Skiing: Games to learn or teach skiing to children – continued

TODAY THE WEDGE!

CHILDREN'S GAMES TO LEARN SKIING

Skiing: Games to learn : Continuing with the basics to teach skiing to children, we will enter the fascinating world of the famous "wedge", which in itself is not braking, but achieving a controlled slide.

Indeed, the "wedge" serves as preparation for all phases, movements and attitudes in skiing because this position is needed for further changes of direction, offering at the same time, a possibility and restricted alternative of braking.

Therefore, the choice of land will need to be very careful. A gentle slope, barely steeper than the one used for direct descent and allowing a wedge of little opening, is essential.

For "Children's Snow White and the vision and state of consciousness of the child, the wedge acquires the terminology of " the little house" in Skiing and Games to learn to ski.

Then and as an orientation, some exercises and games will be specified that, as a method, will serve for the initiation and progress of the children is the "little house".

Ski Exercises: Games to learn

The child will adopt the attitude corresponding to the wedge descent and try to maintain it during the descent: "V" skis with the tails more separated than the tips (the distance between the tips may vary, the important thing is that the two skis remain oblique with respect to the sliding line). Flexion of ankles, knees and trunk, weight distributed on both skis. That is, as in any sport (basketball, rugby, football, tennis, etc.) the "adoption of the basic position of balance" but on the plane of the mountain.

The empathy, the method and the pedagogical processes applied will be fundamental for the child to acquire the basic skills and the adhesion to the introductory work with the skis under a healthy and happy environment.

Games I

1. Streets are drawn with canes. Children are "snow sweeping machines" who must clean the streets. They circulate faster (narrower wedge).

2. Alternate direct descent with wedge descent.

3. Two by two: the back imitates the one that precedes it (alternates direct descent with wedge descent) The same as the previous one of three and four.

4. Wedge turn. Now is when the concept of sliding becomes more important.

More exercises

The following exercises should be performed with a small, heavily sliding wedge. In this state the notion of guiding outdoor skiing will be incorporated.

1. The left ski will be called red and the right blue.

2. Children descend by wedge on the line of maximum slope with their arms open like airplanes and lean slightly to the red side guiding the red ski in a wide curve to the right.

3. We will do the same with blue skiing. The ideal would be to be able to work with a rod but many ski centers prohibit it on slopes.

   

4. We will draw 2 alleys that form wide curves.One alley with blue reeds turns to the left and the other with red reeds to the right. Children must drive the ski corresponding to the color of the alley. The teacher must make use of his creativity to supplant the rods of different colors by other elements in case of not being able to draw in slalom track with wedges.

5. Large curves can be drawn with rings of red and blue colors.These rings will be located on the slope alternately to the right and left. Children should hit them with their skis so that the ski corresponding to the color must be guided to touch them.

Wide slalom:

1. Insist on the directing action of the outer foot.

2. Work with poles since at this stage some children double with parallel skis Gradually increase the difficulty of the slalom.

More games

2. 1. Who can lift outdoor skiing even for a little while.
   2. Two at a time: the front one goes down alternating short and long turns and the one in the back must imitate it.
   3. Indian row rides on donkey backs. As you already use the means of elevation and ski on the slope, it is very important to observe certain precautionary measures.
   4. The use of the helmet is not mandatory in Sierra Nevada, but it should be from the first steps in the snow. We deliver it free with the rental of equipment for children since we consider its use indispensable.
   5. Observe the track and look for the clearest place to make the descent and look frequently towards the mountain to detect the "kamikazes" in time.

There are no shortcuts, if happiness in skiing: see you on the slopes! Until next time!