Ski Cool ST. MORITZ
I’m getting a little nervous now about skiing this morning. Alina and Vittorio meet me at the hotel and take me to the excellent Intersport shop which is connected to the hotel via a walkway. Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about equipment or ski passes which are provided by the Engadin St Moritz Toursim Office, as I wouldn’t have a clue where to start. I’m fitted out with ski boots. They are difficult to walk in at first, so I’m really glad we can go straight onto the slopes from here. I trundle off in a slightly robotic fashion to meet Peter, my Italian ski instructor and he immediately puts me at ease. We start out on the children’s learning area so I can try on my skis and get used to standing and moving with them on.
The teaching method used by Ski Cool is called the UPS system, developed by Slovenian expert Sandi Murovec. The basis of the system is ‘Learning to ski with the progressive lengthening of the skis’. The system is based on teaching using three different sizes of skis: the shortest – 90cm long – the middle ones – 125 cm – and the normal ones – 150 cm or more. The short skis enable the beginners to learn easily, without fear of falling over, and enjoy learning enjoy how to ski parallel without the need for using the old school progression starting from the snow plough. This is a more direct and faster way to learn how to ski right from the start.
Vittorio Caffi, the director of Ski Cool St. Moritz, as vice president of ISIA, the International Ski Instructors Association, is responsible as well of the ISIA Technical Commission, who set the standards for professional ski instructors education worldwide. In just one day, a total beginner can have a proper ski experience, leading to parallel turns. For intermediate and advanced skiers there are benefits to using this system as they can improve their balance, rotation and edging skills and their feeling for gliding on the snow in a safe and effective way. The Ski Cool instructors also use this system to improve their teaching and learn new skills. Many top ranking World Cup athletes, use the UPS system. Ski Cool teach very small groups (no larger than 6), but the group must all be of the same ability. This means they can learn more quickly than in the larger groups.
There are over 30 instructors, all bilingual. Peter has lived in Manchester in the past, so is very up on music and culture in the UK. Alina, my guide is Latvian and fluent in many languages including Russian, and has also spent many years living in London. They have a good understanding of different cultures and the needs of individual clients.
I’m wearing a helmet for safety, which is really important. Amazingly, I’m OK at standing still in my short skis. Now to try moving in them. As it is early morning, the snow is still very icy, so it’s much harder to move (or not move) than on the afternoon’s softer snow. First things first, I need to learn how to slow down and stop, which is much harder than moving down even the smallest slope. Peter instructs me on all the basic positions and how to slow down, which strangely involves leaning forward on my shins. I have several goes at this, as my natural instinct when giving downwards is to lean back to slow myself down. I know what I should be doing, but as soon as I move off, I seem to forget what that is. I’m sure if my 8 year old daughter was here, she would have picked this up after about 15 minutes.
For me though, most of the morning is needed for me to get used to slowing and stopping. Luckily, Peter has a never ending supply of patience and remains cheerful throughout the lesson. Once I’ve relaxed a bit and have skied down the tiniest gradient many times, I’m becoming a bit more confident about stopping myself. We move on to the next move, turning. Peter helps me to practice the correct motion and feet positions for turning right and left in order to travel down the slopes while controlling your speed and slowing down to stop. This is tricky, but when the moves are done correctly, it feels great being on the skis. I only fell over twice so I’m feeling quite pleased with myself.
By early afternoon, the sun has turned the snow quite soft. This is much nicer to ski on, as it’s far less slippery. My arms are aching now from using the little pulley to get to the top of the small slope. Time for a quick bite to eat at the bakery, then I’m whisked off to meet up with Alina and Vittorio who have arranged a special trip for me.
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