Preparation is Key
TD Corner
by RJ Nichoalds
Winter 2000
By
now, we have all our early season training done and most of our staff is just
about cliniced out. Most of them
just want to be left alone to teach their students and grab a free run whenever
they can. Believe it or not, the
real training is just about to get started.
I think you know what I am referring to, Spring Time Exams!!!
Suddenly
their focus changes from maneuvering a class of beginning and intermediate
students down the mountain, to teaching a group of their peers while two
examiners are watching with a little black book and a microscope.
It really isn’t that bad. Believe
it or not, the examining staff would much rather pass all the candidates, than
give any failing grades.
Here
are a few tips for the TDs and exam candidates:
I
recently ran into an exam candidate who said he had been religious about reading
and understanding his ATM manual and getting up to speed on the Centerline
concepts. When I asked him where he
got his direction, he told me his Training Director.
While these concepts have their place in our history, they are not
foremost on the minds of PSIA National and our current examining staff.
When I asked this person if he had heard of “Efficient and Inefficient
Movement Patterns,” he had no idea. I
also asked him about the Exam guide, again he had no idea.
The bottom line is that there has been a lot of changes in the exam the
last few years and it is very different process than three to four years ago.
The two “required” days for a TD to stay “current,” isn’t
nearly enough to know how to prepare one’s staff for an exam.
Speaking
from experience, I attended 11 PSIA clinics/ academies/ race camps the year I
passed my Level III, and at least five prior to passing my Level II.
After every clinic, I sat in my car jotting down notes from the clinic.
I still have the notebook. By
the time I stepped in front of an examiner, I was educated.
I was on a first name basis with most of the examiners, which put me much
more at ease in what is normally a difficult situation.
UNDERSTAND
BIOMECHANICS OF SKIING
Notice
the bold print. The comment I hear
most from examiners and hear on the hill is that very few people understand the
“body part to skill relationship.” This
means, the ability to see a specific body part move, and understand the skill
that it affects. Know that Balance
and Pressure control movements are defined by, fore, aft, ski-to-ski, and
un-weighting or weight transfer. Rotary
movements are executed with legs, whole body, and various “counter” moves. Edging movements are executed with your ankles, knees, hips,
and whole body. In addition to
knowing what each one of these is, know which is appropriate for the terrain and
task. Also, know which are
“Efficient Movements” and which are “Inefficient Movements.”
Go
Outside the Division
While
I was preparing for my exams, I was also attending United Stated Ski Coaches
Association (USSCA) events. It is always nice to find a different source of information.
Both PSIA and USSCA are working for the same goals, good skiing.
Many
of us are good skiers when we are skiing at speed, but can’t make a slow turn
to save our lives. This is because
we are not tuned in with our lower extremities – ankles, knees and hips.
Learn to make Wedge Turns, Wedge Christies and Basic Parallel turns
really slow and fluid, on really flat terrain, with consistent speed.
Learning these maneuvers slowly will force the education and development
of the smaller muscle groups necessary to make more precise movements at speed.
It will also force correct skeletal alignment to manipulate the ski
accurately.
Find
someone to train with that has the same objectives and goals.
Just like anything else, it is much easier to succeed when working
together as a group.
Too
many people want to know the “key” to passing the exam.
Here it is: know
as much as you can about skiing and ski teaching. Be able to ski every possible piece of appropriate terrain
skillfully. I still like the
definitions provided by John Mohan who was the NW Certification Vice President
from 1976-1990. A “Full Cert”
(now Level III) will have a thorough knowledge of the ATS and be able to
skillfully ski all conditions and all terrain.
An “Associate” (now Level II) instructor will be able to skillfully
ski most blue terrain and groomed black terrain and have a working knowledge of
the ATS. I still believe these
definitions are accurate.
Finally,
go, or send people to the exam seeking a stamp of approval for their current
ability level and knowledge. Don’t
take the exam for the sole purpose of getting better deals on equipment, or just
to have a new pin to wear.
Good
skill to all involved in the certification process.
RJ
Nichoalds is a NW DCL and Tech Team Member.
Comments and questions can be directed to rjncs@earthlink.net.