by Alison Clayton-Cummings
PSIA-E
In teaching skiing, instructors should address the common movements that lead to more effective and efficient skiing. Adults are able to learn and develop these movements precisely and accurately. With less strength and coordination, children may not be able to develop and utilize movements with the same refinement as an adult and may substitute other movements in their place. This does not mean that children are incapable of effective, efficient movements, only that it may take more time, practice, and repetition to reach the same level of competency as an adult.
While the real movements of children may involve larger muscle groups and more gross movement patterns, these will gradually come closer to ideal movements as the children grow older, bigger, and more experienced.
In setting lesson goals, instructors should observe the real movements their students are making and strive t help students come closer to the ideal movements. In the descriptions below, the term “younger children” refers to kids between the ages of five and seven.
Balancing Movements
Ideal
♦ Joints flex evenly together – ankles, knees, hips, and spine.
♦ Hips are centered over the feet, ears ahead of center of feet, hand ahead of ears
♦ Outside ski bends more than the inside ski – primary weight on middle of outside ski
Real
♦ Knee and hip flex is greater in younger children, and ankle movements not as coordinated. Large muscle groups develop first.
♦ Hips slightly behind feet, ears over heels – or ears over knees – hands in a variety of places depending on child’s size and speed at which they’re traveling.
♦ Inside ski weighted as much as outside ski, bends toward tail.
Rotational Movements
Ideal
♦ Legs turn underneath upper body to guide skis through arc of turn.
♦ Femur (thigh bone) rotates in hip socket
♦ Upper body remains stable and strong.
Real
♦ Shoulders and torso generate turn – large muscle groups are stronger.
♦ Articulation of joints not well developed.
♦ Entire body moves as a unit.
Edging Movements
Ideal
♦ Diagonal movements of feet, legs, and hips engage and release edges.
♦ Shins contact both boot cuffs on a forward diagonal
♦ Edges engaged and released in one smooth movement
Real
♦ Tipping of legs and body into hill and away from ski creates edge.
♦ Shins have little or no contact with front of boot cuff
♦ Movements are harsh and jerky
Pressure Control Movements
Ideal
♦ Body and skies flow smoothly over changing conditions and terrain
♦ Joint flexion and extension determined by changes in terrain and pitch of slope.
♦ Skis bend progressively through turn; entire ski used in turn
Real
♦ Bouncing and loss of contact between skis and snow
♦ Joint flexion uncoordinated; knees and hips commonly over-flexed.
♦ Bend in ski comes late in turn - frequently at the tail.
Directional Movements
Ideal
♦ Body moves into direction of new turn for edge change
♦ Ski travels along arc – tip and tail through same path
♦ Pole swings in direction of travel.
Real
♦ Movement is up and back to change edges
♦ Tail of ski slides past arc of tip – pivot and skid
♦ Poor coordination of pole swing and directional guidance.
PSIA-E
In teaching skiing, instructors should address the common movements that lead to more effective and efficient skiing. Adults are able to learn and develop these movements precisely and accurately. With less strength and coordination, children may not be able to develop and utilize movements with the same refinement as an adult and may substitute other movements in their place. This does not mean that children are incapable of effective, efficient movements, only that it may take more time, practice, and repetition to reach the same level of competency as an adult.
While the real movements of children may involve larger muscle groups and more gross movement patterns, these will gradually come closer to ideal movements as the children grow older, bigger, and more experienced.
In setting lesson goals, instructors should observe the real movements their students are making and strive t help students come closer to the ideal movements. In the descriptions below, the term “younger children” refers to kids between the ages of five and seven.
Balancing Movements
Ideal
♦ Joints flex evenly together – ankles, knees, hips, and spine.
♦ Hips are centered over the feet, ears ahead of center of feet, hand ahead of ears
♦ Outside ski bends more than the inside ski – primary weight on middle of outside ski
Real
♦ Knee and hip flex is greater in younger children, and ankle movements not as coordinated. Large muscle groups develop first.
♦ Hips slightly behind feet, ears over heels – or ears over knees – hands in a variety of places depending on child’s size and speed at which they’re traveling.
♦ Inside ski weighted as much as outside ski, bends toward tail.
Rotational Movements
Ideal
♦ Legs turn underneath upper body to guide skis through arc of turn.
♦ Femur (thigh bone) rotates in hip socket
♦ Upper body remains stable and strong.
Real
♦ Shoulders and torso generate turn – large muscle groups are stronger.
♦ Articulation of joints not well developed.
♦ Entire body moves as a unit.
Edging Movements
Ideal
♦ Diagonal movements of feet, legs, and hips engage and release edges.
♦ Shins contact both boot cuffs on a forward diagonal
♦ Edges engaged and released in one smooth movement
Real
♦ Tipping of legs and body into hill and away from ski creates edge.
♦ Shins have little or no contact with front of boot cuff
♦ Movements are harsh and jerky
Pressure Control Movements
Ideal
♦ Body and skies flow smoothly over changing conditions and terrain
♦ Joint flexion and extension determined by changes in terrain and pitch of slope.
♦ Skis bend progressively through turn; entire ski used in turn
Real
♦ Bouncing and loss of contact between skis and snow
♦ Joint flexion uncoordinated; knees and hips commonly over-flexed.
♦ Bend in ski comes late in turn - frequently at the tail.
Directional Movements
Ideal
♦ Body moves into direction of new turn for edge change
♦ Ski travels along arc – tip and tail through same path
♦ Pole swings in direction of travel.
Real
♦ Movement is up and back to change edges
♦ Tail of ski slides past arc of tip – pivot and skid
♦ Poor coordination of pole swing and directional guidance.
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