TECHNICAL FOCUS

Skiers 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 environments. 

• Ankles flexed (tension) resulting in shin pressure with knees driving towards the ski tips. Shin pressure allows the hips (COM) to be in the best position for success.
• Parallel skis with hip to shoulder width stance.
• Everything is inline including the ski tips, bindings, knees, shoulders.
• Hips are perpendicular to the skis. 
• Body movement between turns and over terrain is forward, moving with the skis through transitions.
• Skiers are proficient at weight transfer between symmetrical turns to enable the ski racer to carve on the outside ski. 
• Skiers 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 be disciplined. 
• Skiers should practice carving turns outside ski to outside ski and one ski skiing to refine and maintain 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.
• Skiers learn to control and generate speed through the use of different turn shapes, short and long radius turns, on all types of terrain. 
• Skiers continue to perform technical free ski skills with control and rhythm in a variety of different environments.
• Changing one variable from one run to another adds contrast and allows drill repetition without repeating.
• Skiers maintain their tucking, gliding and jumping skills over natural terrain, small platform jumps, terrain park and ski cross features.
• Focusing on maintaining a good technical skiing foundation is a required component of the skiers training program. Frequent technical free ski sessions are encouraged. 

Time on snow should include structured and unstructured training environments, depending on individual desire and the ability of the skier.

• Technical free ski drill sessions.
• Skiing in the bumps, steeps, terrain park, SX course and off-piste slopes.
• Time on snow should help promote the maintenance of athleticism and physical literacy in the areas of kinesthetic and spatial awareness, adaptability, decision making (athletic intelligence), balance, coordination and agility. 

TACTICAL FOCUS

The tactical focus at this stage transitions towards avoidance of injury through proper prevention including the maintenance of fitness. For skiers who are focused on coaching, they are focusing passing on their knowledge and experience to developing ski racers. 

Ski racers who are participating in Master's ski racing will focus on maintaining and generating speed through the adjustment of line and the application of their technical skiing skills.