I'm a Hybrid

[Gary]

What is  hybrid?

1) something that is powered by more than one source of power

2) a person or group of persons produced by the interaction or crossbreeding of two unlike cultures, traditions

3) anything derived from heterogeneous sources, or composed of elements of different or incongruous kinds...

These are definitions I found in the dictionary...and they are ME  when it comes to skiing.

For all the love of PMTS, PSIA, CSIA, CSM or whatever church you belong to, I have found being a Hybrid to be the most efficient means of skiing for All Mountain skiing. I use less fuel, I travel greater distances without wearing out parts, I look quite handsome moving, AND....I'm rather progressive in thinking that.... maybe there's:

" A little hybrid in all of us"!   

Skiing is not a sport of perfection it's about the ride....
 
G

[Liam]

What is  hybrid?

1) something that is powered by more than one source of power

2) a person or group of persons produced by the interaction or crossbreeding of two unlike cultures, traditions

3) anything derived from heterogeneous sources, or composed of elements of different or incongruous kinds...

These are definitions I found in the dictionary...and they are ME  when it comes to skiing.

For all the love of PMTS, PSIA, CSIA, CSM or whatever church you belong to, I have found being a Hybrid to be the most efficient means of skiing for All Mountain skiing. I use less fuel, I travel greater distances without wearing out parts, I look quite handsome moving, AND....I'm rather progressive in thinking that.... maybe there's:

" A little hybrid in all of us"!   

Skiing is not a sport of perfection it's about the ride....
 
G

I don't know if there's a little hybrid in all of us, but this sounds like the ecumenical synthesis I've been working towards over the last two seasons.  I like the metaphor!

[Gary]

Ha...Liam...you get it! Nice!

I hope that anyone following this forum, peaking in....can take away a little bit of something special from all who post. Hey maybe they'll even post too.

Thanks, G

[jbotti]

As everyone knows, I am essentially a pure PMTS skier, which means that all I focus on is PMTS movements in all terrain (which is not to say that I have perfected them or reached the level I wish in my skiing). We can all agree or disagree as to whether PMTS is the right system or approach. Having said that what you do get from not going hybrid, is a deeply developed and engrained set of movements which by definition does nnot happen with the hybrid approach. IN PMTS whether you are skiing green groomers or double black bumps, the movements are the same. One set of movements, one approach doing short or longer radius turns and a set of drills that engrain these movements. I just think it is hard to perfect multiple sets of movements in the "Hybrid Approach".

Let me say in advance that others obviously like the hybrid approach. I am just explaining why I have chosen a different direction. 

[Gary]

JB....I do understand that concept of what you're saying....I do know where my my strongest ski roots came from,where I am today, and where I hope to be.  I  like you have "deeply devloped and engrained set of movements" in the way I ski hardpack, crud, bumps and pow.

That process or evolution for me was taking those primary fundementals of what works for me, polished them, owned them and use them all to enhance the quality of my experience each time on snow. AND I still learn and evolve with great pleasure.

Not to different me thinks!     
Hey for all...the road we take may be a bit different but if we're all smilin', laughin' and for us that wish it..."improving"....it's all good!

g

[bushwacka]

despite being PSIA ed Staff i would describe myself and my skiing as and teaching as......

realistic perfectionism by any means possible. 

[bushwacka]

so what have you mastered Max? (BTW will not answer any of your questions till you go back to the other thread and answer mine)

[jim-ratliff]

Jack of all trades, master of none?

I would say "nope" to the Jack of all Trades with respect to Gary, and I would also say "nope" to the Master of None. I would say (as he did), that he has mastered and owns the movements that he has selected. And while not all of those are PMTS, as he said without using the letters, "I know where my strongest ski roots came from."
And I don't know details, but I believe that Gary was well on his way to PMTS instructor certification when he decided to seek a different approach to his off-piste skiing.
Like you were saying to Svend yesterday, careful what you assume about another person until you know more about them.


I will also say that most people that ski with Gary become better skiers because of it.

[jim-ratliff]

.

realistic perfectionism by any means possible.

And I would love to know the difference between "realistic perfectionism" and "UNrealistic perfectionism".

Perfectionism, in psychology, is a personality disposition characterized by an individual striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations.

[Gary]

Jim...thank you for the kind words...and you insight is spot on. 
 
BW...you had me laughing..."realistic perfectionism by any means possible" loved it....

Keeping it light guys is the way I like to ski....

G

[Gary]

Max, in 2000 when I first met Harold, Diana and the HH crew....I was a lost sole drifting in the abyss of crapy skiing.

I became a disciple and to some extent still am. Seeing such positive results over numerous clinics I too was thinking that getting PMTS certified was something I was seriously going to go after.

I did have a change of heart as my expereience then and where and how I evolved moved me in a new direction.
I guess that's about as simple as I can state it. 

In the end....the Hybrid in me surfaced and I've been exremly happy with my growth and skill sets.

[Gary]

Max....I think we did 5, including 2 All Mountain Camps back then.

I do and will always have the deepest admiration and respect for Harold and the gang. PMTS is the backbone for all my skiings moving parts! 

Best, g

[jim-ratliff]

What does "well on his way to PMTS instructor certification" mean?

It means that to my limited memory and insight, Gary was actively committed to learning and building on PMTS for his skiing and was also working as a part time instructor at his local hill?
My point was really that, IMHO, he made a pretty serious investigation of PMTS for the base of his skiing, as contrasted to those who dip a toe in the water (or the Kool-Aid, to mix a few metaphors) and may adopt a movement or two, but never really commit to the program.

[Gary]

It was really weird for me teaching at our local mountain knowing at the same time I was deeply into PMTS...I had to covertly introduce drills to the new students without having someone say stick with the "basics" bub!

Yup....you could say I was head over heel, hook line an sinker, and a "spreader of the word"....having also brought numerous friends to the PMTS fountain!

So indeed...been there, done that and now done this...and skiing better every year my "cheese" ages!   

Cheers,
G

[jim-ratliff]

The jack of all trades comment is about the definition of a hybrid.

I was sort of thinking about that old catch phrase when reading Gary's original post. My experience with farm crops is that a hybrid is an attempt to merge multiple desirable traits.
Hybrid corn that has high yields but is blight resistant.
Or a hybrid Prius, which is a blend of gas powered with electric augmentation.

I will also say that Harald and PMTS have built on their foundation over the years.  Lynn and I have often considered that Gary would probably be surprised at the content of an "all-mountain" camp now, but that is mostly not relevant.
And I believe that the ability to extend and grow PMTS is due to the solidness of the PMTS foundation (and the Des Laurier's program, I believe, is also PMTS like?).