August 15-17, 2009 Timberline

Jill and I spent 3 days in a Ski Alignment Clinic at Timberline. It has been years since we skied the Timberline Patch and it was surprisingly enjoyable. Our clinic was a combination of working with a boot fitter, a couple of physical therapists who also work with the US Olympic Ski and Snowboard teams, and PSIA ski clinicians from Crystal and Mt. Hood Meadows. It was 3 days of video taping, ski equipment adjustment, body alignment and skiing with a great group of professionals. Our goal was to break some old habits and to be able to ski more efficiently in our “senior years”.

The Palmer and Magic Mile lifts were operational. The crowds were light and we never had any lift lines. You could ski within 150 yards of the Timberline Lodge. We chose to download the bottom lift and avoid walking on dirt. I have an aversion to walking on dirt to ski. The coverage off the groomed terrain above the lifts is rather limited, plus it’s covered with volcanic debris. Riding high speed lifts and skiing in the sun in August in the Northwest was a treat.

The photos tell the story about the coverage

Sun, blue skies, groomed slopes, no lift lines. Zap, you had better skiing than us down here in Bariloche. I'm homesick.
Still raining down here all the way to the top. We skinned up into the alpine and the winds where howling over the ridge sounding like a 747 on take-off.

Youre going to have to show me what tips you learnt.