ScoringThe examiners pick a subset on the day, based on terrain and snow. There are three criteria (Integrated, Individual, Versatility), each scored 1-6, and each needs an average of at least 4.
Turn sizesShort = up to 1 groomer width (~20 ft), medium = 1-3, large = 3+.
13 activities, not 12. 3 Integrated + 6 Individual (examiners use 3 of them) + 4 Versatility = 13 to learn. On the day you ski 10.
Integrated fundamentals working together · all 3 used
1. Wedge turns
easy green, slow
WhatLinked medium turns in a gliding wedge; shape controls speed.
“Steer both feet, keep the pizza the same size.”
Passing looks likeWedge width never changes; skidded tracks; the body's center travels between the feet; tall, relaxed athletic stance.
Lead-up drillsStraight-run glide wedge to wedge to glide; wedge turns with hands on knees to feel both legs turning.
Common mistakeThe wedge grows to brake.
FixSlow down with turn shape (finish across the hill), not with wedge size.
Key movement (for the animation)Both legs turning inward evenly; the pelvis stays centered between the feet.
🎥 Film: Side-on, 6 turns.
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2. Wedge christie
steep green / easy blue
WhatStart in a gliding wedge, finish parallel and skidding.
“Open, turn, then let the inside ski join.”
Passing looks likeThe inside ski flattens, then changes edge after the turn has started, and matches the outside ski; matched and parallel through the finish.
Lead-up drillsWedge to christie on one side only; garlands (wedge entry, match, sideslip).
Common mistakeStepping or lifting the inside ski to match.
FixFlatten and steer it in; let speed do the work.
Key movement (for the animation)The inside knee and ankle rolling flat, then onto the new edge after the fall line.
🎥 Film: Side-on, 6 turns.
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3. Basic parallel
steep green / easy blue, moderate speed
WhatMedium skidded turns with skis parallel from start to finish, and a pole touch at each edge change.
“Touch, tip both, steer both.”
Passing looks likeSkis parallel the whole time; edge angles match; no stepping or pushing a ski out; body crosses over the skis in the transition.
Lead-up drillsPole-touch rhythm runs; sideslip to parallel turn to sideslip.
Common mistakeCarving it, or a wedge flash at the start.
FixA little slower, steer more; a pole touch timed with both skis flattening.
Key movement (for the animation)Both ankles and knees tipping together while the pole swings forward for the touch.
🎥 Film: Side-on and from below, 6–8 turns.
My status:
Individual one fundamental at a time; 3 of the 6 used · 3 of 6 used on the day
4. Skate (downhill)
gentle green
“Push, glide, arrive.”
Passing looks likeGlide on one ski, push off its edge, move forward onto the new ski; skis diverge in a V.
Lead-up drillsFlat skating with poles; skating without poles.
Common mistakePushing back instead of forward.
FixMove the hips forward over the new ski.
Key movement (for the animation)The hip driving forward over the new gliding ski.
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5. Stork turns
green / gentle blue
“Lift the tail, balance on the arch.”
Passing looks likeLarge turns on the outside ski only; inside ski tip on the snow, tail lifted; outside ski bends and brushes.
Lead-up drillsTraverse on the downhill ski; stork garlands.
Common mistakeLeaning in or swinging the upper body to turn.
FixTurn the leg under a quiet chest; tip the outside ankle.
Key movement (for the animation)The inside leg folding at knee and ankle to lift the tail; the outside ankle tipping.
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6. Falling leaf
blue
“Toes, slip, heels.”
Passing looks likeSkis across the hill, sideslipping; small fore/aft shifts move you forward and back within a 2-groomer corridor; same downhill ski; repeat facing the other way.
Lead-up drillsStraight sideslip; sideslip to stop on the edges.
Common mistakeTwisting the shoulders to steer.
FixChest faces down the hill; move only from the ankles and hips.
Key movement (for the animation)Ankle and hip flexing fore and aft while the chest stays facing downhill.
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7. Hockey stop
green / gentle blue
“Both feet turn at once, chest stays.”
Passing looks likeGlide straight, pivot both skis across the hill together, hold a short sideslip, stop parallel.
Lead-up drillsPivot slips on a groomer; hockey stops at slow speed, then faster.
Common mistakeThe tails kick out from the hips.
FixRotate the legs in the hip sockets under a still pelvis and chest.
Key movement (for the animation)The thighs rotating in the hip sockets under a still pelvis.
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8. 1000 steps
green / gentle blue
“Small quick steps, never stop.”
Passing looks likeLarge turns while stepping ski to ski continuously, including through the edge change; narrow tracks; lifted ski parallel to the snow.
Lead-up drillsStepping on a traverse; 1000 steps on the flats.
Common mistakeBig diverging steps that stall.
FixSmall steps, skis mostly parallel after the first one.
Key movement (for the animation)The legs flexing and extending alternately, with the lifted ski staying level.
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9. Railroad track turns
green
“Knees and ankles tip, upper body quiet.”
Passing looks likeCarved turns within one groomer width; two clean pencil lines; both skis tip at the same time and rate.
Lead-up drillsTip-only traverses (no steering); javelin turns.
Common mistakeTipping from the hips (banking).
FixStart the tip at the ankles; keep the hips over the feet.
Key movement (for the animation)The ankles and knees tipping, with the hips staying over the feet.
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Versatility vary shape, size and line; groomed blue AND variable blue/gentle black · all 4 used
10. Short radius
groomed blue and variable blue / gentle black
“Round, rhythm, quiet chest.”
Passing looks likeRound brushed turns; steady rhythm and speed; speed comes from shape, not braking; legs turn under a stable upper body.
Lead-up drillsCorridor drills between two markers; pole-touch rhythm counts.
Common mistakePivot-and-check (Z-shaped turns).
FixSteer through the top of the turn and finish rounder.
Key movement (for the animation)The legs turning under the pelvis while the chest stays pointed down the hill.
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11. Short-medium-short
groomed blue and variable blue / gentle black
“Change the size, keep the flow.”
Passing looks likeSeveral short turns, several medium, several short again, with no pause where the size changes.
Lead-up drillsCall the size changes out loud; follow a partner.
Common mistakeA traverse or stall at the switch.
FixChange how fast the legs turn, not the stance.
Key movement (for the animation)How fast the legs turn changing, while the stance stays the same.
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12. Short radius with lane change
groomed blue and variable blue / gentle black
“Lean the line, not the body.”
Passing looks like4–5 short turns in a 1-groomer corridor, move over to the next lane, then 5 more; repeat.
Lead-up drillsLane shifts in medium turns first.
Common mistakeLosing rhythm during the shift.
FixShift the line over 1–2 turns, same rhythm.
Key movement (for the animation)The path of the body's center drifting across to the new lane over 1-2 turns.
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13. Funnel
groomed blue and variable blue / gentle black
“Each turn a little tighter.”
Passing looks likeStart with large turns and shrink to short ones over 7–9 turns; finish with a hockey stop.
Lead-up drillsCount the turns aloud; set a target for the stop point.
Common mistakeJumping straight from large to short.
FixMake each turn a little tighter than the last.
Key movement (for the animation)Leg turning getting quicker and edge angles shorter with each turn.
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Diagrams are schematic track shapes (not to scale): the fall line runs down the page. Clips go here once filming starts.