Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Course Number:
PE 184C
Course Title:
Advanced Skiing - Nordic
Credit Hours:
Lecture Hours:
Lecture/Lab Hours:
Lab Hours:
Special Fee:

Course Description

Introduces advanced nordic ski techniques. Prepares skiers to make dynamic technique adjustments to timing, terrain changes, turning for speed control and efficiency in skating and telemark skiing. Addresses terrain changes, weather and snow conditions. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Continue to improve physical conditioning and develop skills for maintaining lifelong health and fitness
  2. Ski at the intermediate/advanced level
  3. Prepare for varying weather conditions and emergencies in an alpine environment.

Course Activities and Design

An orientation session will be held at the college to collect fees, discuss equipment selection, proper clothing and personal gear and to answer questions. At the lesson site students will be placed in classes with students of similar ability. Classes will be conducted each of the five weeks on snow at the designated lesson site. Practice time will be available to supplement class time with the instructor, and independent practice is of the utmost importance.


Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students' grades will be assigned on a pass/no pass basis only and will be based on:

  1. Attendance - attendance at five classes is required for a pass.
  2. Active participation and effort in class.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Expected Student  Competencies:
The course is designed to teach appropriate balancing,edging, turning, pressure control movements and rhythm/flow maneuvers to allow students to ski in advanced terrain, both groomed and ungroomed and to use a variety of techniques to maintain speed, power and efficiency of movement. Blending dynamic diagonal stride with change up,timing and terrain changes will be included.  An over all review of nordic downhill techniques plus skating techniques including V1, V2 and alternates will be reviewed. Safety will be stressed and every effort will be made to develop and excitement about the lifetime sport of nordic skiing in each student.

    1. Instructional Goals:
      1. Introduce students to the balancing, pressure control movements and the rhythm/flow maneuvers outlined in the PSIA American teaching System for Nordic Skiing, applied appropriately to the following maneuvers:
    2. Objectives:
      1. Refinement of timing and flow-all maneuvers
      2. Transitions, timing, rhythm changes, flow and versatility
      3. Tactics for adjustment for terrain and snow conditions
      4. Turning maneuvers and turn shapes for speed control
      5. Skating techniques and transitions
    1. Instructional goal:
      1. Familiarize students with the safety aspects of the sport.
    2. Objectives:
      1. Orient the students to equipment selection and use
      2. Outline trail etiquette procedures
      3. Instruct winter survival basics including the use of the 10 essentials and basic snow shelter construction
      4. Introduce students to varied terrain and snow conditions as their confidence and ability allow
      5. Integrate variations in ski technique to meet the challenges of changing snow and terrain
    1. Instructional Goal:
      1. Develop in the students and appreciation of nordic skiing as a lifetime sport.
    2. Objectives:
      1. Create a positive learning environment that allows learning to occur and individual student confidence to be developed.
      2. Help students to understand the importance of physical fitness to maximize their enjoyment of athletic activity
      3. Develop an excitement about and appreciation of skiing that will motivate the students to participate in nordic skiing as a lifetime activity.