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Effective Rider Analysis explores how to effectively analyse a student’s riding. This chapter will provide useful information for what analysis is, why it’s useful and guidance on how best to develop analysis skills.

Within the world of instructing, the skill of analysing a student’s riding is essential to their future progression and achievements. The first step to providing the most effective feedback and formulating a suitable lesson plan that will bring out efficient changes in a student’s riding, is accurately analysing their riding.

Intro to Rider Analysis

To establish an accurate analysis, it’s necessary to remain objective throughout the entire process. This objectivity should remain consistent outside of individual biases, feelings or interpretations.

Simply put, analysis begins with an observation based on fact.

There are several ways to analyse a student’s riding. Below are some examples of analysis methods that will establish an understanding of what’s happening on snow.

Visual Analysis

Watching students ride is the most effective form of analysis. It clearly shows how they stand over their snowboard, how they move and what their snowboard is doing. There are several methods for gathering information visually.

The vantage point used when watching a rider is the first consideration. Either remaining in a fixed location or continually moving.

If remaining in a fixed location, consider the following choices:

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Being down hill from the student as they ride down the slope.
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Allowing the student to ride away and giving them a point to ride to.
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Being situated halfway down the hill as they ride to a predetermined point.
If moving while visually analysing the rider, consider the following choices:
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Following the student and riding behind them.
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Riding beside the student on either their toeside or heelside.
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Riding in front of the student and looking back whilst riding.
Each vantage point above carries its own strengths and weaknesses and allows the instructor to assess and focus on different aspects of the students’ riding. What’s one strength and weakness for each option?

The focal point in which attention is focused specifically towards, is the next consideration.

To take in the complete picture of a rider consider concentrating:

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From their head down to their board.
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From their board up to their head.
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From their centre of mass outwards.
When watching the body of a student, there are more options available. Looking specifically at:
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The upper body.
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The lower body.
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The peripherals such as the head, arms or ankles.
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The core and hips to see where the centre of mass is moving.
The equipment being ridden on should also be considered. Choosing to focus on:
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The snowboard and specific board performance(s).
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The student's boots to see if they allow for appropriate movements.
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The placement of their bindings on the board to assess stance width or lateral binding placement.
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Any protective equipment such as a back protector or impact shorts that may be portraying an image of inefficiency.
The environment is the final visual consideration. Looking beyond the actual rider at the environment, current conditions and how each student interacts with their surroundings is a useful tool. Here, try looking at:
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The width of the tracks left in the snow.
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The amount of traffic on the run.
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Where snow is being sprayed and distributed through the arc of the turn.
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When and where the edge change is occurring.
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Any obstacles, man-made or otherwise, that interrupt flow in their riding.

Verbal Analysis

This form of analysis can be useful to gain an insight into how much experience a student has had, when, where and what they achieved, and whether or not they’ve taken a lesson. It typically occurs in the early parts of a lesson, but may continue throughout. Use questions and conversation to discover what their skill base is and begin to develop a mental image of their riding and the way they stand over their snowboard simply based on their age, gender, physical makeup and fitness. Be aware that with verbal analysis it’s possible that the description of their capabilities may not be as accurate. For this reason, it’s essential to back this up with a visual reference for clarification.

Imitation Analysis

To help further understand the way students balance and move, it’s possible to experience similar sensations by imitating their riding. There are many options available to explore:

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Copy students’ movements to understand how much they are moving.
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Follow their line to become aware of the timing of their movements.
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Ride at their speed to understand the forces they may be experiencing through their body in a specific phase of a turn.
Understanding and utilising these different tools will provide a clear picture of a student’s riding.
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