TIME FOR MASTERS SIGN-UPS
Head Masters Coach Bill Skinner has sent an email saying that Masters signups have started He announces, "Bob, Don and I are back. We are committed to being kinder and gentler." For those fooled at first by this promise of less discipline, Skinner then adds, "Right!"
Yes, they're baaaaaack!
If you want to be the skier you dream of being; if you like racing, or if you just enjoy having buds to ski with every day, Masters training is for you. You even have a choice of coach personalities. Don Sears is the nice one, who will tell you what you need to do in the least ego-bruising way possible, with an excellent eye. Bill is an implacable disciplinarian, kindly but stern, able to sort out the details of being a better skier. Bob Skinner is the cackling, sarcastic, tough love coach who will hurt your feelings but turn you into a champion and make you a winner of races. The coaching is much more personal, and effective, than a mere ski lesson.
Every bit of it will be marvelous fun, with amazing parties and on-snow adventures unlike anything you could get from just an ordinary lift ticket. Plus, your when non-Masters friends see how your skiing has improved, they will be amazed.
Masters training takes place at Park City Mountain Resort. It's 90 days of season-long training every weekday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The coaches do daily videos of everyone as they train, and a CD of your training runs is given to you so you can see your progress.
The first two hours of the morning session is spent working on the drills of skiing technique. The next two hours are spent running gates; usually on the black diamond 2002 Olympic giant slalom run or the World Cup slalom run, sometimes on the tamer NASTAR run. This is followed by a lunch break where the day's video is shown and the coaches give a U. S. ski team level critique (You can call for a pass if you wish)
There is also weekly Super G training; the Masters get to ride the Payday lift two hours before it opens to the public and then ski down the long run in a tuck, as fast as they dare. It is indescribably exhilarating.
The cost for the 2007 full season of day training, which runs November 26 through March 28, is $920. You may also choose night training under bright lights, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Night training, which costs $445, starts December 11 and ends March 13.
Single and multi day training sessions are also available for $75 for a full day, $45 for a night session, both with video. A five-day Masters pass is $450. Many out-of-staters plan their vacations around a week or two of Masters training. These costs do not include lift tickets or season passes. Training prices increase after November 15.
Not everyone in the program races, but for those who do, there are Masters races every weekend throughout Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
To sign up or for more info, contact Bill Skinner at the U. S. ski team office, (435) 647-2633,
or Park City Mountain Resort at (800) 227-2754. Payment may be mailed to PCMR Ski and Snowboard School, P. O. Box 39, Park City, Ut. 84060.
Remember that PCMR season pass prices go up at the end of September.