source of equipment purchasing advice for the guests of any resort; why would a manufacturer not want to make sure as many as possible are on their equipment?
And what of the resorts? How can they help and in the process, help themselves?
Partnerships. What? You heard me, partnerships.
Let resorts start making deals with equipment suppliers for exclusivity…of any sort…and watch the economics of the ski world change. Encourage brands to work with your resort and create leverage to benefit your professional staff through affordable equipment pricing, access to more equipment. Build relationships this way and work towards long term sales goals, rather than continue down the current knee jerk reaction road to every single economic hurdle that comes along.
The resort is thus able to not only build relationships, but to also provide employee benefits which provide the additional motivation to staff to perform and to recommend your partner brands to their clients and to play an active role in economic development you all need.
Think about the numbers. Vail/Beaver Creek has at least 1,500 full and part time ski pros. Okemo in the East probably has 350 or more. Now, add Stowe, Killington, Aspen, Snowmass, Deer Valley and Mammoth.
The choice is inexorably clear: work together and find those necessary ways and means of creating answers.
Continuing to splinter and forcing each to fend for themselves has proven to be a losing philosophy. It’s time for a change.
What problems?
For all three, in a nutshell, it boils down to declining revenue (for a multitude of reasons) and rising costs. It is not simply a reflection solely of our troubled economic times; that is far too easy an excuse to fall back on.
For a teaching professional, each new season on snow requires a fair bit of equipment, from skis & bindings through boots, goggles, gloves, hats or helmets, sun glasses, etc… A teaching professional is expected to look a certain way and set a certain example, from the manner in which they engage their clients down to the last piece of equipment they wear.
What does this cost? Granted, teaching professionals do not pay full retail cost for their required equipment, yet is can easily cost a ski pro in excess of $1,000.00 each season for their “necessaries.”
Similarly, today’s manufacturers also face a decline in sales, a rise in production costs, increased development costs, material costs and so on. It’s not a pleasant picture by anyone’s estimation.
At the same time, resorts are facing declining skier visits, declining room occupancy rates, drops in the purchases of ancillary items by guests during ski trips.
Everyone is in the same boat.
How do we start climbing back up the hill known as “profitability?”
We work together.
Manufacturers need to start recognizing the value of the teaching professional as the front line representative of the products they use by returning to the days when they valued having such professionals on their equipment, rather than simply as the current source of potential sales they now view them as. Those who make what we use need to return to the days when a “Pro Form” actually meant a price for the equipment that did not make the ski pro consider forsaking his next few meals.
These professionals are the number one source of equipment purchasing advice for the guests of any resort; why would a manufacturer not want to make sure as many as possible are on their equipment?
And what of the resorts? How can they help and in the process, help themselves?
Partnerships. What? You heard me, partnerships.
Let resorts start making deals with equipment suppliers for exclusivity…of any sort…and watch the economics of the ski world change. Encourage brands to work with your resort and create leverage to benefit your professional staff through affordable equipment pricing, access to more equipment. Build relationships this way and work towards long term sales goals, rather than continue down the current knee jerk reaction road to every single economic hurdle that comes along.
The resort is thus able to not only build relationships, but to also provide employee benefits which provide the additional motivation to staff to perform and to recommend your partner brands to their clients and to play an active role in economic development you all need.
Think about the numbers. Vail/Beaver Creek has at least 1,500 full and part time ski pros. Okemo in the East probably has 350 or more. Now, add Stowe, Killington, Aspen, Snowmass, Deer Valley and Mammoth.
The choice is inexorably clear: work together and find those necessary ways and means of creating answers.
Continuing to splinter and forcing each to fend for themselves has proven to be a losing philosophy. It’s time for a change.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Recent Cesar Piotto photos from the USA Powder 8 Championships, Aspen, Colorado
***USA Powder 8 Championships Photos courtesy of Cesar Piotto, photographer and Jim Schanzenbaker, event organizer.
***2010 New England Synchro Ski Carving Championships information arriving soon! So too is an article on the concept of team skiing for RSN.com...stay tuned!!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
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