Ski Videos
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1- The most important Ski Move 4:05 the last minute shows how we do this in the first lesson
5- First turns 9:15
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Smoothly moving over the turn is the most important move in skiing.
To do it we progressively flex the ankles and tip to the outside of the turn
The main exercise for this in higher level skiing is the uphill christie
Moving over the turn drills start at number 11, 9 and 10 put the hip in the right position
​13-Push on knee- 27
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Jeff’s goal is to have the best school which means creating great guest experiences. Excellent instruction will help customers feel like they can become skiers.
To achieve this goal we are using an innovative approach called “Ski Moves” this is our product that gives us a competitive advantage over other ski schools.Jeff wants to be sure we can teach this approach; here is his video- Jeff Preaching
The idea is teaching gliding wedges and then teaching turns from the gliding wedge rather than from a traverse. Look for turning from their feet up by pointing the big toes rather than turning from their shoulders down.
For those who have had PSIA training be aware that this is different than what they teach, they teach turning from a traverse- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHQ9xTVnR6o&t=37s
This video shows what it looks like when customers try to turn from a traverse- https://link.getonform.com/view?id=JEMS4b3MiVPGfuL5PUtq
Compare the video above to turning from a gliding wedge https://link.getonform.com/view?id=UKcPIDdoo1nU8J3PNxL6
We have created a partner program where you will choose another instructor to work with and evaluate each other when teaching lessons. It involves completing an online form and will help you work together to improve the quality of our teaching. For more information visit https://www.instructors.site/training-and-testing.
Here is a review of some of what we discussed.
1- Customers have a wide range of abilities, some will take hours to do what others can do right away. Go at the pace that is best for the customer, do less flat work for fast learners because we only have an hour. The minimum is walking , stepping in a circle, and making wedges. Do not sidestep up between the beginner carpets on busy days for a straight run.
2-Teach the athletic stance by putting hands forward like holding a tray and bounce on your toes with your chest above and stop. If they need more help, bounce faster or hop up and land. You can also step from foot to foot going from slow to fast. For kids it is the same position they use for other sports. Correct individual body parts if necessary, ankles, knees, or hips. Video - https://link.getonform.com/view?id=ED48rDWgqGrW8I9ONaQF
3- Flex forward with just the ankles, the boots may need to be loosened. We practiced this with a chair in front of us. https://link.getonform.com/view?id=EsBEbGhLNBWnz61MNXaD
4- Make several runs of gliding wedges so they are having fun because this is their first time sliding on skis. When they get on a slope they will lean back so you have to pay attention and provide verbal feedback like hands up, stand taller, weight on your toes, chest over your toes. This is very hard for them to do; you need help them feel the weight on their toes and the chest above. Have them find an athletic stance by bouncing. Do a run slowly bouncing, then a run bouncing faster and be sure their ankles are flexing. https://link.getonform.com/view?id=Tdeg8NRW9obGQPOsP3Fo
Then try flexing forward at the ankles and return. Make some wedge change ups and stops half way and at the bottom. Go to the rope and do a gliding wedge before trying to make turns. When you change their focus to turning they may move back because it is hard to focus on more than one thing at a time, you have to keep checking.
5- To make turns, ski in a gliding wedge for 3 seconds, slightly point both big toes to the left, then point them downhill for three second, then slightly to the right. The problems to look for are turning right away, turning too far, and turning quickly all the way in the other direction. Starting in a traverse will create more turning with the shoulders. We tried standing on paper bags and turning our feet while the hips stayed forward. Then we compared how much harder it is if you are back at the ankles, knees, or hips. https://link.getonform.com/view?id=xYrqYSIKikVux2XMUVtu
6- Another way to turn is starting in a gliding wedge for 3 seconds, slightly push on the right big toe, then go straight for three seconds, then push on the left big toe. When you statically practice look for the knee moving inside rather than forward, the knee bending rather than the ankle, and the hip moving to the side which flattens the ski. This would be the end of most beginner lessons. Leave enough time to tell the parents or students what to do and where to do it, most are not ready for being high on the rope or on the chair. Parents should be looking to make sure their child is not leaning back and turning their shoulders.
7- If there is more time, try to combine pushing on a big toe and pointing it. Then reverse the order, point it and then push on it. If you are still having problems try stemming a ski, pushing on a little toe, or shoulder rotation if nothing else is working.
8- Make 3 small turns then 3 big turns. Bounce 3 times on each big toe while turning. Turn far enough to turn to a stop. If the wedge is small and the student is in an athletic stance the skis will become parallel as their speed increases. A main exercise for helping the skis move parallel is going faster in a narrow wedge and quickly pushing from one big toe to the other. This works all the way up to high level skiing for quick small turns.
https://link.getonform.com/view?id=4rMjhDrCJWNNhizRdLd2
9- The uphill christie is the main exercise for higher level lessons. We practiced uphill christie exercise indoors using the wall for the inside of the turn. You worked in pairs one person teaching the other. Starting with an athletic stance, move the side of the body next to the wall forward, smoothly move the hip toward the wall. Then flex just the ankles and finally combine flexing the ankles and moving the hip toward the wall.
https://link.getonform.com/view?id=jFpjR4shovMGXiUdEyL1
10- When the timing is good the body falls away from the wall, this is over the turn. If there is too much knee bend the body falls toward the wall. If the shoulders turn you fall toward the wall. Turning the shoulders and hips toward the wall also restricts the hip from moving toward the wall. Practice these at home in both directions in front of a mirror if possible. Stepping two feet from the wall will allow you to incline first then angulate. https://link.getonform.com/view?id=BEBa9RU4swiCoeQGY3sF
Watch exercises 9-17 they are less than a minute- https://www.instructors.site/ski-video-page the first 8 videos are a bit longer. The goal is to get people standing on their skis better and turning from the bottom up not turning their shoulders.
Skiing is very simple, and we need these clear, simple, and consistent goals because they are very hard to do. Especially standing in an athletic stance on a slope so they can turn from the feet up.
Below are two pictures that are almost 90 years apart showing the timeless progressive ankle flex and angulation to move over the turn. Notice inside half of the body is forward to allow the upper body to move over the turn and down the hill.
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