Intro to Pipe

What

Introducing halfpipe terrain through safe and tactical approach.

Why

Halfpipe can be a fun, challenging and relatively safe way to teach terrain selection and tactical approach. It also encourages independent decision making and reinforces speed control through turn shape.

How

Check for students’ understanding and ability to control speed through turn shape. Encourage exploration on the banks of the runs and use this to explain the relationship between speed and the wall of the halfpipe. Be sure the terrain is open for public use and suitably quiet before bringing the group to any pipe or pipe-like terrain. Use your first time at the pipe to describe the different parts of the pipe. Observe the other pipe users focusing on body position from wall to wall and establish perpendicular to the snow as the ideal. Remind students that lots of short turns are better for speed control than long drawn out turns. Have students follow you through the pipe if necessary.

Skills

Focus should be on maintaining a centred athletic stance throughout the pipe. A range of vertical movement will be used to resist increasing forces from the belly to the vert. Line choice should be developed to allow the terrain to dictate speed. Timing of extension to allow any air time to happen at the skier’s highest point on the wall.

Ski Snow Interaction

The more edge grip the skier has from wall to wall, the more their speed will be dictated by the path taken up the wall. Just as in performance skiing, speed should be maintained by the forward momentum generated by carving a ski and increased or decreased through turn shape choice. In the same way as learning to turn, until this level of accuracy is achieved, a blend of skidding and edging will allow a more comfortable learning environment.

Turn Phases

The traditional turn depiction doesn’t directly translate to skiing halfpipe as the edge change occurs at the apex (highest point on the wall) and edges are maintained throughout transition (from wall to wall). Add airtime to the equation and it becomes further removed again.

ATTL

On approach the skier must choose a line to suit their speed and intention. Closer to 12 o’clock up the wall will lead to a reduction in speed. Further down the pipe will lead to an increase of speed. The skier should aim to keep an athletic stance perpendicular to the snow throughout and be looking up towards the lip. If below the vert, pop should be adequate to provide enough air time to redirect the skis. This should be applied evenly to both feet to maintain stability and timed to match the highest point of the skier’s path. If at the vert, pop should be focused in the direction of travel and, crucially, not perpendicular to the wall as this will result in the skier pressing away from the wall and falling to the belly of the pipe. The head and shoulders should lead rotation back down the pipe, hands pointing in the new direction of travel. Landing should be two footed, centred and flexed ready to adjust line and grip through the transition.

Terrain

Develop timing and confidence on banks and berms outside of the pipe. The conditions should always be assessed (“Always Look” in the Park SMART guide) as pipe shape and snow condition can change rapidly. When ready, whether in a halfpipe or natural gully, aim for soft snow and quiet traffic flow when introducing a student to this terrain.

Class Handling

Avoid busy areas when using banks/berms around the mountain. Be aware of uphill traffic before running off and back onto any run. At the top of the pipe, keep students out of the drop in lines when presenting to the group. Remind students to wait their turn and call their drop when it is time to go. Have students start from the centre of the pipe, speed control must be mastered before dropping in from either wall. Have a clearly defined meeting place at the bottom of the pipe for the group to gather.