Terrain

Big sky Mountain Sports School has established guidelines linking skill levels with appropriate terrain.  These guidelines are provided throughout the training curriculum.  Each instructor is responsible for making sound decisions in terrain selection and safe use of the chosen terrain based on these guidelines.   

SELECTION

Select terrain within the comfort level and capability of the least competent skier in the group. Keep in mind weather, snow conditions, time of day and many other factors that make the relative difficulty of one slope variable from day to day. With this in mind, be informed as to current conditions when making terrain choices. The tram may not be used during group lessons, with the exception of Rippers and Calamity Janes on the Peak, and Master the Mountain.  

TREE TRAILS

Know the current condition of each trail. Is the snow adequate? Is the snow hard and icy or is it soft? Are there obstacles such as stumps, deadfall, trees, or rocks? These are among the factors you should consider. It may help to consult with other instructors who have been in a particular terrain recently. Have your students ski the trail with enough distance between each to eliminate collisions. Inform the students what kind of terrain or obstacles they can expect so they are not surprised. Lead the group through the tree trail to set an appropriate pace. Group spacing may be determined by the terrain. 

JUMPS

Check the condition of a jump before you allow students to ski/ride over it. Look to see if the landing is too flat or even uphill. Too flat or uphill landings can be unsafe. Avoid jumps that don’t have a safe run-out. Students should go one at a time over a jump. If one falls, he/she will need time to get up and safely out of the way. Be sure they stand safely out of the way of the run-out. When possible, stand safely to the side of the take-off to indicate when the jump is clear. Arms overhead in a circle indicates clear; arms in a cross overhead or otherwise indicates not clear. Share this information with students.  Make certain students never feel as if they are required to jump or engage in any activity that they are not comfortable with. See park smart in the following sections.

FEATURES ETIQUETTE – HARBOR’S HALF-PIPE & TERRAIN PARK 

  • You may take appropriate level 5 or higher students into the Explorer terrain park, following the guidelines below.  Use sound judgement. 

  • Attend Returner/New Hire Training = Wolf Pup Park and select features in Cow Poke Park 

  • Park Safety and FS1 = Cow Poke and Explorer Park  

  • Park Safety and FS2 = Cache Park (with supervisor approval) 

  • Park Safety and FS3 = Swifty Park (with supervisor approval) 

  • Know the current condition of the feature before you take students there. Should the conditions be fast, keep your students under strict control. Set up rules at the top of the feature before you enter it. Students should go in single file or one at a time, (as appropriate), they should not pass one another, nor go too high on the walls, and to ski in control.

  • Harbor’s Half-Pipe can be fun and a good teaching tool. Students who are unable to turn and control speed in harbors halfpipe – at a reasonable speed based on conditions – should not enter the terrain. It is your responsibility to lead your students through Harbor’s Half-Pipe, keep the group together and move at a safe speed. Have the students yell, “wipe out,” if one should fall. Extra care should be used when exiting the natural half-pipe with students. Remember—you are merging with other traffic. Instructors should not send students ahead without supervision.    

FIVE MAIN POINRTS OF PARK SMART

Park SMART is all about safety and having the knowledge to enjoy your freedom and the freestyle terrain.  

  1. Start small  

    • Work your way up. Build your skills.

  2. Make a plan  

    • Every time you use freestyle terrain, have a plan for each feature you are going to use.

    • Remember, your speed, approach and take-off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.

  3. Always look

    • Before you drop.

    • Before getting into freestyle terrain observe all signage and warnings.  

    • Use your first run as a warmup run and to familiarize yourself with the park layout and features. Pre-ride (first ride on the side of the features to check conditions and speed), re-ride (hit all features to inspect them and get your speed dialed (straight air or grabs only)), freeride (once speed and conditions are clear you can start to work on skills). 

    • Remember that the features change constantly due to weather, usage and time of day so it is important to continue to inspect features throughout the day.  

  4. Respect  

    • The features and other users.  

    • One person on a feature at a time.  

    • Wait your turn and call your drop-in.  

    • Always clear the landing area quickly.  

    • Respect all signs and stay off closed features.  

    • Respect the park flow. Often the uphill rider has the right of way in the park so if you are sessioning/ hiking a feature be sure to check up hill (give the right of way) and clearly call and indicate your drop. Merge as though merging into traffic on a right-hand turn meaning those coming from above have the right of way.  

    • Remember that respect is important both in the park, and on the rest of the resort. So be smart when you are heading down the mountain or to the lift and save your best tricks for the park.  

  5. Take it easy  

    • Know your limits. Land on your feet.  

    • Ride within your ability and consider taking a lesson if you want to build your knowledge, skills, and bag of tricks.  

    • Stay in control both on the ground and in the air.  

    • Remember you can control how big or small you take the feature by varying speed and take off.  

    • Inverted aerials increase the chance of serious injury and are not recommended. 

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