Browse StagesSkier Essentials
FORM THE FOUNDATION
In the Skier Essentials stage, skiers are still in the discovery stage while they continue to develop individual ski cross skills by exploring ski cross terrain elements.
- Boys 6-9
- Girls 6-8
- Snow Stars 1-5
- Club Level
- Local Club and Inter-club skill events
Ski Cross Considerations
Key Focus
Skiers are forming the foundation through mileage on snow through a ski school or ski club program and skiing with parents.
Age Range
5 to 10 years of age.
Ski Cross Performance Benchmark
Skiers will be consolidating their skiing skills through participation in the Snow Stars Program Levels 1-5 in a variety of terrain environments that match the appropriate challenge level for the individual skier.
Ski Cross Course & Terrain Park Feature Size Recommendations
Skiers will continue to explore and discover small features in terrain parks, and more modest ski cross course terrain features such as bank turns, rollers, spines and small jumps where skiers leave the ground for a short amount of time and distance to develop their body awareness while skiing.
Skiers begin to ski onto boxes and rails with small ramp angles and short drop-offs.
Skiers will begin to practice their ski cross starts using an appropriately sized starting gate with a low ramp angle. Skiers should be encouraged to race their teammates to the first feature on a public ski cross track. Other ski cross games include playing "cat and mouse" or "lead and follow" with another teammate.
Skiers will progress through a jump progression as listed:
- Rolling over small jumps while maintaining snow contact.
- Learning how to "pop" a jump.
- Keep a tuck position over a jump.
- Performing fun tricks (i.e., spread eagle, 180° spins, 360° spins and tail grabs).
At the end of the Skier Essentials stage, skiers should begin to link two terrain features in the terrain park together.
