
Ski Coaches Skills & Tasks
GPAS Snowboarders’ Skills and Tasks
1. Communication skills
2. Self-awareness of limitations
3. Awareness of students’ limitations
5. Balance
6. Legs/feet position
7. Hand/pole position
8. Upper body position
9. Weight distribution
10. Rotary/Steering
11. Edging
12. Turning
Potential Practice Exercises
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Side stepping
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Traversing
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Hockey stops
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Skating
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100 step-turns
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Turns with tail lift - lift tail of inside ski, keeping tip on the ground throughout the turn
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Cheating turns - start facing directly downhill and make half a turn
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Schlopy turns - downhill hand on waist, uphill hand reaching forward/down, then switch hands in the turn
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Varied turn shapes and sizes
Detailed Explanations of Skills/Tasks
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Communication skills – ability to explain, ask appropriate questions, direct activities, not ramble on
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Self-awareness of limitations – Does the coach know not to take on a lesson he/she cannot handle?
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Awareness of students’ limitations – does the coach have the foresight to recognize participant limitations and ability to say “no” if necessary
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Knowledge of Skiers’ Responsibility Code – Ski in control with speed and turns that are appropriate for the conditions; Stop in a safe place; People downhill/ahead have right of way; Yield to uphill traffic, etc.
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Balance - fore and aft, side to side, head to toe; not in back seat minimally
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Legs/feet position – shoulder width apart, not tight together; positioned for independent leg action; flexing and extending to absorb variations in snow
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Hand/pole position – holding a lunch tray; optimally with correct pole touches for timing turns
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Upper body position - Quiet; searation at waist; shoulders & arms open to new turn; minimally, not square over skis and no major UP movements at start of turn
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Weight distribution – both skis remain on the snow throughout a turn; weight on both skis with more pressure on downhill ski
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Rotary/Steering – feet and legs actively steering, especially the inside ski, without being forced or rushed
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Edging – appropriate to terrain, type of turn and speed; as a result of angles in the knees and hips, not tipping the whole body; angulation instead of inclination
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Turning – minimally, able to complete good wedge christies; optimally, able to complete parallel turns