02/15: Too Much Snow 2008
We've been constantly getting snow for the past few weeks. You can tell by the snow bank on the side of my driveway. Weather forecast saying there will be more by this Sunday.....
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02/14: Supper (for 1) Tonight
Not much happening tonight, just pizza, TV, hacking some code, and blogging.
I was in Vancouver and missed week 5, then returned just in time for week 6 to start. It's a cold weekend, actually Monday night was -20C-ish after windchill.
Programs continues on Sat and Sun, which went pretty well. My beginners starting to be good at beginner turns, so I trying show them a bit of novice turn.
One new tactic I learned from one of the students is what I now called "flashlight" turn. It works like this: Imagine you are holding a flashlight and pointing to where we are going. Also, you are looking at where you are shining the light. In order to turn, you point your flashlight to the direction you want to go. Most students in the class found this help them turn better. I also successfully using this tactic on new students in the beginner specials. One note to this tactic is that I have to remind students to hold the flashlight straight to align the shoulder with the flashlight, and shining the light by turning their shoulder (instead of just move their hand). In some case, I need to remind the student to keep their back hand align to the shoulder as well.
Sunday morning session, Terry and ez10 did some casual riding with us. Comments on my riding was it has improved, but flex/extension sometimes a bit slow/missing. Actually, what I was doing was trying to flex slowly throughout the turn and hold my edge, but in some cases I feel putting too much pressure on the edge and have to ease off.
Monday night, Terry works with me and Mary-Ann on craving. We start with edging using only inclination and minimal/no angulation, which help to feel the edge. We also try to close up the turns and going across the hill, as well as turn a bit up-hill before starting the next turn. Then we attempt "European crave", try to mimic those on craving-board and touch the snow with our hand as we lean into the turn. Further on we perform some up-hill turns, which we do a U turn on fall-line. This is a dangerous exercise as we are craving across and up the hill until we lose all momentum and stopped. Obviously, we need to pay extra attention to up-hill traffic on this exercise.
What I found in these exercises:
- I am hesitate to pick up more speed, which is need to start a good crave.
- I need to work on transfer edge at 12 o'clock of the turn, just middle of traversing between two turns.
- I need to close the turn more, so my speed are more constant.
Terry believed I am still a bit below the standard for level 2, which means I need to work harder.
Programs continues on Sat and Sun, which went pretty well. My beginners starting to be good at beginner turns, so I trying show them a bit of novice turn.
One new tactic I learned from one of the students is what I now called "flashlight" turn. It works like this: Imagine you are holding a flashlight and pointing to where we are going. Also, you are looking at where you are shining the light. In order to turn, you point your flashlight to the direction you want to go. Most students in the class found this help them turn better. I also successfully using this tactic on new students in the beginner specials. One note to this tactic is that I have to remind students to hold the flashlight straight to align the shoulder with the flashlight, and shining the light by turning their shoulder (instead of just move their hand). In some case, I need to remind the student to keep their back hand align to the shoulder as well.
Sunday morning session, Terry and ez10 did some casual riding with us. Comments on my riding was it has improved, but flex/extension sometimes a bit slow/missing. Actually, what I was doing was trying to flex slowly throughout the turn and hold my edge, but in some cases I feel putting too much pressure on the edge and have to ease off.
Monday night, Terry works with me and Mary-Ann on craving. We start with edging using only inclination and minimal/no angulation, which help to feel the edge. We also try to close up the turns and going across the hill, as well as turn a bit up-hill before starting the next turn. Then we attempt "European crave", try to mimic those on craving-board and touch the snow with our hand as we lean into the turn. Further on we perform some up-hill turns, which we do a U turn on fall-line. This is a dangerous exercise as we are craving across and up the hill until we lose all momentum and stopped. Obviously, we need to pay extra attention to up-hill traffic on this exercise.
What I found in these exercises:
- I am hesitate to pick up more speed, which is need to start a good crave.
- I need to work on transfer edge at 12 o'clock of the turn, just middle of traversing between two turns.
- I need to close the turn more, so my speed are more constant.
