@LiquidFeet - I found your post in a now closed thread and wanted to pick at it some...this seemed like the best place to do it.
Below is the Bumps-for-Boomers process for getting down bump runs, which I gleaned from extensive reading this last summer (I have not attended a camp):
--Separation is not required at Bumps-for-Boomers camps. I assume that's because the program doesn't have time to embed this movement pattern.
--For that reason skiers ski mostly square, choose one turn at a time, and take a slow, meandering line through the bumps.
--Skiers are taught to stand tall in a narrow stance as they ski (to get them forward), with shoulders held level with the hill.
--In the bumps, skiers are taught to start a turn from a slow traverse across the hill. This traverse produces the meandering line.
--As they traverse, skis are kept flat and slipping/drifting. The goal is to slow to a comfortable, secure-feeling crawl.
--To start a turn, skiers are taught to reach forward to make a forward pole plant.
--Then they are taught to stand tall on the uphill ski's little toe edge. This uphill leg extension flattens both skis.
--They are told to allow their sternum to move downhill (upper body crosses over the skis). Ending videos show intermittent success.
--Skiers slowly pivot the flattened skis down and around through the turn. Slight wedge entries may occur when the inside ski lags behind.
--All movements are to be done in slow motion.
--Final videos show skiers' upper bodies staying square to the skis as they come around.
--Some skiers in those videos use upper body rotation to strengthen the turn, but others allow upper bodies to simply follow the turning skis.
--Bumps-for-Boomers calls this turn the "Precision Drift."
--Clients successfully ski black bumps at Aspen.
A lot of what your write here is true of the Clendenin method. There is a lot of similarity between it and Bumps for Boomers, so I'm just going to assume my experience reflects both programs... to a degree.
I did see some contrary points, specifically regarding separation (i.e. 'staying square to the skis') and applicability to more advanced skiers. During the lesson I was able to show enough skill/progression that the idea of separation was reintroduced. Initially it was taught as stance. Mainly to keep the upper body 45 degrees to the skis, facing downhill. This is sort of a baby step toward separation. Pole plants were also examined, as they contribute to keeping the upper body down the hill. There was even some work on low angle zipper line tactic with the drifted turns. These are not possible without separation. This was a bit of a fail for me, since I wasn't quite ready - but I did accomplish more than I had before. I definitely need more practice to develop the quick feet.
So, they do teach separation when the student is ready - in the bumps.
The primary aim is just to get people skiing bumps comfortably - people who are intermediates on groomers. That is the biggest market anyway. At first, it looks like what I would call 'old man bump skiing.' It's not dynamic, the skis are square, but that's not to say it isn't technically difficult for an intermediate. #1 issue I see with others and myself when it comes to getting better is a failure to relax. So just getting someone in that terrain in a relaxed state of mind is an enormous step forward. That is really step 1 to doing anything dynamic in bumps.
Drift in the bumps enough and your balance naturally gets better. You can't keep sliding in a controlled way if your fore/aft balance and ability to absorb 3D features is out of whack. Your awareness of feet, edges, balance should all improve. So if you do keep at it, you will become ready for the next level. They can teach this also, it's just not as heavily marketed since I think they rarely get first time students ready for it.
One other note specific to the Clendenin method - they have a skills assessment within the method.
CM Certification. Lowest level is really just learning the terminology. Successive levels involve adopting more of the terms and being able to teach it yourself, as well as demoing skills in bumps and some 'stupid human tricks.' They use some funny words for skill demos - I asked what "Park the Car" referred to in the Black certification. It is something like a carved turn to go up hill, followed by drifting in reverse into a 180 to face downhill. Sort of a stop/go 360 that demos you have fine balance skills.
Most of what is marketed is just the entry tier student skills that are gained. I assume Bumps for Boomers has some other more advanced concepts they introduce to clients that are ready for it. So I wouldn't necessarily write off either program as being useless for more advanced skiers who already are comfortable in easier bumps and want to improve.
