Master's Event open to public - February 7, 2011
I just returned from coaching 3 days at Asessippi with the folks from Summit Ski Club where our athletes placed 1st and 3rd overall in the men's GS and 1st in the women's GS. Slalom was another story but that can be a bit of a shoot-out at times with so many gates to negotiate and so many chances to stumble at times when the speed gets up there. Tremendous cooperation from the area, a great group of kids and volunteers from all the clubs as well as the efforts of the coaches help to keep the the experience a positive one.
A special treat for me was to see 3 athletes from the MSSC (Manitoba Masters Ski Club) competing on the weekend as well. Mike Sinclair trains with W.A.R. and Dale is part of the SSRT (Senior Ski Racer Training) program at Summit I started last year while Wayne Ferguson came up for the GS. Dale and Wayne in particular were welcomed into the Summit team inspection, received coaching assistance at the start area and were able to take advantage of the athlete/coach communication process during the race. Mike's an old hand at this and can really be thought of as our trailblazer for Masters on the Manitoba Cup but this was Dale's first time. Dale and Mike are also preparing themselves to travel with me this year to the ACA Masters National Championships at Sun Peaks in April. Wayne's entry was a particular pleasure for all of us because he has been showing the flag so to speak at international and national masters races on his own for many years. I'm sure that it was a different experience to be part of a team and see how this works in the process of preparing athletes for a race, managing the environment and seeing the emphasis that coaches place on helping athletes reflect on the lessons learned during the race.
So what's going on over there on the green chair when there's a race going on? Well its a huge production from the timekeeping, gate judging, coaching and officiating duties not to mention the length of the runs. The speed and athleticism that these youngsters (and young at heart) bring to the table is inspiring. If you ever get a chance to watch you'll be impressed. This year in particular there is a young athlete from Slovakia staying in Winnipeg to complete his education and competing with the Summit Ski Club. You're going to want to catch a glimpse of Timotej Oravec at the next race if you can to see how far the sport has evolved and what the potential of modern equipment that can carve on our hills allows. The GS which ran Sunday is similar to what you'll see on the Masters Weekend on March 5&6th but without the same infrastructure of volunteers that the Manitoba Cup races need and rely on to be successful. Our race (which will be open to the public that trains the day before with the Masters group) will be primarily for fun and the opportunity to experience how to manage or maximize your speed all within a more controlled, safer setting than is ever possible free skiing on your own in the mountains.
Events like this are always reminder for me that we're all part of a greater community of skiers. So in this spirit I'd like to invite you to participate in the Masters Weekend at Asessippi on March 5&6th. The Saturday is a clinic for learning how to ski at speed. The morning will be an introduction to skiing in GS gates on the race run and the afternoon will be a refresher in the skiing skills that can help you go faster or simply control your speed. There will be an opportunity to see yourself on video at the end of the day as well. This is offered for the low price of only $30 and the coaching will be provided by the Manitoba Masters Ski Club under my direction. The next day there is a fun GS race open to any member of the public who have taken this clinic or already have a prior racing background where they would have learned what those taking the clinic are exposed to on the Saturday. The cost for the two timed runs is only $20.
Registration for either the clinic or the race or both will be available at the hill and through the Asessippi website by this weekend as well as at the hill the morning of both events.
See you on the slopes.
Organized Sports serve kids well - February 4, 2011
I’m Back!! Well its another fabulous weekend shaping up at Asessippi. I’m out with members of the Summit Ski Club and Manitoba Masters Ski Club from Winnipeg to help tune-up up their race skills before the first Manitoba Cup races of this winter. Today (Friday) in addition to the training there are Time Trials for those athletes from Manitoba and Saskatchewan competing for spots on the teams going to the Whistler Cup and Canadian Western Juvenile Championships. This Saturday is Slalom and the Sunday will be Giant Slalom. Looking forward to getting back on the slopes here despite the rain (???) we drove through last night. But Mother Nature cooperated as it often does and turned to snow as we were tucking into our accommodation so its going to be beautiful conditions.
