New gear is coming in daily, the waxer is working overtime.  The season is here, now the question becons: Are you ready??

We’re here to help!  We’ve got apparel, socks, accessories, and of course skis, boots, and poles for the season available to rent.  Drop off your new gear for service and mounting.  Hope to see you this weekend!  Think Snow!

Special thanks to Brian Slaughter of LIBO Construction for replacing the posts that hold up our widely recognized sign!

Well, here we are!  In 21 days, our home mountain will be open!  We’re gearing up, getting new merchandise daily.  Tomorrow marks the official start to the local ski season–The Hesperus Ski Patrol Ski Swap!  We’ll be at Cliffside from 10 – 4 on Saturday and Sunday to help outfit the family in skis.  We had a special visit from the Silverton School yesterday–thanks to Nipper Alsup and Coach Sallie for brining all the kids down for their season rentals.  We also have a special discount to offer all our customers from Needles Liquors–if you mention this blog, you can get the Blackstone Merlot for $9.99 per  bottle, a $1 savings! 

We hope to see you soon!  The weather is looking good!  Check out http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Rico&state=CO&site=GJT&textField1=37.64&textField2=-107.832699 to see what’s in store for us this weekend!!

Think Snow!!!!

Ski Swap too pricey? Can’t find the right size? After the swap, come see us for quality season rentals!  Open weekends 10 – 4 til Purg opens, junior ski packages starting at $119 for the season.  Call or email for more info 970.385.1461 or info@cliffsideski.com

Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Think Snow!!

AN UNDERSTANDING OF BASIC BIOMECHANICAL PRINCIPLES CAN PROVIDE A RATIONAL BASIS FOR PERSONALIZING ONE’S PRESEASON TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SKIING.

DOWNHILL SKIING IS DEPENDENT ON THE FORCE OF GRAVITY PULLING THE SKIER DOWNHILL. AS IN A CAR, ANY TURN EFFORT CREATES A CENTRIFUGAL FORCE WHICH IS NORMALLY RESISTED BY THE OUTSIDE LEG . INITIALLY WEIGHT IS TAKEN ON THE OUTSIDE SKI EDGE AND PROMPTLY DISTRIBUTED TO THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE DOWNHILL SKI. THE ANKLE MUST BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH AND SUFFICIENTLY STRONG TO CREATE THE NECESSARY EVERSION OR PRONATION. WITH INITITIATION THE NEXT TURN, THE CENTER OF GRAVITY MUST BE TRANSFERRED FORWARD IN PREPARATION FOR SHIFTING  WEIGHT TO WHAT WILL BE THE NEW DOWNHILL SKI. THE EXTENSOR MUSCLES OF THE KNEE DRIVE THE OUTSIDE FOOT INTO THE PRONATED POSITION.  OPTIMALLY, WEIGHT THEN MOVES FORWARD TOWARD THE BIG TOE.  ELEVATION OF THE HIP STRENGTHENS THE TURN. MOVING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OVER THE BALL OF THE FOOT WILL ENHANCES STABILITY AND BALANCE.  IF THE SURFACES ARE UNEVEN ONE NEEDS TO   ABSORB THE CONVEX SURFACES AND PUSH TOWARD THE GROUND ON THE CONCAVE SURFACES.

A FEW ADDITIONAL POINTS ARE WORTHY OF EMPHASIS.

TIGHT CALF MUSCLES MAY CONTRIBUTE TO OVER USE OF KNEE FLEXION WHICH SECONDARILY THROWS WEIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE SKIS AND UNNECESSARILY FATIGUES THE THIGHS.

LACK OF LATERAL CONTROL CAUSES A SKIERS LEGS TO SEPARATE IN AN A-FRAME POSITION RESULTING IN DIMINISHED PERFORMANCE IN POWDER AND MORE CHALLENGING TERRAINS. EXERCISES DIRECTED AT STRENGTHENING THE ADDUCTOR MUSCLES (THOSE THAT PULL THE THIGHS TOGETHER) CAN BE HELPFUL.

MORE CHALLENGING TERRAIN OFTEN REQUIRES LARGER ANGLE TURNS. THIS CANNOT OCCUR WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ABILITY TO ROTATE THE HIPS. LASTLY, CORE STRENGTH IS IMPORTANT IN ALL SPORTS AND SKIING IS NO EXCEPTION. A WEAK CORE WILL PREDISPOSE TO AN INABILITY TO KEEP THE CENTER OF GRAVITY SUFFICIENTLY FORWARD OVER THE SKIS.

BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, WE CAN    FORMULATE A TRAINING PROGRAM BASED ON THE SPECIFIC FORCES TO BE GENERATED. I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT MUSCLE GROUPS TO BE STRENGTHENED SO THAT THE READER MAY MAKE APPROPRIATE PERSONAL CHOICES REGARDING SPECIFIC EXERCISES BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OUTLINED ABOVE.

A.  ANKLE FLEXION

B. ANKLE INVERSION/EVERSION

C. EXTENSORS OF KNEE (QUADRICEPS)

D.  STRETCH CALF MUSCLES (GASTROC AND SOLEUS)

E. STRENGTHEN THIGH ADDUCTOR MUSCLES

F.  INCREASE HIP ROTATION

G.   STRENGTHEN CORE (ABDOMINALS AND LOW BACK)

KEEPING THESE BIOMECHANICAL PRINCIPLES IN MIND SHOULD ALLOW THE MOTIVATED SKIER TO MAKE INTELLIGENT AND TIME-EFFICIENT CHOICES WHEN DESIGNING THEIR OWN PERSONAL PRESEASON SKI EXERCISE PROGRAM.  DILIGENT FOCUS ON THE MAJOR MUSCLE GROUPS REFERENCED HERE WILL RESULT IN DECREASED CHANCE FOR INJURY AND BETTER AND MORE RELAXED SKIING. WITH ENOUGH PRACTICE ONE MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE MORE CHALLENGING TERRAIN AND MORE VARIED SNOW CONDITIONS.

DR. RON GROBER

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON AND SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

There are still a few rental fleet bikes lurking in the shop–offerring great deals to open up space for all our new winter merchandise!

Season Rentals for kids and Adults begin officially TODAY!! Junior skier packages start at $119.  We’ve already sent out quite a bit of gear to some of our die-hard ski families, so call and let us know you’re coming so we can make sure sizes/styles are available for you and your family. 

Enjoy the beauty of the season change, but please keep thinking snow!!

Penny and Bruce

The Ski Club in Chile

Just received an email from Penny, she’s having the time of her life!  Here are two pics to start with, more to come after she gets back to the  USA

http://www.skiarpa.com/

Here are two more links from Penny–places she’ll be visiting in August.  Enjoy!

Our great friend Penny is getting ready to leave on a trip of a lifetime–thank goodness she’s a powder hound!  We’re hoping she’ll share some stories of her adventure when she returns, with lots of photos of course!!  And, Penny, please note that we’re all jealous as hell, especially with this ridiculous heat wave!!