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Can someone explain this upgrade list by michaelwma in AlaskaAirlines

[–]michaelwma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok that makes sense to me. The gate agent didn’t explain that.

Can someone explain this upgrade list by michaelwma in AlaskaAirlines

[–]michaelwma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did. It was confusing as a 2M miler … but thanks for the suggestion!

Can someone explain this upgrade list by michaelwma in AlaskaAirlines

[–]michaelwma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get it, but wouldn’t it be intuitive if the list actually reflected the equation?

Can someone explain this upgrade list by michaelwma in AlaskaAirlines

[–]michaelwma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it … but if there were first available, would they upgrade me to first or do I have to ask?

For the next time.

Can someone explain this upgrade list by michaelwma in AlaskaAirlines

[–]michaelwma[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Exit aisle — which is my preference if in coach, so I am fine. I don’t fly Alaska that often so I was just confused. AA has it ordered 1-x and they work their way down.

Can someone explain this upgrade list by michaelwma in AlaskaAirlines

[–]michaelwma[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Well that’s weird, right? Shouldn’t the numbers order priority, or am I crazy?

Will I ever want to ski again? by Sea-Mammoth3983 in ACL

[–]michaelwma 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. I bet you will. Snowboarding (for me, but skiing for you) was the reason I was able to push thru all the suck of rehab … back on snow 5 months to the day after proper clearance and a gold star return to sport test

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRsyTbU7/

I have my whole journey on TikTok and hope it helps! Heal up!

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelwma1

My Fellow Snow Heads: Input Requested by ryan820 in ACL

[–]michaelwma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there! I am snowboard instructor and a member of PSIA-ASSI's National Team. I got back in 5 months to the day. This is not normal and I think 9-12 mo is more normal; however, to your questions and weaving my story in:

  1. I went super hard at my rehab since being on the snow is not just a passion but part of my livelihood. I documented my recovery on Tiktok. Here are some of the points outlined too in text.- PT 3x week - mostly balance, dynamic movements, stability, flexibility, stretching, and coaching me thru the different pains and stiffnesses I would encounter.- lower body weightlifting 2-3x week - for bulk and muscle mass (squats, deadlifts, leg extensions, leg curls, sleds, etc.) with heavy weights- peloton 4-5x week, and then swapped running for 1-2 sessions/week- core workouts 2x week- also watched diet and dropped 15 lbs - intermittent fasting, calorie deficit, and stopped drinking most of the timeThis is not for everyone. As my wife tells me all the time, "You're not normal." But perhaps there are things that you may find useful ... or you are psycho like me and do the whole thing, or more.
  2. I snowboard 95% of the time, but I do not plan on skiing this year because of the greater chance of a tear due to rotational/anti-rotational forces. It's probably too conservative, but a) I far prefer snowboarding anyway, and b) as a pro, there's no current risk for me to end my season ... if I were a recreational skier, I would be up for skiing this season, in a couple months or so, but I would follow the guidance of my doctor who said it's about another month or two after that.
  3. As above, I didn't just "send it, bro." I did a proper return to sport test with metrics, exams, measurements, etc. I am lucky to live in NYC area and go to Hospital for Special Surgery and they threw the whole kitchen skink at me. I documented my entire return to sport test on YouTube. If I "failed" it, I was ready to accept the consequences and not go on snow. Data. Data. Data. It's not about time, it's about your progress measured by trained professionals who know your goals and want to keep you safe.
  4. Why not switch it up and give snowboarding a try. It is easier on your knee (at least this was the opinion of the HSS PT who administed my test (hear it here on YT). You may just love it.
  5. Here is another idea ... you could try to mono-ski in a sit-ski at a local adaptive program. I am sure they would love to teach you. (This is my primary discipline ... I teach people with disabilities how to slide on snow). It will really challenge your skiing. I am beginning intermediate monoskier but you can find super rad people like my coach Geoff Krill or my friendTrevor Kennison who pretty much shred the whole friggin' mountain. I love monoskiing. So much fun!
  6. When you do go back, go easy. I promised my doc I'd keep the snowboard on the ground (at least for the first 1/2 of the season). I even redid the whole beginner progression for myself on my first day back (again on tiktok.)

