Coach's Clinic Descriptions

Level 100

USSA Ski Fundamentals Clinic

This 2-day clinic is split between on-snow and classroom sessions covering the essential skiing skills that coaches need to teach their athletes to establish or enhance their foundation for ski racing.  In this clinic we will demonstrate basic skiing drill progressions that coaches can use to teach these skills and how to apply them to help athletes develop their skill and to correct their deficiencies.  Participants in the clinic will be instructed and evaluated on their own performance of these drills to help them become more confident and accurate visual demonstrators for their athletes.  The clinic will also cover age-appropriate training as presented in the USSA Training Systems, coaching pedagogy principles, lesson planning, and an overview of equipment and its effect on movement and performance.

There are no pre-requisites for this clinic. It is open to any coach. This clinic is one of the Level 100 coach certification requirements.  Pre-registration is required, click here for clinic schedules and registration information.

Introduction to Course Setting

This 1-day course is designed to teach basic course setting skills for giant slalom and slalom to coaches who have not set courses before or are looking for tips to improve their course setting.  Participants will receive an Introduction to Course Setting pamphlet when they register to review prior to attending.  At the clinic, participants will practice setting courses under the guidance of our instructors.  Coaches will learn how to prepare for their course set, how to plan the set to achieve training goals, how to factor in safety, how to set for different terrain and snow conditions, and the rules of course setting for USSA events.

There are no pre-requisites for this clinic.  It is open to any coach.  Coaches wishing to advance to the Level 200 clinics must either attend this clinic, or receive a course setting recommendation from a veteran coach or race official.  Pre-registration is required.  Click here for clinic schedules and registration information.

Level 200

Alpine Racing Technique and Tactics

This is a 3-day clinic with on-snow and classroom components for coaches who have completed the Level 100 clinics.  Whereas the Alpine Ski Fundamentals clinic covers skills in a freeski environment, this clinic incorporates training courses and gate drills that provide the next step in the development of ski racers.  In this clinic, we will discuss the relationship between technique and tactics based on athlete's abilities.  We demonstrate drills and strategies for athletes to find their fastest line.  We also talk about how to maximize the training environment to achieve the goals for each session.  Participants will have a chance to practice setting up some of the drill courses.  We'll also cover the important aspects of course inspection, course reports, setting a race day plan, and designing year-long training plans.

In order to take this clinic, coaches must have completed their Level 100 certification requirements.  In addition, coaches must either attend the Introduction to Course Setting clinic, or submit two course setting recommendation forms, to validate their experience in setting courses.  (NOTE: Coaches who completed the Level 200 Training Environment clinic in the previous clinic structure have met this requirement.)  This clinic is part of the Level 200 coach certification requirements.  Pre-registration is required, click here for clinic schedules and more registration information.

Level 300

In order to attend these clinics, coaches must have completed their Level 200 certification requirements.  Coaches can take the Level 300 series of clinics in any order.  All three clinics must be taken for Level 300 coach certification.  These clinics require pre-registration.  Click here for more clinic schedules and registration information.

Advanced Giant Slalom Technique and Tactics

This is a 2-day clinic consisting of both on-snow and classroom teaching.  Giant slalom is considered the foundational event for alpine ski racing.  This clinic builds on the Level 100 and 200 clinic content and focuses specifically on giant slalom racing.  At this clinic, we will observe upper level athletes training or competing in giant slalom.  Coaches will be required to evaluate athletes and prescribe progressions that would help the athletes correct mistakes in their technique or tactics based on the five key areas of giant slalom skiing: stance & balance, carving, transitions, edge pressure, and tactics.  These clinics are built around live training or competition environments with significant interaction and discussion between course participants and the instructor.  Candidates are expected to study the Advanced Giant Slalom Technique and Tactics DVD prior to the clinic.

Advanced Slalom Technique and Tactics

This is a 2-day clinic consisting of both on-snow and classroom teaching.  Slalom has become more and more specialized in recent years.  This clinic builds on the Level 100 and 200 clinic content and focuses specifically on slalom racing.  At this clinic, we will observe upper level athletes training or competing in slalom.  Coaches will be required to evaluate athletes and prescribe progressions that would help the athletes correct mistakes in their technique or tactics based on the five key areas of slalom skiing: stance & balance, upper body, carving & transitions, rhythm & timing, and tactics.  These clinics are built around live training or competition environments with significant interaction and discussion between course participants and the instructor.  Candidates are expected to study the Advanced Slalom Technique and Tactics DVD prior to the clinic.

Advanced Speed Technique and Tactics

This is a 2-day clinic consisting of both on-snow and classroom teaching.  This clinic will cover the elements required to prepare ski racers for upper level speed competition.  This clinic builds on the Level 100 and 200 clinic content and focuses specifically on the speed events of downhill and Super G.  At this clinic, we will observe upper level athletes training or competing in speed.  Coaches will be required to evaluate athletes and prescribe progressions that would help the athletes correct mistakes in their technique or tactics in the five key areas of speed skiing: stance & balance, carving & transitions, gliding & aerodynamics, jumping & terrain, and tactics.  These clinics are built around live training or competition environments with significant interaction and discussion between course participants and the instructor.  Candidates are expected to study the Advanced Speed Technique and Tactics DVD prior to the clinic.