Coach's Tip of the Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coaches tip of the week: 

A quote from the US Ski Coaches Association training manual.

"Free Ski, Free Ski, Free Ski!
In regard to the development of young ski racers, free skiing may be one of the most important elements.  It is the opinion of the US Ski Team staff that time spent free skiing is one of great value for international level racers, and even more important for developing racers.
Of the many skills tested in any given race, the skills that can be learned and refined through free skiing are of great importance.  Possibly the most important is the ability of the racer to adapt to continually changing conditions: snow, terrain, weather, light, etc.  We cannot think of a better way to enhance this skill than through free skiing in all possible conditions.  Skiing adaptability is not something that is learned quickly.  It requires years of practice, beginning at an early age.
Another aspect of learning available through free skiing is that the technique required for skiing all conditions often develops (with proper coaching) into a very solid foundation for gate skiing.  The opposite is seldom true.
The national "A" and "B" teams ratio of free skiing to gate training is very close to 50/50. 
It is our opinion that each progressively younger age group should have the opportunity to free ski an even greater proportion of the time that they spend on the mountain.  This means skiing every available snow condition, on every conceivable type of terrain, in every unbelievable weather condition.
In other words, FREE SKI, FREE SKI, FREE SKI!  It may not necessarily make the parents happy, until they see the results."

Watch next week for the Coaches Tip of the Week





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