Half Braking Wedge
Skill Building
GOAL
You will be mobile on your skis, travelling farther down the trails to see what is around the next bend! You will glide more easily over rolling terrain, leaving the club house behind.
You will get there by working on:
Balance - Use an athletic stance as you transfer weight from ski to ski. Your kick ski returns back underneath your body, allowing more continuous forward motion.
Coordination - Move your arms and legs in a smooth and continuous rhythm. Coordinate the downward pressure to increase grip.
Propel forward - Gain forward momentum through your poles by flexing your upper body. Start engaging core strength.
Change direction - Use a wedge to turn left or right, with your legs and skis turning independently of your upper body.
You will get stronger and smoother! You will feel a smooth gliding sensation as you ski along flat and low rolling trails using diagonal stride. You will find your core muscles, and engage them to provide forward power when you double pole. You will have a growing sense of confidence as you descend gentle hills and use a wedge to turn right or left.
LESSON PROGRESSION IDEAS
BALANCE
Warm up on flat terrain then move to a gentle slope as you complete the following tasks:
On flat terrain, skiers place their weight on one ski while turning their other leg from the hip socket, resulting in the tip of their ski moving inward and the tail of their ski moving outward, forming a ½ wedge. Try both sides.
Next, from a straight run on a gentle slope, have skiers repeat the same movements, letting in the ½ wedge ski brush across the snow. Try both sides.
Next, have skiers brake with the ½ wedge ski. Try both sides.
Back on flat terrain and in the tracks, practice balancing before stepping out. Double pole to create a modest glide. While gliding, lift one foot to balance, and then the other. Repeat.
COORDINATION
For description purposes - imagine the track is set on the right hand side of the trail. Adapt the instructions to your real-world terrain.
Using a track set on flat terrain, place one ski in the right track and the ½ wedge ski outside of the left track. Try both sides.
Pole, pole, stop! - On flat terrain, have skiers double pole in the track then use a ½ wedge to stop. Skiers determine how fast they wish to go and how quickly they wish to stop.
Go, go, stop! – On a gentle slope, skier descends and stops using a 1/2 breaking wedge on a command from the instructor. As skill increases, encourage skiers to move faster before stopping. Variation: Go, go, slow. Skier uses a 1/2 breaking wedge to slow and manage speed on straight runs and around corners.
DIRECTION CHANGE
Key points to remember when the track changes from straight to moving around a corner:
The ski in the track will experience additional pressure going through the corner.
The 1/2 wedge ski will require more turning effort with the entire leg.
Keep the ski tips even.
Vary the terrain. Change the slope and try different corners.
PRO TIPS
Start on straight, flat terrain. Be safe and progressive with increasing speed and changing the arc of the track.
Ensure shoulders/torso remains level and facing the direction of travel.
To improve stepping out of the track, introduce the classic lane change.
This is practiced with 2 or more tracks (see video). Complete weight transfer from ski to ski is essential for success.
As the skier moves back into a track, ensure the ski is placed at an angle to safely cover both tracks.
Start from a stand still and on the flats. The ski angle decreases as skier comfort and speed increase.