August 21, 2016 Revised Edition |
THE CHART |
Certainty Training for Alpine Ski Instruction |
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MINUS –
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MID
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PLUS
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Vertical Drop Turns
66-∞° CLASS J
Average Master
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J–3 Pre-Jump Retract Air Pivot
J–2 Pre-Jump Retract Drop Off
J–1 Tracking X-over Long Swing
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J•3
Cornice Foot Push Air Pivot
J•2
Pole Pivot Cornice Drop Off
J•1 Check
Extend Check X-over Wedel
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J+3 Up & Forward Contract Pivot
J+2 Up & Forward Contract
J+1 Extend X-over Short Swing
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Snap Cross-over Turns
55-78° CLASS I 
Basic Master
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I–3 Tracking Carve X-over Pivot
I–2 Tracking Carve Edge X-over
I–1 Sliding Jet Pivot Long Swing
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I•3 Extend Edge X-over Pivot
I•2 Extend Check Edge X-over
I•1 Check X-over Hop Wedel
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I+3 Extend Hook X-over Pivot
I+2 Extension Hook X-over
I+1 Jet Rebound Short Swing
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Cross-Over Carve Turns
45-66° CLASS H
Advanced Expert
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H–3 Sliding Jet Extend Pivot
H–2 Counter-Carve Sliding Jet
H–1 Counter-Carving Mambo
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H•3 Check Crossover Air Pivot
H•2 Check Bounce Crossover
H•1 Check Bounce Hop Wedel
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H+3 Jet Rebound Air Pivot
H+2 Counter-Carve Jet Rebound
H+1 Hook Rebound Short Swing
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Counter-Carve Turns
36-55° CLASS G
Average Expert
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G–3 Counter-Carve Pivot Turn
G–2 Counter-Carve From F/L
G–1 Leg Extending Serpentine
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G•3 Check Bounce Air Pivot
G•2 Check Edge Bounce Hop
G•1 Dual Pole Ruade Wedel
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G+3 Hook Rebound Air Pivot
G+2 Hook Carve Rebound
G+1 Angulation-Carve Godille
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Angulation-Carve Turns
28-45° CLASS F
Tentative Expert
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F–3 Rock & Draw Extend Pivot
F–2 Extension Grip Carve
F–1 Visage Pivot Long Swing
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F•3 Dual Pole Ruade Air Pivot
F•2 Dual Pole Rock & Retract
F•1 Wide Track Pole Wedel
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F+3 Angulation-Carve Parallel
F+2 Angulation-Carve Pivot
F+1 Pressure Pivot Short Swing
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Parallel Christies
21-36° CLASS E
Advanced Intermediate
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E–3 Fall Line Visage Parallel
E–2 Pivot Slip Facing Fall Line
E–1 Stem Christie Long Swing
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E•3 Abstem Pivot Parallel Turn
E•2 Abstem Pole Plant Pivot
E•3 Stem Christy Check Wedel
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E+3 Pressure Pivot Parallel Turn
E+2 Pressure Angulation Pivot
E+1 Grip-Carve Linked Pedaling
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Stem Christies
15-28° CLASS
D
Average Intermediate
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D–3 Lifted Stem Christie
D–2 Thrust-Match Checking
D–1 Open Christy Long Swing
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D•3 Lateral Slip Stem Christie
D•2 Maintain Lateral Sideslip
D•1 Abstem Lift-Match Wedel
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D+3 Grip-Carve Stem Christie
D+2 Grip-Carve Christie Stop
D+1 Skid-Carve Linked Pedaling
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Wedge Christies
10-21° CLASS
C
Novice Intermediate
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C–3 Steered Wedge Christie
C–2 Open Steered Christie Stop
C–1 Tele-Steering A-Slope Flush
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C•3 Lifted-Stem Wedge Christy
C•2 Lifted-Stem Christie Stop
C•1 Single Stem Brake Wedel
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C+3 Skid-Carve Wedge Christie
C+2 Skid-Carve Christie Stop
C+1 Link Weight Steered Turns
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Wedge Turns
6-15°
CLASS B
Advanced Beginner
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B–3 Twin-Match Tele-Stemturn
B–2 Tele-Steered Wedge Stop
B–1 Traverse Sidestep Figure 8
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B•3 Push-Match Ab-Stemturn
B•2 Fore & Aft Abstem Brake
B•1 Dual Tip Steer 5 Turn Flush
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B+3 Lift-Match Weight Stemturn
B+2 Weight Steered Wedge Stop
B+1 Wedge Width Change-ups
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Straight Run & Wedge
3-10°
CLASS A
Average Beginner
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A–3 1-Ski-On St. Run Skid Stops
A–2 1-Ski-On Skid @ Cloverleaf
A–1 1-Ski-On Glide Level Flush
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A•3 Dual Tip Steer 3 Turn Flush
A•2 Straight Run Active Stance
A•1 5 Step Zigzag Climb Incline
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A+3 Straight Gliding Wedge
A+2 Fore & Aft Abstem Gliding
A+1 Backward Wedge Turning
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Climb & Glide
1-6° Kid CLASS
K
Cautious Beginner
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K–3 1-Ski Traverse Brush Stop
K–2 1-Ski-On Mod Glide Groove
K–1 5 Kick-Step Zigzag Climbing
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K•3
Forward Sidestep Climb
K•2
Traverse Stem Stop Incline
K•1
Diagonal Slide Level Flush
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K+3 Straight Run A-Slope Loop
K+2 Backward Stem Stopping
K+1 Dual Pole Glide Level Flush
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Step & Slide
0-3° Kid CLASS
P
Preschool, Ages 3-5
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P–3 Kick-Step Climb Fall Line
P–2 Step In-Out Cloverleaf Tires
P–1 Scuff Snow Thru Level Flush
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P•3 1-Ski-On Sidestep Climb
P•2 1-Ski-On Brief Glide Groove
P•1 1-Ski-On Slide Level Flush
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P+3 2-Pole Glide Level Terrain
P+2 Step-slide around Cloverleaf
P+1 2-Skis-On Slide Level Flush
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Assisted Skiing
0-1° Kid CLASS T
Toddler, Ages 1-3
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T–3 Jog Through Level Flush
T–2 Step Over Skis In A Row
T–1 Indoor Scuff-a-Flush In Sox
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T•3
Alt. Pole Climb Astride Skis
T•2
Alternate Pole Walk Fig. 8
T•1
Alternate Pole Walk Flush
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T+3 Leash Assisted, Lift Skiing
T+2 Pulled About Steering Skis
T+1 1-Ski-On Walk Level Flush
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Long (Radius)
Swings
Gradual Direction Change
No pole, gentle up-down & fore-aft action
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(Minimal Radius) Wedeln
Smallest Direction Change
Strong pole, up-down & fore-aft action
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(Mid Radius)
Short Swings
Substantial Direction Change
Moderate pole, up-down & fore-aft action
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This codification of Alpine Skiing, begun in 1980, will always be a work in progress.
Copyright © Bill Briggs 2016
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EXPLAINING THE CHART
↖ In the Class Levels Column, each box lists:
Type of Technique
Class Letter & Symbol
Ability Level
Definition Ability – The capacity to perform a skill.
Definition Skill – A practical, learned activity.
These 3 other Columns consist of Grades:
↖ Minus Grades – The simplest way to ski each Level.
↑ Mid Grades • Speed control for that Class of Slope.
↗ Plus Grades + Skiing fast enough for the next Class.
Each Grade has three Stages:
1. Prior Maneuver Rhythmic 2. Major Skill 3. Maneuver
Every Grade uses this Three Stage System of Instructing.
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