APUL Telemark course telemark skiing technique improvement and teaching

The 6 day course is designed for those interested in telemark skiing technique and teaching it. This course is also one of the ways to the so-called "other instruments" in APUL educational system, which corresponds to the standards of ISIA. The course is open to any APUL member who is 16 years and older and had succesfully completed APUL "D" level of education. All applicants must have at least a basic experience with telemark skiing. The course is not designed for telemark beginners and its content is not drafted this way. Recommended is at least a couple of hours on telemark skis and the basic concept of movement principles. The successful candidate of APUL telemark course becomes a "telemark instructor APUL" licensee and is fully competent to teach telemark skiing. At the same time the successful candidate meets the requirement of "second instrument" in the quest for ISIA stamp (ISIA card).

The course is focused on a deeper understanding of the technical, teaching and motion concept of telemark skiing. The emphasis is placed on the basic telemark technical principles and their application in practice. The telemark charm is in its freedom and variability, and we certainly do not neglect this fact during our course. We will also focus on issues of the process of teaching, principles of motion analysis, we will discuss an interesting topic of telemark equipment and last but not least, the history of skiing, which is directly related to telemark technique. The course takes place in the Czech language.

The major part of the telemark course consists of practical training of telemark technique in variable conditions. We will also focus on the specifics of teaching telemark skiing, as well as continuous testing of the quality of acquired knowledge and skills. Practical workshops on the slope and beyond will emphasize the following key points:

• APUL Customer service and related skills.
• Deepening the knowledge of APUL educational concept.
• Technical and methodical procedure of teaching telemark skiing.
• Introduction to APUL motion analysis emphasizing the telemark technique.
• Improving technique of telemark skiing with an emphasis on basic telemark skills (telemark stance and its variants, initiation of telemark turn - lead change and its possible variants, telemark turn variations in dependence on the type of terrain and equipment, introduction to freestyle)
• Introduction to freestyle.
• Deepening knowledge about the history of skiing, types of equipment and new trends in telemark.

• Applicant must be at least 16 years old on the opening day of the course.
• Applicant must be at least APUL "D" licensee (or equivalent).
• Applicant must be APUL member (membership fee paid in the period).
• Applicant must have basic experience with telemark skiing.
• Applicant must have basic knowledge of work as a ski instructor.

The course content is divided into a practical part on the slope and the theoretical part in the form of lectures and workshops. The daily program will be adapted to the weather and local snow conditions. THe course leader is competent to provide changes in the course program. One day of the course is reserved for final exams. Participation in all program parts is a subject to the successful completion of the course.

The license "Telemark instructor APUL" entitles its holder to teach the technique of telemark turns including radius change, speed variation in dependence on the gradient of the slope and the basics of telemark freestyle on the slope (jump). Telemark instructor APUL is competent to teach all levels of telemark skiing on the slopes.

Successful graduates of the course will be competent to:

• teach telemark skiing from beginners to advanced skiers.
• apply different telemark techniques to various conditions (steep slopes, narrow slopes, etc.)
• teach clients of all ages,
• demonstrate and use the basics of freestyle on the slope.

The structure of the final exam of APUL telemark course consists of three basic skill areas (telemark skiing, teaching, analysis), which contribute to the overall profile of APUL snowsport instructor (not only telemark license). A successful graduate of the course needs to meet the requirements of all three areas at least at the level of the average of five points on a rating scale from 0 to 10 points.

1. Skiing exam

The exam consists of two different areas of telemark techniques: demonstrations of telemark skiing techniques and sports telemark skiing. The set of all exam rides contains of six elements (demonstration of techniques: basic telemark turn, telemark short-radius turn, telecarving turn; sports telemark skiing: free ride of your choice, ride with the change of the radius, jump). Completing of all mentioned rides is obligatory to pass the exam.

