This is good stuff!
Guest says it good. I mean, for years now, people have been saying "PMTS doesn't work...", or "It's nothing new...", or the boot locked stuff. I can tell you for sure, it's all, misinformation.
The facts are, that PMTS is new. Maybe the movements aren't, but the teaching system is. I started skiing in 1999. I searched everywhere, for technique I could learn -- a system if you will. Coming from a training background (triathlons), I knew the importance of proper technique. I wanted something I could study from, that I could watch over and over again, where I could call back and ask questions. I'm an old hippie and an ex-stoner (proud of it, too) -- my short term memory went years ago. Paying for walk up ski lessons wasn't going to do it for me, because there was no video or study guide to take home. PMTS was the only system I could find, that fit the bill. Far as I know, it still is.
I ski at Vail/BC, now about 100 days a year. I see all the skiing elite; examiners, demo team members, instructors, you name it. I've yet to see one of them, that I felt like could challenge me all mountain there. Some of them I've seen, it wouldn't even be close. Diana has become a great racer; her turns are heavenly. When Diana first came to HH, she was average. Ask her, she'll tell you. She was a Canadian ski instructor. The reason why she came to HH is that she was frustrated, not getting any better. Now look at her. She rules. Kicks arse wherever she goes. Harald is 53, but skis like he's 30. My pal Hobbit makes nice turns, he/she/it is doing great. John Mason just started. He's not great yet, but he will be. He knows what to do -- he just has to practice more.
My point here is that PMTS does work and that it works really well. Not just for those that are naturals, like HH. But for the rest of us -- us mortals.
I've watched and skied with other skiers (~100) who follow traditional ski instruction. Some of them, have invested a lot of money in ski lessons. I can think...between 0 and 5...that demonstrate any kind of balance, all mountain skills, edge control, or understanding of the primary movements of skiing. I talk to skiers on the lift who've just paid for ski lessons. I've yet to talk to one, that could explain to me in plain English, what it is they learned from that morning or the previous day.
What's my point here? That what I know is what I know, what I see, and what I hear. I keep reading about how great ski instruction is. But all I see is something that's way outdated. I see skiers being taught skills that are suited for long turns, not short ones. When short turns are what a skier needs most. I see skiers not being taught balance skills, when balance is #1. I see skiers being taught the wedge. I see examiners teaching the wedge. Ask any insider in ski instruction that's been around for years. They'll tell you the wedge was taught, not because it lead to great skiing, but because they needed to get skiers on the hill as quickly as possible, to make money. As a business he/she/it, I agree with that strategy. Skiing was brand new and the goal was to get people on the hill, with as little effort and expense as possible. Also, given the state of equipment back then, it made perfect sense. So, let's not crucify the ancien regime for doing what was right at that time.
But to hold onto the wedge now, or any version thereof, shame-shame on them. Equipment has changed. Grooming has advanced, there's the magic carpet. There's lift service to the bunny hill now. There is not one reason to teach the wedge. To teach the wedge now is akin to taking skiers back to leather boots and wooden skis. I can't even put it into words, how bad it is. You all can go and on about the wedge, or any version thereof needs to be. Whooey. There's a group of us now that never learned it. We're doing quite well, thank you.
In everything else in life, we change. We don't drive the same car from 40 years ago, we don't use a typewriter anymore, we don't wear the same clothes from 10 years ago. I could go on and on, you get my point. But in ski instruction, what was taught in 1950 is still taught today.
I'm not here to bring more skiers to the hill. Matter of fact, I'd like to see less of them. But what I would, is to feel safe on blue runs -- to not have to worry about what's behind me. The reason why skiers get run into is because most skiers lack fundamental understanding of their equipment and their technique. You tell me whose to blame.