The first video represents some of my priorities in development of advanced skiers and racers 

Questions you might consider while practicing

• Can you create steep edge angles?
• What type of transition do you use and when: ”up and over”, ”passive retraction”, ”active retraction”, etc.?
• How early can you pressure the ski?
• How do you train recovery?

Warm up run – moderate blue run

• Physical warm up: using full range of movement of the leg muscles – making sure the blood is circulating
• Technical:  my transition  here is classic ”up and over”, but the general posture is  active and hips are staying slightly behind the boots.
• Psychological: comfortable ,confidence building  terrain
• Trying to run the skis clean and to create reasonable edge angles
• Trying to coordinate the range of movements to the intended turn shape

Balance and speed/arc control

• I always try to be 100% on the outside ski – lifting the inside ski is a good drill to develop this habit
• I control my speed by adapting the turn shape/line (by fully completing the turns)…
• or by a ”pivot entry” to shorten the acceleration phase.
• Both methods allow me to carve in the fall line and to maintain desired momentum

The following few videos might help you better prepare for participating in Canadian ski coach certification courses. During the course, you will be evaluated  in your SL and GS turns, but also in your ability to correctly demonstrate some drills from the ”Snow Stars” program.

Below are a few examples of exercises you should be familiar with and able to demonstrate correctly.  Although, at first glance the exercises like Spiess or skiing backward or on one leg might seem to be detached from the ultimate objectives, they develop and challenge the athletic and technical skills: agility, balance, coordination, proprioception and  are  essential while working with young ski racers.

It should be clear that you can as well develop these skills by skiing varied snow conditions;  bumps, glades, snow-park, slopestyle, etc.  In fact that ”randomized” approach will be probably more pleasurable for everyone…

In that case you will use these drills as a periodic gauge to test the efficiency of your approach and to evaluate the progress of your racers. You should know these exercises and understand their function well.

• Rollerblade turns

This is one of the most basic exercises.  On easy terrain, the movement starts with ”rolling ankles”  (pronation/supination) inside the boots, followed by a lateral movement of the knees.  The hips should not be involved.

• Spaghetti legs (hour-glass drill)

Shows refinement of the use of lower articulations, tests your agility and makes you aware of the impact of the width of your stance (especially in the one legged version of this drill).

Relax and start movement with the ankles,  you must not feel any tension in your knees.

• One leg turns

The ability to ski on one leg demonstrates natural balance (balance in all directions), and the ability to steer your foot. It shows agility, coordination and your level of experience.

This skill should be developed symmetrically (left and right leg). Practice on moderate slope – if it feels too easy, keep your hands on your hips.

• 360 on snow – one leg or two legs 

Fore/aft  balance

Proprioception and recovery balance

Edging micro adjustments

Confidence

Braquage

• Movement of COM forward
• Coordination and timing of pole-plant
• Range of movement(-)
• Executed more energetically (with a jump) will give basic version of ”Spiess” and will contribute to mobility, agility, reflexes, etc