If you read my last article in the Ski Canada fall issue, you may remember two important statements I made. The first was when Joel, the CEO of Skier’s Edge, looked at me in Sun Valley, Idaho during the Masters World Criterium medal ceremony and said “Peter, I think that’s where you want to be standing right now.” The second was the last sentence which said “stay tuned to see how things unfold.”
Since June, I spent the summer training on my Skier’s Edge machine as well as riding my mountain bike and playing hockey. I hadn’t been on skis since April so the big test was coming fast, the FIS September Masters South American Cup races in Chile. Bill Skinner, the National Coordinator of Masters USA and a Skier’s Edge USA team member, invited me to join his group for an extensive training and racing session in Valle Nevado. I was honored to participate. A few hours after we arrived on the mountain, we hit the slopes with our coaches for some free skiing. Later in the day, we were informed that our first GS race had been moved up to Saturday. We had only one more day of free skiing to prepare!
I won a total of 6 medals including the Gold in SG, the Gold In GS and the Gold to become overall South American Chapion in my class.
The GS course was in La Parva and when we arrived there we had a big surprise. This was one of the steepest side cut courses, with a surface of boiler-plate ice, that any of us had ever experienced. In the words of our head coach, Marjan Cernogli, former head coach of US Women’s National Team, ”...even the World Cup racers would have trouble on a course like this.” When I got into the starting gate, I thought of only one thing, going back and forth on my Skier’s Edge machine. This should get me through and it did! Although I felt like I was going to explode at the finish line, because of the high altitude and dry air, my legs were strong and ready for more—first medal around my neck!
During the next 6 days we resumed our training with approximately 2 days each for SG, GS and SL. The mornings were primarily dedicated to gate running and the afternoon sessions consisted of “serious” free skiing with the coaches.
For me, one of the big tests of “race tough legs” is being able to race gates all morning, ski the steeps all afternoon, and then race 100% the next day. Our SL coach was Bob Skinner who became the No. 1 Masters SL racer in the world at the Masters World Criterium in Sun Valley last April. He is also a member of the Skier’s Edge USA team—so how would you like to ski right behind him all day? Well, you had better have the legs for it, otherwise you won’t even be able to take your boots off at the end of the day. It was also a pleasure to train with Dennis Wilhelmsen, who is a member of the Skier’s Edge US team. Dennis told me that he practices a regular consistent program on the machine and it really shows in his legs. He looks like he is bolted to the hill like a magnet when he comes down the course. His training paid off handsomely as he won the overall SL title to become South American champion—congratulations Dennis!
The most interesting aspect of our training was practicing “extension” of the downhill ski in order to create a strong platform and lock the ski into the turn. This drill also enabled us to perfect the “under turn” where you keep your upper body stable and you throw your legs from one side to the other. This is exactly what I had been doing on the Skier’s Edge machine all summer. So what happened?
It was all good news. I won a total of 6 medals including the Gold in SG, the Gold in GS and the Gold to become overall South American champion in my class. I also earned enough FMC points to attain a #2 ranking in my class in the world. Too bad Joel wasn’t there to see the show on the podium! He was busy in Austria outfitting the Austrian World Cup team with their personal Skier’s Edge machines.
So now I know that the Skier’s Edge machine works and since I’ve had my first experience of racing after being on the machine, I am able to positively recommend the Skier’s Edge machine for your personal training. I hope to see you on the mountain this winter and perhaps we can take a run together.
...A follow-up to
“Race Tough Legs” in Ski Canada's fall issue. Click here to read
By Peter McGibbon
TEAM CAPTAIN: Canadian International Masters Team / Quebec
Masters Team • MEMBER: Canadian Masters Alpine Team • DIRECTOR: National Masters - Quebec / National Masters - Eastern Canada • CHAMPION: FIS South American Masters Cup-Class 7 • CURRENTLY: Ranked #2 In World Masters Cup Class 7.
