Good Ways to Get Better

Tracy Costigan, 36, a research scientist in the District and an avid skier, has attended both a five-day clinic at California's Mammoth Mountain and a three-day Mahre clinic at Deer Valley. "For Mammoth, I opted for a ski/race combo group," Costigan says, vs. the focus on improving recreational skiing at Deer Valley. "I was in a group of eight people [at Mammoth]. Overall, it was a more challenging group of skiers compared to my Mahre group."

Though she feels she learned more at Mammoth, Costigan nonetheless raves about the emphasis on basic techniques she got at the Mahre clinic, not to mention the smaller size of her group (four). And, as she puts it, "We really did get to ski with Phil and Steve Mahre!"

Not really for beginners, clinics are more for "skiers who are determined to get better," says Everett Potter, a contributing editor at Ski magazine and a veteran of numerous clinics. "The best are very focused and use handpicked coaches schooled in the clinic's methodology."

Looking for a clinic for women only? For skiers 65 and older? Want to master knee-deep powder on steep slopes? Got it all, and more. "We are definitely seeing more clinics designed for a specific demographic," says Troy Hawks, editor of the NSAA Journal, published by the National Ski Areas Association.

Since most major resorts offer clinics, the easiest way to choose might be to check what's on tap on any of your favorite mountains. Or consider some of the following clinics, which rank high on Potter's list. Whatever you decide, be sure to look for instructors who are certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America, advises Debbie Armstrong, an Olympic gold medalist in the giant slalom at Sarajevo in 1984 and now an instructor. "Then look for expertise in the area you have an interest in or want to learn."

· Aspen Method Camp, run by John Clendenin, a two-time World Freestyle Skiing champion, in Aspen, Colo. Focus is getting skiers off groomed slopes and onto more challenging terrain. Two-day camp, $595. Details: 970-925-8900, Ext. 257, http://www.skidoctors.com/.

· X-Team Advanced Ski Clinics, run by a slew of some of the top pro skiers in the country, including Dan and John Egan, Rob and Eric DesLauriers and Dean Decas. The X-Team offers a variety of clinics at resorts in the United States and abroad. Three- or five-day clinics range from about $900 to $3,250, depending on the resort. Details: 800-983-2670, http://www.skiclinics.com/.

· Powder Tracks, hosted by the Alta Lodge at Utah's Alta resort, is for intermediate to advanced skiers who want to learn to ski the deep stuff using the latest high-performance fat skis. Five-day clinic includes lodging, breakfasts, dinners, lift tickets and equipment rental and costs $2,357 double. Details: 800-707-2582, http://www.altalodge.com/.

· Pepi's Wedel Weeks, run by Pepi Gramshammer, a former Austrian National Ski Team member, in Vail, Colo. For the past 20 years Gramshammer has focused on helping intermediate to advanced skiers prepare for the season by brushing up on technique, technique, technique. Six-day clinic includes lodging, breakfasts, two dinners, a welcome party and lift tickets and starts at $1,775 double. Details: 800-610-7374, http://www.wedelweeks.com/.

A couple of others:

· Women's Ski Adventures, run by championship extreme skier Kim Reichhelm, available at Vail and Crested Butte, Colo., and Alta, Utah. The clinic is run by and for women only -- "a whole ski empowerment experience," as Reichhelm puts it. Four-day clinic includes lift tickets, breakfasts, lunches, two dinners and a welcome reception and costs from $1,611 to $2,000 depending on the resort. Details: http://www.skiwithkim.com/.

· Mahre Training Center, run by Olympic medalists Phil and Steve Mahre, at Deer Valley in Utah. Focus is on skiing fundamentals for all levels of skiers. Three-day camps are $620, five-day camps $945. Details: 888-754-8477, http://www.mahretrainingcenter.com/.

-- William Triplett