Reference Documents

Imagine you're standing on your skis. To stay upright, you need balance, right?

• Balance happens when your body and your moves work together. Think of your skis as your base, like your feet when you're standing on the ground.
• You control your balance by moving your body over your skis. It's like balancing a stack of books – you need to keep them centered so they don't fall over.
• How your skis move on the snow is the effect, and how you move your body is the cause. You cause the effect!
• All your moves happen in different directions: forwards and backwards, sideways, and up and down.

Basically, good skiing is all about controlling your body and your skis in all these different directions. That's what the 5 Skills Framework helps you do!

CSIA - Balance Skiing Skill - 2025

You know how you can twist your upper body one way and your lower body another way? That's separation. It's like when you're dancing and move your hips separate from your shoulders.

When you ski, separation is super important. It lets you dig your skis into the snow (aka inclination) and make turns.

Imagine you're skiing and want to turn left. You twist your lower body (your legs and hips) to the left to point your skis that way. But, you keep your upper body facing forward. This twisting helps your skis grip the snow and carve a smooth turn.

So, basically, separation is all about moving your upper and lower body in different ways to control your skis and stay balanced. It's like a secret weapon for awesome skiing!

CSIA - Rotary Skiing Skill -2025

Basically, it's how you tilt your skis to dig those edges into the snow.

• Grip: When you tilt your skis more, the edges dig in and grip the snow, helping you turn. Think of it like carving a turn on a bike – you lean into the turn to grip the road.
• Slip: When you flatten your skis, they slip more, which is helpful for slowing down or skiing on icy patches.

Edge control is super important because it helps you:

• Turn: Digging your edges in lets you carve smooth turns.
• Control your speed: You can use your edges to slow down or speed up.
• Ski in different conditions: You'll need to adjust your edge control depending on whether the snow is icy, powdery, or slushy.

It's kind of like the steering wheel of your skis! The better you get at edge control, the more you'll be able to “just ski better!”

CSIA - Edging Skiing Skill - 2025

Basically, it's how you tilt your skis to dig those edges into the snow.

• Grip: When you tilt your skis more, the edges dig in and grip the snow, helping you turn. Think of it like carving a turn on a bike – you lean into the turn to grip the road.
• Slip: When you flatten your skis, they slip more, which is helpful for slowing down or skiing on icy patches.

Edge control is super important because it helps you:

• Turn: Digging your edges in lets you carve smooth turns.
• Control your speed: You can use your edges to slow down or speed up.
• Ski in different conditions: You'll need to adjust your edge control depending on whether the snow is icy, powdery, or slushy.

It's kind of like the steering wheel of your skis! The better you get at edge control, the more you'll be able to “just ski better!”

CSIA - Edging Skiing Skill - 2025

Imagine you're trying to dance but you're moving your arms and legs in a totally random way. It's gonna look pretty messy, right?

That's kind of like skiing without coordination.

Coordination in skiing means moving your body in the right order at the right time. It's like learning a dance routine – you need to know the steps and when to do them.

When you're coordinated, you can:

• Ski smoothly: Your turns will flow together, and you'll glide effortlessly down the mountain.
• Ski efficiently: You won't waste energy making extra movements, so you can ski longer and with greater intensity.
• Ski in control: You'll be able to react to changes in the terrain and snow conditions without losing your balance.

Think of it like a really good skater. They make it look so easy because they're perfectly coordinated. They know when to shift their weight, when to edge their skates, and when to push off.

The best skiers are the same way. They're always looking ahead and planning their moves, so they can ski smoothly and confidently, no matter what the mountain throws at them.

It's like they have a sixth sense for the snow! They can feel the terrain and adjust their movements before they even get there. That's the magic of coordination!