Novice Zone/Level 1 Applied Skills
Activity Description
Series of linked parallel turns of varied sizes and shapes on green terrain with small bumps, ungroomed, or slightly rumpled snow. The skier controls speed through turn shape.
Why This Activity Will Be Useful:
While developing fundamental skiing skills and movements when exploring groomed terrain is fun for new and novice skiers, the exhilaration of skiing powder and gentle variable terrain adds excitement and opens up more of the mountain to the skier.
How The Body Moves (CAUSE):
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Flexion/extension movements of legs facilitate edge change and move body forward and diagonal to move with the path of the skis
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Lateral tipping/rolling movements of the feet/ankles through turn transitions flattens, releases, and changes the edges to allow guiding of ski tips into the fall line
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Upper body angulation allows the upper body to counter-balance the lower body tipping/edging movements and direct pressure to the outside ski
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Both legs turn in the hip sockets under stable upper body to control turn size and shape, rate and intensity of the legs turning controls turn shape and controls speed
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Pole swing and touch enhances rhythm, flow, and timing
Flexion and extension of joints allows for adequate pressure control in response to terrain variations
What The Skis Do (EFFECT):
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Skis maintain parallel relationship and consistent stance width in most turns
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Skis tip at similar rate and time in most turns
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Skis turn at similar rate and time in most turns
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Pivot point is near the center of each ski
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Skis maintain contact with snow when appropriate
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Turn shape controls speed
Where – choose a safe low traffic area for this activity
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Green and blue terrain, may be small bumps or slightly rumpled snow conditions
See a Video of this Activity
Teaching/Learning Cues
Developing an adventurous mindset is helpful for skiing variable terrain. Skiers begin to experience sudden, but subtle, shifts in pressure as a result of the terrain. How the skis interact with the snow when tipping and turning in response to soft, crud, or rolling snow and terrain encountered can be unsettling at first.
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Begin by exploring the least variable snow conditions and terrain available
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Find an area that has a groomed area with ungroomed/variable conditions right beside it. Do a series of turns on the groomed snow, and then move into the variable snow.
Repeat. Blend into one turn on the groomed, one on the variable. This terrain provides

the perception of an escape route, which makes many skiers feel more confident to explore new situations.
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D.I.R.T. cues: the skier may be tempted to alter the rate, intensity, timing, or duration of movements when new terrain is encountered. Use breathing, counting, or corridor drills to encourage the skier to continue to utilize effective movements and turn shape tactics in the new terrain.