Colorado Discovery Ability Knowledge Base Series
The following materials are published and used by CDA as outlines for conducting continued education clinics.

Slalom and Giant Slalom
Guidelines for Basic Course Setting

December 2003

Contents:

• Introduction
• Slalom Overview
• Basic Slalom, Types of Gates and Distances:
  
  • Open/Closed Gate
  • Hairpin Pattern
  • Flush Pattern
  • Delay Gate Pattern
  • Basic Slalom Design
• Giant Slalom Overview
• Basic Giant Slalom, Types of Gates and Distances:
  • Open/Closed Gate
  • Basic Giant Slalom Design
  • Giant Slalom Delay Configuration

INTRODUCTION

These articles are designed to guide coaches through the basic principles of course setting relative to the skill and age level of the participants. It will reflect the most contemporary specifics of each training level and event. It will also help coaches understand the safety requirements necessary for effective course setting with safety and risk assessment as priorities.

Course design and setting is an essential component of on-hill training and competition. Coaches must possess the ability to design training courses for event specific skill development as well as set courses for competition that will test the abilities of the most skilled participants yet yield a highest finish rate.

While FIS rules offer disabled athletes and competition directors the benefits of standardized ski competitions worldwide, it must be remembered that FIS rules were written for conducting competitions in which only athletes who have acquired a relatively high level of skill participate. A small percentage of our alpine athletes have acquired such high level of skill. Therefore, it is appropriate to assess all our athletes on ski courses, which meet their abilities. FIS regulations for alpine skiing (number of gates, vertical gate combinations and vertical drop) develop courses on terrain, which is too steep and long for skiers with lower abilities. Setup and modify the course to meet the needs and skill level of your students. The rules for setting the courses, i.e., widths of gates, distance from turning pole to turning pole, start and finish requirements, remain largely the same.

Setting effective training and competition courses requires the following:

• Exposure to qualified course setters
• Practical experience (time on task)
• Exposure to different course designs (variety)
• Exposure to varying terrain and changing snow conditions (environmental factors)
• Exposure to setting speed events as well as technical settings (versatility)
• Exposure to setting in adverse environmental conditions
• Setting to achieve the highest success rate possible

The course setter is solely responsible for the design of the course. The set will directly impact the performance of participants.

Training courses should be set with variety in mind in order to provide an opportunity for the participants to acquire new event specific skills as well as challenge their existing skills.

Competition courses should be designed to provide the participants with the opportunity to test their newly acquired skills under compelling conditions with timing.

General Guidelines for Course Setting

• Risk Assessment - safety is the priority so familiarity with terrain and snow conditions of the piste and skill level and age of the participants is important. If possible, ski the piste approximating event speed and radius of types of turns.
• Complete knowledge of the event specifics - vertical drop and minimum/maximum number of gates (National/F.I.S. or SOCO rules and regulations)
• Ensure all available equipment for setting is in working order (i.e. drills, batteries, gates, flags)
• Safety - set with spill zone and potential participant error in mind.
• Focus on looking downhill to try to visualize the course design.
• Look at what has been set for confirmation of rhythm and distances (vertical and horizontal)
• Course design should promote fluid movements and linking of turns.
• Course design should encourage participants to look for speed (challenge) rather than merely trying to survive.
• Set variety in training/set for success in competition.
• Start and finish with open rhythm
• Set gates vertical in snow.
• Set gates so they are easily seen by participants at race speed (avoid blind gates)
• Set above or below knolls and rolls.
• Set rhythm changes on terrain that is consistent with the skill level of the participants.
• Set according to rules and regulations of the discipline (National/F.I.S. or SOCO)
• Verify the design of the course by skiing it and adjusting as required.
• Allow time for course inspection to promote mental training skills.

Training Courses (Preparation for Competition)

Skill development is systematic and predictable. Coaches who plan the training in sequence will yield better results. Sequential training allows the participants time to adapt to consecutive training stimuli. It is critical that the sequencing of the training be individually programmed, appropriate and specific to the participants' skill level and growth and development.

To that end, training course must be set in order to challenge and further enhance the participants' technical and tactical skills while working within the parameters of the participants' physical and psychological abilities.

The training sequence is best illustrated as follows:

In order to create an effective learning environment, the coach training methods must reflect what the participant will encounter in a competitive environment. The following guidelines will help prepare participants for competition with a well-planned training program.

Setting with variety

• Rhythm (open/closed gates) to rhythm changes (combinations)
• Varying vertical distances
• Varying horizontal distances
• Fall line set/off fall line
• Varying the terrain
• Different snow conditions (hard packed, soft packed, powder)
• Changing speeds
• Promote linking from turn to turn

Race Simulation

• Variety of setting types
• Full courses (outside poles)
• Flagged gates
• Timing/timed runs
• Start and finish area
• Start wand/finish beam
• Simulation of race terrain
• Set to event specific speed
• Race suits on participants
• Invite other competitors

NEXT: Slalom Overview


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