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Progression Ski Racing System

pro·gres·sion

noun

the process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state.
"the normal progression from junior to senior status"

The Progress Racing System (PRS) is an athlete’s/coach’s guide designed to integrate the science of expert performance and practice with modern ski racing

Ski racing is a beautiful and complicated sport. Like so many other sports, it is both physically demanding and emotionally intense. It combines skills like the speed and agility needed for a sport like soccer with the tactics and strategy needed for bike racing, the brute strength of football with the complexity of the equipment in car racing. What makes ski racing uniquely different from all other sport, however, is the inherent limits on available training time. Ski racing needs to evolve, making the use of innovative learning and practice techniques in ways that allows the racer to tackle the natural variables of the sport and make the most of the limited training time available

The Progression Racing System (PRS) combines the latest in the science of learning and skill acquisition with modern racing techniques. It is an iterative learning process that uses a structure of feedback loops that can be applied to get more of out each training session. Training sessions are designed to increase the acquisition of correct technique and the pruning of poor technique. Progress is made incrementally by building on success starting from the first day on snow by building awareness and skills with free skiing, line and gate training. New skills are added and reinforced with feedback loops and error correction. Each skill is identified and clearly defined so that athletes and coaches have a road map to follow. Athletes are taught how to evaluate their own progress and to take ownership of their development and success. PRS is where performance science meets passion and drive to tackle the unique challenges of the sport of ski racing.

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The PRS begins with how the brain learns, and the reason it is important to understand the basics of learning before getting on snow. The Progression then moves on to the What and Why so that training sessions can be designed to increase the acquisition of correct technique through the process of deep, deliberate practice. The type of practice and approach of that PRS is based on has been chronicled by Anders Ericsson, the author of “Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise” and “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck. Other books include “The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.” and “The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills” by Dan Coyle.

 

“Practice Like This!: 35 Effective Ways to Get Better Faster” by Jonathan Harnum, “The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything…Fast” by Josh Kaufman, and “Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else” by Geoff Colvin have added depth and insights to these processes.
 

The PRS uses all the relevant concepts to construct a feedback loop that athletes can utilize every day of the season—progressing incrementally from the first day on the snow through building awareness and skills with free skiing, line, and gate training, all with deep and deliberate practice. The PRS is an evolution of the modern learning and racing techniques, and alleviates the restriction of training time that is plaguing our sport.

 

For an overview of this entire process described in the talent code, watch these videos:
 

 

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE


SKILL ACQUISITION

How the brain learns through the accumulation of myelin, and why it is so important to correct errors and habits

  • How the Brain Learns

  • DEEP DELIBERATE PRACTICE

  • What Types of Practice and Techniques Work Best for Rapid Skill Acquisition.

  • Active Recovery

  • The Feedback Loop.

 

SKIING PROGRESSION

The progressions and drills used to quickly develop great techniques and repetitive skills.

  • Designing the Perfect Turn

  • Best Turn Progression (Free Skiing)

  • Line and Tactics

  • Gate Progression

  • Additional Drills and Games

 

GUIDES

  • Athlete’s Approach

  • Coaching Tips

  • Parenting Today's Athlete

 

EXTRAS

  • Alternative Training (Not Dryland)

  • Do You Train Like You Race or Do You Race Like You Train? How About a Third Option?

  • Inspecting a Course

  • Race Day Routine

  • Equipment

  • Tips and Guides for all the Parts of Ski Racing

  • Sources

 

You will find additional tips, action plans and goals throughout the guide.

The Progression Racing System is designed to evolve with the science and the sport. If you have comments and suggestions that you would like to add to the Progression, please contact us through Progression Ski Racing

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