Blue Rotary Exercises

Ski

360 Flatland (Whirly Birds)

Terrain

Flat, groomed medium blue terrain

Activity

Series or linked 360 degree slips completed in both directions.

Emphasis

Staying close to the fall line, maintain a consistent speed.

Notes

Tags

blue balance, blue steering, blue pressure, blue edging, black balance, black edging, black pressure, black steering

Catch and Release

Terrain

Moderate, Green or Blue, Groomed

Activity

With skis pointing across the fall line, do a diagonal side slip. When comfortable, end the side slip with a clean traverse. Then back to a diagonal side slip, and back to a clean traverse.

Emphasis

Uphill lead ski,

skis remain parallel at all times,

skis keep same distance from each other,

skis remain across the fall line at all times.

Notes

you can analyze many errant body position and balance errors with this exercise to determine what the student needs to work on.

Tags

blue balance, blue edging, blue pressur,e blue steering, black balance, black edging, black pressure, black steering, green edging, green Balance, green pressure

Cowboy Turns

Terrain

Gentle to moderate

Activity

Make super -wide- stance turns

Emphasis

Independent leg rotation

Notes

Tags

blue steering, black steering

Edge Change on Flexion

Terrain

Blue groomed, wide with light traffic

Activity

While doing turns edge change happens with a flexion rather than extension.

Emphasis

Rotation is at a consistent pace. Edge change is at most flexed point.

Rider should be smallest at transition tallest at apex.

Notes

Should feel like the skis cross under you instead of you crossing over the skis.

Tags

blue pressure, blue tilt, blue pivot, black pressure, black tilt, black pivot

Garlands

Terrain

Gentle to moderate

Activity

Facing across the hill, start a turn until, then turn back before turn finishes. Progressively increase how far the start of turn goes (until close to fall line) before turning back.

Emphasis

This can be used for many kinds of turns. You can emphasis the initiation phase of the turn (with a different exercise) or the finish phase of the turn, depending on the need of the class.

Notes

This exercise can be used in conjunction with many other exercises. It is the go-to platform for helping an instructor simplify a concept by breaking it down into different parts of the turn.

Tags

green balance, green edging, green pressure, blue balance, blue edging, blue pressure, black balance, black edging, black pressure

Hockey Stops

Terrain

Beginner groomed terrain that is even from side to side, without sidehill or fall-away.

Activity

Skier starts in a straight run down the fall-line

• Skis remain hip-width

• After 9 meter straight run, both skis are pivoted

• Skier comes to a complete stop

• The task is performed in each direction

Emphasis

This maneuver develops leg rotation; the ability to turn the lower body independently of the upper body.

Notes

Tags

blue steering, black steering, blue edging, black edging

Pivot Slips

Terrain

Intermediate groomed terrain with a consistent fall-line.

Activity

Go straight down the fall-line followed by rotation of both skis simultaneously in one direction until skis are perpendicular to the fall-line followed by a sideslip. The skis are then rotated in the opposite direction to a sideslip followed by a stop.

• Start in a straight run down the fall-line

• Skis are maintained at hip width throughout the drill

• When skier is up to speed, both skis are pivoted across the fall-line

• A sideslip will be maintained for 6 vertical meters in the imaginary ski-width corridor down the fall-line

• Without losing a substantial amount of speed in the vertical sideslip the skis are again pivoted, this time in the opposite direction for 6 vertical meters in the corridor

* Two left and two right sideslips are performed

* The skier concludes with an edge set that is timed with a pole touch and holds stopped position for 3 seconds

Emphasis

Skier stays within a ski-width corridor without deviation from the fall-line through entire drill

Skis are pivoted simultaneously

Hip width stance in all phases of the drill

Skier loses a minimal amount of speed during the sideslips

Pole plant coincides with edge set at conclusion of drill

Notes

Entire drill is done within an unmarked ski-width corridor down the fall-line

Tags

blue balance, blue edging, blue pressure, blue steerin,g black balance, black edging, black pressure, black steering

Side Slips

Terrain

Gentle to moderate

Activity

While standing in traverse position, move knees downhill to flatten skis so they slide.

Emphasis

Make sure the sliding direction is down the fall line (may need to adjust pressure or steering) This shows how they can control their speed.

Notes

Can be used to get down a steep slope.

Tags

green balance, green edging, green pressure, blue balance, blue edging, blue pressure, black balance, black edging, black pressure

Side Step

Terrain

Gentle Groomed green

Activity

Step sideways uphill one foot at a time.

Emphasis

Use uphill edges, move entire ski with each step.

Notes

Tags

green balance, green edging, green pressure, blue balance, blue edging, blue pressure, black balance, black edging, black pressure

Skating

Terrain

Works best to teach skating on flatter terrain.

Activity

With tips apart and tails together, push off from one ski and glide on the other. Forward movement is made as the skier pushes back and forth from one ski to the other.

Emphasis

With tips apart and tails together, push off from one ski and glide on the other. Forward movement is made as the skier pushes back and forth from one ski to the other.

Notes

Tags

blue balance, blue edging, blue pressure, blue steering, black balance, black edging, black pressure, black steering

Stork Turns

Terrain

Terrain varies based on ability

Activity

Start by lifting tail of uphill ski in a traverse. Finish the traverse with a J turn to a stop.Increase the traverse angle until they are starting down the fall line and turn to a stop with inside tail lifted. Gradually increase to a full turn, lifting the tail at the end of the turn.Advanced: lift the tail through the entire turn.

Emphasis

Emphasize balance, forward pressure, upper/lower separation.

Notes

Watch for skiers balance and body positioning. This is a vary versatile exercise that can be used to help correct many issues dealing with body position, stance, balance, early weight transfer and many more.

Tags

green balance, green edging, green pressure, blue balance, blue edging, blue pressure, black balance, black edging, black pressure

Thumper Turns

Terrain

Gentle, flat, appropriate for skill level

Activity

While doing J turns, have student lift and replace inside ski. Increase the arc of the J turn gradually until the students are make complete turns while lifting and replacing inside ski.

Emphasis

Emphasis is on balance, counter, body stance, speed control.

Notes

This is a great exercise for helping to aid students into the transition to parallel from wedge turns. It can be used in combination with other exercises such as garlands.

Tags

green balance, green edging, green pressure, green steering, blue balance, blue edging, blue pressure, blue steering

Traverse Side Step

Terrain

Wide, groomed, moderate to steep

Activity

While in a traverse, have skiers step uphill with uphill ski, then match it with downhill ski.

Emphasis

Emphasize using edges to avoid slipping sideways while keeping skis parallel with each step.

Notes

Be aware of skiers body position. If they are having trouble they are probably not counter enough with the upper body. Its a good test for exposing poor body position.

Tags

blue balance, blue edgin,g blue pressure, blue steering, black balance, black edging, black pressure, black steering