Well, I’m back from a weeks skiing and feeling like waxing lyrical. As I’m not overly known as a ‘people person’ and am never likelyto be the worlds greatest trainer I thought I’d share a few observations from the last week.

Point one: I’m not the worlds greatest skiier and never will be

Point two: Last year I didn’t do very well. I finished the week thinking I hadn’t done anything at all.

At the end of this week I was skiing Red runs comfortably and thinking WOW I can do this! So what changed? The simple answer is my instructor, at the end of the first week I was STILL having problems stopping. This year that problem was solved within 15 minutes on the first day ( 2 minutes to recognise the problem and 13 to ‘break’ the habit). Looking back on the first year, the sessions were fun but I didn’t seem to get anything out of them. This year again fun but an actual feeling day on day of getting something out of it.

One thing that stands out however is the different Styles.

This year the instructor would call one person down at a time, then spend just 60 seconds pointing out ONE error and getting tghem back into line, working on one problem at a time. Last year everyone go down then a group breakdown on the problems. Obviously the task loading with the two techniques is radically different.

Example 1 (This year). Ski down, speak to the instructor and get “You need to push further into the skis as you stop". Back to the top and wait to go again. With thinking time about correcting the one error. Repeat as required.

Example 2 (Last year). Ski down. Back to top. Wait for everyone else to go. Instructor says, “Dave you need to push into the skis, Keep your upper body straight, Start the turn earlier and move the knee more, away you go.” Repeat once or twice.

Now which of these is better? Are either of them wrong? People learn in different ways I know and we’re really into a subject here I know almost nothing about.

So a couple of questions to the trainers here.

1. How you decide how to teach a group?
2. How do you know if it’s working 1/2 way through the session?
3. Is it correct to change the method 1/2 way through?
4. Do you tell the group you are changing or just do it subtly?
5. How do you judge success during a session?

Have fun,
DaveA