Browse StagesLearn to Train
LEARN THE SPORT
The focus remains on the discovery of ski racing and fun while consolidating the foundational technical skiing skills in fun structured and unstructured environments.
During this stage, a ski racer's coordination of movement will become more consistent in a variety of on-snow environments. As ski racers gain strength and confidence in their skiing skills, their technical skiing skill execution will become more consistent and appear to be seamless regardless of the environment.
Ski racers demonstrate outside ski pressure throughout the turn by maintaining an excellent athletic ready position on skis while carving.
Ski racers are encouraged to explore the mountain by skiing through a variety of terrain and snow conditions to challenge themselves along with beginning to compete in interclub and local competitions.
- Boys 9 -12
- Girls 8 - 11
- Club Level
- Local & Zone racing
- Limited provincial racing
- Stage ends with start of adolescent growth period
TECHNICAL FOCUS
IN THE WINTER MONTHS, SKI RACERS SHOULD STRIVE TO ATTAIN A MINIMUM OF 60+ DAYS ON SNOW BY PARTICIPATING IN A STRUCTURED SKI PROGRAM AND SKI WITH PARENTS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TO INCREASE MILEAGE. SKI RACERS SEEKING THE COMPETITIVE PATHWAY SHOULD COMPLETE MORE THAN THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM.
Encourage ski racers to feel the front tongue of their boot to create shin pressure by flexing both ankles while keeping their hip and hand position forward with their knees driving towards the ski tips allowing them to effectively carve cleanly on the outside ski.
Ski racers demonstrate outside ski pressure throughout the turn and become aware of the skis orientation on the snow through the maintenance of a good athletic ready position on skis while carving in a variety of terrain environments.
- Ankle flexion (tension) and shin pressure with knees driving towards the ski tips.
- Parallel skis with hip to shoulder width stance. Everything is inline including the ski tips, bindings, knees.
- Hips are perpendicular to the skis.
- Body movement between turns and over terrain is forward, moving with the skis through transitions.
- Ski racers are proficient at weight transfer between symmetrical turns to enable the ski racer to carve on the outside ski.
- Ski racers experiment with different edge angles on the steep and flat terrain.
- Upper body should remain stable and quiet.
- Proper upper and lower body separation is used to direct forces to the outside ski resulting in a stable platform.
- Pole plant timing and coordination will become more consolidated and disciplined.
Ski racers learn to control and generate speed through the use of different turn shapes, short and long radius turns, on all types of terrain.
Ski racers should practice carving turns outside ski to outside ski and one ski skiing to consolidate the fundamental skiing skill of carving a turn with the proper upper and lower body separation and forward body position on the ski through the use of ankle flexion to promote the establishment of a platform utilized to apply force to the ski.
Ski racers continue to perform technical free ski skills with control and rhythm on stable snow conditions before adding variation in different environments. Changing one variable from one run to another adds contrast and allows drill repetition without repeating.
Ski racers consolidate their tucking and gliding skills along with jumping over natural terrain and terrain park and ski cross features. Ski racers are introduced to Super - G and skiing on longer skis where the arc can be lengthened and ski racers can begin to apply even pressure throughout the gliding turn.
Ski racers should participate in Snow Stars Level 3 - 5.
EXPLORE! PLAY ALL OVER THE MOUNTAIN!
REFERENCES:
ACA LTAD Alpine Ski Training Focus Matrix
ACA LTAD Para-Alpine Progression Matrix
ACA LTAD Ski Cross Progression Matrix
ACA LTAD Speed Development Progression Matrix
TACTICAL FOCUS
IN THE WINTER MONTHS, SKI RACERS SHOULD STRIVE TO ATTAIN A MINIMUM OF 60+ DAYS ON SNOW BY PARTICIPATING IN A STRUCTURED SKI PROGRAM AND SKI WITH PARENTS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TO INCREASE MILEAGE. SKI RACERS SEEKING THE COMPETITIVE PATHWAY SHOULD COMPLETE MORE THAN THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM.
- Have fun while challenging ski racers to develop and maintain their fundamental technical skiing skills in a variety of course configurations and terrain.
- Ski racers are encouraged to be challenged to use the whole mountain as their playground and explore every terrain feature.
- Make the whole run count every time; when setting drill courses, set multiple environments on one trail if possible.
- Introduce basic tactics in slalom and open, rhythmical/arrthymical giant slalom.
- Set courses through rolling terrain where ski racers need to turn over rolls and generate speed; ski fall-away turns.
- Introduction to "small & medium" terrain park features. The terrain becomes progressively bigger (10m distance w/1m above ground flight).
- Ski racers participate in simple lead/follow drills.
- Skiing in various terrain in a variety of environments, start training with moderate to steep start ramp angle.
- Introduce basic tactics in slalom and open rhythmical/arrthythmical giant slalom with rolling terrain.
- Introduce the concept of gliding and glide turns with Super-G courses to promote comfort at speed and get a little "wind in the face".
- Change training venues as often as possible to add variation and fun!
Ski racers should be encouraged to train in a variety of environments including:
- In-house "mini competition" or skills events.
- Dual "head to head" events.
- Giant slalom/slalom courses (panels, brushes, stubby and tall gates).
- Rhythmical and arrhythmical giant slalom courses.
- Kinder Kombi Ski Cross in a variety of terrain environments, courses should include a simple spine feature.
- Kinder kombi giant slalom/super-g
- Brush courses through small rollers or waves.
- Ski moguls and off-piste terrain.
- Train with little to no inspection, less than 10 minutes.
- Aim to complete as many runs as possible each training session.
Focus on versatility and the competitive play elements of the Snow Stars program.
- Ski racers practice turn shape, looking ahead, and the control and generation of speed through simple "lead/follow" drills in the free ski environment.
- Ski side-hills, through gullies, rollers, and small terrain park features to continue the development of athleticism and physical literacy.
- Introduce Ski Cross, "mini" terrain park features, with small ramp angles.
- Introduce delays and simple combinations in courses.
- All courses should be set accordingly to the ski racers turn radius of their skis.
Ski racers should continue to practice proper starting technique with small start ramp angles to provide skating and poling coordination practice. Race to the first gate!
By the end of the Learn to Train stage, performance is beginning to become more consistent in various demanding environments; ski racers are starting to become more adaptable in a variety of tactical situations
REFERENCES:
ACA LTAD Alpine Ski Training Focus Matrix
ACA LTAD Para-Alpine Progression Matrix
ACA LTAD Ski Cross Progression Matrix
ACA LTAD Speed Development Progression Matrix
Snow Stars Level 3
PDF: The Mobile Skier
Snow Stars Level 4
PDF: The Dynamic Skier
Snow Stars Level 5
PDF: The Versatile Skier
