maybe you should have gotten there earlier, before all the bigfoots had rented out snowboard boots.

 

or maybe you should just buy your own equipment, thus never having to deal with rentals again.

 

lighten up... just cause they were out of boots in your size doesn't mean they're not well stocked. weekends are busy. especially during christmas/new years break. it doesn't really make sense to hire someone just to walk down the line telling people what size boots they have just rented out... glen eden has over 500 full snowboard setups available for rental... sucks that you showed up on such a busy day, but shit happens.

So, as you all can probably guess, I am very new to Snowboarding. This is my first season. In the attempts to get better, I have signed up for the 8 week classes that GE offers. I am confused about what my level is thoug based on GE standards.

 

Snowboarder Levels

• Beginner

Have you ever snowboarded before?                        No . . . Level 1
Goal: To develop basic balance and learn to stop on gentle terrain.  Learn to use surface lifts.
Have you snowboarded once or twice?                     Yes . . . Level 2
Goal: To develop confidence by learning how to link turns on gentle slopes.  Review of surface lifts and introduction to chairlifts.

• Intermediate

Are you tentative on a snowboard?                          Yes, all the time . . . Level 3
Goal: To build confidence and speed on green terrain by improving turns and control.  Review of the chairlift.  Chairlift required.
                                                                                 Yes, but linking turns . . . Level 4
Goal: To ride more of the mountain using steering to control turns.  Introduction to basic freestyle maneuvers including switch riding and ollies.
Can you confidently link turns?                              Yes, all the time . . . Level 5
Goal: To develop steering and edging skills to fine-tune your riding in various snow conditions and steeper terrain.  Refining of basic freestyle maneuvers.

 

Now I am able to link turns when I have a wide area to do them in, and I am able to make it down the hills that are accessed by the Sidewinder chairlift. I do not think I am at their beginner levels, but how do I know if I am a level 3 or a 4? They sound fairly similar to me.

 

Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks

jaywho - if you're comfortable heading down everything sidewinder has to offer, you're going to do well in any of the intermediate groups. like alison said, if you start off in group three but your riding shows that you should really be in group four, they'll switch it up for you. if you're really concerned about it, you can always call snow school and have them reccommend where you should start. or, just talk to nine.lives since she instructs at GE!

hypoxia - most of the regulars here don't take me seriously any more... they know i'm a little bit of the crazy. it was meant mostly as a joke... sorry if i offended you in any way. maybe it's just my BC mentality shining through, but seriously... chill out! it's not really that big a deal, is it? so they weren't giving a play by play update of every single piece of equipment they rented out... so what. maybe the person in front of you took the last pair of size 11 snowboard boots. maybe not. sure it sucks. sure they were telling everyone about credit card information. that applies to everyone wanting to rent. boot sizes... not so much. if you're really that steamed about it, file a formal complaint with the glen eden customer service department with your reccommendations on how they should make it better.

Thanks Allison and Kendrat, your advice is appreciated.

 

So I check the GE website today and it shows that they are closed due to a local power outage. I tried calling customer service, but it just rings. I am supposed to start the lessons tonight, any ideas how that will affect those?

apparently they're working on it (well duh)... i'm betting they're dealing with a tonne of calls right now from people wondering what the heck is happening. nobody's quite sure what's going on, or when it will be fixed. i've got a couple e-mails from the patrol team saying check in with GE before anyone heads out there.... i'd suggest you do the same... seems like they're updating the website ok, so i'd keep an eye on that too. with luck it shouldn't take too long to get back up and running.

 

Jaywho - I'd say go for a level 3 if you aren't totally comfortable turning.  What we do if you are obviously overqualified is move you up a group... It's better to undershoot.. Even if you can turn, learning the reasons why and how (basically learning how to do it properly) can really help you down the road from having any bad habits so it can be really helpful.

 

The first week of lessons is usually chaotic and we (instructors) adjust the groups so that they are more balanced based on skill level, etc.

 

Your lesson will be postponed for tonight and they'll contact you to let you know about any changes, otherwise, show up next Tuesday..

Also, I just got word that a hydro pole was damaged and they will NOT be opening tonight.  With no power, the phones are not working either.

 

 

 

good job Constance for the quick updates :)

 

Are you taking the level 2 course this year?

Yep, in March... not sure where yet.

 

Any luck getting any shifts over Christmas?

no, nothing yet....

well, i've been teaching my son :)

 

he's already in the terrain park, and he's 4....

 

now thats a private camp :P

 

if u want to consider that shifts :P

 

we went to tremblant, his first time on a snowboard, first day we stayed up on the bunny hill, then the second day, went to the top in the gondala, and rode down, toke us 3 hours to do nasser at tremblant on the south side... he he :)

 

and the 3rd and 4th day, toke use aprox 2-2:30 hour runs :)

 

so we did max 2 runs a day lol

 

but now we came back in town, and he's asking me where the hill is, since ours is a bump...so now he's bored and already in the terrain park lol go figure :P

Does anyone know why the Boomerang lift has been closed the last week?

 

It was brutal yesterday... I was on snow from 8am - 3pm with a short lunch break.

 

We kept warm by keeping moving but my face felt like it was burning after! 

 

Seems warmer today, let's hope we're over that insanity!!!!!!!!

 

I don't really know many other instructors THAT well (and certainly don't watch them teach), so I can't really answer that.. 

 

If she wanted to do privates, I'd suggest 4 week program with the same instructor...  I think that would be her best bet.  Having the same instructor makes things soo much easier.. we know where you're at and what you need to work on from week to week, even gives us some time to come up with tactics tailored to your weaknesses.

Im going to be boarding here today at GE -_0

 

Holla if anyone is going... im going to wear my one peice, blue electric...

and ill be riding a burton dominant 154 with some pink and purple grip tape topsheet finish :o

 

w0rd, c anyone there, if you do come :D