Terry believed I am still a bit below the standard for level 2, which means I need to work harder.
Week 4 starts with slightly improved, but still icy runs.
On Saturday, ez10 runs a session. It's mostly a clinic to answer our questions. The particular question pops up is how to help students fix the toe-side counter rotation problem.
ez10 shows us a really cool tactic, which I called "bow" turn. Assuming for regular rider. On heel turn, taking right hand touching left chest or hovering in front of it to stay balance. The same time left hand is bend behind the back. For toe turn, left hand is touching right chest, while right hand is bend behind back. It's like what actor do when they come out at the end of the show and bow to their audiences.... of course we do it without bending the back.
I found it very effective on my students, also for my switch riding, which I do not do enough anticipation on the heel-side turn.
Terry runs a freestyle session on Sunday, focus on doing 180. The usual progression: spin 180 on snow -> hop-turn-hop -> hop 180 into the turn
On Monday night training, Terry works on independent pressure control throughout a turn. We did a few things:
- lean backward and lift up the snowboard head as we goes into the a turn (on both edges)
- forward/backward through out a turn; lean forward as we start the turn (front hand push down), center when we pivot, lay backward into the turn (front hand point up), then center again as we traverse. It's like we are rocking from front to back on each turn.
- The forward hand N/bow-tie/infinity motion. Our front hand move up and down (in fact, we are putting weight on front/back) and from edge to edge.
- ollie
- Dolphin turns; As we rock front/back throughout the turn, do a ollie as we out of the turn (while our weight is on the back) before we push front hand down and start the next turn (I couldn't do it...)
In addition, we tried the w/mustache exercise; traverse on heel edge, turn uphill until board on fall-line, board flat and transfer weight to switch from heel to toe, start traverse on toe edge.
Another note is when analysis student riding, The 5 basic elements also applied as student ride down from top to bottom/far to close as we observe them from below. On top, we can pay attention to their timing/coordination (shape/how long they stay from edge to edge), pressure control+edging (snow spray). As he/she come closer, we can start noticed more pivot/steering (shoulder/knee), and stance and balance (body position). As student ride by and continue down the hill, we can look at it from the other angle with reverse order of 5 elements. Another tips is to look at the board to see how it behaves on snow.
On Saturday, ez10 runs a session. It's mostly a clinic to answer our questions. The particular question pops up is how to help students fix the toe-side counter rotation problem.
ez10 shows us a really cool tactic, which I called "bow" turn. Assuming for regular rider. On heel turn, taking right hand touching left chest or hovering in front of it to stay balance. The same time left hand is bend behind the back. For toe turn, left hand is touching right chest, while right hand is bend behind back. It's like what actor do when they come out at the end of the show and bow to their audiences.... of course we do it without bending the back.
I found it very effective on my students, also for my switch riding, which I do not do enough anticipation on the heel-side turn.
Terry runs a freestyle session on Sunday, focus on doing 180. The usual progression: spin 180 on snow -> hop-turn-hop -> hop 180 into the turn
On Monday night training, Terry works on independent pressure control throughout a turn. We did a few things:
- lean backward and lift up the snowboard head as we goes into the a turn (on both edges)
- forward/backward through out a turn; lean forward as we start the turn (front hand push down), center when we pivot, lay backward into the turn (front hand point up), then center again as we traverse. It's like we are rocking from front to back on each turn.
- The forward hand N/bow-tie/infinity motion. Our front hand move up and down (in fact, we are putting weight on front/back) and from edge to edge.
- ollie
- Dolphin turns; As we rock front/back throughout the turn, do a ollie as we out of the turn (while our weight is on the back) before we push front hand down and start the next turn (I couldn't do it...)
In addition, we tried the w/mustache exercise; traverse on heel edge, turn uphill until board on fall-line, board flat and transfer weight to switch from heel to toe, start traverse on toe edge.
Another note is when analysis student riding, The 5 basic elements also applied as student ride down from top to bottom/far to close as we observe them from below. On top, we can pay attention to their timing/coordination (shape/how long they stay from edge to edge), pressure control+edging (snow spray). As he/she come closer, we can start noticed more pivot/steering (shoulder/knee), and stance and balance (body position). As student ride by and continue down the hill, we can look at it from the other angle with reverse order of 5 elements. Another tips is to look at the board to see how it behaves on snow.
