Student patch lessons 2024-25
Classes run from January 6 to February 10. It could be delayed a week with bad weather or extended week or two if there are weather cancellations.
The times will be the 5-6 pm Monday and Tuesdays, and at 7 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. You will have the same class the whole season. Team teaching will be used for the first-time beginners until the kids can get on and off the rope.
Students earn a patch to control what runs they can use; they must be at least seven years old. There are no lesson tickets to collect, but as always you will hand out cards for the patches the students earn.
Act professional with discipline problems. Imagine the parent is always there, anything you say will get back to them. Finish on time and bring kids back from Quicksilver if it is their first time over there.
Keep students safe along the edge of the runs. Watch for traffic before having the ski. In case of an accident; protect skier from aboves with skis and poles, send and call for help from ski patrol and call the ski school, don't move the student, look for any witnesses, talk about the details only with ski patrol and the ski school director. Stay with the class once reported to the ski school.
Evaluate
First time
Beginners- kids with green and yellow patches
Intermediate- brown, blue, red, working on orange
Advanced- white and working on black
Higher level groups with experience, ask who has not skied yet this year and do 2 or 3 warm up runs. They may have grown, be on new equipment, and the snow may be heavy so they will need warm up time.
The leaders meet after evaluations and swap kids if they need to be in a stronger or weaker group. If there is a third group, it could be a middle group or another strong or weak group. Some students ski more each week with their parents and others just learn faster, so adjustments will need to be made during program.
Patch requirements
Done in an athletic stance using the feet to turn, not turning the shoulders
1- Green patch- get on and off the rope, ski the green brush course, wedge stop at the end.
2- Yellow- big and small turns, point the big toes or push on them to turn, ski the course on top of chair one, and turn to a stop at the end.
3- Brown- same course as yellow with matching in the second half, turn to a stop with skis parallel
4- Blue- earlier weight transfer so skis are parallel in first half of the turn
5- Red- parallel turn with pole touch
6- Orange- park etiquette, and Park SMART for safety
7- White- larger skidded parallel turns
8- Black- small turns, moguls, and wall
Grading overview for patches through red- video
Overview
Students in this program may ski as few as seven times a season, but others ski several times a week. If kids are progressing fast, move them to a higher group. The parents can be in a hurry to get kids onto the first chair to ski with them, but tell the parent that kids need to turn enough to stop using their feet, and that may take several weeks.
Most of the experienced kids are leaning back in a wedge. It is hard to change because they go out and ski fast with their friends after the lesson. The goal is to get them closer to an athletic stance, turning their feet, and tipping to the outside of the turn.
To produce parallel turns go to the flatter parts of chair one or Quicksilver, focus on athletic stance, a small wedge, more speed and slight turns. A more active approach can be done using a fan exercise, statically practice pushing on the downhill knee and matching.
Early weight transfer and down and up motion will help with their matching. Push down on the outside knee, bounce on the outside big toe. Visit the exercise page for ideas- here
Class content
1- Green Patch
Goals
1- Athletic stance
2- Gliding wedges and wedge stop
3- Gliding wedge to turns using the feet
Before using the lift
Smile, speak loud. Check clothing and ask if boots hurt.
1- Warm up exercises- Walk to the beginner area on one ski or no skis if necessary. Do flat work such shuffle feet forward and back, step in a circle, step and then slide into a wedge, do one ski at a time if necessary, make big and small wedges.
2- Athletic stance- put hands in front like holding a lunch tray and pole tips pointing back, bounce with the weight on the balls of feet and chest over the toes, stop bouncing and that is the athletic stance.
Step from foot to foot
Rock forward and back to the start by flexing just the ankles
Getting into an athletic stance will be a constant challenge for them each time they: are on a slope, the hill gets steeper, they go higher, or faster, and you will need to provide verbal feedback and make corrections. This will take a lot concentration and feedback from you.
3- Straight run- side step and slide down a small slope focusing on their athletic stance, make verbal corrections: hands up, look ahead, stand on the balls of your feet, chest over toes.
Using the carpets
The bottom instructor helps students walk onto the carpet, maintain the proper spacing, provides feedback, and help students get up. Check for ice on the bottom of skis that will not slide, scrape off using the other ski.
The instructor on top has skis off ready to assist if they need help getting off the carpet, then they help the student get set up and ski. You must work quick, physically position the students if they need help.
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 the big toes at each other 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. Students may need to start with skis parallel and get a push behind their hips if it is slow.
Gliding wedges
Make at least 5 runs of gliding wedges-
1- Gliding wedge in an athletic position providing verbal feedback, hands up, look ahead, stand on toes, chest over the toes. Make sure they are not flexing back at ankles, over flexing their knees, or leaning too far forward or back at the hips.
2- Flex forward at the ankles and back to the athletic stance
3- Bouncing with the weight on the toes and the chest over the toes. Make sure their ankles are flexing. Do slow and faster bounces.
4- Wedge change ups- go from straight run to a gliding wedge several times in a row.
