What Customers Say About The BUMPS FOR BOOMERS Mogul Skiing Program
We ask each of our mogul and powder skiing program participants to answer a "blind" survey and tell us how they felt about their participation in the BUMPS FOR BOOMERS® program. One part of the survey is an optional "freestyle" reaction to their experience. Here is what they told us - unedited and in the raw:
I came into this thinking I was a fairly "hot" skier & would pick up a few
tips for doing bumps. Was I wrong! I found out more in two days than in any weeks worth of lessons I had ever taken.
The individual attention & instruction for proper technique was by far the best I had ever had.
Larry Feher was the best ski instructor I've had, and I've had many. He quickly identified
each of our major skiing flaws, and worked incessantly on those while preparing us for the bumps.
I was a a little aprehensive at the start..but everyday I gained confidence. The instruction was
repetitive which helped me once the course was finished. I found myself seeking Diamond runs to ski and felt so confident.
I never would have skied Diamond runs before.
It is great to learn controlled skiing and the need not to go fast and enjoy.
Overall I was very suprised by how much I improved by taking the program. Joe and Larry had
different teaching styles but they complimented each other very well. I don't give too many excellant ratings
(10+ ratings), but this progam definitely deserves a 10+.
The three days were as good as it gets. Joe and Larry crammed as much information about
skiing and as much practice as anyone in our group could take. By the end of day 3, everyone had skied the last
run they had in them and their brains were filled to capacity.
In the past five years, I have had 33 days of ski instruction. 30 days were with five
other instuctors (two weeks in Lito's courses and three weeks at Club Med, Crested Butte). The last three days
were in your course. I can say, without exaggeration, I learned more in the FIRST day of your course than I
learned in the other 30 days COMBINED. Your course has completely changed my attitude toward skiing. I used to
ski half the mountain, the groomed half, and avoid the rest. Now, it's just the opposite. I have no use for
groomed runs. They just get me to where the fun is.
One of the reasons for the success of this program is its emphasis on the basics; in
my case, the breakthrough came about when the instructor identified and helped me begin to correct the flaw
in the initiation of my turns. Although this program is described as a clinic for bumps, it also improves
one's skiing on any terrain.
Joe is an excellent teacher and coach - just the fact that we were going down double
blacks by the 2nd day is incredible! The method makes so much sense and really made skiing so much more enjoyable.
The fear was improved though always lingering in the backround! (: Best part - the basics that were repeated
enough and practiced enough that they stayed in our long term memory and Joe's coaching style of making you do
much more than your comfort level! (OH- I thought we were done with double blacks, Joe. Isn't that a double
black? Very tricky!!)
Joe, as you know, I had a sciatic nerve problem during the course of instruction. This
caused problems in so far as walking, but because of the soft, gentle and easy style of skiing that you teach
in this course, I did not have any problems skiing. Just prior to ariving on the flat, fluffy with snow portion
of the bump, stand tall (always), hands out (always), stand on the uphill ski, balance, patiently pressure the
uphill ski boot to initiate the turn, make turn, point the skis uphill and drift to the next flat spot on the bump
to start the sequence again. Simple concepts to understand and do. Great instruction. Wonderful experience.
I was extremely pleased with my Bumps for Boomers course and know that it will change the
way I ski any terrain. The instruction was thoughtful and thorough and skiing bumps all day without tiring was an
added bonus. I am eager to see how this effects my overall skiing performance. I would highly recommend this class
to anyone who wants to become a better more efficient skier. Thank you!
The techniques and strategies will make me a better skier and allow me to ski for many more
years. I could not have learned and improved so much by skiing 100's of hours.
Beautiful commmon sense approach. Almost unbeleivable how quickly your skiing is transformed.
I thought it was an excellent program. I believe my skiing improved. The individual help I
revieved from Joe was great "BOB, TURN NOW". I was very satisfied with the program and hope to ski with
you again next season.
I found it very frustrating until I pushed through. I felt that my problem could have been
identified earlier.
I enjoyed taking the program and learned a lot. We concentrated on solving our weaknesses
when needed. It was very satisfying to ski the difficult slopes every day. The student to instructor ratio worked
very well.
I learned the critical importance of: Turn initiation, turn radius control, rate of turn
control. And was shown how exicute and employ these. I was shown that use of those skill will allow one to ski moguls
with control, flow, and slow. I will now learn how to REALLY ski correctly. The groomed run ski lessons that I've
had never taught the importance of or how to use or pivot a FLAT ski! I'm still awed at the lack of fear and anxiety
that I experienced on steep mogul runs. This was due to demonstration of techniques that worked. Even though I
could not employ them consistently (not even rarely), I KNEW that they would work and with reduced fear, I was able
to try to use them to complete the run. I truly feel that I was introduced to REAL FINE ART of SKIING. I recommened
the course to five people while on Aspen mountain. They all saw the sense of it. And the ski borads were great.
Proves conclusively that size (Length?) doesn't matter!
I felt the coaching was great. The true test will be when I get back to Colorado and spend some
significant time in the bumps and off the groomers to what has come through. But the most pleasing aspect was that I
believe I left a much better all around skier than before the class.
