The Chart

The chart forms the basis for the system of instruction, which is instructed in the same way from first-timer to expert. In each grade, skiers acquire a major skill, which makes up a turn that can eventually be performed rhythmically. Each major skill is broken down into simple, specific, doable pieces. Once the skier has mastered each little piece on the appropriate terrain, she is then able to put the pieces together and do the major skill. By taking small steps and building upon success, skiers are motivated to continue skiing and to continue learning.

August 21, 2016
Revised Edition
THE CHART Certainty Training for
Alpine Ski Instruction


GRADES


MINUS  


MID 


PLUS  


Vertical Drop Turns


66-∞°  CLASS  J   


Average Master


J3 Pre-Jump Retract Air Pivot


J2 Pre-Jump Retract Drop Off


J1 Tracking X-over Long Swing


J3
Cornice Foot Push Air Pivot


J2
Pole Pivot Cornice Drop Off


J1 Check
Extend Check X-over Wedel


J+3 Up & Forward Contract Pivot


J+2 Up & Forward Contract


J+1 Extend X-over Short Swing


Snap Cross-over Turns


55-78°  CLASS  I   


Basic Master


I3 Tracking Carve X-over Pivot


I2 Tracking Carve Edge X-over


I1 Sliding Jet Pivot Long Swing


I3 Extend Edge X-over Pivot


I2 Extend Check Edge X-over


I1 Check X-over Hop Wedel


I+3 Extend Hook X-over Pivot


I+2 Extension Hook X-over


I+1 Jet Rebound Short Swing


Cross-Over Carve Turns


45-66°  CLASS  H
  


Advanced Expert


H3 Sliding Jet Extend Pivot


H2 Counter-Carve Sliding Jet


H1 Counter-Carving Mambo


H3 Check Crossover Air Pivot


H2 Check Bounce Crossover


H1 Check Bounce Hop Wedel


H+3 Jet Rebound Air Pivot


H+2 Counter-Carve Jet Rebound


H+1 Hook Rebound Short Swing


Counter-Carve Turns


36-55°  CLASS  G
     


Average Expert


G3 Counter-Carve Pivot Turn


G2 Counter-Carve From F/L


G1 Leg Extending Serpentine


G3 Check Bounce Air Pivot


G2 Check Edge Bounce Hop


G1 Dual Pole Ruade Wedel


G+3 Hook Rebound Air Pivot


G+2 Hook Carve Rebound


G+1 Angulation-Carve Godille


 Angulation-Carve Turns


28-45°   CLASS  F
  


Tentative Expert


F3 Rock & Draw Extend Pivot


F2 Extension Grip Carve


F1 Visage Pivot Long Swing


F3 Dual Pole Ruade Air Pivot


F2 Dual Pole Rock & Retract


F1 Wide Track Pole Wedel


F+3 Angulation-Carve Parallel


F+2 Angulation-Carve Pivot


F+1 Pressure Pivot Short Swing


Parallel Christies


21-36°   CLASS  E 
 


Advanced Intermediate


E3 Fall Line Visage Parallel


E2 Pivot Slip Facing Fall Line


E1 Stem Christie Long Swing


E3 Abstem Pivot Parallel Turn


E2 Abstem Pole Plant Pivot


E3 Stem Christy Check Wedel


E+3 Pressure Pivot Parallel Turn


E+2 Pressure Angulation Pivot


E+1 Grip-Carve Linked Pedaling


Stem Christies


15-28°  CLASS 
D     


Average Intermediate


D3 Lifted Stem Christie


D2 Thrust-Match Checking


D1 Open Christy Long Swing


D3 Lateral Slip Stem Christie


D2 Maintain Lateral Sideslip


D1 Abstem Lift-Match Wedel


D+3 Grip-Carve Stem Christie


D+2 Grip-Carve Christie Stop


D+1 Skid-Carve Linked Pedaling


Wedge Christies


10-21°  CLASS 
C   


Novice Intermediate


C3 Steered Wedge Christie


C2 Open Steered Christie Stop


C1 Tele-Steering A-Slope Flush


C3 Lifted-Stem Wedge Christy


C2 Lifted-Stem Christie Stop


C1 Single Stem Brake Wedel


C+3 Skid-Carve Wedge Christie


C+2 Skid-Carve Christie Stop


C+1 Link Weight Steered Turns


Wedge Turns


 6-15°
   CLASS  B   


Advanced Beginner


B3 Twin-Match Tele-Stemturn


B2 Tele-Steered Wedge Stop


B1 Traverse Sidestep Figure 8


B3 Push-Match Ab-Stemturn


B2 Fore & Aft Abstem Brake


B1 Dual Tip Steer 5 Turn Flush


B+3 Lift-Match Weight Stemturn


B+2 Weight Steered Wedge Stop


B+1 Wedge Width Change-ups


Straight Run & Wedge


3-10° 
   CLASS  A
    


Average Beginner


A3 1-Ski-On St. Run Skid Stops


A2 1-Ski-On Skid @ Cloverleaf


A1 1-Ski-On Glide Level Flush


A3 Dual Tip Steer 3 Turn Flush


A2 Straight Run Active Stance


A1 5 Step Zigzag Climb Incline


A+3 Straight Gliding Wedge


A+2 Fore & Aft Abstem Gliding


A+1 Backward Wedge Turning


Climb & Glide


 1-6° Kid CLASS 
K
   


Cautious Beginner


K3 1-Ski Traverse Brush Stop


K2 1-Ski-On Mod Glide Groove


K1 5 Kick-Step Zigzag Climbing


K3
Forward Sidestep Climb


K2
Traverse Stem Stop Incline


K1
Diagonal Slide Level Flush


K+3 Straight Run A-Slope Loop


K+2 Backward Stem Stopping


K+1 Dual Pole Glide Level Flush


Step & Slide


0-3° Kid CLASS
 P
   


Preschool, Ages 3-5


P3 Kick-Step Climb Fall Line


P2 Step In-Out Cloverleaf Tires


P1 Scuff Snow Thru Level Flush


P3 1-Ski-On Sidestep Climb


P2 1-Ski-On Brief Glide Groove


P1 1-Ski-On Slide Level Flush


P+3 2-Pole Glide Level Terrain


P+2 Step-slide around Cloverleaf


P+1 2-Skis-On Slide Level Flush


Assisted Skiing


0-1°  Kid CLASS  T
   


Toddler, Ages 1-3


T3 Jog Through Level Flush


T2 Step Over Skis In A Row


T1 Indoor Scuff-a-Flush In Sox


T3
Alt. Pole Climb Astride Skis


T2
Alternate Pole Walk Fig. 8


T1
Alternate Pole Walk Flush


T+3 Leash Assisted, Lift Skiing


T+2 Pulled About Steering Skis


T+1 1-Ski-On Walk Level Flush


CLASS
LEVELS


START  HERE


Long (Radius)
Swings


Gradual Direction Change


No pole, gentle up-down & fore-aft action


(Minimal Radius) Wedeln


Smallest Direction Change


Strong pole, up-down & fore-aft action


(Mid Radius)
Short Swings


Substantial Direction Change


Moderate pole, up-down & fore-aft action

This codification of Alpine Skiing, begun in 1980, will always be a work in progress.

Copyright © Bill Briggs 2016
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.

Chart Design by Bill
Briggs 1980  4/10/16  EDITION 
This codification of skiing will always
be a work in progress.