TEACHING RESOURCES

tHE 5 t’S: Making Sound Decisions

When it comes to ski and snowboard instruction, one of the most important aspects of any pro’s job is epic decision making.  The management team relies on our instructor’s good decisions to help keep our guests and instructors safe and successful.  As part of this process, Park City SSBS uses the 5 T’s to help guide or decision making.  The following is a list of the 5 T’s, and considerations for each of them.

Tactics

  • Red Flags

  • Movement Patterns

  • Obstacle Navigation

  • Speed

  • Line you ski on a run in relation to the terrain

Timing

  • Time of day

  • Time of season

  • On-snow time for guest (1st day vs. 20th day)

  • Sequencing of Activities for Skill Development

Traffic

  • Flow patterns

  • Choke Points and Bottlenecks

  • Location issues

  • Business levels

  • Space for the particular task to be completed for skill development

  • “Know before you go”

    • What are the traffic issues you may encounter?  What have your peers experienced? 

Task

  • Mechanically accurate

  • Why

    • What is the relevance of the task?

  • Does it contribute to the learning focus?

  • What is the desired outcome?

  • Is it appropriate for skill level, terrain, and traffic?

Terrain

  • Appropriate progression

    • Greens into blue, blues into blacks

  • Terrain restricted

  • Obstacles

    • Stay away or incorporate them?

  • New skills on old terrain

  • Old skills on new terrain

  • Is it appropriate for the task and student skill level?

  • Will the student be successful with turns here?

  • What are the risks to be on terrain that is too steep?

  • What are the skills the student will lose by using terrain too steep?

  • Will this terrain choice enhance the experience and skill of my student?

Surface

  • Snow conditions

  • Grooming report

  • Incorporating different aspects of the mountain

  • Be aware of variable conditions

    • Either stay away or incorporate them

  • Be aware of changes in pitch with regards to snow conditions

  • Skills needed to manage different conditions