Intro to Freeskiing

As freeski instructors we must be familiar with the freestyle terrain available, where on our mountain it can be found and how to move through it safely. It is important to get to know our skiers, their current skill level, intention and confidence before we commit to a plan for the lesson. Finally, an in-depth knowledge of the required skills to achieve the student’s goal, and where to train them, will allow you to plan a safe progression and successful lesson. As freeski instructors we become role models and it is therefore our responsibility to build a culture of Park SMART athletes.

Freeski Equipment

At a minimum, wearing a helmet should be strongly encouraged at all times. Useful items to reduce risk of injury could be a back protector, impact shorts, wristguards, mouthguard and twin tip skis. Having twin tip skis is useful for anything involving skiing switch (backwards) but not essential. Any ski can leave the ground or slide a box. Correctly adjusted bindings are a must and should be set by a professional. It is impossible to bring the risk to zero so it is vital to know the accident/incident procedures for your resort.