Alberta Master Ski Club teaches experienced skiers how to ski faster

With a passion for skiing and an urge to go faster, the Alberta Master Ski Club teaches adult skiers how to reach high speeds on the ski hill.

AMSC takes adult skiers “18 to infinity,” said Murray Mortson the president of AMSC, and helps them improve their racing skills.

Mark Nelson skiing with the AMSC at COP Nov. 30.

Photo: Derek Mange/Calgary Journal

“The faster we go the slower we age,” Mortson said.

The AMSC meets twice a week, Saturday at Nakiska and Monday at Canada Olympic Park. AMSC has been around for six years.

“We’re not a ski school,” Mortson said. “We don’t want you to show up being a snow plower and expect us to take you through the ski school.”

That’s not to say that beginners are not welcome:

“We got a girl that has only been out skiing about 10 times. She just loves it, she’s learning, her learning curve is vertical,” Mortson said. “We want you to be a parallel skier and to be passionate about the sport, and when your passion exudes like everyone else’s passion, you’re welcome here.”

A parallel skier is a skier who has developed enough skill to ski down a mountain with both skis staying parallel.

Not everyone who is in the club competes in races; AMSC has 50 members but only 20 compete.

After a windy and snowy practice on Nov. 30 at COP, the club met at the COP bar for a few drinks and a bite to eat. Coach Claudio Berto showed a video of everyone skiing that day and discussed with the members what they need to be focusing on, sometimes as a group but also one on one.

At the bar after his practice, Mark Nelson, 30, just finished his second week with the club. After only one week, Nelson notices improvements.

“Thats why I’m back, every week I’m getting pushed and improving,” said Nelson.

Jill Reid has coached kids’ ski racing for the last eight seasons and notices a difference when coaching adults. This is Reid’s first year coaching for the AMSC.

“More freedom, less babysitting,” said Reid, “They all want to be here, their parents didn’t sign them up.”

The club starts every season with getting everyone to go to dry land training and yoga to get people in shape. Then they hit the mountains for some skiing. Once the snow is deep enough they will set up gates and start practicing on courses they set up. Mortson thinks there will be enough snow in a week or two.

Full membership, which includes training at both COP and Nikiska, is $750 for adults and $540 for students. There are extra fees for competing in races. A two-time trial fee is also available for $45 for adults and $40 for students. For more information, go to www.albertamastersskiclub.ca