What Customers Say About The Aspen Mogul Skiing Program

How Customers Rate Our Aspen 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 Aspen, Colorado BUMPS FOR BOOMERS ® ski lesson program.

When asked: "Describe how you felt about your participation in the BUMPS FOR BOOMERS® program. Any comments about the program design, coaching quality, knowledge you gained, new skills you learned and/or the degree to which we achieved your personal goals would be appreciated." ... here is what they told us - unedited and in the raw:

The quality of the instruction was outstanding. It helped me confidently ski bumps and become a better skier overall.

Great coaching with easy to understand instruction.

I thought Larry was great. I really appreciated the biomechanical approach to explaining this stuff. I now feel that I have a Consistent base from which to improve and understand why I'm getting the results that I do. I also thought it was great that Mr. Nevin was able to find a way to fit me in so last minute. Had a lot of fun!

Great concepts but hard to implement on the final day when the bumps got very icey. Am looking to trying them in VT.

Friendly teachers, but for me too much time spent on little skis on flat terrain and not enough time on double black bumps and analysing tactics or integrating different techniques. For double blacks you are still going to need to bend your knees sometimes!

The first day I was somewhat skeptical about the approach, which required me to make some changes in the way I have skied for years, e.g., get off the edges, flatten the skis. In days 2 and 3, it all began to make sense. The program is well structured as it progresses from the short skis to normal length, and from applying the flat skis/drifting technique in an exaggerated way the first day to incorporating it into a more nuanced, selective application. The coaching quality (Joe and Larry) was excellent, with a little bit of the "good cop, bad cop" approach initially (guess which is which). It worked!

It worked. I have always wanted to ski a black diamond mogul field but thought I never could do so safely and comfortably. For 5 days after the clinic we specialized in black diamond ungroomed terrain at Snowmass and Aspen Highlands. It was initially frustrating learing better skiing techniques and in fact much progress was made in the days following the clinic as we worked on what we learned. It was a joy to be able to ski areas where few people ski. It is in fact much safer on the black diamonds than on the crowded blues. The clinic was a joy and made even more special in that I was able to do it with my daughter. Sam and Joe did an excellent job working to be sure we enjoyed our time and improved our skiing skills. We hope to have the opportunity to do it again next year.

Did what I expected but allowing me to understand areas where I need to improve and helping me to focus on them.

I WAS UTTERLY BLOWN AWAY BY THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE BFB PROGRAM ACCELERATED MY ABILITIES. WITHIN TWO DAYS, I WAS FINDING MY WAY DOWN BLACK (AND EVEN DOUBLE BLACK!) DIAMOND BUMP RUNS!!!! THE PROGRAM TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF, AND HOW TO, SKI IN CONTROL. THE SKILLS LEARNED CLEARLY APPLY DIRECTLY TO NON-MOGUL TERRAIN AND HAVE MADE ME A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER OVER-ALL SKIIER!!!!

The course stressed the importance of staying in balance and standing up straight. I now know what to do in the bumps rather than just'' winging it''. Thank you.

I feel like I learned better overall ski skills. I didn't quite get over my fear of big, steep moguls, but I skied much more challenging terrain than normal. I skied great and with more confidence the day AFTER class concluded. When other clients are afraid, perhaps reassure them up-front that they can always "bail out" and ski along the smooth edges if necessary. That would have helped me realize I wasn't going to hold up the others in the class. Larry was patient with me and it was also really nice when Joe joined us for even more personal attention. Thanks for helping us pick out appropriate rental skis, too.

Learned better skills and knowledge of how to ski bumps

I really enjoyed the program. I think the skills I learned and improved will help my general skiing ability as much as my bump skiing.

There appears to be real controversy regarding "edginess" and flatter skiis w/less carving. I think it depends on the snow and the mountain and that there's no single rule. Maybe I misinterpreted what you all were saying. I really liked the concept of the green line, buddy bumps, and finding the flat spot on the mogul.

We made the mistake of asking for a foursome based on our being firends instead of breaking us up by ability. The one with the least ability got the most instruction and the rest of us got less. It was out request, but I would suggest that you strongly discourage this type of grouping. Larry was a very patient coach and while he didn't change my style of skiing, he did radically improve my technique. I am a much more confident, comfortable skier and able to take on more of the mountian instead of limiting myself to groomed runs.

I fully knew what to expect, but I was surprised by my results. I owe most of this to the teaching plan, and the quality of the instruction.

As a newcomer to ski lessons I didn't know what to expect but overall the experience was very rewarding. The coaching was very positive & done in relaxed manner and definitely improved my technique.

I thought the program design was great, good progression, well paced, and just the right amount of pushing to adopt and utilize the techniques

Coaches had excellent command of what each participant needed to progress. I feel my skiing took a very real leap forward after being stuck in the intermediate "groomers" rut for years.

This is my second clinic with a couple of single day classes thrown in. Each time I have made significant progress as a 68 year old skier as a result of the personalized diagnosis and instruction I have received.

The program has given me the confidence to not fear being near moguls and avoiding them "like the plague" as I used to say. Can't say I would seek them out, but I'm more likely to tackle any I find in my way and pursue them more aggressively, rather than just getting down the mountain. I loved the personal attention afforded by the small group. I felt that the verbal translation of the physical actions you need to take were very well thought out and easy to understand.

Your method works. I've taken a gazillion lessons over the years but never with the results you produce. They are real, dramatic and lasting.

