Skip to main content

Questions for movement analysis

Stance
Where is the skier’s weight?
Is the stance forward of center, back of center, inside, over the outside ski?
Is the weight always in one place or does the weight move throughout the turn?
Is the weight falling onto the uphill ski or staying over the downhill ski?
Is the width of the stance helping or hindering balance?
Are ankles flexing?

Turns
What is happening during the initiation, shaping or finishing phase?
What is the body doing?
What are the skis doing?

Turn shape
What is the shape of the turn in the snow?
Smooth and rounded like a C, or with an asymmetrical shape like a J?
Do linked turns look smooth like an S or sharp and angular like a Z?

What are the skis doing throughout the turn?
Are the skis skidding or carving?
When are the skis flat in the turn and when are they on edge?

Use of Skills
When and where (in the turn and the body) are edging movements occurring?
Are they happening progressively throughout the turn?
Are they happening all at once in one part of the turn?
What parts of the body are used to put the skis on edge?
Do the skis go on edge simultaneously or sequentially?

When and where (in the turn and the body) are rotary movements occurring?
Are they happening all at once in one part of the turn?
Are they happening progressively throughout the turn?
What part of the body is turning and making the skis turn?

When and where (in the turn and the body) are the pressure management movements occurring?
Are they happening all at once in one part of the turn?
Are they happening progressively throughout the turn?
What parts of the body are flexing and extending?

Are the skier’s movements in harmony with the direction of travel?
Is the skier making any excessive movements in a direction other than that of travel (e.g. is there excessive up/down movement or lean into the hill?

Flow
Do the turns flow from one to another?
Does the skier have to make a big/aggressive move into the new turn?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Learning Styles – Doers, Feelers, Thinkers, Watchers

A learning style is the way a person’s sensory, perceptual, memorial, decision-making, and feedback mechanisms operate. Or more simply, the preferred technique to approach learning. Some students have a dominant style and others are comfortable in more than one. PSIA references different theories on learning styles, this is a classic one. Doers Values active experimentation Pragmatic, practical, functional Good problem solvers, work well with others Constantly active, doesn’t like being idle and gets frustrated with too much talking Learn by experimenting, trial and error Instructor should provide experiences that will guide the child Experiential learning is an effective method for all students

Ages 7 to 12 – CAP

Cognitive I do best with one direction at a time I need to know “why” I’m asked to do certain things I will ask questions I can learn in a variety of ways I like process more than the goals I like to be challenged and successful I can describe and explain I will remember the highlights of my day Characteristics ---  Instructor Responses Can separate reality from imagination > Avoid the use of fantasy; it makes them feel that you are treating them like babies Can understand things they can’t see --- Use hypotheticals (what ifs) to introduce cause and effect and explain why something worked or didn’t work May overestimate their abilities (I can do anything!) --- Keep them reined in to avoid unsafe situations or setbacks Affective I want ownership in my day and can work independently I compare my achievements to those of my peers I want to have fun and like to play games I like to be responsible for my learning I like to know when I’ve...

Getting ready to get into the bumps

I love teaching bumps. I’m a recovering bump-a-phobe. Learning lots of tactics and tricks really helped me love them. I like to think I can help someone make a similar breakthrough. This post has general ideas on teaching bumps. But I’d like to talk about how I develop tactics and skills before I take someone in there. My mom’s family is from New York and they love their bagels with a heaping mass of cream cheese. A cheese knife, spreader or what we call a “schmearer” is a key piece of equipment. The flat blade easily spreads cream cheese or peanut butter. I like to ski bumps like I use a schmearer by standing tall and keeping the edge angle low. This makes it easier for my legs to steer my skis and create nice “C” shaped turns. Standing tall gives us the added bonus of lots of room to flex and extend later. You can pair students up and ask the follower to watch the tips. Are the tips leading the tails? Are the tips pointing across the hill before they change direction? Once...