Student patch lessons
Pine Knob
There is a new student lesson program at Pine Knob that runs six weeks starting the first week of January and ends the second week of February. Make up weeks will be added if necessary. Instructors will teach the same group all six weeks and take them as far as possible here are details
Classes
1- No patch- Athletic stance, pre-lift exercises, gliding wedges, stopping, turns
2- Yellow- Athletic stance, big and small turns, turn feet or push on big toes, turn to a stop
3- Brown- Athletic stance, big 3 (small wedge, speed, slight turns), matching second half, hand to outside knee, or bounce on outside ski exercises
4- Blue- Athletic stance, big 3, earlier weight transfer, matching in the first half, ankle flex & tip uphill christies exercises, introduce pole touch
5- Red- Athletic stance, big 3, down and up, inside lead and flex & tip christies, parallel turns with pole touch
6- Orange- Athletic stance, park safety, etiquette, pop, ollie, switch, straight jump, grab, slide box
7- White- Athletic stance, bigger smoother parallel turns, flex and tip uphill christie
8- Black- Athletic stance, small turns in moguls and on wall
Students
Many of these students ski only a few times a season. The snow can be different and they may be using different gear each time. They may miss a week or two between lessons, and may not have any practice time after the lesson. Or even worse, their parents and friends take them too high after a lesson so they so they lean back, ski too fast, make a wide wedge, and struggle to turn and stop.
Parents, friends, and even the students are often in a rush to go high and fast too soon, and they do not realize they are creating problems that are very hard to fix.
Much of the brown, blue, and red lessons is getting them into an athletic stance and using the big 3 so they are out of the wide wedge on the back of their skis. They ski from the ground up rather than turning their shoulders. Then adding early weight transfer, and down and up motion to create matching for parallel turns.
Athletic stance
The athletic stance is critical to constantly evaluate and work on. Every time before students start to ski tell them to start in an athletic stance. The way they do this is to put their hands in front like they are holding a lunch tray and bounce on their toes with their chest over their toes, then stop before the top. With enough reinforcement they may start to get the feel of standing over the balls of their feet. Bounce with the chest over toes in straight runs and gliding wedges. Ankles first then knees.
When they stand on a slope they will naturally lean back on their very first run and then again on steeper hills, so constant feedback is necessary. They will go to high too soon after the lesson which will move them back. Students often over flex knees, and lean back at the waist and ankles. Or they bend too far forward at the waist. Use verbal cues: stand up, on toes, chest over toes, hands up, forward, shins to boots, less knee more ankle.
Big 3 (a fast gliding wedge with slight turns)
1- Ski with speed on a gentle slope
2- Use an athletic stance with a gliding wedge
3- Straight downhill and make just slight turns. Turn from the ground up rather than turning the shoulders, point toes or push on one big toe then the other.
When and how
Student lessons are taught at 5 and 6:00 pm (6:30 at pine Knob) weekday evenings. Students earn a patch to control what runs they can use, they must be at least seven years old. Team teaching is used at Pine Knob until beginners can use the rope tow.
Smile, speak loud, be friendly and confident when you introduce yourself, this is fun! Some of your students may be afraid. Collect lesson tickets at Mt. Holly and know how many are in your group. Safety first, especially with chairlifts, provide instruction on how to ride the chair. Keep moving, give a lot of feedback. Finish on time, students may have to leave.
Act professional with discipline problems. Imagine the parent is always there, anything you say will get back to them. This program is for kids who ski only a few times each season, it is mostly about skiing in control so they can slow down and stop. Don't be too critical when grading.
These are lessons, and it may take many lessons over the course of several seasons to earn certain patches. Even if students were able to perform properly for the last patch, they will go back to making natural moves many times before they can execute ski moves with a degree of consistency.
Go back as far as necessary to review. They can start at any level they think they can handle if they are experienced, but take weak or stronger students to a different group. The format is: ski warm up runs for the students in lessons beyond the yellow class and then: review, teach new content, and grade. Some will be afraid and others will be over confident. Pay close attention to your students and progress at a pace that is safe but not boring.
In case of an accident; shelter the injured student, send and call for help from ski patrol, don't move the student, look for any witnesses, talk about the details only with ski patrol and the ski school director.