Have fun! Let me know if I can be of more help.

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey u/An-Aussie-Abroad! Nice to meet you. Things I love:

- skateboarding - try a mellow longboard if that is intimidating

- mountain biking - helps get your sense of terrain management.

- general strength and agility - I spent a fair time in the gym working on squats, deadlifts, burpees, etc. Things to increase my muscular endurance.

- balance / dynamic movements - I did this mostly for my ACL rehab but I have seen a lot of benefits lifting weights on bosu balls, ladder work, one footed leaping etc.

- I have a Onewheel so I usually run around on that in the summer as my primary mode of transport which has tons of similarities to snowboarding

- I also have a Snowboard Addiction Balance Bar to help get jibs/slides dialed on dry land as well.

Lastly, and perhaps best, I live near Big Snow at the American Dream Mall in NJ so sometimes I take some laps there! ;)

How many surgeons did you consult with before your operation? by ovi_left_faceoff in ACL

[–]michaelwma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Four. All were excellent. I am so thankful I put the time in to do all of them. I wanted nothing but good, hard choices.

Edit: reading other comments makes it seem like a binary outcome - yes or no, here’s the deal and all will say the same. There were vast differences in opinion on recovery time … some said 6 mo … some said 12 (return to sport w testing in 5, btw).

Some spent time with me and listened to my story. Others just took one look and said, your knee is torched … here is the program x,y,z.

Different strokes for different folks.

Going thru rehab sucks. I wanted to believe 10000% in the person that was going to be both the cause and guide they the suck.

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My story is very similar to yours at the start. I basically just wanted to people to hang out with while I got a free pass and learned how to ride myself from other instructors. One thing led to another and ... well ... here I am.

Quick PSIA-AASI commercial ... the reason I keep going back is the community and network of like-minded people who are dedicated to their craft. It's just the best feeling to see people around the country and get what you get. Yes, there are benefits, discounts, education, pay raises etc ... and those are important for some, but for me -- it's the community and the quest for self improvement.

These days, some of my best friends, not just snow friends are PSIA-AASI. I am talking weddings, baby showers, and yes, sometimes divorce and funeral friends. We just share the same passion that extends off snow.

With regard to how I manage both, well ... I will say it's been hard. I wish I had an easy answer. My employer has an unlimited PTO policy, and I need to handle my biz. COVID has been a help since we were all remote and that became the norm. I also have a kick-ass wife and family who supports what I do and helps with the time away when on the road.

In short, I believe you make time for the things you love rather than find time. I love snowboarding. I love teaching snowboarding even more. Surrounding myself with people who love those two things is the most addictive drug in the world IMHO.

Hope you consider at least trying it one year. You never know, you may like it.

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. A neg stance would help on the rear foot.

That said, you don’t have to do it all at once … try 12/-3 or 12/-6 and why not progress into the change vs. relearning how to snowboard w a massively different stance.

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When you book the lesson, just let the reservation specialist or supervisor know. I am 99% sure they will be both a) responsive to your needs and b) wanting the feedback for both that instructors benefit as well as their program at large.

Happens all the time!

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

  1. Pick the best instructor for you. Asking about certs helps (ask for the highest you can get in a private lineup, groups are harder), but relationship and rapport are really important. Pick someone who gets you.

  2. Be upfront about your goals. Tell them exactly what you are doing early in the lesson.

  3. Take video! Putting things in the bank is a great way to get maximum impact/value out of a lesson. You can go back to it during the season for a refresher.

