CROATIA | Lecture

More Feel, Less Drill

By Emma Christiansen 

Croatia also known as the DEMONstrators were very visible at Interski to say the least. They had multiple bright, funky outfits and during their night show runs they even had LED suits!

    

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to their on-snow presentation, but I was able to attend their indoor teaching presentation which was titled ‘More feel, Less drill’. Being a part of our team who delivered our teaching clinic this interested me a lot. This presentation started with a brief explanation of their previous teaching system which was described as very rigid with every student having to pass through each element of the progression before they could try the next, with many drills along the way.

Their new teaching system has evolved to cater to a more natural progression, focusing on the feelings of the learner, whilst tyring to minimise the drill approach. The foundation to their teaching system is the 4 basic movements: Anterior and posterior, flexion and extension, lateral, and circular.

Whilst keeping these basic movements this new approach was broken down into 7 guidelines/pillars. These guidelines are:

  1. Simplicity

An easier and simple progression is more attractive to the learner.

  1. Logic

The progression of the skier follows logical steps.

  1. Natural progress

Lots of practice time is used throughout, with careful selection of terrain and speed.

  1. Open form

Students’ physical and psychological states are considered, and the progression is tailored accordingly.

  1. Biomechanical justification

Biomechanical knowledge is used to justify the learning within the Open form.

  1. Focus on important details

The ski instructor must guide the progression of the learner using only minimal and essential information.

  1. Feedback

Immediate and direct feedback are the most effective forms of feedback.

 

To explore these points in more detail, and to check out their journey to Interski, visit the HZUTS Ski facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/hzuts/

I enjoyed learning about the new Croatian Teaching System. Thank you, Team Croatia!