Class details
1- Green Patch
Stopping and turns
1- Before using the carpet: smile, imagine they are your friends, speak loud. Check clothing and ask if boots hurt. Walk, step in place, run in place, lift knees high to march, slide feet back and forth, step in circle, flex ankles, make different size wedges, practice athletic stance (chest over toes and bounce, stop before the top, hands forward).
2- Stopping and turning- Load the carpet with proper spacing and keep students looping as soon as they exit on top. There is not a lot of time before the next student so get them going quickly and be aware of where the next student is. Stand perpendicular to them in an athletic stance as you verbally coach them: hands up, look ahead, chest over toes and stand up on toes. Shape their behavior with positive reinforcement as soon as they get it: "good that is it!" Point toes together and push heels apart.
If it is fast and icy make sure they start in a wedge at the start. You can hold the tips of their skis and position them in a wedge if necessary, or support their hips and use your feet to make a wedge for them if you are in your boots. Students may need a push behind their hips if it is slow.
Make at least 6 runs of wedges: gliding wedge, bouncing in a small wedge, moving down to touch their knees then up, make several wedges in a row (called wedge change ups), straight run to wedge stop half way down, then wedge stop at the bottom, stay in an athletic stance not leaning back.
If team teaching on busy days, the person on bottom can gather the group to keep them together, but the kids usually want to keep moving. Correct problems by keeping knees apart and put equal weight on both skis. Check for ice on the bottom of skis if they can't slide.
Use the rope if they are ready. Keep good spacing so there is time to help anyone who needs it. At Pine Knob team teach the rope with a person loading and one unloading. Gradually work higher as they get comfortable with the athletic stance, speed, and stopping.
Introduce turning by skiing in an athletic stance in a small wedge, go straight downhill to build speed for three seconds; very slightly point their toes one way, then go straight for three seconds, and turn the other way. The pattern is straight, turn, straight. If necessary and there is time, have them push on one big toe then the other rather than pointing the toes, this is another way to get them to flex their ankle.
3- Grading- tell each student what they should work on after their grading, they must be able to:
1- Use the rope tow
2- Make a wedge stop
3- Link a least five turns and make a wedge stop at the end.
At Pine Knob they will ski a brush course and make a wedge stop. Most students will not be able to pass green their first time. Grading overview for patches through red video
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them that they must ski in control so they can stop and turn around skiers below them.
2- A review of athletic stance, wedge stops and turns
3- Let them know where they can ski and they should be able to link turns to a stop before working their way up the hill.
Be sure they know how to take off the skis to get up. How to put them across the hill and reset the heel of the binding to put on
Tell them where to get their patch. The ones who did not get their green can still take yellow next time if they practice and can link turns to a stop before taking the yellow. If they are excited, congratulations you may have just created a lifelong skier!
2- Yellow patch
Turns; 2 ways, 2 sizes, link turns to a stop
1- Review- Ask if everyone have used the rope, if they can link turns, and make a wedge stop. If not then they should go to the green class. Statically review athletic stance, ankle flex, and the wedge. Next review making wedge stops, and linking wedge turns. Some may need to be moved up or down to a different class.
2- Turns- Ski straight downhill in an athletic stance using a narrow gliding wedge for three seconds to build speed, slightly turn both feet one way, next point the feet downhill to go straight for 3 seconds, then make a slight turn in the other direction. Be sure they do not try to turn as soon as they start moving, they need speed.
If they can not turn their feet, have them push on one big toe then the other. Some may need a combination, turn and push on their toe, or push on the toe first then then turn.
Give them a specific number of turns to make, such as 2, 4, or 6. Then change the size of the turns, so make just bigger 3 turns in a given space if they are making 6. Make 3 small turns followed by 3 large turns. Then reverse, 3 large then 3 small.
You have to be watching your kids close and giving them specific feedback such as: get forward, hands up, stand up, chest over your toes, bounce on your toes, smaller wedge, use more speed before turning, don't turn so far, turn both your feet not your shoulders, great that is it! Keep them moving with specific feedback while they perform.
When the kids are trying to push on a big toe it is just a way to get them to flex their ankle. You can also have them try to flex their ankles like they are kneeling. Face the same direction as the student and have them practice flexing their downhill ankle. Check to be sure the ankle is flexing forward; make sure they are not moving their knee inside and edging the ski, moving their hip out, or flexing their knee rather than ankle. Physically assist them if they can not do it.
