My intensive ski weeks in Aspen were always a smash success for two reasons: the enthusiasm and commitment of the students; and the dedication and skill of the ski pros I have been lucky enough to work with over the years.

I think so highly of this elite group of ski teachers that I'd like to introduce them to you — and recommend them heartily. They are all available to schedule intensive ski weeks for you and your friends. (For my money, there is no better learning experience than five consecutive days with the same skilled and focused pro. The continuity of five days coaching in a row builds deep skiing habits that really stick.)

These pros are simply, the finest ski instructors I have ever worked with.... great friends, great skiers, great teachers.

You can, of course, contact these ski pros through the Ski School reservations desk at the Aspen Skiing Company,
(1 800 525 6200) but I have also included their phone numbers and email addresses so that you can discuss your schedule and your skiing goals directly with any of these amazing pros.

Lavelle Saier
a woman of infinite patience and optimism, and in instructor of great skill and, perhaps, even greater dedication. Lavelle was a member of the prestigious United States Demonstration Team at the Aspen Interski Congress. But ski teaching honors don't make a great teacher, years of deeply motivated, intensely focused teaching do. And Lavelle has spent much of her life in search of better, more effective ways of teaching the sport she loves. And it's paid off. Lavelle is simply the most inspiring and successful ski teacher I know. And I know a lot of great ones. You can email her at ocean-eyes@email.msn.com, or phone her in winter at 970 923 4790.

Lisa Heininger
is one of the most joyous people you will ever meet on skis. Her good humor is infectious and lends a light-hearted flavor to her ski teaching that only adds to its effectiveness. She is patient and persistent, and seems totally impossible to discourage, She is a born teacher and runs her own wind surfing and sailing school on a Minnesota lake in the off season. You can contact Lisa at ajaxexplorer@aol.com by email, or at 970 927 1202 in the winter, at 231 599 2801 in the summer..

& Dave Heininger
Lisa's husband is another invaluable member of my teaching team. Relaxed, creative, totally at home on the mountain. Lisa and Dave built their own home, downvalley from Aspen in the town of Basalt. They share ideas, teaching tricks and techniques, a fierce love of skiing and a passion for teaching. Like Lisa, Dave can be contacted by email at ajaxexplorer@aol.com, or by phone at 970 927 1202 in the winter, at 231 599 2801 in the summer. [I'm still looking for a good photo of Dave - stay tuned.]

"Luby" Lubrant
is simply exuberant (rhymes with "Lubrant"). Like his longtime neighbor and friend, Mike Romanus, Luby is a practical joker in the best sense of the word. His classes seldom stop laughing. But he is a practical ski teacher as well. His enthusiasm is contagious, his focus and concern for his students unflagging. In eight years of working together, I have never seen Luby frown. He is based on Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen's very best teaching/learning terrain. Luby is a house builder in the off season but puts down his hammer with glee when the snow flies. You can reach Luby at 970 963 3795 or by emailing him at lubrant@sopris.net.

Bob Morse
is one of the smoothest, most graceful skiers I know. He looks like he was born on skis but, in fact, he merely grew up skiing. Bob is also a world traveler or should I say, world skier, skiing with students and clients in the Alps as well as Aspen. He speaks perfect French and German, teaches advanced first aid, and in summer, works as a whitewater river guide. Bob has been part of my Breakthrough program since the beginning. With a little patience you can phone Bob at 970 876 5583 which is the number of his house in Silt Colorado, or try his Aspen number, 970 920 4538, or email him at bobmorse@mymailstation.com.

Rick Stevens
has a subtle, gentle touch on the snow, and an equally subtle way of communicating with his students. Rick is a master of pacing, timing his introduction of new skills, and new feelings, so that his students are never stressed, and never surprised - except by how much they have learned over the course of a week that always goes by too fast. Rick is the mayor of the town of Basalt, downvalley from Aspen, and in addition to his regular ski teaching, Rick also spends a lot of time coaching kids and training children's instructors. Contact Rick at 970 927 4819 or on his cell phone at 970 379 2752.

Mike Freund
is low-key, charming and sophisticated, both as a person and as a ski teacher. Never pushy or aggressive, always genuinely warm and interested, Mike achieves wonders with his students. His perseverance is legendary. I don't think Mike has ever given up on a student, no matter how awkward or timid or unathletic. He really shares my own conviction that there is an expert skier inside everyone on the slopes, just waiting to emerge. And he proves it, all season long. Contact Mike at 970 925 1636 or email him at RoyleMike1@aol.com.

Other pros on my team - whose photos I am currently trying to get my hands on - include:

Vance Lemly
a coach and consumate ski pro, is in such demand as an instructor that I feel lucky that he has a few early season weeks free to teach in my Breakthrough ski-week program. Vance was honored as one of America's top 100 ski instructors in a Skiing Magazine poll and article, but personally I would rank him higher than that. Vance coaches young racers at Mt Hood in summer, and has made Aspen Mountain his winter headquarters for years. He is a wonderfully graceful skier, a soft-spoken, charismatic ski instructor, and a stimulating companion on and off the mountain. A thoroughly adventurous character, Vance loves to rock climb when he isn't skiing. You can email him at vlemly@sopris.net.

John Wiltgen
joined my team of pros for the first time this past season, but we had already worked together for quite a few years while John was running the innovative Performance Center, a boot alignment service on the mountain at Snowmass. John is an accomplished, almost avant-garde skier, who regularly trains other instructors. He is an accomplished, knowledgeable and charismatic instructor himself. And tough as nails too - famous for almost never wearing a hat, except on the very very coldest days. John runs a summer adventure program in the off-season (which in his case is clearly a misnomer). You can phone John at 970 544-6667 or email him at jwiltgen@aspensnowmass.com.

Rusty Jones
is one of those skiers who, catlike, always seems to be in perfect balance. Ingemar Stenmark was his principal skiing hero and it shows. I always stop and admire Rusty's smoothness and efficiency when I see him ski by on the hill. But Rusty is also a relaxed and amazingly skillful and successful instructor. The ski pro's life suits him to a tee. He teaches with humor and patience, and seems to be equally successful with students of every level. You can call Rusty at home at 970 704 1918 or reach him via email at rusty-jones@comcast.net.

Bart Lipori
has the warmest, widest smile of any ski pro I know. He doesn't just teach skiing for a living. Bart is really in love with ski teaching. It's a true vocation. He is one of the more experienced pros on Aspen mountain, and I'm delighted to have him on my team. Bart is a real mountain enthusiast summer as well as winter, and knows the high country in the West Elk mountains surrounding Aspen better than almost anyone I know. You can reach Bart by phone at 970 963 4467 or reach him electronically at skilip@rof.net.

I'm sure that my enthusiasm for these remarkable ski pros speaks for itself. But let me say it once again - these are the most talented, skillful and committed ski teachers that I have ever had the good fortune to work with. If you are looking for a lesson that is way beyond, way above the norm, you can't go wrong spending a day, or two, or hopefully more, with any of these amazing instructors. Even though every instructor in the Aspen/Snowmass area has, so to speak, a home mountain, all Aspen-Snowmass pros teach at all four of Aspen's great ski mountains.