Set of exam rides:

1. Basic telemark turn (medium to long radius)

Terrain: moderately steep blue piste (beginner terrain) to gentle red piste

Criteria:

The examiner assesses each ride based on the following criteria:

• Telemark stance - Work with a dynamic balance.
• Lead change - initiation of the telemark turn.
• Control of the rate and the radius (fulfillment of the task).
• The shape of the turn (linked S-shaped turns).
• Balanced stance (Good work with dynamic balance).
• Maintaining telemark position and the absence of "Alpine" ski guidance.
• Changing edges and telemark stance is accompanied with a pole plant.

Every examiner evaluates the exam run as a purported average rating of above mentioned criteria.

2. Telemark turn - short radius

Terrain: red piste

criteria:

The examiner assesses each ride based on the following criteria:

• Telemark stance - Work with a dynamic balance.
• Lead change - initiation of the telemark turn.
• Control of the rate and the radius (fulfillment of the task).
• The shape of the turn (linked S-shaped turns).
• Balanced stance (Good work with dynamic balance).
• Maintaining telemark position and the absence of "Alpine" ski guidance.
• Changing edges and telemark stance is accompanied with a pole plant.

Every examiner evaluates the exam run as a purported average rating of above mentioned criteria.

3. Telecarving turn

Terrain: blue piste to gentle red piste

criteria:

The examiner assesses each ride based on the following criteria:

• Telemark stance - Work with a dynamic balance.
• Lead change - initiation of the telemark turn.
• Control of the rate and the radius (fulfillment of the task).
• The shape of the turn (linked S-shaped turns).
• Balanced stance (Good work with dynamic balance).
• Maintaining telemark position and the absence of "Alpine" ski guidance.
• Skis are maintained on the edges throughout the turn (ride with the signs of a sports character).

Every examiner evaluates the exam run as a purported average rating of above mentioned criteria.

4. "Free" ride (ride of your choice)

Terrain: red piste to gentle black piste

criteria:

The examiner assesses each ride based on the following criteria:

• Telemark stance - Work with a dynamic balance.
• Lead change - initiation of the telemark turn.
• Speed control.
• Dynamics, fluency and variability of the ride.
• Creativity of the rider in dependance on the character of external conditions.

Every examiner evaluates the exam run as a purported average rating of above mentioned criteria.

5. Radius change

Terrain: red piste

criteria:

The examiner assesses each ride based on the following criteria:

• Telemark stance - Work with a dynamic balance.
• Lead change - initiation of the telemark turn.
• Control of the rate and the radius (fulfillment of the task).
• The shape of the turn (linked S-shaped turns).
• Balanced stance (Good work with dynamic balance).
• Maintaining telemark position and the absence of "Alpine" ski guidance.
• At least two significant changes of radius without significant changes of the dynamics and speed

Every examiner evaluates the exam run as a purported average rating of above mentioned criteria.

6. Jump

Terrain: terrain wave (slope edge, terrain break)

criteria:

The examiner assesses each ride based on the following criteria:

• Flight phase and its control
• Controlled impact into telemark position
• Controlled exit after landing and stop

Every examiner evaluates the exam run as a purported average rating of above mentioned criteria.

Rating:

Each ride is evaluated by three examiners. Each examiner evaluates every single ride as the purported average rating of the above criteria on a rating scale from 0 to 10 points. Successful completion of the examination of telemark skiing means to obtain at least 30 points in the sum of all exam runs (at least 4 points from each run). Candidates who score less than 30 points become an evaluation "expectant from telemark skiing" and must repeat the exam.

2. Exam on Teaching Technique

Continuous practical examination of teaching takes place as a simulated group or private lesson, during which the candidate must demonstrate the knowledge and skills of good teaching procedures of skiers of all ages. The practical exam takes place on the slope in Czech language.

criteria:

The examiner assesses each sample lesson based on the following criteria:

• Model lesson (understanding, mastering and application of model lesson).
• Communication (level of verbal and nonverbal communication).
• Level of customer service (positive attitude and creating an optimal environment for learning, skills for working with people).
• Understanding the "APUL methodical procedure of teaching telemark skiing" (understanding and use of methodical procedure).
• Safety and pedagogical principles (choice of terrain, providing safety, organization of the group, the pace of instruction).

