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Snow – and the camaraderie it elicits – was plentiful on the last day of PSIA-AASI's National Academy 2016 at Breckenridge, Colorado.


the Alpine Racer,” Montana State University’s John Seifert explained how anaerobic and aerobic systems work, and relating this to the unique needs of skiing and racing.


Tat was just one day. Topics day to day varied from physics of skiing, to anatomy, pedagogy, kinesiology, motor learning, speed-event skiing, slalom focus, and on. Robin and Michael were there as USSA coaches, modeling good coaching principles. One of my favorite comments overhead from someone in Michael’s group was, “Wow, we can do a lot of skiing AND be working on stuff at the same time.”


THE DAY OF RECKONING: EVALUATIONS


Day 8 was our evaluation day; a component that makes the USSA Academy very different in tone and energy relative to PSIA-AASI National Academy. Additional evaluators were brought in (including past PSIA-AASI President John Armstrong). Like PSIA’s certification exams, USSA tests on skiing, coaching (i.e., teaching), and


technical knowledge. Q Skiing: we skied a variety of tasks, pulled right out of the USSA SkillsQuest program: outside-ski turns, one ski/ leg skiing (with the other ski left at the top of the run), lane changes, and a GS


Q Coaching/teaching: We were each assigned a different U16 athlete (age 14 to 15) who was training on a GS course that weekend. We got to watch two runs (which turns out to be maybe 20 to 25 total seconds of viewing time), then asked for an evaluation, analysis of strengths and weaknesses, what we wanted to see in terms of technique (or tactics), drills we’d use to help the athlete (for that day, week, and season), why, and the type of course set-ups we’d use to help promote that development (and why).


course run. Tasks were all on-piste and had to be performed cleanly (carved) and at speed. Also, it was pretty much a one-and-done deal. A lot of waiting, then perform, and then move on to the next task. Not too different from the reality for kids on a race day.


QTechnical: Written exam with 220+ questions.


I think it fair to say, after a very intense week, and a very full exam day, we were all pretty exhausted.


EDUCATION AT THE RATE OF SPEED


36Ζ$ $OSLQH 7HDP PHPEHU 5RELQ %DUQHV FHQWHU VHUYHG DV RQH RI WKH PDQ\ FRDFKHV RffHULQJ H[SHUWLVH DW the USSA Academy.


76 | 32 DEGREES • WINTER 2017


In comparing the two Academies, both are clearly educational events. Tat USSA and PSIA-AASI are sharing concepts – and clinicians like Robin Barnes and Michael Rogan – was telling. But effective teaching/ coaching is effective teaching/coaching, no matter what letters of the alphabet you put on your dues check. Te USSA event,


MICHAEL DRAKE


MICHAEL DRAKE


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