Tip of the Week

Leaping Lizzards!
By Mimi Weisbaum

Don’t be shy about getting your groups to do Leapers. They’ll look at you like “you want us to do WHAT?” but then they’ll be so pleased with themselves for having done them…and for what they learned from them.
What do they learn? Lots. 

1. If they’re the static types, it’s a great way to get them moving.
2. It can help them get into the fall line without a stem/wedge.
3. You can use Leapers to get them to initiate their turns earlier. (Leap when they’re still facing the trees.)
4. You can use leapers on everything from shallow terrain to moguls.  (Just be aware of your students’ limits.) Vary the size of the radius, too.  You can even have them synchro-leap.  C’mon. It’ll be fun!

Using the leap just to initiate the turn, have them leap from their old edges onto a flat ski.  Then leap from old edges onto new edges. Then from old edges onto new edges and scoop into a turn.  Then, to bring it into their own skiing, have them do it without actually leaping off the ground.
Just make sure that in the Leap, their body is directed into the turn, not straight up in the air. And that their legs are extended by the leap, not retracted.
And see that they use their poles to help in the launch.

This is also a good way for you to check their fore/aft balance. You can also let them check each other. (In pairs, front person leaps, follower observes how the ski leaves the snow.) (And also if the skis land flat or on edge, together or one at a time, depending on their abilities and the task you set.)