First-Time Lesson - SKI

Introduction

This document describes first time lessons. We are attempting to provide this guidance for instructors regardless of the “lesson” vs “stations” methodology. The key to understand everything is that both group lessons and station lessons tend to go through a very similar process of starting with boot drills, going to 1 ski drills, then 2 ski drills, then up the magic to work on turns on the easiest terrain possible. The entire time, we are teaching them to use the muscles that push, tilt and twist on the skis to make them turn. The goal, of course, is turning.

Goals of Ski Lesson

  • Basic knowledge of equipment
  • Control and confidence
  • Ability to control speed via turning
  • Ability to use lift(s)
  • Knowing the Responsibility code
  • Excited to continue learning the path to the next level

Key Points

  • Make it fun

  • Find out why they are here today

  • Conserve their energy; don’t waste it

  • Understand that learning to ski may not be their primary goal

  • Find out their goals, give them the experience they want

  • Make sure they are emotionally safe and cared for

  • Smile

  • Learn people’s names

  • Find out about their interests, sports, etc.

Greeting and Guidance

From the door to station 1 (When Possible, improves customer experience)

As the students come out the door and are guided to station one, we have an opportunity to save them energy and make their day more enjoyable.

  • This is the “first impression”, let’s make it nice for the customers.
  • Show them how to carry their skis. If there’s time, discuss the equipment.
  • Instead of having them sidestep up and down and all around at station one, let’s try to walk them down to station 1 and have them sidestep along the way in boots.
  • If done right, we’ve saved them a bunch of uphill sidestepping energy and time.

Step 1 / Station 1

From the door to Station 1 - When Possible, improves customer experience

Station #1 Activities

  • Introduce yourself, establish rapport
    • Elevation, Water, Sunscreen, PPE
    • Check Equipment (boots on right feet, pants not in boots, matching ski numbers, have two poles etc.)
    • Reinforce why stations are good for customers and breaks are OK!
  • Ask groups if they have a meeting place in case they are separated and need to meet up at the end of the lesson. EG: One proceeds faster or a parent/child situation.
  • Introduce the responsibility code/safety
  • Introduce the equipment
  • Teach a Balanced Athletic Stance as a requirement for skiing
  • Teach/emphasize that turning will enable control of speed and that everything we learn here will enable us to turn!
  • Teach that we can push, tilt, and twist a ski to make it behave. Boot drills:
    • Step side to side. Bounce.
    • Edge side to side.
    • Twist feet. Both sides.
  • Can they now push, tilt, and twist their foot all at the same time? (1/2 Wedge)
  • Bonus if they can do a full wedge in boots.

Station #1 Graduation Requirements

  • Customer stands in an athletic stance in boots
  • Customer able to make a wedge in boots (or at least one side at a time)

Step 2 / Station 2

Flat Terrain Learning (Slide, Glide, and Basic Skills)

Station #2 Activities

  • Introduce yourself, establish rapport (If Stations)
    • Explain: We’ll be doing 1 ski, the other, then both
    • Explain: We’ll be doing the same skills as station 1, plus a little more
  • Reinforce the responsibility code
  • Teach how to put on skis (snow off, cocked binding, downhill first, etc.)
  • Lead class around on one ski.
  • Teach how to wedge one ski, flat ground, both sides
  • Lead class around on two skis on flat terrain
  • Have them shuffle a bit to work on their stance/fore-aft balance
  • A very small amount of side-stepping practice is not bad here; minimize
  • Teach making a small wedge on two skis while static, on flat terrain
  • Now, have them make a small wedge from a push. Feel some friction?
  • Now, have them make a wedge, but make one side bigger than the other. Did they notice anything interesting?
  • Teach making an uneven wedge on two skis while moving on flat terrain (Push, Push, Turn!)
  • Practice flattening the inside ski so that a turn happens in that direction. They should notice this is a lot easier than pushing harder on one.

Station #2 Graduation Requirements

  • Customers are able to make a wedge on skis while moving on flat terrain, which turns them a little bit (Think: Intro to J turn)

NOTE: If they can’t make a wedge on flat terrain, they cannot do it in station 3 on a hill. If they can’t get the skis to turn a little bit at least, then they are not ready to graduate.

Step 3 / Station 3

Movement on a slight slope (Stop and Turn Introduction) 

Station #3 Activities

  • Introduce yourself, establish rapport (If Stations)

    • Explain: We’ll be practicing slowing by turning uphill
    • Explain: We’ll be doing the same skills as Station 2, but adding “hill”
  • Reinforce the responsibility code
  • Have students sidestep up the hill to the ‘launch’ area
  • Ideal:
    • Sidestep up
    • Get into a very small wedge
    • Flatten downhill ski by moving body forward and downhill and using foot
    • Once moving, begin to flatten uphill foot until the skis turn uphill to a stop
    • After coming to a stop, they turn 180 degrees
    • Sidestep up
    • Get into a small wedge
    • Flatten downhill ski by moving body forward and downhill and using foot
    • Once moving, begin to flatten uphill foot until the skis turn uphill to a stop
  • Fallback:
    • Sidestep up
    • Bullfighter turn 30 degrees
    • Begin moving and wedge up the hill to a stop
    • After coming to a stop, they turn 180 degrees
    • Sidestep up
    • Bullfighter turn 30 degrees
    • Begin moving and wedge up the hill to a stop

 

NOTE: The goal here is they are doing a single garland on very easy terrain, controlling speed by turning down, then up the hill, never crossing the fall line.

Station #3 Graduation Requirements

  • Ideal:
    • The Customer initiates the turn by moving forward and downhill, flattening skis to get them moving.
    • The customer then flattens the uphill ski, changing direction up the hill to stop
    • The customer does not control speed by making a bigger wedge
  • Fallback:
    • The customer starts at an angle and glides forward
    • The Customer can control their speed by making a small wedge
    • The customer can make some directional change
    • The customer understands turning works better than a death wedge

 

NOTE: If they can’t make a wedge on flat terrain, they cannot do it in station 3 on a hill. If they can’t get the skis to turn a little bit, then they are not ready to graduate.

Step 4 / Station 4

Beginner Skiing (Turning and Lift Riding)

Station #4 Activities

  • Introduce yourself, establish rapport (If Stations)
    • Each time down the hill, check for new students. Work with other station 4 instructors to manage students (consolidation and teamwork)
  • Explain: Riding up this lift, practicing stopping and turning
  • Explain: We’ll be doing the same skills as Station 3, but more hill, refinement
  • Reinforce the responsibility code
  • Teach the class how to ride the Magic lift
  • Teach speed control speed using the wedge turn
  • Teach chairlift unloads with practice on static chair lift or bench (optional)
  • As you wrap up the lesson, the customer should understand the journey they just did. What their next steps might be. The instructor should determine if the student’s goals were accomplished and fix anything lacking.

Station #4 Graduation Requirements

  • Customer able to make wedge turns down showoff and control speed through turn shape (minimal reliance on wedge size to control speed)

NOTE: Ideally, they are not entirely defensive and initiate turns by moving forward and downhill in the direction they want to go.

  • The customer is able to unload from the static chair successfully - Unload simulation (optional)