Whistler-Blackcomb!
There were a number of really windy days while we were here, and that meant the top of the mountain chair lifts were not running. (the red lights on the map board)
Not wanting to risk a second fall with the big camera, instead I'm using the small water-proof camera that I bring with me on the kayak. My apologies for picture quality.
At the top of this run, the ice crystals in the air were sparkling!
As you can see, it gets quite busy here...
Ahem! I said "It gets quite busy here!" Ah that's better, just look at the crowds.
Someone is enjoying her skis, finally! No hip injury, like last year...
We went further up the hill to make it possible to do a much longer run. This trail actually goes all the way to the bottom.
Another favourite ski run, this is a steep, very consistant and wide run that usually has good snow. It did today, too!
Yuko chose her starting point...
This is the the view looking up that steep run. I marked the picture. The 3 skiers with a #1 above them are standing still, so we can ignore them.
Look for the skiers marked 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. Skier #2 has just started moving, but you can see he/she is leaning back too much. This interferes with making the next turn.
Skier #3 is moving left for a while, and is in the same predicament as #2, his position is preventing him from making the next turn.
Skier #4 started like #2, and #3, and is trying to force his skis to turn. You can see they are not parallel, and he is leaning back. This will cause him to over-rotate his upper body.
Skier #5 is in that beginnings of the over-rotate that #4 is headed towards. Note that they too are leaning back. This position prevents the front of the skis from controlling the turn.
Skier #6 has over-rotated, is facing into the hill, and has lost control. Note that all the snow being kicked up is only from the backs of his/her skis. #6 will stop, and then re-start in #2's stance.
Now look at the two skiers in the middle. They are neutrally balanced, forward leaning, facing downhill, and their skis are kicking up snow along their full length.
They will easily flow from turn to turn, and are in full control. Yes, that's Yuko in the light blue jacket.
Lots of new snow, and not all of it tracked up yet, either!
Whew, made it to the bottom! ...according to my gps, my maximum speed reached 104 kph...
...next page.