Words are tricky things… Some words mean different things depending on the context and/or how you say them. Take “read” for example: Yesterday, I read a book. I often read books. In both sentences, the word “read” looks the same, but the sentences refer to two different times.
Or, what about the word “coach”? Some years ago, a female alpine ski racer was injured when she collided with a coach. Was she crossing a road when this happened and was she hit by a vehicle with seats for 50 people, or, was she skiing on a race piste and did the person helping her ski into her?
Or, what about the word “coach”? Some years ago, a female alpine ski racer was injured when she collided with a coach. Was she crossing a road when this happened and was she hit by a vehicle with seats for 50 people, or, was she skiing on a race piste and did the person helping her ski into her?
The English language is full of ambiguity and the British humour is renowned for its “play on words”, which is great for the people who find that kind of thing interesting, but what has all this got to do with teaching skiing?
When a teacher wants to introduce a new idea to a group of students they will probably explain it, describe it and demonstrate it. Hopefully the explanation will be clear, the description will include how it feels and sounds, what the outcomes will be and the demonstration will allow the students to see exactly what all the fuss is about. For a lot of people a combination of explanation, description and demonstration is enough for them to get the idea and have a go. For some people though, they are left with a massive question mark hovering above their head. Why? Because their understanding of the words doesn’t match what they understand are to be the outcomes and none of it matches the demonstration.
The term “roll your ankles” is often used to describe the movement needed to tilt the skis onto their edges. This is normally called carving and appears to be the holy grail of piste skiers.
So, roll your ankles = tilt your skis onto their edges. Well, it sounds quite straight forward, but then you get the person who says: Roll your ankles? But, my ankles don’t roll. Balls roll, cheese rolls (check out Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling in Gloucestershire, if you’re in doubt!) a cigarette can be rolled, eyes roll… but, ankles? Just exactly how can an ankle roll?
It’s easy enough to explain and to correct the misunderstanding though, roll your ankles actually means tilt your skis onto their edge, using the ankles to initiate the movement.
So, the wannabe carver spends some time practicing tilting their skis onto their edges, using only their ankles to make the movement and leaving two clean tracks in the snow. Marvellous!
They can do this all over the mountain, but they feel a little uncomfortable doing this on red pistes because they go so fast. They ask their instructor, who says roll your ankles, they say, I am, the instructor says, well do it more… The wannabe carver is confused because they were told to only “roll their ankles”, they are doing this as much and as far as they can but it is still not enough to be able to carve at a steady speed on a red piste. Eventually, the words and their meanings are explored, the instructions are re-written: To carve your skis; tilt your skis onto their edges, increase the amount of tilt to correspond with the desired speed and slope angle, move as much of the body necessary to prevent the skier from falling over, the movement will originate at the ankles and will progressively move up the body as speed and forces allow.
So, roll your ankles = tilt your skis onto their edges. Well, it sounds quite straight forward, but then you get the person who says: Roll your ankles? But, my ankles don’t roll. Balls roll, cheese rolls (check out Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling in Gloucestershire, if you’re in doubt!) a cigarette can be rolled, eyes roll… but, ankles? Just exactly how can an ankle roll?
It’s easy enough to explain and to correct the misunderstanding though, roll your ankles actually means tilt your skis onto their edge, using the ankles to initiate the movement.
So, the wannabe carver spends some time practicing tilting their skis onto their edges, using only their ankles to make the movement and leaving two clean tracks in the snow. Marvellous!
They can do this all over the mountain, but they feel a little uncomfortable doing this on red pistes because they go so fast. They ask their instructor, who says roll your ankles, they say, I am, the instructor says, well do it more… The wannabe carver is confused because they were told to only “roll their ankles”, they are doing this as much and as far as they can but it is still not enough to be able to carve at a steady speed on a red piste. Eventually, the words and their meanings are explored, the instructions are re-written: To carve your skis; tilt your skis onto their edges, increase the amount of tilt to correspond with the desired speed and slope angle, move as much of the body necessary to prevent the skier from falling over, the movement will originate at the ankles and will progressively move up the body as speed and forces allow.
The second explanation is a bit wordy, and doesn’t sound anywhere near as snappy and neat as the simple “roll your ankles” however, to some people it is absolutely clear and makes sense instead what, to them, is a totally non-sense instruction.
A lot of ski instructors forget what it was like before they learnt all the jargon that goes with instructor exams. They spend their time speaking jargon to students, discussing jargon with other instructors, writing papers and Blogs using jargon because they know that the jargon will impress all the other instructors who read their work.
What they forget is that a lot of the jargon is actually meaningless. Next time you’re teaching, have a think about what you’re actually saying, and really, what does it mean… roll your ankles, flex your ankles, stand up tall, lean forwards, stand on the outside* ski… What does it all mean to someone who doesn’t spend their whole life living and breathing skiing? Maybe there’s a different way of explaining the movements that will help the students “get it” the first time? Play with the words and explore the meanings. Ask the students what they have understood. Take on the challenge to make sure that everyone “gets it” and not just the ones who are good at watching and copying demos.
What they forget is that a lot of the jargon is actually meaningless. Next time you’re teaching, have a think about what you’re actually saying, and really, what does it mean… roll your ankles, flex your ankles, stand up tall, lean forwards, stand on the outside* ski… What does it all mean to someone who doesn’t spend their whole life living and breathing skiing? Maybe there’s a different way of explaining the movements that will help the students “get it” the first time? Play with the words and explore the meanings. Ask the students what they have understood. Take on the challenge to make sure that everyone “gets it” and not just the ones who are good at watching and copying demos.
Be open to new questions. Have fun and explore the new ideas!
*outside ski? What’s that? I have a ski on my left foot and on my right foot. Hmm, my skis were inside the hotel earlier and now they’re outside. Does that mean they’re outside skis or inside skis? If they are inside skis can they only be used on an indoor slope? Do I need to buy some new outside skis? Can I legitimately add another pair of skis to my collection, as a sign that I’m a real, gnarly skier?!