Comparison with Clendenin bump school: Both courses very strong but for different reasons. In general, coaches in B4B superior: equally rigorous but more patient/tolerant. Thanks Larry/Joe!

I have been skiing for 30 years and have tried to ski the bumps. Began bored with groomers but found the more difficult bumps challenging. Your program and instructors have re-kindled my enthusiasm for skiing. I am already recommending the program to my friends, some of whom are ski instructors.

Thanks a lot

Found the concepts and instruction very good and individual. Spend more time on blue line, less on green. Spend more time on bumps with long skiies. (Almost whole first day back on long skies was exercises). Alan was good about picking up mistakes.

Felt very good about my improvement in the bumps. Liked the immediate feedback. Needed to ski more to practice and reinforce the new skills.

I felt I made significant progress and established a base for further development.

Once again, it was a great experience and I feel that my ability has jumped another level. Did Hyde Park at Highlands Friday with no problem and felt good when I got down.

incresed my confidance and picked up somme important points.

This is my second time attending. Both times my skiing advanced to another level, from black diamonds to double blacks. Amazing!

What a wonderful experience, even though I learned that i was doing everything backwards. It was wonderful to learn the proper way in a positive environment.

LOved it--I think that it is the right idea. I think that I would strentghen the whole 'blue line' concept--which we really didn't cover enough. Joe was probably right in attempting to ratchet down the adreniline level in my group on the last day. It was exciting and challenging but didn't reinforce what I had learned.

The first day or two while we were on the ski boards the training was very good. However, when we moved to skis, two of us were having challenges, and two were able to apply the skills. I felt the instructor focused on the better performing students.

Please see my letter to Katie Fry at AspenSnowmass Ski and Snowboard School

It was terrific; I felt that my overall skiing had a major breakthrough. I still don't feel like I would routinely seek out and enjoy double black diamond runs, but I do feel that I could manage them if I came upon them. In fact, on Friday, Jan. 23 there was 4 inches of new powder and I managed to deal with a bumped out black diamond run and even accidentally stumbled on the double black bump trail over by the Campground lift at Snowmass. All the lessons and advice I got played through my head and I inched my way down (cursing my husband for getting us there!). I definitely achieved my personal goal of skiing better and more confidently.

The low keyness of teaching by Larry was very beneficial along with the disciplined approach by Joe worked very well with me in educating and instructing the techniques of bumps skiing.

Outstanding Instruction! New and easy way to attack the moguls, very effective. Achieved everything I set out to achieve.

It was great and changed my skiing. Sam was a great coach as was Joe as they complimented eachother perfectly. I learned all that I expected to learn and more.

I felt the program was well designed and the quality of the instruction was excellent. I definitely benefited from the program and would recommend it to others.

great coaches, well organized program, felt my general skiing improved and was more comfortable on more terrain thanks to larry--my private instructor--as i ended up in a class of one being too far removed from the rest to be part of a group. sorry larry. altho i was almost sure (from past experience) that it would not happen i would have loved a group at my level that actually got to ski some baby bumplets

the coaching quality,organization, and attention were superb. Sam and Joe were great.My overall skiing improved remarkably in the first day. My knowledge and application of skiing moguls as a result came easily but my fear of getting hurt persisted as an obstacle . Thus, I left feeling dissapointed , not in the instruction but ,in myself. I hope to overcome that by trying small moguls on my next weeklong trip to Park City area next month.

Very organized presentation and well thought out program. You seek feedback on teaching methods but don't heed it. And the constant "up-sell" to book privates was very offensive. I learned a lot but didn't enjoy myself very much.

The two days on short skis were very useful for improving balance and retraining my regular skiing.

Appreciated the careful analysis of my skiing and the personal attention. We should have taken advantage of the powder and concentrated more on powder technique.

This is the only program I have attended where the coaches spent a majority of the time watching and coaching rather than just demonstrating especially Larry about whom I am particularly high. I left the course with confidence and myself and another attendee successfully went off-piste skiing after the program.

outstanding in all regards-might consider switching instructors every day or two-just to hear the same thig in different words

After taking your class ,I skied the best ever. It felt like I had seatbelts on. I made it down Slot at Snowmass ,had fun , and remembered to breath thanks to Larry !!!

I felt 2 days on the short skis was too much.

I think more time on the more challenging terrain would be usefull.

The course was interesting, and offered new techniques that apply to skiing in general in addition to bumps. The mogul strategies are effectively demonstrated.

Great coaching (Larry and Joe). Learned a new way to ski. Can do slopes I would not have tried.

I felt that there was a well thought out curriculum of ski skillsthat were taught. My previous school experience related more to a more random approach as delivered at the whim of each individual instructor.

The lessons learned have the potential to completely revamp my skiing for the better, partly from new skill (drifting,riding a flat ski) but mostly from ceaseless repetition of the old ones I've never quite gotten right. My expectations were quite high, and they were met! Sam did a great job, especially in adjusting to the different needs of me and my daughter. Nevertheless, I benefitted significantly from the input received from Joe and Alan. Having the fourth "at-large" instructor is a major asset for the program.

I thought that 4 days was an excellent amount of time to learn and practice the skills I needed to feel more comfortable in the bumps, however I think that only 1 day on the skiboards would have sufficed. My coach was fantastic and tailored the lesson to the needs of everyone in the group - teaching us all the bumps for boomers methods while focusing on individual strengths and weaknesses as well

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