JACKRABBIT NAME: FUNdamentals JACKRABBIT PROGRAM MY TRAIL ETIQUETTE PROMISE If I practise good trail etiquette it will make skiing more fun for everyone! I will call out “track” or move to the left and go around slower skiers when I overtake them. I will move to the right and let faster skiers pass when they come up behind me. I will pass to the right if I meet another skier head on. I will move to the side and wait until the other skier passes if a trail is too narrow for two skiers. I will remember that skiers coming down a hill have the right of way. If I need to stop, or if I fall, I will move off the trail to allow clear passage for other skiers. I will move off the trail if I want to visit with my ski-friends. I will not take my pets on the ski trails unless the trail has been designated for use by pets (i.e. K-9 trail). I will not litter and I will pack out what I packed in. I will respect the custom and say a friendly ‘hello’ when passing other skiers. I will obey the trail signs and ski in designated areas only. Cover page artwork : Doris Barrette Technique illustrations : Gabrielle Nadeau and Ari Niemi Cross Country Canada Translation : Daniel Gauvreau http://cccski.com 1 LEVEL 1 Ready Position Falling & Rising Side Stepping Star Turn Diagonal Stride Free Glide Herringbone Snowplow Braking WHAT I WILL LEARN AT MY PRACTICE SESSIONS: (Put a check in the appropriate box when you have completed an item.) The outdoors is a wonderful place to be in winter! I can play on skis with my new ski-friends! I will be warmer if I wear mitts (rather than gloves) and keep my toque on! I must never block the ski trail! If I fall, I should get off the track as quickly as possible to clear the way. If I stop on a hill, I must step to the side. I must be careful not to ski over gravel or anything else that could damage the bottom of my skis! How to carry my equipment when I have to carry it myself. I should put my skis and poles where they won’t be stepped on when they are not in use! How to store my skis after I have been skiing. I should take a snack in a waist pack when I go skiing – a multi-grain bar, dry fruit and nut mix (gorp), or a couple of cookies. And of course, I must carry out all garbage. How to compare types of snow: crystals and grains. I learned that the points on snow crystals interlock. I learned that a snowflake is frozen water in the air! I need to practise my ski technique more than once a week in order to become a good skier! 2 TECHNIQUE AWARD #1 In general, poles should not be used and assessed on packed, flat terrain. Tips are kept quite wide apart (in a when these skills are introduced. The skier stands relaxed in the Ready “V” shape). Arms swing comfortably. Position, with skis parallel and arms The skier completes five steps with Ready Position away from the body for balance. each leg. The skier stands on flat terrain with The skier places his/her weight on arms slightly forward and to the side the left ski. The skier then lifts up the Free Glide for balance. Skis are kept parallel. right knee and places the right ski This technique should be practised The body is upright, but relaxed. back down with the tips about 20-30 and assessed on a gentle downhill Knees and ankles are relaxed and cm apart, keeping the tails together. slope that is packed but not too hard slightly bent. The skier remains in this The skis form a “pizza slice.” The left or icy. The skier starts at the top of position for several seconds. ski is then moved parallel to the right the hill in the Ready Position; the ski. This is repeated until a full circle body is generally upright, knees and Falling and Rising is completed. Repeat in the opposite ankles are relaxed and slightly bent. The skier glides down the hill without direction. On flat terrain and packed Hands are kept forward. Skis are kept poles, and falls to the side and back snow, the skier can repeat the parallel. The skier is able to glide three in a sitting motion. Skis and legs above points, but keeping the tips metres down the slope maintaining are kept together. Skis are brought together and positioning the tails the Ready Position. together, side by side and under 20-30 cm apart. the body, on the downhill side of the Snowplow Braking body and perpendicular to the fall line Diagonal Stride – Running Step If the skier can demonstrate a stable (the path a ball would take if it rolled In the progression of the Diagonal Ready Position moving down a down the hill). The skier moves on to Stride, this step is called the “running gentle slope, he/she is ready to be his/her hands and knees, edges the step.” It is practised and assessed on introduced to Snowplow Braking on skis and stands up with minimal or no flat terrain with set tracks. The skier a similar slope. The skier makes a assistance. slides his/her skis down the track, wedge by spreading the tails of the “walking” down the track on the balls skis apart (the tips come together). Side Stepping of the feet with some ankle and knee The skier controls speed by adjusting The skier stands on the flat at the start bend. There is some glide onto the the size of the wedge and edging the of a packed, gentle slope with skis forward ski as the skier pushes off. skis. The pressure (braking) on each perpendicular to the fall line. Arms There is a “jogging-like” action on the ski is fairly equal with minimal turning and hands are forward and to the side balls of the feet, with glide onto the to one side. The skier maintains the for balance. The skier places his/her forward ski. After the skier’s weight is upper body in the Ready Position. weight on the downhill ski and then shifted to the gliding ski, the pushing lifts the uphill ski placing it 10 to 20 ski momentarily comes off the snow cm uphill from the original position. at the end of the push. Arms swing The downhill ski is then placed beside comfortably. the uphill ski. Skis are kept parallel. Repeat for five repetitions. The skier Herringbone must be able to travel up the slope This technique should be practised using five side steps. and assessed on a gentle slope that is packed, but not too hard Technique Star Turn or icy. The skier steps up a gentle Award #1 This technique should be practised slope, alternating arms and legs. Place sticker here! A year-end Report Card will evaluate your progress and indicate whether you have earned your first Technique Award. The Report Card will be provided by either your Coach or Programmer. 3 LEVEL 2 Diagonal Stride Double Poling Free Glide Herringbone Kick Turn Snowplow Stop Snowplow Turn WHAT I WILL LEARN AT MY PRACTICE SESSIONS: (Put a check in the appropriate box when you have completed an item.) My ski group, or “team”, has a lot of fun when we ski together. How to put my skis on and slip into my pole straps correctly. I must be careful of pole tips at all times. The different purposes of glide wax and grip wax. I should yield and give the right of way to faster skiers coming down a hill by promptly moving to the side of the trail. I can ask “TRACK” if I overtake another skier when I am skiing up a hill. I need a full breakfast before I go skiing. Cereals, muesli, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, muffins, whole-wheat bread, peanut butter, eggs, fruits and yogurt are some good choices. I should take my water bottle when I go skiing because it is important to drink lots, especially during exercise. Good technique will help me to ski fast. Relays, sprints and similar speed “games” are a lot of fun! It is important to get my muscles “warmed up” before skiing fast, playing games or practising skills that require quick movements. Play time on snow, including frequent use of a terrain park/ski playground, will help me become a better skier. 4 TECHNIQUE AWARD #2 Poles will be used when learning/ the arms to the rear. The legs remain applying equal pressure on the inside practising some of the following skills. fairly straight, but not rigid, through all edges of the skis (rolling inward with phases of the movement. the ankles) the skier is able to safely Diagonal Stride – Gliding Step reduce speed to a full stop. At this In the progression of the Diagonal Free Glide level the skier may require some Stride this step is the called the Follow the steps outlined in Level 1, assistance. “gliding step.” Some glide occurs with but this time the pole handles should each stride. The skier lifts the skis be down in front of the body with the Half-Snowplow Braking. The skier off the snow when kicking; there is a tips angled behind, so that the pole Free Glides down an easy to weight transfer about 50% of the time, shaft is generally angled down and moderate hill.