Planning for Next Year

Any idea on what the venues/dates are ESA next year?  I'd like to get my free room lined up at the St. Regis again...

Mike

The early-season Stowe ESA is December 11-13, 2009.

Aspen-Snowmass ESA is January 10-14, 2010.

We're thinking of doing a late-spring event at Stowe this season. Any feedback on that idea?

We're thinking of skipping Big Sky for a year (thereby letting the hunger pique).  

Hmm, would the spring Stowe be a week long or just a weekend?  Snowmass?  Hmmm I need to check my work schedule now :)

We're thinking the later Stowe event would be at least 4 days, maybe 5 with an electives day on day 3...what do you all think? 

I think it would be interesting to have all the traditional teaching in the AM then optional modules (electives) in the afternoon.  

Modules:
Gates
Bumps
Air/park
Demo's
Trees
Freeski
Tele
ect.

Yes.

fxd.

The idea of a 4-5 day event in the East might be appealing -- it would be interesting to see if those folks that have asked for it in the past actually sign up/show up...  I also wonder if some folks might be hesitant to do a late-in-the-season clinic because of decreased opportunity to practice what was learned.

Just some thoughts...

At any rate, count me in for the early seaston Stowe and the Snowmass ESA's!

With luck I'll aim for the early-season Stowe, but I dunno about a longer, late-season in the east. I haven't been to Stowe in a long time, but I've become a bit of a snob when in comes to skiing in the east.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. Spring is when the conditions are at their very best. We're not talking late-April or anything. We want to give ourselves the best chance of skiing everything that Stowe has to offer in primo conditions.

If he means the same thing my friends mean by it, the thought of a 4-5-6 day destination trip to an EC location is just a waste of time and money and Utah.  

The equation only changes if you schedule the shinding during spring break week and they can drive the whole family up in the truckster.


Edited by comprex - 7/3/2009 at 12:09 am GMT

I've been an advocate of an eastern event later in the season so naturally I'm very interested but you all know my track record. Given the fact I'm still laid off, a big expense, out of state ski trip is doubtful. I'll follow the threads and see what develops.

I would be inclined to favor Phil's concept, half day traditional, half day optional.

12/11-13/09 is too early in the season.  We have had luck on our side for the last two years.

Phil's idea is interesting.  Mixing up coaches would be a good experiment, too.  One coach in the am and another in the pm.  There could be some interaction between coaches as to what's taken place or not.

You don't like my concept of a 'Teach the way you did in 1977' module?

That would be a spring break kegger, right?

You've got it Comprex -- I have limited vacation time, which means limited ski time, and most of that comes late season.

I live a solid 8-10 hour drive from Stowe, or the same time by plane to MT, UT, CO. While it'd be cool to ski with some different EC bears than have made it out to big sky over the last two years, I need my time under western skies.

Big Sky has been a great camp.  It'd be too bad not to have it next year.

Mike 

Big Sky is great but there are dozens of places I'd like to ski so moving around (including the east) is a good thing for me.

Listening...

I think a Spring event at Stowe is an excellent idea.  The early season Stowe event has always drawn a good crowd, but I always thought the mountain wouldn't have been "ready". 

There is terrain there for everyone, and most won't have to incur the cost of a plane trip to get to an Epic Clinic. 

It's a good bet the event will fill up. 

 I would definitley come to Big sky if it was a little earlier. Me and Cajun really liked this one.  I would hate see this one not take place I have never seen so much powder!!! 

The coach switching idea could be great. In big sky they kicked me out of one group into another LOL . I was surprised of how much of the same thing each group is learning but it is just under different terrain. Good Idea Phil!!!

Epic Are you looking at a different venue ?
      

I would definitely be interested in a midwinter or later event at Stowe - I live in the east & I've wanted to do an Epic clinic, but haven't wanted to do Stowe when not much of the mountain is open - I know there was snow a couple of years ago, but by the time that was clear, I couldn't get away.

On the other hand, I'm not sure about 4 days - at least this winter I won't bee able to get away Th & Fri except Presidents week.  Is it just too hard to pull together short camps, aimed at east coasters who can only manage a weekend.

As for modules, I like this idea.  At stowe, I'd love one on backcountry: hourglass, chinclip, hellbrook etc.  I just hiked hellbrook, and it made me think I'd rather ski it with a guide/instructor the first time I did it.

I wouldn't want to promise anything, but the things mentioned here (back/sidecountry, field trips, etc.) have at least been thought of. 

It is always amazing to me how quickly the 4 days of ESA go.  While I like the concept of different modules and different coaches, I think it may disrupt the flow of a 4 day event if you really are intent upon learning.   Since the groups are free to do what they want over the course of the 4 days, trees, bumps etc can all be integrated into the whole program.  I like the idea of having one coach for the entire 4 days.  Having the same coach for 4 days is one of the things that attracts me to ESA. Last year I split my time between 2 groups at Snowmass and while it worked fine, I prefer the one coach approach.   It is also difficult when people are coming and going between groups because the dynamics change and the coach has to adjust to the situation.   ESA is a major expense and it is really important to me to maximize the learning experience.  

I agree with everything you say and I think the coaches do too. That's why I don't think wed want to take any of this too far. In my view, it would go something like this. Mon-Tues groups skis with main coach, Wed Optional modules, Thurs-Fri back to original coach with same group. Some people have asked for a rest day in the surveys there would be modules on Wed that do not even involve wearing ski boots. I think the Wed modules would stimulate a lot of discussion when the groups get back together on Thursday and maybe lead the group in new directions.

I too was hoping for Big Sky, and was trying to figure out what I need to do to be able to go. 

Trip to Stowe sounds like a great idea.

What about an esa at Taos?
I know Weems digs it. Anyone else?
Yeah, it doesn't have the terrain of Big Sky but it's a special place. Besides, all you freaks who love bumps would get plenty of them. Hiking, trees. It's got those too.
Need half day lessons for others? Well there's a Taos ski week available.
Can't sell the snowboarderless terrain anymore though...

I like the idea of a Wednesday activity module if the esa is now 5 days instead of 4. If you did this at Taos a race course would probably be fairly easy to set up.

 I'd go for Taos, or Snowbird, Jackson, etc.  Not too interested in the east.

Mike