Starting in a gliding wedge straight down the hill for 3 seconds, flex the ankle you practiced statically to make a slight turn, return to wedge to go straight for three seconds, then flex the other ankle to make a slight turn.
Exercises: flex ankles quickly for small turns, bounce three times on one toe then 3 times pn the other while turning, touch hand to the knee as ankle is flexed,
Students can use either method to turn, or do a combination of both. Turn the feet then flex the ankle, or flex the ankle then turn the feet. Explain that they control their speed by how far they turn, and have them link turns and turn to a stop at the end.
3- Grading- use the chair only if all are ready, otherwise grade from the rope. Students should be able to stand with their skis across the hill and and be able to side step. Make a set of 5 turns and stop by turning across the hill. If they can not stop in either direction then they need to practice more. Tell each student what to work on after their grading run.
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- A review of athletic stance, wedge stops and turns
3- Tell them where they should ski and to gradually go higher as they can make better turns.
Tell the ones who pass where to get a patch and where they can ski (not beyond the beginner chairs)
At Pine Knob students will ski in the brush course to practice turning and touching their hand to their outside knee when they turn. They must turn with their feet not their shoulders around all the brushes and turn to a stop at the end.
3- Brown
Matching in 2nd half
1- Review- Ask who has not been on a chair and who has not skied this season. Start on the rope and see if they are ready for the chair, if so give anyone who has not used a chair instruction. If anyone is too weak send them to yellow. If there has been a long time since their last lesson this can mostly be a yellow lesson. Statically practice athletic stance. Review linking turns and turning to a stop.
2- Matching- 1- On a gentle slope, 2- in an athletic stance using a small wedge, 3- ski straight downhill with speed and make slight turns (the big 3). Skis may start to spontaneously match.
Exercises: touch hand to the outside knee as they push on their big toe. Bounce on the outside ski.
If hips are behind the heels in a wide wedge, matching will be hard. Be sure they are in an athletic stance, look for hips over feet and chest over toes, have them stand up if on their heels with their knees bent like they are sitting on a chair.
If necessary statically practice active matching. Stand with skis across the hill in a small wedge and transfer weight to the downhill ski, then turn the uphill ski to match. Exercises: touch hand to knee as they transfer the weight, steer the uphill ski to match, push down on the small toe of the uphill ski. Do an uphill christie in each direction, and then link turns.
3- Grading- make five turns with matching in the second part of the turn and turn to a stop at the end. Tell each student what to work on after their grading run.
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance, smaller wedge, and matching the skis
3- Tell them where to ski
Where they can ski- up to Woodward at Holly or PK chairs 1,2,5,6 Quicksilver and Cedar Bowl.
At Pine Knob- go to chair two at Pine Knob only if they are ready. Make sure they know how to get back to the lodge if you make it to Quicksilver. Use the brush course on chair one to work on matching at the brush, touching the hand to the outside knee, bouncing on the outside ski. They must ski around all the brushes and turn to a stop at the end.
4- Blue
Matching in 1st half of turn
1- Review- At Pine Knob ask if they ski on Quicksilver, if not be sure they can make turns on chair one. Athletic stance and ankle flex. Lead a run and see if they can follow to warm up and evaluate.
Many may be on the back of their skis in a wide wedge.
2- Early matching- Use the Big 3: On a gentle part of the slope, in a athletic stance in a small wedge, ski straight downhill with speed and make slight turns. Then focus on transferring weight sooner at the start of each new turn, next add smooth down motion to finish and up to start, turn both feet to encourage matching.
Work on the finish of the turn with uphill christies exercises: with poles horizontal to move the inside half forward, progressively flex ankles, progressively push harder on the outside knee.
If necessary, statically practice active matching, with skis across the hill in a small wedge, both poles below body for support. Then step on the uphill ski and match as they project their body downhill onto their poles. Start in a steep traverse (mostly downhill) and do the top part of the turn first. Statically practice pole swing and touch before the end of the lesson.
3- Grading- Link five turns with matching in the first part of the turn and turn to a stop at the end.
Tell each student what to work on after their grading run.
