Teaching Focus for Boarders

Fundamental Movements Replace Skills Concept

by John Tickner, National AASI Team Member

One of the changes that snowboard exam candidates will need to be aware of is the switch from a focus on the "skills concept" to a focus on "fundamental movements." We need to be able to describe the specific movements a rider makes, as well as the timing, duration and intensity of those movements, when analyzing a rider’s performance.

The idea of the four skills is still a useful one when referring to the interaction of the board and the snow. It’s fairly easy to understand the concept of pressure being applied to or released from the board, or what "edging" looks like from a "board behavior" point of view, but we need to go a bit deeper when describing the movements a rider makes to affect these results.

Actually the process of describing movements is simpler now because we see that the body can really only make two kinds of movements: flexion/extension and rotary movements. Sometimes we will see a combination of these movements in certain joints, like the ankles, hips, and shoulders, but they are easier to see when you are thinking about two movements instead of four skills.

Another way to look at this concept is from an "above and below" perspective. In the middle you have the board. Above, you have the rider making flexion/extension and rotary movements. The movements to perform a single turn from the fall line could be described like this: from a straight glide the rider turns his head to look in the direction of his toe edge. He flexes his ankles and knees as he rotates his hips and torso slightly toward the toe edge. He adjusts the flex-ion in his knees and ankles to maintain a balanced stance, which moves with the board.

Below, you have the results of the rider’s movements on the board. (The board starts in a flat glide. The toe edge is then progressively edged and steered to produce a skid as the rider maintains a balanced stance with subtle fore and aft movements to adjust pressure and maintain dynamic balance during the turn. The board makes a single skidded turn to the toe edge. There is a rotary emphasis, with pressure and edging being very subtle.)

In both examples I have described the same thing - a single skidded turn. In the first example, I used language which is very specific and easily understood by the average Joe taking a lesson. In the second example, only a person with specific training in ATS will really understand what the instructor is saying, and even then there is plenty of room for misunderstanding.

Average Joe requires us to take our time and explain things in a way he can understand. Sometimes it requires more words. Instead of "shift your pressure forward" you might say "Sink down and forward with your hips as you bend your front knee and ankle." It’s a few extra words, but it will help your students to understand and ride better.

You can practice using this with another instructor, or by yourself. The key is to take your time, and really think about the parts of the body. Which ones move the most? How do they move? Are there any other movements going on at the same time? Ask yourself or your partner these questions. Use video. You can watch the same sequence numerous times and concentrate on a different body part each time. Practice talking out loud as you do movement analysis. It’s hard at first but gets easier every time you do it. Once you get a feel for which movements should be going on, you will be better able to recognize when they aren’t.

When you come to your Teaching/Pro knowledge module at the Exams this Spring, be prepared to discuss riding in terms of Fundamental Movements as well as the Skills Concept. If any of this is confusing, GET TO A CLINIC!