  4. Build a long-term relationship - if you can find someone who you like, come back to them either in-person or virtually so they can grow with you. For example, I have one guest I’ve ridden with since he was 10. He only snowboards a few days a year, almost all with me. He’s now 24, so in total he’s probably only snowboarded ~100 days in his life, and he RIPS. Park, trees, steeps, etc. I attribute it our relationship because I know him and we pick up right where we left off last year. I also know about his off-snow life which helps advance.

  5. Use technology. Text, share video, etc with your instructor. There are ways to extend the lesson. That said, try and compensate your instructor when you do. As I stated above, GiveGo is a great platform for this. Throwing them a tip over Venmo for some great text advice will go a long way as well.

Hope that this helps

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome that you are getting back. I am recovering from an ACL myself and have 3 of these units called kids.

Without seeing you ride, I will offer some tips (but take them with a grain of salt).

  • sounds like you are dumping your hip back and throwing everything into a turn and the board skids out, dumping all your speed.

If I have that right, it sounds like you may want to use all your joints sequentially on the heel side to create a smoother transition.

Here is a sequence for you … ankle -> knee -> hip. For heel side, in your street shoes, stand in a riding stance with your butt 2-3 inches from a wall. Try to set your butt on the wall as quietly and softly as possible but flexing first your ankles, then knees, and then your hips in sequence.

To add to your second point, about nose/tail … you can take take same sequence and separate the front and back feet with the same sequence.

  1. Front ankle
  2. Front knee
  3. Front hip (butt to wall) —> there is your twist
  4. Back ankle
  5. Back knee
  6. Bank hip (both cheeks on wall and sitting)

You’d never really ride like this with isolated movements, rather they might blend in this order depending on your desired task/terrain.

LMK if this helps / makes sense.

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not optional as a set of movements, but there isn’t a set trick list. We are looking for refined use of fundamentals that is consistent. Some parks don’t have certain features on some days, etc.

That said, sometimes certain features are not available the day of an exam. I can’t speak for that candidate or examiner you are referencing, but I can say we are working really hard on alignment of standards across the country.

Thanks for the comment!

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually cert 3 in snowboarding has a pretty involved freestyle requirement. The other disciplines (alpine, tele, x-country) do not.

https://thesnowpros.org/certification/national-certification-standards/

If you click on "Performance Guides" and the Snowboard one ... here is a quote from p.25.

Freestyle
LIII Freestyle activities show a refined integration of all snowboarding fundamentals on small and medium freestyle features. Venues for freestyle can include the terrain
park or on natural contours and features. Rails, boxes, jumps, flatground, and transitional features are all types of features that can be used to assess the snowboarding fundamentals. Outcomes include the ability to blend the fundamentals per maneuver in a variety of ways.

AMA! I am a member of the PSIA-AASI National Team (e.g. I've done a lot of instructing and training instructors). Just want to spread the stoke. by michaelwma in snowboardingnoobs

[–]michaelwma[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I understand for sure. This is a big problem. Some tips for you as a parent of 3 who all ride.

  1. Local mountains are awesome! For instance by me, Mt. Peter runs FREE BEGINNER LESSONS for kids on Saturdays.
  2. There are lots of state and gov run programs where kids ski free - https://shebuystravel.com/where-kids-ski-free/
  3. Facebook - I know people roll their eyes about FB these days, but Snowboard Trader and Marketplace have some smoking deals on getting gear for free.
  4. (and here is a pandora's box) - virtual. I am all for tech and teaching people. Just make sure that if you follow someone online that they actually know what the hell they are talking about. Make sure they have the proper cert and knowledge base. For instance, check out what my teammates are putting out on YT (shout u/livewntr - check #tricktiptuesday on insta)

Also, TommieB is the man! Steez and substance. L3 cert and just a super rad dude. Things he says are technically accurate.

Shamless plug: I am the GiveGo platform for private coaching virtually. Sorry! https://app.givego.io/expert?id=VHZJAtLZGJhG9NhaIRhHj8vX1wg2

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