Course Name: Alpine Skiing Mechanics (formerly Biomechanics)
Discipline: Alpine
Time: 2 Days
Credits: 12 Continuing Education Credits
Environment: Green to Blue Terrain
Prerequisites: Minimum Level I Certified
Course Description:
This clinic will increase your understanding of the mechanical principles affecting movement of the body. We will explore how muscles and external forces on the skeletal structure affects a skier in motion. Participants will learn about the relationship between forces of nature and a skier’s path of travel. We will identify the forces of motion and how they are absorbed, directed, and maintained during a turn. We can then see how the mechanical significances of the fundamental skills interact during a skiing turn as well as explain the mechanics of both efficient and inefficient movements during the turn.
Learning Experiences:
Specific activities will vary depending on the group and environmental conditions; however, they will typically include:
• Understand the mechanical principles relative to motion.
• Understand the skeletal structure and how motion affects that structure
• Understand Newton’s Laws of motion and how they apply to skiing
• Understand how friction plays a part in skiing
• Understand the law of universal gravitation
• Understand centrifugal/centripetal force and function
• Understand the biomechanics of skiing and how that affects balance, rotary movements edging movement and pressure management.