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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Hey Ski Instructors

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VT_scratch
Posts: 8842 - Karma: 6,668
I'm looking for some advice on teach people to ski.

Im volunteering tomorrow to help some disabled people, mentally or physically, how to ski for a few hours.

I've never really had to teach someone how to ski, only how to do tricks and build off their foundation. Any advice?

There must be something you learned in your instructing courses that you found helpful?

PIZZA, no french fries!

cheers
12 years ago
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
Yooo should've hit me up man! I did this for a few months in grade 12, only physical disabilities though.

If there are other instructors around try to get as much info about the disabilities the kids have and how they work, sometimes you're going to have to get them all doing different things to acheive the same result. Really depends on what you're working with. Try to think about what result you want (ie, more forward pressure, keeping their eyes up, balance stuff), and then try to think about how you can work with their disability to get the result.

You'll probably have kids with CP (cerebral palsy), and maybe a couple amputees. When I was doing this instructing I had like 4 kids with CP. The sit-skiers and blind guys will be working with other people with more experience most likely.
Also keep in mind that kids with CP can have a lot of different levels of impairment, some have almost a full range of motion and some severely reduced. As a result of this though, stuff like running and skating and jumping can be much more difficult for them, and they might tire out more quickly because they have to do a lot more work to move certain parts of their body.

hope that helped, it was a few years ago though and I only did it for a couple months.
Super rewarding experience fo sho, I know a couple of the kids I coach are still skiing, one is racing on the Alberta team and another goes out like every weekend. Have fun man! It'll blow your mind haha.

Who are you working with, CADS?
12 years ago
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 883
you are going to have a rough time.

just make sure you're really clear with what you want people to do/where to go. make sure they know exactly what they're trying to do as well. don't focus on more than 1 main thing in a run/part of a run.

there is a lot of stuff that's important but I dunno just download some manuals from instructor organizations and stuff.
12 years ago
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clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
patience, the little things matter my dude
12 years ago
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llambert
Posts: 1005 - Karma: 81
Don't take it too seriously try to make sure they have fun
12 years ago
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8842 - Karma: 6,668
sweet. thanks for the posts everyone.

I think they're going to pair me up with only 1 person, and maybe even another instructor who's part of the program, so by no means will it be a daycare haha.

pretty stoked
12 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
also don't take your beginner students on difficult permanently closed runs unless you really really want to tick me off.
12 years ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13215 - Karma: 20,173
Believe it or not, people with disabilities can ski almost as well as normal people. It takes a little longer to teach them. But, remember that fun comes first, physical activity is second and teaching is third. Play lots of games and if your not too sure what you are doing, thats all right. Nobody knows what they are doing the first time.

Have fun man, thats all I can suggest
12 years ago
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Matt_T
Posts: 78 - Karma: 74
Ski down backwards and hold their tips. It helps to have them know the feeling of a successful wedge so when they try to do it on their own, they have something to base it off of.
12 years ago
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b.utters
Posts: 321 - Karma: 99
Here's two things that should help you to get info across to your students easily.

-Present information using the VAK model (Visual, Aural, Kinesthetic)

Visual - Show people what you want them to do. (ski towards them)

Aural - Tel people what they are trying to achieve.

Kinestheric - Give them a feeling to relate to the movement/activity. (i.e. if you are teaching someone to balance on their outside foot in a wedge turn, tell them that they should feel a build up of pressure on the arch of their outside foot.)


-Progress slowly e.g. If you are introducing a parallel turn and want to teach someone how to change edges, work on flattening the ski and then rolling onto the new edge as two separate progressions.

The most important thing though: HAVE FUN AND SKI LOTS!
12 years ago
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HalKK
Posts: 223 - Karma: 367
Can't stress how important this is! Especially if they are kids! They learn when having fun and playing! Try playing different games ect so they don't relise they are actully learning!

Be confident and clear and don't overload them with information. It will be hard work man but you reap what you sow!

I'm a full time ski instructor in the UK so drop me a pm if you want any info on anything man! Good luck!
12 years ago
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
This is a standard progression for a regular class, it will obviously be a little different if they are disabled, but it at least gives you an outline.

Try and always explain, show, and practice (this will address the three large learning styles). Also with kids try and make everything a little game and not really a drill or a practice even though that's what these are.

1. Check (usually means tighten) everyone's boots so that they are snug but comfortable
2. basic stretches/balance exercises: stand on one foot, stand on the other foot, repeat while having them rotate their foot back and forth, have them go on tip-toes/heels, have them get in "athletic" stance, like at a free throw line: knees bent, but not leaning too far forward or too far back while also not standing too straight up or bent over too far.
3.have them put on one ski and try and skate (perpendicular to the fall line) across the slope. Have them switch skis and do it with the other foot.
4. with only one ski on have them practice "brushing" the snow or "spreading the snow" with the foot with the ski on (to prepare for making a pizza shape).
5. Demonstrate and have them practice sliding a few feet from "french fry" to "pizza" or "pie"

That's probably all you will have time for, if they even get through all of that.

Next steps would be to have them practice wedge change-ups where they alternate between going and slowing using the wedge/plow/pizza shape.

Turning usually comes after all of that.

If it's something that you enjoy doing, there are PSIA classes for teaching adults, children, and adaptive skiing.

Let us know how it went.
12 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
To teach well, it's helpful to be a good listener and observer of your student. Everyone's different, just be attentive. Everyone is looking to have a good day, just let it happen!
12 years ago
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anashyo
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 353
hey thats cool! i teach in the adaptive program at my hill, i love it
12 years ago
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