Daydreaming at the Utah Olympic Park
Art: Bob Commander
Nearly every decade brings a new trend in skiing. In the ’80s, it was the “extreme” style of off-piste skiing. In the ’90s, we rode shaped skis, carving giant arcs on the groomers. The ’00s tell a tale of halfpipes and terrain parks leading the way for equipment innovations.
With each chapter, I adapted and grew. But I’d still been hesitant to join the droopy-pantsed, MP3-playing, ignore-pain-because-I-am-immortal generation. Were “misty flips,” “1080s” and “rodeos” really imperative to my ski career? Hmmm. Adding a few airborne maneuvers to my on-hill routine or at least feeling comfortable with my skis off the ground for a nanosecond would give me credibility as a ski instructor (I work for Deer Valley’s Ski School). I went for it.
The amateur’s clinic offered at the Utah Olympic Park provided just the right amount of new schooling without the pressure of turning me into an Olympian (will never happen), or getting me killed. The clinics are on Wednesday and Saturday and cost around $75 for the rope tow, graduated jumps, quarter pipe and coaching at the Utah Olympic Park terrain park or on its Nordic jumping hills.
As I registered at the front desk, I scanned the lobby beyond. Clinic organizers forgot to mention that I’d be surrounded by fearless rugrats. I was informed merely that I needed a basic level of ski technique (translation: I could stand on my skis and go straight) and a healthy dose of cajones. Ignore the kids, I told myself.
I was pleased to see that the youngsters in my group, though excited to huck, lacked quite a bit of skiing skill. At least I had something on the 10-year-olds. After practicing a few spread eagles, two older gentlemen seized on the Nordic thing to avoid the junior “competition” and headed for the K40 Nordic ramp. They were pushing 50 and not really interested in new school moves. I, on the other hand, was looking for a new way to impress my teen groups at Deer Valley. Freestyle was it. The goal was a mute grab.
Geoff Stump (Filmmaker Greg Stump’s brother) coached and coaxed me into going bigger than I ever thought possible. Geoff started me on the baby jump where I practiced “popping” and landing balanced over my skis. I did this on the medium ramp as well. Then I attempted a Gelande move (hugging the knees in mid-air). Stump confidently pronounced me ready for the HUGE air that initially looked way out of my league. I did it. I launched and landed without pain and without crashing.
I even did the grab. A mute isn’t hard. Once you get the pop, bring your knees up, cross one ski over the other, reach down without leaning forward much, and grab your ski. Once I felt comfortable with the grab, I tried a twister too. Look out, Jonny Moseley! Okay. Just kidding. But no longer intimidated by hip-height jibbers, I had a blast and the clinic gave me the confidence to test the features in the terrain parks at Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley and The Canyons.
Upcoming camps will take place this winter from December through March. For more information on these one-day, recreational camps or weekly training nights, contact the Utah Olympic Park Sport Services Desk at 435.658.4208 or e-mail at sportservices@utaholympicpark.com.
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