Aims and content
The students are grouped according to levels, based on the number of years they have been doing freeriding.
Aims
- To create a pleasant, optimal atmosphere for students to feel comfortable and motivated for the new season.
- To acquire the necessary technical knowledge to enjoy freeriding safely and independently.
- To learn to read the ground.
- To take and perfect turns on a gradient.
- To start and/or improve acrobatics (jumps, backflips, etc.).
- To learn to assess risk, whether alone or in a group.
- To trust and respect the group leader on a descent.
- To become familiar with and understand the safety equipment (shovel, arva, probe).
- Respect for team members and the trainer, as well as for the mountain environment.
Content
Communication and collaboration between all members of the group.
- Active participation within the group and tolerance of other team members.
Understanding of the environment.
- Mountain conditions, weather conditions and their impact on the snow.
- Characteristics and types of snow.
- Types of avalanche and their characteristics. How to act and rescue techniques.
Advanced-level technique for skiing on slopes.
- Performance of exercises to improve each technical element.
- Performance of additional exercises applied to each technical aspect in the different phases of turning.
- Control of speed.
Technique for skiing off-slope: exercises and practice on untouched snow.
- Working on the three phases for safe freeride turning.
- Navigating and improving on a gradient.
- Jumping and speed as a safety measure.
- Orientation and anticipation with the freeride skier flexing/extending.
How to prepare for a descent.
- Safe descents and exposed areas.
- Assessment of the difficulties and escape routes.
Assessment of the descent.
- Descent lines.
- Assessment of personal skills and the group’s skills.
- Risk assessment.
- Advance safety protocols.
Recordings and corrections on different descents.
- Video correction for correcting errors on descents.
Working on different acrobatics on the slope, on Peretol, or on the 360º.
- Starting and/or improving the backflip.
- Jumping from rocks and controlling it.
Visiting some of the resort’s departments to find out how the mountain is made safe.
- Depending on availability, opportunity to see how the PIDA (Avalanche Intervention Plan) is created.
- Finding out about the weather forecast reports.