S-turns are linked C-turns. Switching directions in a turn helps students learn how to quickly shift their weight between skis, and change which edges are being used. This can be tricky for some students as they might have a dominant leg, and are uncomfortable with turning one way. Focus on transferring weight to the inside edge of the outside ski when starting each turn, and as the skis turn further across the hill, flatten them to start the next turn.
S-Turn
Assessment:
- Can student complete a “C” turn while maintaining balance turning into and out of the fall line?
- Can the student stop effectively?
Goals:
- The student will be able to link two “C” turns together which will then allow them to ski off into infinity, RAD!!!!4
Information:
- Set up a simple obstacle course with ski poles where they have to weave around and between the poles making an “S” shape
- Make sure the slope is steep enough and there is enough room between the poles for your student to turn (try it out yourself during your demo to make sure)
Practice:
- At this point focus on getting in a lot of laps, your students will likely be having a lot of fun because they are linking turns and really skiing! As usual though, throw in some fun games and make use of spiderwebbing to keep them engaged.
Understanding:
- Like “C” turns the “S” turn does not introduce any fundamentally new movements but it is just a more complicated application of them, thus the problems you see in “S” turns will be the same as those seen earlier in the progression
Feedback:
- Your responses to the common problems will be the same in “S” turns and “C” turns, make sure to incorporate games to fix the problems
- Remember, it is often wise to take a step back while having students practice fixing a problem, only increase the difficulty in one dimension!
— Techno Jargon: The “S” turns new complication is linking two “C” turns which involves changing pressure and edge angle from ski to ski while moving. At the end of one turn and the start of the next the student has to shift their weight to the new outside ski and begin to increase the pressure on the new ski which is a very complex movement.