Correct common problems like pushing knees together rather than feet apart, crossing the tips from unequal weight on one ski or pushing one ski into a wedge harder than the other.
5- Braking wedges with a little speed then increase the speed. Be sure they stay in an athletic stance and do not lean back as the speed increases.
Rope Tow
Use the rope when they are ready. Demonstrate lining up close to the rope with the skis pointing uphill and slowly squeeze the rope, step the skis across the hill as you let go. With skis across the hill point the knees toward the top of the hill to make the edges bite and keep from sliding down the hill. Use poles to turn skis downhill and get in an athletic position.
The bottom instructor helps kids walk to the rope, get set up, and start moving. Then keep the proper big spacing. Provide feedback and help students get up if they fall.
The instructor on top has skis off and helps students exit, get set up in an an athletic stance and ski.
Gliding wedge turns using the feet
Introduce turning by skiing in a gliding wedge (athletic stance, small wedge) going straight downhill to build speed for three seconds, very slightly point the big toes one way, then point them at the bottom to go straight for three seconds, and then point them the other way. The pattern is straight, turn, straight, turn.
If there is time have them try the other way to turn by pushing down on one big toe then the other. Practice statically first, be sure they flex their ankle like kneeling down, not moving it to the inside. Start in a gliding wedge for 3 seconds, push on the right big toe to turn, go straight for three seconds, then push on the other big toe.
Grading
They must be able to:
1- Use the rope tow
2- Do a gliding wedge to a wedge stop
3- Ski the green patch brush course and make a wedge stop at the end. They must be in an athletic stance and turn with their feet, not turning their shoulders.
Ending the lesson
1- Tell them that they must ski in control so they can stop and turn around skiers below them.
2- Brief review of athletic stance, wedge stops, and turns
3- Let them know to gradually go higher, try to make at least ten turns from the second yellow pad and try to turn to a stop.
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 them on
Tell them where to get their patch.
2- Yellow
Goals
1- Try two ways to turn, pointing both big toes, and pushing on one big toe then the other.
2- Make big turns and small turns
3- Link turns to a stop
Review
1- Athletic stance (hands like holding tray, weight on toes and chest over toe)
2- Gliding wedges
3- Turns starting in a gliding wedge straight downhill with speed for three seconds, then make slight turns. If they have problems be sure they are:
- In an athletic stance
- Using a narrow wedge
- Building speed straight downhill for at least three seconds before trying to turn
- Making just a slight turn
- Going straight downhill before turning in the other direction.
The pattern is straight, turn, straight, turn
Not doing any of these can cause them to turn their shoulders rather than their feet.
Better wedge turns
1- Two ways to turn- pointing the big toes or pushing on one big toe then the other. Some may need to combine both ways. Try pushing and pointing, then the other order, pointing then pushing.
Practice statically before skiing. Face the same direction as the students and be sure they know what toe you want them to push on first. Flex the ankle like kneeling down when pushing on the big toe; be sure they do not move the knee in to edge it, move the hip out to flatten the ski, or bend the knee rather than the ankle.
2- Two size turns- Make the moves slower for bigger turns and faster for smaller turns. Give them a specific number of turns to make, such as 4, or 6. Then change the size of the turns, so make just 3 bigger 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.
Push down on the outside knees when turning
Bounce three times on each big toe to turn. Be sure they are flexing their akle first before their knee.
3- Turn to a stop in each direction. Tell them the more they turn across the hill the slower they go. Watch as they do this they will naturally want to rotate their shoulders and lean inside the turn.
Chair lift
Teach them how to use chair 1 when they are ready. Let the lift operator know it is their first time. Pole straps off, wait for the chair to pass, walk to stand on the board, poles in inside hand, outside hand grabs the chair and sit, keep tips up to unload, poles ready in each hand, stand up on the ramp, ski off in an athletic stance, move away from the exit and wait for the class to get up. Have your partner go up last to make sure they all make it. Know how many kids you have.
Grading
They must be able to:
1- Ski the yellow brush course on chair one
2- Turn to a stop in both directions
3- Ski in an athletic stance using their feet, not turning their shoulders and leaning inside the turn
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- A review of athletic stance, and turns
3- Tell them where they should ski (not beyond the beginner chair)
3- Brown
Goals
1- Athletic stance on a steeper slope
2- Turning with the feet on a steeper slope
3- Matching the skis in second part of the turn
Review
May be good to first use the rope if they have not skied this season. Most will be on the back of their skis and turning with their shoulders not their feet. Do a review like in yellow with gliding wedges and the first turns to improve their stance and turning from the ground up.
Parallel step 1
Spontaneous or active.
1- Spontaneous- on a flatter slope by the ropes, use a very narrow gliding wedge with more speed and quickly point both big toes to turn. The larger forces will help to match the skis parallel.
With the same start, push down on one big toe then the other.