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance, early weight transfer and matching, flex ankles and tip to finish
3- Where to ski- they ski same slopes as brown at PK, and all but lightning and Thunderbolt and parks at Holly
At Pine Knob- take them back to the lodge if you ski Quicksilver, use the brush course on Cedar Bowl to work on matching before the gate, it is steeper watch for leaning back and rotation, exercises: step on the new outside ski early, step and turning both feet, step and touch hand to knee, step and touch rib to hip, step and flex ankles
5- Red
Parallel with pole touch
1- Review- athletic stance and ankle flex. Make a warm up run to evaluate.
2- Parallel turns- work on the second part of the turn first with uphill christies, focusing on inside lead, and progressively flexing the ankles and tipping (angulation). Use exercise from the exercise page, including holding poles horizontal to advance the inside half, progressively flexing the ankles and tipping by sliding the hand from the hip to the knee.
Link turns on a gentle slope starting in a steep traverse and make the second part of the turn first, after a slight turn step quickly on the other ski to start the next turn. Repeat those moves. Add a slight down move in the second part of the turn and up to start. Introduce poles with static practice; up, swing, and touch.
If necessary practice weight transfer statically with skis across the hill and parallel and both poles planted downhill. Then step on the uphill ski and project the body downhill onto their poles. From a steep traverse (mostly downhill) and make this move to do the top part of the turn first.
3- Grading- Watch out for high school ski racers it can be very dangerous if they are warming up on white lightning or phase one. Make five parallel turns with a pole touch and turn to a stop. Tell each student what to work on after their grading run. Problems will be leaning back, rotating, and banking with some wedge, or not using the poles properly.
End the lesson by:
1- Tell them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance, early weight transfer, inside lead, ankle flex and tipping
3- Where to ski- all but Thunderbolt at Holly and the wall at PK, excluding the parks
At Pine Knob- take them back to the lodge, use the brush course on Cedar Bowl to work on early weight transfer, inside lead, and progressive ankle flex and tipping. It is steeper watch for leaning back rotation and banking. Exercises: any of the inside lead and flex and tip exercises on the exercise page including: with poles horizontal move the inside half forward, progressively flex ankles, progressively push hip inside with outside hand. They must make parallel turns through the course with proper pole use and turn to a stop.
6- Orange
Beginner park can be taken any time after red
1- Static exercises: athletic stance, jumps (pop), tail down (ollie), tips down (nollie), jump and turn feet perpendicular to land, jump and turn 180 to switch.
2- Do the static exercises in motion while skiing straight on a gentle slope
3- Straight jump, add a grab
4- Straight box, slide box
Teach park safety and etiquette They can ski all slopes at Holly and all but the wall at Pine Knob
At Pine Knob, the orange patch can be given in any class if they want to do it. There will be just an orange patch class taught the first couple weeks of January as a single class.
7- White
Bigger parallel
1- Review- athletic stance and ankle flex. Do a warm up run to evaluate. Watch out for high school racers.
2- Bigger parallel turns- Make some larger parallel turns by slowing down the moves and working on good timing with the pole touch. Change the speed by changing how completed the turns are made. Make 3 slow turns then 3 fast turns. Do a uphill christies to work on inside lead, and progressive ankle flexing and tipping. Use exercises from the exercises page.
3- Grading- Make five larger smoother parallel turns and turn to a stop. Tell each student what to work on after their grading run. These are not the fast carved turns of racers, most of these students have relatively little ski experience and will be making turns with some skidding.
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance, early weight transfer, inside lead, ankle flex and tipping
3- Where to ski- everything at Holly and all but the wall at PK, excluding the parks without orange
8- Black
Smaller turns, moguls/wall
1- Review- Athletic stance, and ankle flex. Do a warm up run to evaluate, watch out for high school racers.
2- Small turns- Side slips facing both ways with slow and then quick edge sets, next add the pole touch. Do pivot slip, crab walk, hop turns, static hoping with soft verse hard landings, straight run in a wedge and then quickly push on the ball of one foot then the other; the skis will match.
Moguls: start near the bottom of the moguls and ski straight over the moguls to practice absorbing with the legs verse the waist. Low in mogul field work on line, edging on the downhill side of the bump. Wall: uphill christie to a stop, then link turns.
3- Grading- Make linked small turns with pole touch, ski one line in the moguls, at Pine Knob ski a smooth part of the wall with good snow.
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance, quick moves, absorbing with the legs
3- Where to ski- everything excluding the parks without orange
Review
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