Rating:

Each examiner evaluates the teaching according to the above criteria within the range of 0-10 points. A succesful graduate needs to score at least 5 points to complete the exam from teaching. The model lesson cannot be evaluated positively if one of the criteria is significantly inadequate, even if the other are above average.  All candidates should embrace a comprehensive high standard of all parts of teaching procedure.

If a candidate meets the requirements at 3-4 points, he becomes an evaluation "expectant from teaching" and must repeat the exam. The candidate who receives less than 3 points from teaching, must repeat the entire course.

3. Exam from analysis and theory

The theoretical and analysis exam takes a form of a continuous assessment. We evaluate the candidate's activity, understanding of the topics related to the technique and teaching of telemark skiing, the ability to analyze telemark skiing technique on the slope and while watching filmed rides.

Assessment:

A candidate needs to achieve "positive" rating for successful completion of the exam. In case the candidate fails, he becomes an evaluation "expectant from analysis and theory" and must repeat the exam.

Overall course evaluation

For the overall successful completion of the course, the graduate must obtain the assessment "fulfilled" from all three areas (telemark skiing, teaching, analysis). In practice, this means 30+ points from telemark skiing, and 5+ points of teaching and a positive evaluation of the exam from analysis and theory. If the candidate fails only one of the three parts, he becomes "expectant" of the particular part and will be invited to resit. If he fails two or all three parts, the whole course must be repeated.

• Adequate telemark equipment. Appropriate size of telemark boots (NN75 system or NTN). We recommend serviced versatile skis with a radius of 14-18 m.
• Ski helmet as part of the basic equipment of each APUL instructor.
• Waterproof and warm clothing. We will spend min. 5 hours a day outside.
• Goggles and sunglasses, gloves, sunscreen.
• Money for ski pass (significant discount will be arranged).
• Money for breakfast, lunch and dinner (or self-catering).
• Notepad and pen for making notes and information from workshops.

Clelland, M., O'BANNON, A .: Allen & Mike's Really Cool Telemark Tips

Eriksen S .: Come Ski With Me,

KLEPPEN, H .: Telemarkskiing, Parker, P .: Free-heel skiing).

Of course, you can benefit from the workshops and lectures of the course.

All APUL courses are very intensive educational experience and are held in a mountain area and in all weather conditions. Therefore, they are physically and mentally demanding so it is recommended to dedicate sufficient attention to physical preparation few weeks before the course.

All participants of the APUL course are obliged to comply with the so-called "Ten Rules of conduct on the slopes." If any participant of the course will be systematically violate the rules of conduct on the slopes by his behaviour, threatening other course participants or other skiers, he will be asked to quit and leave the course.

Since skiing is a risky sport, we recommend arranging the appropriate accident insurance in case of accident or injury. Participation in the course is voluntary and at your own risk. APUL does not bear any consequences for possible injuries. We recommend Alpenverrein insurance for all APUL courses organized outside Czech republic.

The purpose of APUL courses and the role of the tutor, is mainly the transfer of knowledge and skills which will also be, after the course itself, a tool for training, self-education and further professional development toward follow-up APUL education.

A few tips on how to do it:

• It's good to have a training partner (or training group) who motivate each other to practice and share experience from their own practice.
• Regular video analysis is a prerequisite for systematic improvement.
• Setting a training and educational goal for the whole season will help to make the training more meaningful.
• Learning the element we are working on is a very effective tool for self-improvement.
• Every hour spent with the teacher on the course should be relevant to three hours of your own training.
• Skis must always be well prepared and serviced.
• Using other sources of information materials outside APUL can help to inspire and obtain new impulses. 

The important thing is to enjoy the process of improvement. Not only giving lessons to clients, but the self training during the season, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the profession of a ski instructor.