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Beginning Skiing - Alpine

Course Number: PE 184D
Transcript Title: Beginning Skiing - Alpine
Created: May 7, 2014
Updated: May 8, 2014
Total Credits: 1
Lecture Hours: 0
Lecture / Lab Hours: 0
Lab Hours: 30
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement: No
Satisfies General Education requirement: No

Course Description

Teaches inexperienced skiers to link turns together with control on beginning and beginning/intermediate terrain. Introduces the fun of downhill skiing and emphasizes skills necessary to ski safely on appropriate terrain. Addresses the variables of weather and snow conditions. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes


  1. Improve physical conditioning and develop a skill for maintaining lifelong health and fitness
  2. Ski with linked turns and control on beginning and beginning intermediate terrain
  3. Prepare for varying weather conditions and emergencies in an alpine environment.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  • Performance appraisal
  • Skills tests

Course Activities and Design

Lecture, discussion, on-skis practice.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)


Balancing, rotary, edging, and pressure control movements. Safety aspects of the sport.
  1. Oregon Skier’s Responsibility Code
  2. Preparation and awareness of varying weather conditions
  3. Importance of speed control
  4. Evaluating terrain
Skiing as a lifetime sport
  1. Skiing at proper skill level and terrain
  2. Skiing etiquette
  3. Creating an positive environment for enjoying downhill skiing
  4. Opportunities for improving skill
  5. Opportunities for competition, club involvement, social events


  1. Benefits of a physically active lifestyle
  2. Demonstrate balancing exercises in place
  3. Demonstrate walking/sliding
  4. Demonstrate stepping/climbing
  5. Demonstrate slowing/stopping
  6. Control slipping/skidding
  7. Demonstrate wedge Christies
  8. Demonstrate pole use for propulsion and support
  9. Demonstrate correct use of skis, bindings, boots, and other equipment
  10. Demonstrate safe use of lift system
  11. Demonstrate preparedness for varying weather, snow conditions, and terrain