Frequently Asked Questions

S.T.E.P. 1

• Has controlled skills on novice trails
• Can complete round snowplow turns
• Turns and stops in a wedge

S.T.E.P. 2

• Has earned S.T.E.P. 1
• Can link turns on blue trails at a faster pace

S.T.E.P. 3

• Has S.T.E.P. 2 from C.S.I.A. and/or
• Can ski in control on novice and some intermediate trails
• Can consistently link snowplow turns
• Skis may be parallel at some point in the turn

S.T.E.P. 4

• Has S.T.E.P. 3 from C.S.I.A. and/or
• Is comfortable on groomed intermediate trails at moderate speed
• Skis are parallel earlier during each turn
• May sometimes plant their pole during the turn

S.T.E.P. 5

• Has S.T.E.P. 4 from C.S.I.A. and/or
• Uses good technique in controlling parallel turns on intermediate
or expert trails in varied conditions
• Starts and finishes turns in a wide parallel
• Plants pole during most turns

S.T.E.P. 6

• Has S.T.E.P. 5 from C.S.I.A. and/or
• Wants to refine skills in all conditions and terrain
• Consistently links controlled parallel turns
• Introduction to bumps

S.T.E.P. 7

• Has S.T.E.P. 6 from C.S.I.A. and/or
• Executes rhythmical and linked turns in fall line
• Can ski on slightly bumpy terrain
• More time spent in moderate bumps

S.T.E.P. 8

• Has S.T.E.P. 7 from C.S.I.A. and/or
• Links varied large and moderate radius turns
• Adapts better to different terrain conditions
• Time spent on short radius turns
• More time spent on larger bumps

S.T.E.P. 9

• You're awesome!

STEP 1

Prerequisites

As this is the student’s fi rst snowboarding experience, there are no pre-requisites.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Development of a balanced body position (not necessarily centred)
• Development of moving balance
• Achievement of a level of confidence that enables him or her to demonstrate skating, straight running (with toe and heel drag), and sideslipping.

STEP 2

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The student is balanced, and has enough board control to enable him or her to control speed while straight running and sideslipping.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Development of a balanced body position
• Initiation of pressure shift, and change of direction
• Increment of speed
• Achievement of a level of confi dence enabling the snowboarder to execute a traverse with stop on both edges.

STEP 3

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder is able to execute a traverse (with stop) on both edges.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Initiation of upper body rotation
• Development of fore / aft and rotational balance
• Initiation of edge change during a turn
• Development of isolated beginner turns on both the heelside and toeside
• Linking toeside and heelside turns using upper body rotation

STEP 4

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder is able to link 4-6 consecutive beginner turns on beginner terrain.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Development of fore / aft balance
• Development of rotational balance
• Initiation of pressure control through flexion (reducing pressure when sinking down) and extension (applying pressure when moving up)
• Development of vertical movement throughout the turns
• Linking toeside and heelside turns using upper body rotation and vertical movement
• Increment of speed

STEP 5

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder is able to link turns using upper body rotation and extension to initiate the turn, and flexion (pressure control)to complete the turn.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Further improvement of balance on changing terrain
• Improvement of vertical movement
• Development of fore/aft balance
• Improvement of pressure control through flexion and extension
• Initiation of speed control techniques
• Introduction of lower body steering movements
• Increment of speed

STEP 6

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder is able to link turns using upper body rotation and extension to initiate the turn, and flexion (pressure control) to complete the turn.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Capacity to leave the sliding turn phase, and carve the snowboard
• Demonstration of steering movements throughout the turn
• Demonstration of edging in the fall line, at the latest
• Improvement of timing and coordination in the linking of turns
• Improvement of rhythm and fluidity in linking turns
• Improvement of stability and control by increasing movements of angulation and flexion
• Increment of speed in order to be able to start the turn by edging above the fall line

STEP 7

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder now edges in the fall line and can perform medium radius sliding turns, with knee steering, flexion and extension. The rider can also perform a carved traverse. The rider tends to lose control and confidence when conditions and terrain become more challenging.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Improved lateral balance at the start of the turn
• Continued development of the carved turn
• Capacity to edge earlier in the turn – above the fall line
• Refinement of steering movements throughout the turn
• Improvement of timing and coordination
• Improvement of stability and control by introducing bumpy terrain (terrain adaptation)
• Increment of speed in order to be able to start the turn by edging above the fall line

STEP 8

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder executes rhythmical and linked medium to shorter-radius sliding turns, and carved turns on green terrain. The rider can adapt to slight changes in terrain (bumps), but has problems with absorption of larger bumps. He/she is able to apply edging before the fall line. The rider must continue to develop pressure control and steering skills in steeps, terrain adaptation and carving.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Improvement of maintaining of a centred position through changes in terrain
• Development of terrain adaptation
• Improvement of steering, by engaging the feet in addition to the knees
• Improvement of pressure control in carved turns
• Improvement of timing and coordination
• Capacity to perform shorter-radius turns on black slopes
• Capacity to perform carved turns with active flexion / extension and steering
• Increment of speed

STEP 9

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder can now vary the size of turns and perform short radius turns on black pitches. The rider can absorb bumpy terrain, but cannot perform turns in the fall line in the bumps. The rider uses the knees and feet to steer the board, and can use improvement in timing and coordination, and control pressure while carving on steeper slopes.

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Improvement of linked short radius turns at a higher speed through better timing and coordination of edging, pressure control, and steering movements.
• Improvement of mechanics to release and increase edges
• Development of performance by using the resultant pressure from the board (rebound)
• Improvement of pressure control in carved turns at higher speeds on steeper slopes
• Increase in tempo to perform shorter turns in bumpy terrain
• Capacity to perform carved turns with active flexion / extension and steering
• Acquirement of control and confidence when riding on black slopes
• Increment of speed

STEP 10

Prerequisites

At the beginning of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following: The snowboarder has developed skills to ride black slopes, both groomed and ungroomed. He/she links turns at high speeds, and of varied radius, both carved and sliding. The rider can show performance by manipulating the fore/aft and lateral pressure on the board, and rebound (resultant pressure).

Goals and Objectives

At the end of this stage, the snowboarder should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Capacity to ride in various snow conditions
• Ability to adapt to uneven terrain
• Ability to ride switch, or fakie
• Variation of the turn radius in the same run
• Ability to maintain consistent speed through changing pitch
• Ability to manage pressure by changing edges in a flexed position, and extend legs through the turn.
• Demonstration of pressure control while carving at high speeds, and on bumpy terrain
• Ability to control the snowboard in the air, and perform controlled, absorbed landings
• Acquirement of efficiency and confidence when riding on black slopes
• Increment of speed