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

SLALOM OVERVIEW

Slalom requires the participants to demonstrate consistent balance, timing, coordination, agility and explosiveness. Slalom also requires the participant to focus on skiing the line as in Giant Slalom in order to take advantage of connecting the turns with minimum loss of speed.

It is incumbent on course setters to design safe challenging courses that permit the participants to exhibit all of the above characteristics according to their skill level.

Course setting demands consistency and precision in setting in order to permit the following to occur:

• Participants can take advantage of consistent track conditions
• Allow as many participants to finish as possible
• Allow participants to execute precision in their motor movements
• Eliminate erratic athletic movements due to erratic course design
• Generate a positive training effect
• Allows participants to look for speed by linking turns

General guidelines for Slalom setting:

• Consistent rhythm (consistent vertical/horizontal distances as terrain dictates) 11 - 14 m
• Rhythm change every 5 - 6 gates
• Three gate flush combinations
• Entry should be "over top" in combinations
• Exposure to delay, hairpins and flush combinations
• Drill type/short courses (12 - 15 gates)
• Stubby type gates for skill acquisition

Test Skill Level with the following variations:

• Variety of combinations (delays, flushes, hairpins)
• Rhythm/rhythm changes more frequently
• Fall line and off fall line sets
• Changes in vertical and horizontal distances as terrain allows (vertical 12 - 15 m)
• Use variety of different types of gates (stubbies, flex gates)
• More frequent rhythm changes (3 - 4 gates open rhythm then combination)
• More frequent off fall line sets
• More varied terrain (steep, rolling, side hill)
• Set variety in turn types (½ - ¾ turns to full) as terrain allows
• Set combinations more frequently
• Set 5 gate flushes occasionally
• More frequent full courses (race simulation)
• Set 3 - 4 drill courses (15 - 20 gates) with breaks in between to promote mental skills training
• Set more variety in vertical distances (12 - 15 m)

NEXT: Basic Slalom Types: Open/Closed Gate