To introduce skis to the student take it slow and try the skis on one at a time, alternating feet, before going to two skis. This will allow students to be better at getting in and out of the binding.
One Ski
Show every part of the ski:
- Base
- Edge
- Tip
- Tail
- Binding
- Toe piece
- Heal piece Keep in mind that the students may never have seen a ski before, and bindings are very similar in their shape. Students may have bindings that look different than yours. Keep in mind the Developmental Stage of your students and change your lesson accordingly.
BERP
Cover every part of BERP while they have one ski on, as many students will be able to use their other foot to balance on. Try rotating the ski, balancing on one ski, and walking around with it on.
Two Ski
Students should be on flat ground when trying on both skis so that they don’t slide towards the Fall Line. They should get comfortable with walking around. Shuffling around can work, but may result in no forward movement, be sure that they put pressure or weight the ski each time they step. Practice going up a hill, even the shallowest slope on the bunny hill can be hard. Use either Crab Walk or Herringbone Walk. Keep in mind CAP and the students goals. Crab walk is easier to learn, but is not as fast.
Getting Up
Learning how to get up is easier on flat ground than sloped. After learning to move around, falling down and learning how to get up is recommended.
Example One Ski / Two Ski Lesson
Assessment:
- Student should be comfortable moving around in boots over varied terrain and through different ranges of motion
Goals:
- Develop ability to move around on two skis on flat ground to facilitate movement around the magic carpet zone
Information:
- Explain the anatomy of a ski: tip, back, edges, and bindings
- Focus on how to put their foot in their bindings
- Teach your students how to Standing Up if they fall down.
Practice:
- All fall down together and create the attitude that falling is fun and not scary!
- Windshield wipers/spread the butter with one ski
- Sidestep and scoot up/down gentle slopes
- Red Light Green Light, Racing, Simon Says, Hokey Pokey, throw snowballs, Squish the bug to get them moving in their skis on flat land and feeling the different aspects of BERP but especially Pressure on the front of their boot
Understanding:
- Some students will have snow or ice buildup on their boots and will have trouble clicking them into the ski. Clean off their boot for them.
- Look for students who are having trouble staying in the athletic stance, usually they have trouble staying forward and “squishing the bug”
- Some students will have issues with skis getting stuck when they rotate them in the snow Feedback:
- Play games which bring the students weight over the front of their skis.
- Have the student rotate their foot in the air and then when on the ground have most of their weight on one foot before attempting to rotate it.
— Techno Jargon: Student is feeling BERP in basic ways outside of a dynamic skiing context. Stationary wedge introduces opposing edge sets and rotary motion in the hip joint. Both of these will be necessary for the student to create pressure and begin turning. Moving around introduces weight transfers and balance on skis which will maintain balance while moving.