My Blog

NASTAR racing

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 09:54:00 +1100

Well some of you know I've been racing NASTAR for a couple of seasons now. Well I've finally managed to get my Platinum NASTAR medal! Now to work on sub-20 handicap!

For anyone who hasn't tried NASTAR - give it a go it is great fun and you don't need to be a great skier to have a try!

For anyone wondering what NASTAR is www.nastar.com has the answers.

If you are within the USA & Canada and do not have NASTAR at your local area it could be worth asking them if they would run a NASTAR race.

For other countries - well maybe there are different options - ask the local ski resort.

Total eclipse

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:46:38 +1100

Last night was both the winter solstice and a total eclipse of the moon.

We went out to take some photographs.

Tropical Holiday

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 09:41:57 +1000

Headed off to beautiful Magnetic Island for some warmer weather. It was great to catch up with old friends as well as warm up and do some great walks around the island.

Australian Winter

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 09:00:26 +1000

Back home in Australia and it is winter.
Cold and damp so time to head north for some sun.

Spring Already!

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:44:22 +1100

Well we have just had some more snow in Colorado but spring is already well along and our thoughts are turning to kayaking and mountain biking. I have another month here then I need to return home to dental surgery(again arrggh) and medical appointments. Siiigghhh! Oh well I seem to be improving so I should be happy about that despite the slow progress. I'm itching to get back to work but Rick is wary of my ability to sustain any effort at the moment.

Rick gave me a kayak for Valentine's Day and we have been learning to eskimo roll in a local swimming pool. I am, as usual, the slow learner of the group but Rick has once again 'tweaked' my training to make it easier for me to learn the movements I need to integrate into the whole.

We have had a pleasant break from filming video footage so far this season. However we need to get back into it soon.

Apple have been very 'helpful' this season. I put my laptop in to repair a faulty trackpad. While they were doing that I requested a removal and reinstall of my Quicktime as it would not play any video. Apple support forums and customer service on telephone had suggested this solution. Apple kindly formatted my hard-drive to do this! No 'archive and install', no back-up data and replace - did not even inform me that they would do this although I had expressly told them that my back-up drive was in Australia and I could not access it for 3 months!

Eventually after much 'gentle cajoling' they did agree for the Australian store to copy the back-up drive if I could get my Mum to transport it to them. Then I had Mum post the copy drive here(expensive) and we got all the data reinstalled.

We are told this is a new policy from apple - to not archive and install but to format drives and install fresh OS for all software related issues. So beware when taking a Mac in for a 'simple' service issue it may come back stripped! (Even if you are overseas)

Countdown

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:40:07 +1100

My summer is nearly over, just 10 days until I head to Colorado. Lots to do, but soon I'll be back playing in the snow again!

Happy New Year

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 18:23:15 +1100

Well, hope you all had a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

I'm sitting here in the heat dreaming of snow, but at least so far we do not have the terrible hot dry conditions that lead to last years dreadful fires.

Looking forward to seeing some of you on snow very shortly,

Have a great time skiing

Take care
Janis

Planning Spring Camps

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:28:16 +1100

We now have Drill Cards available for the first 4 DVDs!
I've been busy on the newsletter while Rick has been finishing those cards. I've also changed the format of the articles in the online instruction section to add some pictures and preserve Rick's copyright of the articles. Please take a look and let us know what you think of the new system.

It has been a busy time here. I've also started talks with ski areas about running Spring Camps in Colorado. We'd love to hear from anyone interested so we can plan these camps to suit our students.

Time for website improvements

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:21:32 +1100

Well Rick has completed the drill cards for the first two DVDs. He is currently working on the next two sets of cards and also writing some articles for the Online Ski Instruction area of the site. He is also answering a few interesting questions for the Ask The Coach area, so keep an eye out for some more articles and answers.

Me? Well I'm back home in Australia. I've just had the OK for the gum graft and awaiting the same on bone graft for where my implant will eventually go. Long wait though - they won't check that until May. So I'm working through the chronic fatigue treatment and hoping it brings a good health outcome, and working on the website as I can manage. Please let us know if you have any particular issues or areas you want looked into on the site.

Making instruction cards

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:36:09 +1100

We are just waiting for the last DVD to return from the duplicator. The Building Blocks series should be complete very soon now.

In the mean time we have been filling in time (lol) by starting production of some cards with reminders and hints for the Building Blocks drills.

Stay tuned everyone who was interested in them... they should start to become available reasonably soon as Rick finishes writing each topic in the series.

Editing Completed YAY!!!

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:31:05 +1100

Yesterday we posted the DVD for the final in the series to the duplicator. Rick has been working until the small hours of every morning trying to complete these ready for our students to use in the up coming season. We have the Angulation DVDs waiting here and as soon as the Transition DVDs arrive they will be available for sale on the website. The footage in these last 2 DVDs is really great and Rick has improved his editing skills even further resulting in amazing products.

Long time and no blogging from me as I've been a bit unwell and the treatment I'm undertaking is taking its toll. Hopefully though I will soon be back to full health and ready to play in the mountains again.

Hope to see some of you on the slopes.
Have a great Northern Hemisphere season and enjoy your skiing improvements.

Filming Complete

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:07:17 +1000

Wednesday we completed the filming for the final 2 DVDs

So now all drills, static shots and the introduction have been shot. We may try to grab some 'freeskiing' shots but the work shooting is all done and we can relax.

It feels as though we have been fighting against something for this completion. First I was unwell, then the weather turned unseasonably snowy for Springtime in Colorado. Now Rick has been battling a cold and his voice only just made it to finish the introduction.