The small class size was conducive to an almost one-on-one student/coach ratio which greatly
enhanced the learning process. The new skills I learned will help me become a better all mountain skier which is why
I attended the course. Your input and guidance on my boot problem will only help my skiing.
Larry's ability to key into my specific deficiencies, and then to positively address them,
made it possible for me to significantly (at least I thought so!)increase my skills.
I felt that the clinic was a very worthwhile experience. Prior to the weekend, I had approached
moguls with a mixture of trepidation and confusion - I had heard/read of so many different approaches and any attempts
I had made were frustrating because I wasn't sure how to ski them successfully. The most valuable aspect of the clinic
was that Joe and the Bumps for Boomers team completely demystified moguls for me. I liked the analytical style of the
clinic - moguls were decontructed and the elements of skiing them communicated very clearly. Our coach, with infinite
patience and support, helped us to put all the elements together in incremental steps so that by the end of the two-day
clinic I had made significant progress. I also valued the small group size which meant more individual attention and
feedback. Another aspect of the program that made a difference to my experience was the lack of - dare I say it - macho
pressure to be fast, forceful and aggressive. I had been reluctant to sign up for the conventional ski-school mogul
courses because of my perception that, as a 49-year-old woman, I would be completely out-skied by the younger and more
aggressive skiers that would probably be in the group. The great thing about BFB was the emphasis on a slow, elegant,
non-competitive style. This ratcheted up my comfort-level and made it easier to be focused. I can't wait to get out
to the mountain again to ski moguls. Instead of being intimidating and something that other skiers do, I now see a
mogul field as a fun playground. I love this feeling of all-consuming, child-like enthusiasm for something new in my
jaded middle age!
After we learned to center on the short skis and control speed in the bumps (not trivial
accomplishmenta, thanks, Joe) I wish we could have spent some more time trying to go faster and take different lines,
like skiing the troughs. Not everyone fits into the same cookie cutter. Also the powder/soft crud conditions with
unwaxed bases and the very short diving tip skis were a big distraction. Having said that, I did enjoy the program
and our time with you, Joe.
I had a great experience, and Joe is a terrific teacher
In short time I pick up several tips how to ski on bumps and feel more confidence to ski
most of difficult terrains. 2.I like small group lessen and practice the same ski technique over and over until
better.
Crucial to stratify the skiers into approppiate groups.
Wonderful experience,great days and snow. Larry was very vocal and patient,he didn't stop
coaching the whole time which was appreciated. It was a great feeling to maneuver some remarkable terrain. How to
balance on skis was the biggest value,but it was all great instruction.
Great program but you can't learn to ski the bumps in two days. I have confidence that the
program works but in my case will take more instruction (fyi - I am 70 yrs old and have had two knee replacements)
The single most effective program/lesson/course I've ever encountered. The combination of
the skiboard technique and the support of the instructors gave me a true breakthrough and more confidence than ever.
The tools I was given in Bumps for Boomers will stay with me always.
The short skis helped a lot in learning to ski bumps. I will use mine more often
Great experience with a method that really does work! The instructors in this course are
extremely knowledgeable, patient, and professional. I think if I were doing it again, it would have been more
efficient for me to do a private lesson for 1-2 days, practice on my own for a day or two then perhaps do another
day. The key moment early in the course is getting off the edges and skiing on flat skis with lateral movement on
grommed runs. No reason to progress to bumps before this, and I think you should not put people in the bumps before
they are able to get off the edges and ski them slowly and safely. This occurs at different times for different
people. My difficulty with this was improved once I had some one on one time with Joe and I was able to breakthrough.
You can accomplish this in a group setting if you intentionally break off more frequently and formally for some one
on one time with each person, which I think is very important and helpful, and key to the success of the program.
However, if there is a disparity between the progress of the group it is a problem when the skiiers that are
"getting it" need lots of coached reps in the bumps to consolidate what they have learned.
I learned that I need to be in control of the mountain and that I have choices about how
to deal with the variety of situations faced with while skiing. I was disappointed in my ability to ski the double
blacks, but learned through the process that I must stand tall, keep my head up and trust the technique that you
and Larry taught us....it dopes work!
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. I thought the coaching quality was outstanding and
the teacher to student ratio was very favorable. To me the big unknown factor to me at this time is to what extent
did the ski boards improve my skiing and what is it going to be like when I get back on my regular skiis (175 cm)??
As of right now (Tues 1/10/06) I have not able to ski with them yet. I'll send you another e-mail after I do. The
skiing was extremely FUN!!
Joe My skiing needed a jump start to get me to another level. Your program exceeded my
expectations and as a result I'm seriously thinking about going for a PSIA certification here in the Midwest. The
transition back to traditional skis was much easier than I thought. When I got back home I went out and bought a
pair of the Atomic M-trons (M8) at 161 length. Skied on them yesterday and they were great! I'll stay in touch and
will probably do another clinic with you next year. Jim PS: Thanks for putting up with me - I know I'm pretty hard
on myself and no way was this a reflection on you guys. Also, Larry was great. I would definitely try to keep him
coaching your clinics
I was involved totally, Joe and Larry were both quality coaching both physically on the bumps
and mental input.
Also view corresponding Customer Satisfaction Survey Results