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Snowboard Coaches Skills & Tasks

GPAS Snowboarders’ Skills and Tasks

 1. Communication skills

 2. Self-awareness of limitations

 3. Awareness of students’ limitations

 4. Knowledge of Skiers/Snowboarders Code

 5. Balance centered over board

 6. Legs/feet position on board

 7. Upper body position over board

 8. Tilt, twist, pivot, pressure

 9. Control pressure across board

 10. Steering

 11. Edging

 12. Turning

Potential Practice Exercises

  1. Side stepping/falling leaf, traversing and hockey stops (toe and heel side)

  2. Garlands (dominant and switch)

  3. Rapid/smooth transitions

    1. edge-to-edge

    2. riding regular to switch and back

  4. Adjust/control speed in varied terrain and conditions

  5. Carving turns 

    1. when riding at varied speeds and terrain

    2. not just skidding through turns

  6. Uphill hopping while strapped in (to reach student)

    1. hopping across a flat

    2. spinning 90 degrees/transition right into riding

  7. Penguin Walking across flats

  8. Flat spin 180 and 360

  9. Jump 180 while not moving

Detailed Explanations of Skills/Tasks

  1. Communication skills – ability to explain, ask appropriate questions, direct activities, not ramble on

  2. Self-awareness of limitations – does the coach know not to take on a lesson he/she cannot handle

  3. Awareness of students’ limitations – does the coach have the foresight to recognize participant limitations and ability to say “no” if necessary

  4. Knowledge of Skiers’ and Snowboarders’ Responsibility Code – ride in control; people downhill/ahead have right-of-way; stop where visible; look uphill before starting/entering trail; prevent runaway equipment; read/obey all signs/warnings; keep off closed trails; know how to load/unload lift safely; do not ski/ride when impaired by alcohol or other drugs; share contact info with each other and ski area staff after collision with another person

  5. Balance centered over board– shift weight and maintain fore-aft and side-to-side position when turning and adjusting to varied terrain 

  6. Legs/feet position on board – bindings set proper distance apart with binding angles that allow riding in varied conditions and terrain

  7. Upper body position over board – maintain good posture and remain centered over board with minimal extra movements of arms and torso

  8. Tilt, twist, pivot, pressure - Control: the board’s tilt through a combination of inclination and angulation; the twist (torsional flex) of the board using flexion/extension and rotation of the body; the board’s pivot through flexion/extension and rotation of the body; pressure through the board/surface interaction

  9. Control pressure across board – actively adjust posture and body position during turns and varied terrain to put pressure on different parts of the board

  10. Steering – feet and legs steer board smoothly without being forced or rushed; body rotates around center axis when steering/turning

  11. Edging – appropriate to terrain, turn radius, and speed; controlled by hips/knees/ankles rather than tipping whole body

  12. Turning – initiate, control, and complete turns smoothly while riding regular and switch. Able to carve turns rather than skid through turns

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