01/25: Toys Shopping #2
I am still keeping an eye on new toy(s) sine last time.
I guess I can't make up my mind what to get or if I am going to spend the money.
There are 2 classes of devices I am interested:
1) PDA phone
2) tablet/UMPC
A small PDA phone is certainly more useful for my day-to-day life. I often read/send tweets from my Moto Ming in Starbucks or to jock down a few lines. Also, I still need it for Chinese hand-writing input... until I get the hand-writing tablet to work on Linux.
Candidates: O2 Atom or alike
A small tablet/UMPC becomes somewhat attractive recently because I am going to Vancouver next week, plus I might be mobiling more later this year. But I can't really justify it since I already have a T60 , which is my main machine at home. It's working well, except the size when compare to a UMPC. But I don't think I will like to work on my projects from it since the screen is too small... If I got a UMPC it will be use as Internet access and media device when I am not at home. I guess I can't have both world.
Candidates: oqo 02 (But it's too expensive), HTC shift (I saw it for ~$600 on ebay....), Asus eeePC (no air, please. I don't like Apple's close environment after my MacMini experience), Everex Cloud
Nokia N810 is nice, but is out of my list because it has no voice capability..... However, I am seeing N800 for under $200 on ebay.... tempting.
FIC Neo1973 is still too hacker-ish to me. It need to mature more to be a consumer device... even with the new Freerunner announced.
Wondering if there will be a successor to Moto Ming... I like the transparent flip so much.....
I guess I can't make up my mind what to get or if I am going to spend the money.
There are 2 classes of devices I am interested:
1) PDA phone
2) tablet/UMPC
A small PDA phone is certainly more useful for my day-to-day life. I often read/send tweets from my Moto Ming in Starbucks or to jock down a few lines. Also, I still need it for Chinese hand-writing input... until I get the hand-writing tablet to work on Linux.
Candidates: O2 Atom or alike
A small tablet/UMPC becomes somewhat attractive recently because I am going to Vancouver next week, plus I might be mobiling more later this year. But I can't really justify it since I already have a T60 , which is my main machine at home. It's working well, except the size when compare to a UMPC. But I don't think I will like to work on my projects from it since the screen is too small... If I got a UMPC it will be use as Internet access and media device when I am not at home. I guess I can't have both world.
Candidates: oqo 02 (But it's too expensive), HTC shift (I saw it for ~$600 on ebay....), Asus eeePC (no air, please. I don't like Apple's close environment after my MacMini experience), Everex Cloud
Nokia N810 is nice, but is out of my list because it has no voice capability..... However, I am seeing N800 for under $200 on ebay.... tempting.
FIC Neo1973 is still too hacker-ish to me. It need to mature more to be a consumer device... even with the new Freerunner announced.
Wondering if there will be a successor to Moto Ming... I like the transparent flip so much.....
Week 3 started after a meltdown, we barely have enough snow on the hill. We received 2-3cm snow on Sat, but that's it.
On Saturday, Norm runs us through a pack introduction. Since the features in the park is too advanced, I do not attempt. But it was fun checking it out.
On Sunday, we have a new Level 3 instructor Terry show up and have a session on early pivot.
- Drive with knee
- Early pivot
We tried a few tactics:
- spray snow sideway/uphill
- sponsor turn, try to pivot and show the logo on the base of the board up-hill.
- traverse across the hill, and tried to pivot from edge to edge. It's tricky when you are on toe-side edge and pivot to the heel-side.... which might result into catching the edge and fall. I actually ended up fall on the heel edge, tried to recover it by force myself to make a hell turn.... but end up hit an instructor from behind. (not good)
bonus: Norm hits a rail
Monday night, Terry runs the training session on steering. The different between pivoting and steering a snowboard is generally that: pivoting is by upper body movement (anticipation), while steering involve more lower body driving the turn with knee and ankle.
