A GOOD SKI INSTRUCTOR
KNOW-HOW SKI TECHNIQUE PHOTO: ROBERT BÖSCH
ABOUT SKI INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
SCHIMUNS TOP 5 – MODERN, FUNCTIONAL SKIING
Schimun Grass – Technical Director Ski:
“It’s always fascinating to try and spot the ski instructor from the chairlift simply by his or her style. Everyone has their own way of skiing. It’s all about joy, freedom and energy. The interplay of various factors: Body, equipment and – most importantly of all – the SNOW. After all, without snow there can be no skiing.”
Important elements of teaching correct technique include... 5. You should keep looking forward, and be fully focussed so that you can react immediately to any unevenness. 4. The shoulder joint should stay as horizontal as possible to maintain this balance, with your arms held as naturally as possible in front of you.
3. Your torso and the spine should be tensioned so that your upper body remains stable and is always central over the ski. As soon as your upper body leans too far in and moves the centre of gravity away from the ski, you lose your balance. You are moving at your limit and the maximum tilt angle is a balancing act between an indescribable feeling and a possible fall. In technical terms we talk of “dynamic balance”.
2. Feet, knees and hips should be perfectly aligned, so that the skis can be used to the maximum in various radii. 1. Both skis should be parallel and full of tension.
X Always good: a snow surface with a good grip
TIME SEEMS TO STAND STILL AND YOU BECOME ONE WITH THE SNOW, THE SKI AND YOURSELF. NOTHING MAKES YOU FEEL MORE ALIVE THAN WITHSTANDING THESE FORCES. Alongside technical training, in the next season we will place greater emphasis on the mental and fitness training of snowsports instructors. The best instructor is the one who really understands and assesses his or her guests “properly” and who is fit and up-to-date. BLUES MAGAZIN 19