Now we just have to capture, log, edit, and author the final DVDs. Oh and I'll need to get a few drawings together.

Cubefest

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:01:48 +1000

Well a bit late.... but better late than never 

Rick and our friend Greg ran a 2 day free instructional camp for nervous women skiers. The feedback was great and everyone appeared to have a great time!

Just before lunchtime on the second day the girls all had their first run in a NASTAR course. Two of Rick's girls got silver medals for their first time in the course. The third was sadly home resting her ankle after catching an edge the day before.

Keep an eye out for this next year - a great chance to ski with other women and learn heaps.

Rick is also running a Summer Ski Camp in Europe with our friend Charlotte who is a very experienced instructor from the UK who has lived and worked in France for many years now. Places are filling fast for this so if you are interested let Rick or Charlotte know ASAP. Link is on the home page.

seventy five percent!

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:37:15 +1100

Well we've finished the outdoor filming for the 6th DVD...

Only a small amount of the 5th left... and it is snowing too much to finish! Hopefully we can get enough OK weather the next couple of days to complete the job...

The feedback we are getting on the first four DVDs is terrific...

Rick is running a clinic next week that should be fun...

My friend Charlotte had a great response to her older and nervous skiers weeks at Les Deux Alpes if anyone thinks they are a candidate I'd highly recommend it www.easiski.com

Rick and Charlotte are running a summer camp there also which is on our front page...

Ooops the computer repair guys rang and one of our hard drives just died.... luckily we can restore from backups... phew!

Yibidah!!!

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:52:23 +1100

Woooooohooooooo!!!

Ok - so we took a little R & R time for me. A day off from filming- albeit due to poor weather for filming helping the decision along.

I spent a fair bit of time doing the DVD drills under Rick's watchful eye and encouragement. My one ski skiing skills are improving nicely. Remember I cannot stand on one leg and count to five naturally - so skiing on one leg is a real challenge for me - but I'm getting there.

Mixed between that we did some work on carving and passive rotary skills.
End result - I was ripping 30 to 60 degree arc-2-arc turns around Summit County at high speed...

Thread title? - look for a youtube video involving Jono Brauer an Aussie WC skier who was training Downhill and had a spectacular crash.... ;-)

Next step

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:23:48 +1100

Rick has been working very hard on the editing... and is nearing completion of the Advanced Edging DVD.

This has really been a huge task for him. A real labour of love. It would be so much easier for him to produce smaller "quick fix" videos or skiing tips... but I know he so wants everyone to be able to use these to elevate their skiing to expert levels. He just won't settle for a shorter less complete product.

I hope everyone who has purchased the DVDs so far is enjoying working on improving their skills.

Have fun, ski safe.
Janis

Half way there!

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:02:44 +1100

Well the Advanced Balance DVDs came in from the production house today.

So we now have half of the Building Blocks 6 DVD series completed.

I'm plugging away on the technical drawings and website and Rick is still working through the editing on the Advanced Edging DVD.

Wow Advanced Balance DVD nearly finished!

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 20:44:30 +1100

Rick has been working very hard and has now finished the third DVD in the Building Blocks series, Advanced Balance. He is going to author the DVD tomorrow. We should have it off to the production company by next week.
We hope to have this DVD ready for sale in a couple of weeks.

Less than 2 months now until I return to Colorado to commence the filming of the last 2 DVDs.

DVDs are ready

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 08:37:20 +1100

Finally!!!
Rick now has an office full of DVDs and the first two are on sale now.
The culmination of a year of work for the two of us.
Rick tells me he is very pleased with the product. Hope everyone else will be too :)

Nearly ready

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 23:04:26 +1100

Well the logo is done....
I've pretty much finished the DVD artwork - just need to finish the boxes now.

Then I have much to fix here on the website - sorry folks I'll try to get to it soon :)

Ready for production

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:41:15 +1000

We have authored our first two DVD's - BASIC BALANCE and BASIC EDGING - to disk and are ready to send them to production as soon as we complete the artwork for the covers and disks. We just need to wait for the logo and think about that artwork now.

You will also find a few more articles in the Building Blocks Users' Guide because Rick has been writing again.

These DVD's should be a great guide - 1 hour 36 minutes and 1 hour 27 minutes each. Plenty of information in there for everyone!

Nearing the end

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:34:19 +1000

Well Rick and I spent yesterday working out how to use the royalty free music libraries we have purchased.
All video editing and voiceovers complete for the first 2 DVD's in the series....
Just a little background music and sound mixing to go then they are ready for export to the production company.
All technical drawings done.

I could do with a photo or drawing of a spiral staircase or ramp though. So if any artistic types are around and feeling kindly. :-)

Long Time no Blog

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:48:49 +1000

Sorry long time no blog. I've been busy relocating to Coffs Harbour a beautiful location on the north coast of New South Wales (Australia). It is not Colorado but a lovely location except for lack of snow.

html snippets

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:09:17 +1000

Looks like we solved the sound equipment problem from yesterday - new cables on the way!

Today was car service day. Diff is leaking oil and a new timing belt needed. Car needs to stay the night. ☹

Managed to get the PayPal popup to work today so customers can get explanations of PayPal. Bad news is I have no idea how, must check new and old to see the difference. Internet helper provided fixed HTML code... Well at least it works.

Wrestling with blogs

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:17:20 +1000

Well the northern hemisphere ski season has finished. Filming is done and we are well into post-production with these DVD's.
I'm currently wrestling with the website concept, and as you can see today's challenge is figuring out this blog thing. ☺

I've left Rick to inspecting new sound equipment purchases and ordering information on sound editing, while I plod onwards with the website concept. I have to say I have found the learning curve the last few months quite steep!