We tried run after run with different idea:
- side-slip and steering, focus on center body position
- adding flex/extension to the above
- medium size full/complete turn, pivot in between the turn when traverse perpendicular to fall-line, spray snow up hill/earlier in the turn.
- bow-tie on snow, body center in board and just twist the board left and right on snow.
- turn like a fish, focus on independent steering of both feet, back feet following the front feet into the turn.
Some points:
- drop lower/flex more to allow more steering movement from the knee.
- minimize/reduce edging can help steering/sliding.
- focus on a buttering/sliding with minimal edge
- no speiss, as it forces the weight shift to the front.
On Saturday, Norm runs us through a pack introduction. Since the features in the park is too advanced, I do not attempt. But it was fun checking it out.
On Sunday, we have a new Level 3 instructor Terry show up and have a session on early pivot.
- Drive with knee
- Early pivot
We tried a few tactics:
- spray snow sideway/uphill
- sponsor turn, try to pivot and show the logo on the base of the board up-hill.
- traverse across the hill, and tried to pivot from edge to edge. It's tricky when you are on toe-side edge and pivot to the heel-side.... which might result into catching the edge and fall. I actually ended up fall on the heel edge, tried to recover it by force myself to make a hell turn.... but end up hit an instructor from behind. (not good)
bonus: Norm hits a rail
Monday night, Terry runs the training session on steering. The different between pivoting and steering a snowboard is generally that: pivoting is by upper body movement (anticipation), while steering involve more lower body driving the turn with knee and ankle.
We tried run after run with different idea:
- side-slip and steering, focus on center body position
- adding flex/extension to the above
- medium size full/complete turn, pivot in between the turn when traverse perpendicular to fall-line, spray snow up hill/earlier in the turn.
- bow-tie on snow, body center in board and just twist the board left and right on snow.
- turn like a fish, focus on independent steering of both feet, back feet following the front feet into the turn.
Some points:
- drop lower/flex more to allow more steering movement from the knee.
- minimize/reduce edging can help steering/sliding.
- focus on a buttering/sliding with minimal edge
- no speiss, as it forces the weight shift to the front.
New snowboarding season finally get underway!
I am so happy to get 4 programs this year; Sat morning (beginner) + afternoon (intermediate), Sun morning (intermediate), and Thur night (intermediate). A lot of ride time w/ students.
Week 1 is so warm and foggy. I can't even see the top of the hill. I have a great group of beginners, and basic mobility went so well with the help of my 2 TAs. Sunday morning intermediate group is very skilled and present me a good challenge to bring them to a new level of riding.
Week 2 didn't start off smoothly as I have to shuffle students around, and I ended up with students that with somewhat wider skill level. But we managed to get up the hill and do some side-slipping, pendulum w/ a J-turn.
On personal training side, I have some runs w/ ez10 for some feedback on my riding. This year for sure I am riding better, but always some improvement to get closer to that perfect ride:
- more driving the turn w/ hips and knee
- watch for toe side lay back position (maybe some binding change)
- less sudden flex on turns, need to be more gentle
I am so happy to get 4 programs this year; Sat morning (beginner) + afternoon (intermediate), Sun morning (intermediate), and Thur night (intermediate). A lot of ride time w/ students.
Week 1 is so warm and foggy. I can't even see the top of the hill. I have a great group of beginners, and basic mobility went so well with the help of my 2 TAs. Sunday morning intermediate group is very skilled and present me a good challenge to bring them to a new level of riding.
Week 2 didn't start off smoothly as I have to shuffle students around, and I ended up with students that with somewhat wider skill level. But we managed to get up the hill and do some side-slipping, pendulum w/ a J-turn.
On personal training side, I have some runs w/ ez10 for some feedback on my riding. This year for sure I am riding better, but always some improvement to get closer to that perfect ride:
- more driving the turn w/ hips and knee
- watch for toe side lay back position (maybe some binding change)
- less sudden flex on turns, need to be more gentle
01/01: White Tree
12/31: 海濱長廊 @ San Francisco
12/28: Mountain of Leaf
This is only 1/4 of the leaf from the tree in the driveway.
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