COACHING BRIEFS
Reality tells us that total perfection is a phantom out there somewhere just beyond mortal man’s reach. However, if you are looking to reach a level of excellence in your skiing, you better be chasing perfection! Serious athletes search for that perfect blend of skills, which will allow them to establish a rhythm, linking turns down a mountain through a race course.
Coaches work to develop independent competitors who are confident enough to exploit a variety of turns over varied terrain, and to ski aggressively, while using their own judgment. Coaches consider the following items when training is being planned:
- Teaching Skills:
- Drills should be sequential and enhance skills.
- Progressions blend together drill sequences, moving toward a discipline--SL, GS, SG and DH.
- Free skiing should encompass all terrains and snow conditions.
- Gate training sets up race situations.
- Must Factors:
- Be creative when planning practices for pre-season or on-snow.
- Keep practices moving.
- Don’t be afraid to work on ‘basics’.
- Teach competitors how to make individual adjustments and work on areas of weakness on their own.
- Practices:
- Should be organized and task oriented.
- Include warm-ups that are event specific.
- Introduce situations that enhance learning and encourage independence.
- The main body of a practice should be dynamic.
- Always include a balance of free skiing and gate training.