Push down on the knee with their hand
Bounce on the big toe
2- Active- If they are still having trouble matching then stand in a narrow wedge across the hill and touch the downhill knee and then actively match the skis. Do it in motion with a flat traverse and then a steeper traverse. Do it in the other direction. Then link turns. Touching the hand to the knee when skiing in the course will help with the matching.
Grading
They must be able to:
1- Ski the brush course on Chair one in an athletic stance
2- Turn with their feet not shoulders
3- Match the skis so they are parallel in the second part of the turn
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance and matching the skis
3- Tell them where to ski, up to Quicksilver
4- Blue
Goals
1- Athletic stance and turning with the feet
2- Matching earlier in the first half of the turn
3- Introducing pole swing and touch
Review
Athletic stance(weight on the balls of the feet, chest over toes), ankle flex, and matching statically. Lead a run and see if they can follow to warm up and evaluate. Review anything from earlier classes
Parallel step 2
1- Early matching- Ski on gentle slope starting in a gliding wedge and an athletic stance, ski straight downhill with speed and make slight turns. Focus on:
- Transferring weight sooner at the start of each new turn
- Add smooth down motion to finish and up to start
- Turning both feet
- Push on the big toe and flex the ankle
- Touch hand to knee
2- The more deliberate way is to stand with skis across the hill in a narrow wedge. Plant both poles downhill, step on uphill ski and project onto the poles. Then make the same move in motion. Start in a steep traverse, step on the uphill ski and match the skis. Do one in the other direction then link turns.
3- Work on the finish of the turn by doing exercises for inside lead, ankle flex, and tipping(angulation)
Do when linking turns to stay in the fall line or in uphill christies if not busy.
With poles horizontal move the inside half forward, progressively flex ankles and tip the poles to the bottom of the hill: flex and tip.
4- Introduce pole use- with skis across the hill, swing the downhill pole with the wrist and touch it to the snow. Touch the right pole for a right turn and the left for a left turn. Swing touch and turn.
Grading
Tell each student what they should work on after their grading, they must be able to:
1 - Ski the brush course on Cedar Bowl or on Quicksilver in an athletic position
2- Turn with their feet, not shoulders or leaning inside the turn
3- Match the skis so they are parallel in the first half of the turn
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- Tell them where to ski- up to Quicksilver
5- Red
Goals
1-Athletic stance and turning with the feet on a steeper slope
2- Parallel turns
3- Pole swing and touch
Review
Athletic stance(weight on the balls of the feet, chest over toes) and ankle flex. Make a warm up run to evaluate. Review anything from earlier lesson.
Parallel turns
1- Parallel turns- on a flatter part of Quicksilver ski straight downhill in a narrow gliding wedge with speed, quickly push on one big toe then the other.
2- The more deliberate way is to stand with the skis parallel across the hill, plant both poles downhill, stand with the weight on the uphill ski and project onto the poles. Start in a steep traverse and make the same move. Do one in each direction then link.
3- Focus on up to start and down to finish. Then add pole touches, up, swing, and touch the downhill pole.
4- Make turns with an early weight transfer to start the turn and then finish by flexing their ankle, turning their foot, or pinching their rib to their hip for bigger turns.
So it is step and flex, step and turn, or step and pinch.
5- Do uphill christies to improve the turn finish. Focusing on inside lead, and progressively flexing the ankles and tipping (angulation) Flex and tip. Use exercise from the "tipping (angulation) section of the exercise page, including holding poles horizontal to advance the inside half, progressively flexing the ankles and tipping the poles downhill.
Grading
Watch out for high school ski racers it can be very dangerous if they are warming up. Tell each student what to work on after grading. Students must make parallel turns with pole plants on Phase One in an athletic stance turning their feet not shoulders.
End the lesson by:
1- Tell them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance, early weight transfer, ankle flex and tipping
3- Where to ski- all but the wall
6- Orange
Beginner park can be taken any time after red
1- Straight jump
2- Straight box, slide box
3- Teach park safety and etiquette They can ski all slopes but the wall
7- White
Goal
Bigger parallel turns
Review
Athletic stance(weight on the balls of the feet, chest over toes) and ankle flex. Make a warm up run to evaluate. Watch out for high school racers.
Bigger Parallel Turns
1- Larger parallel turns by slowing down the moves for a larger turn. Working on good timing with the pole touch. These are not the high speed carved turns like the high school racers make, there is more steering
2- Turn more across the hill to ski slower, and less across the hill to ski faster
3- Do a uphill christies to work on inside lead, and progressive ankle flexing and tipping. Use exercises from the exercises page.
Grading
Watch out for high school ski racers it can be very dangerous if they are warming up. Tell each student what to work on after grading. Students must make larger parallel turns with pole plants on Phase One in an athletic stance turning their feet not shoulders.
End the lesson by:
1- Telling them to ski in control
2- Review athletic stance, early weight transfer, ankle flex and tipping
3- Where to ski- everything but the Wall
8- Black
Smaller turns, moguls/wall
Review
Athletic stance, and ankle flex. Do a warm up run to evaluate, watch out for high school racers.
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.
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
