Slalom Cross-blocking/clearing
MHRC training night #1: Jan 5, 2008
Rules and guidelines for SL
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K1/K2 – Vertical distance (turning pole to
turning pole): 6-12 m ***except delays (18 m)
J1+ - Max vertical distance: 13 m
Gate width: 4-6 m
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No minimum offset by ICR book, BUT, should be
set to control speed and induce rhythm and flow
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Flush/hairpin vertical combinations must follow this
Distance between double poles of vertical combos:
Minimum 0.75 m (1 drill length)
1-5 m offset required in K2 league rule book, 1-3 m in K1
Outside gates now not required by FIS except
in vertical combos (trial basis in 08/09 season)
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K2 and J league rule book requires outside gates
Technique before tactics!
SL Tactics – Keep it simple!
Some factors inhibiting success in
learning to clear gates
• Reaching to hit gate
– Causes upper body rotation, poor alignment
– Athlete’s focus is on hitting the gate, not skiing well
• Lack of angulation skills / poor fore-aft balance
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Edge angle and power at minimum
Unable to initiate carved turn above the gate
Center of mass on outside of arc
Stance too narrow to allow for max angulation
• Fear!
– Intimidating to hit gates
– Athlete skis passively in “back seat”, waits for gates
Some technical/tactical points for
young athletes learning to clear
• Angulation/Separation!
– Push athletes to increase angulation/separation and
range-of-movement to max when free skiing
• Long outside leg, flexed inside leg (90% pressure on outside
ski – Aim2Win doc)
• Legs must work together (windshield wipers)
– Skills developed 1st in stubbies/brushes
• Set corridors with big offset/big vertical to promote feel of
carving back to the gate
• Athletes MUST contact gate with shins, ankles/knees/skis
must have direction to new gate, upper body stays in fall line
• Pole plant must be present
– Explain effects of having COM and head inside the
arc of SL turn (physics + looking ahead)
• Play with individual stances to see what works best for
athlete in bringing body and head inside arc
Some suggested drills/course sets for
promoting cross-blocking
• Gates angled to outside
– Forces athletes to make “plastic on plastic” contact with shins
and pole guards
– Progressively make pole stand taller
• Tall gate-Short gate-Tall gate
– Allows athlete to work on one side at a time
– Promotes pole plant
• Poles forward
– Athlete holds poles forward and clears gate in the centre
– ONLY should be used on easy terrain/sets/snow
• POSSIBLE flush, hairpin drill course
– Set long flush or multiple hairpin course on easy terrain where
athletes experiment with different clearing methods (one hand
up, crossing over, shouldering, etc)
• Brush on inside of turning pole
– Gives athlete target where to have his/her body on inside of arc