requests for cross country ski lessons in their country are so low that they had to incorporate more fun into the sport, rather than “go out and ski 10k.”
So, they showed us a
four-run progression that entailed: 1. Going down the slope doing synced up parallel turns 2. Holding hands in pairs, with the outside leg lifted behind us in a ballet-like maneuver
3. Doing backwards parallel turns 4. Lifting the right ski up and crossing it over in front of your left leg, and then, while in this strangely inverted position, lifting your left ski up and bringing it around the back until you were back in normal skiing position. (T is is the the one that I found completely impossible.)
Top Takeaway: T is exercise left me basically rolling down the hill in a huge ball and in utter awe at the amazing Finnish ski skills.
– Megan Spurkland, PSIA Nordic Team GERMANY
One Curriculum for Every Level Instructor Germany uses the same approach to evaluating their clients as they do for instructor certifi cation, which is primarily based on movement analysis (MA), including MA from the ski up, in the whole turn, and in individual turns. T e curriculum is the same no matter which level of
certifi cation you are looking to achieve. T e complete course is 60 days long, and each instructor needs 350 hours of teaching experience. T e passing range for certifi cation levels is: L1 = 80 percent, L2 = 60 percent, and L3 = 50 percent. T e profi ciency expectation increases at each level, including: L1 = 40 percent profi ciency, L2 = 60 percent profi ciency, and L3 = 90 percent profi ciency of the same material. T e cost is over 15,000 Euros for full certifi cation.
Top Takeaway: T e amount of time, dedication, and money to train for certifi cation is signifi cantly greater in other countries. – Eric Rolls, AASI Snowboard Team
Inspiring Children through Images, Stories, Language
T e German instructor’s association organized its children’s manual into three simple books. Each book targets a diff erent age group/development level, but contains the same information. T is potentially does a good job of making developmental theories practical and usable for less experienced instructors.
Top Takeaway: T is was a basic presentation about
adjusting behaviors to children’s ages. T e content was less in depth than what is covered in our Children’s Specialist 1 program. However, while safety,
42 | 32 DEGREES • WINTER 2016
fun, and learning are our priority, it needs to be balanced with technical development to create lifelong learners. – Jonathan Ballou, PSIA Alpine Team
The Free-Heel Control Box T e German Telemark Team was not representing at
Interski offi cially, but one team member in attendance shared some information with me. Like the U.S., the Germans don’t
Team Germany makes a big entrance.
see skiing through the lens of a perfect giant slalom race turn; they look at the many possibilities and variables that are possible given the terrain, snow conditions, and skill level. T e perfect GS race turn is something a tele skier can
aim for, it’s just not the only benchmark of good skiing. T e Germans call their concept of blending lead change, edging, rotary, and pressuring the “Control Box,” in which you can dial up or down the control knobs that directly relate to the skill.
Top Takeaway: T e Control Box is a creative way to look at the blending of skills. – Ross Matlock, PSIA Nordic Team
GREAT BRITAIN
Exporting Instruction Great Britain is in the business of exporting instructors, with members of the British Association of Snowsports Instructors currently working in 38 diff erent countries. For that reason, they need to be adaptable in their teaching and movements. T ey require that instructors speak a second language to get the highest certifi cation.
Alpine Team member Michael Rogan gets the low-down from Team Great Britain.
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