Early mornings often give me an excuse to reflect on why I keep coaching kids as well as adults. Driving up with some of out team last night reminds me that most kids in organized sports are not only developing the specific physical skills necessary to be competitors but also very valuable attributes that will serve them well as young adults. Its been said many times before and more eloquently than I ever can but it really is about helping to develop well rounded people not just skiers. This is probably for most coaches the eventual underlying motivation to keep working and learning ourselves. Though there’s no doubt that they become great skiers as well. Hey if you’re looking for a program that can deliver on all levels, physical, psychological, social think about ski racing. Just ask my friends Nigel, Kirsti or Brian at the Asessippi club if this is your regular destination or drop a line to any of the other clubs in Manitoba.
See you on the slopes.
Not just an average weekend - January 13, 2011
Well its going to be another fabulous weekend at Asessippi! That’s what I keep repeating to myself as a mantra as I start the job of packing up to head out right after work this Friday from Winnipeg. As a practicing ski coach its not such a big deal. I could probably pack in my sleep and be okay but this weekend is different. This weekend Asessippi is going to host the Prairie Ski Cross Open which is the first stop on the SportChek Canada Ski Cross Tour Club Event calendar. This is a participatory series with separate age categories and a course design overseen by Chad Weir from Ski Cross Canada. It’s kind of a cross between Motocross and Nascar is the way car buffs always describe it to me. There’s something radical yet familiar in an event where speed on snow is mixed with controlled air while 3 other racers try to be first to the bottom on the same course at the same time! So not just an average weekend for sure. I’ll be out not only as a coach looking to learn more about this still relatively new snow sport but as the local representative for the tour’s national sponsor, Sport Chek. I’m excited in part because this sport can help introduce a whole new generation or those with a less conventional mind-set to the thrill of speed under control and a kind of competition that also emphasizes risk awareness and fair play at all times. In my life skiing has been a big part of who I became as a person and its encouraging to me to see an opportunity like this for today’s generation. So get in the game!! Hope to see you on the slopes or in the lodge this weekend.
You can ski in Manitoba - December 8, 2010
How cool is that! I just love that the start to my winter season in Manitoba is going to be at Asessippi this weekend. I’m going on hill as one of the organizers and attendees for the annual Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) Central Canada Convention. Early snow and great grooming will give us a chance to test out our equipment, shake off some of the rust from summer and experience some new tips and techniques for teaching the sport we all love. This year we’ll be joined by local members of the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation (C.S.C.F.). Our members need to take educational updates on a regular basis to remain certified or in the case of the coaches to remain licensed. I was brought into the sport by my father Doug Allen, a long time Manitoba fixture on the ski scene, when I was 5 and I’ve never lost the passion for being on snow. Yet when I speak to people in my job as the Snow Sports Specialist for Sport Chek on the Prairies sometimes I hear the refrain that they don’t ski locally anymore. That’s when I start telling them that the magic doesn’t have to go away but you need to challenge yourself to experience more than just what you’ve done in the past. Even if your goal is just to get ready for that trip out west its really worthwhile to spend some time on the practise green and driving range (to use the golf analogy) before getting into the game.
So where does the passion go? First step is don’t confuse the sport with the scenery! Sometimes its just that we begin to associate the activity with only one environment. For me its always been about the feel of the snow, the rush of the wind and the mastery of speed and direction that our modern equipment allows. As the Head Coach for the Manitoba Masters Ski Club, a coach for the Summit Ski Club and an instructor trainer and coach mentor for the C.S.I.A. and C.S.C.F. I’ve learned that you don’t just need mountains to maintain or improve your experience on snow. So if you see a lot of good skiers this weekend being taught in groups on the hill its proof positive that we all still have something to learn. Think about your own on snow education this year if you want to add some more zip to your zag! Join a club, take a lesson, find a way to push your limits!
I’ll be updating this blog regularly with my experiences at Asessippi and with tips on technique and technology . If you’ve got a question or simply want more information on programs in province and personal requests about equipment I can be contacted at gallen54@gmail.com.
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