Developing Sports Expertise - Specialization

Sports expertise in ski racing involves the ability to use active decision making to execute fundamental skiing technique with precision, at the optimum speed and under pressure with power and tactical accuracy.

During the foundational stages of development, developing the technical, tactical, physical and mental capacities take precedence over competition. During later stages, the ability to compete well and winning becomes the focus. Ski racers can begin focusing on podium performances after maturation once they are physically literate, physically fit and have consolidated their fundamental skiing skills. In alpine skiing, competitive skiers select ski racing as one of their primary sports around the Train to Train stage. 

Specializing too soon in a single sport or discipline can result in:

• One-sided, sport-specific preparation before skiers are mature and have consolidated the basic fundamental skiing and movement skills.
• Poor fundamental movement skills, resulting in a lack of physical literacy. 
• Increased risk of injury, including overuse injury. 
• Early burnout due to a reduced sense of accomplishment and physical and emotional exhaustion.
• Early Retirement from training and competition due to a decreased desire to participate in sport.

 

SKI RACERS STAY IN THE SPORT OF SKI RACING WHEN THEY:

• Perceive they are a competent skier.
• Can control their activity and experience.
• Are driven to succeed, intrinsically motivated.
• Have a positive social experience and relationships with others.
• Can focus on the achievement of a task, not winning or obtaining praise. 

Optimal competition calendar planning at all stages is critical to athlete development to promote a progressive plan that includes the appropriate amount of variety and challenge to stimulate learning and mastery of the fundamental sport and movement skills. 

There are no shortcuts to becoming an expert competitor. It takes years of deliberate practice to build the required stamina, strength, speed, power, skills and athletic character to be competitive in the race to win stage at the elite levels of skiing.

Attributes of Successful Ski Racers

Success in ski racing requires physical, technical and tactical competence resulting from all around athleticism. It is evident that top skiers are good at many sports. Due to the nature of ski racing, children should gain exposure by participating in complementary sports throughout their career. Physical abilities and superior fitness are the foundations of confidence in sports and life. 

EARLY INITIATION OF THE "SPIRIT AND FUN OF COMPETITION"

The love of going fast is an innate quality a ski racer must have and playing the game of ski racing is an excellent way to initiate the spirit of wanting to go fast. It is imperative to experience ski racing fun through suitable environments which ignite the spirit of sports participation early.

HIGH VOLUME OF SKI MILEAGE IN THE EARLY YEARS

Research on the background of several top successful skiers has documented their regular exposure to time on snow during the initial stages, Gliding Start through Learn to Train, of development.

TECHNICALLY CORRECT AND PHYSICALLY LITERATE

By the end of the Train to Train stage, ski racers should be in the consolidation phase of developing their fundamental skiing and movement skills. Ski racers should be proficient at the fifth level of Snow Stars. 

AGILE AND POWERFUL

Ski racing is a power sport requiring ski racers to generate force quickly on demand. Conditions, courses, and terrain are continually changing. Ski racers are expected to be explosive and agile.

FAST DECISION MAKERS

Because of the ever-changing playing field, the ability to make quick decisions is a critical success factor. This ability is very apparent in the champions of ski racing.

COMPETITIVE MINDSET

Excellence in any sport and life requires an innate desire to succeed; the motivation must come from within the ski racer. Having a competitive, growth mindset allows a ski racer to focus on the process of reaching the elite levels vs. the outcome of each competition. It's the ski racers' response to failure and success as they travel the pathway from the development ranks to the elite team that makes all the difference between becoming an almost champion or a champion.

Continuous Improvement

Long-term athletic development is never complete or final. This document represents the best practices in coaching and athlete development in the sport of skiing as they are understood today. Updates and changes to this document and the development pathway will follow the shared set of values agreed upon between ACA and the individual provincial and territorial sport organizations. 

The principle of Kaizen or continuous improvement encompasses the principal basis of the long-term athlete development framework, both in its dynamic evolution and in its application. The concept of continuous improvement is drawn from the respected Homer Sarasohn and W. Edwards Deming industrial philosophy, embraced by Japan as it rebuilt the country post-WWII.

Alpine Canada is always seeking improvements in our understanding and practice, this long-term athlete development website is dedicated to all skiers in Canada will continuously evolve to accommodate breakthroughs in sports science research, innovations in technology, and the development of best practices in coaching.

Long Term Development Shared Values: 

• We believe a supportive, safe, holistic and respectful environment is foundational to successful athlete development and competition.
• Fundamentally, what we do and the decisions we make, need to be for the greater good of our collective group of athletes. This does not mean every athlete will be happy with every decision but we will be confident they were dealt with fairly.
• Skiing skill development is fundamental to sustainable athletic success.
• We see hard work as both the right approach and achievement of its own.
• We believe in fairness and inclusiveness.
• We promote good health, excellent physical fitness and positive mental preparation.
• Our processes are built on accountability and transparency.
• Our culture of excellence creates sustainable success.
• Cooperation and collaboration make us stronger.
• While striving for top performing athletes and programs, we also seek cost effectiveness.
• We embrace adaptability and continuous improvement.
• We acknowledge that there can be multiple paths to success as defined in our LTAD.
• We want to see all of our athletes, volunteers and stakeholders having fun and enjoying a quality sport experience.