Aspen/Snowmass is home to some really good specialized ski programs and one of the most popular is former two-time World Freestyle Champion John Clendenin's Bump School. The popularity of this program is of course due to the fact that the program works and it works because the skills and confidence you gain are based on the Clendenin Ski Method (CSM).

John Clendenin has put a lot of research into the physcis of skiing and into the reasons great skier look so effortlessly in command. What he gleaned from all this research he puts in his book,  Clendenin Ski Method™ - Four Words© For Great Skiing. The book explains in detail the Clendenin Ski Method and breaks it down into key segments so we can understand it.

New this year and due out around when the snow starts falling is an accompanying DVD. Together, the book and the DVD will move an attentive intermediate skier onto resort terrain he, or she would only stop to look down.

Of course, there is nothing better then if you get the opportunity to get to Aspen and sign on for an on the snow CSM clinic. However, if you can't do it in person trust that the Clendenin Ski Method™ - Four Words© For Great Skiing, using trademark terms, defines the art of great skiing and with the DVD you can really get your arms around it.

The principles of the Clendenin Ski Method are mainly applied, in the book, to getting intermediate skiers confidently skiing bumps. Actually, once you ingrain these techniques you will apply them all over the mountain but you will definitely feel much more confident in in the bumps.

Read my review of the Clendenin Ski Method™ - Four Words© For Great Skiing and the new accompanying DVD and you will see why - personally, I think if your feet could see this is the way they would ski moguls.

Cover Photo Clendenin Ski Method™ - Four Words© For Great Skiing Copyright John Clendenin

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway was both the 2009 World cup event champion for the men's Super G competition and the WC overall champion.  However, there were some highlights during the season that may point to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games Super G race being a very spirited contest.

In a sport where races are routinely won by hundredths of a second - would you believe that at the 2009 World Championship Super G in Val d'Isere, France the gold medal winner was almost a full second faster than the second place finisher? Guess what, the winner wasn't Aksel Lund Svindal, either.

Looking ahead to the 2010 World Cup Men's Super G schedule I think we will see some great pre-Olympic racing during the early season - with 4 Super G races (and a part of a Super Combined)  scheduled before the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

Check out my review of the 2009 World Cup Men's Super G season.

More: 2010 Winter Olympics

_{Photo: Aksel Lund Svindal Copyright Getty Images}

The battle for the first ski area to open, the traditional rite of passage between Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin for starting ski season honors, is over almost before it began.

Loveland Ski Area will be the first ski area in North America to open for the 2009-2010 ski season on Wednesday, October 7. This will mark the earliest opening for Loveland.

Loveland, which started the snow guns blazing on September 21, will reclaim the distinction of being the first ski area to open for the winter, after losing out to Arapahoe Basin for the past two years. A-Basin plans to open Friday, October 9. Both resorts are reported to have an 18 inch base.

_{Image Copright Loveland Ski Area}

Again this year Ray Rice, longtime Surefoot manager and bootfitting expert,  gives us a comprehensive overview of this year's ski boots.  To say there are a lot of choices is a definite understatement. For example, Tecnica is offering six series of boots with over 30 models and many colors while Nordica also puts up 6 series with over 40 models.

As you might expect, Lange, Fischer, Rossignol, Tecnica, Salomon, Dalbello, Head, and Full Tilt all have new and returning models for this season and Ray reviews them all.

Check out what all the major brands have to offer and you can spend many happy hours at your local shop this season.  Here are Ray's 2009-10 ski boot reviews.

More: Ski Boot Guide | 2010 Ski Boots | 2010 Ski Reviews

_{ISPO ski boots Copyright Getty Images Johannes Simon}