1. Freestyle Aerial Level 100 Online Clinic and Exam

2. Overview
The goal of today’s clinic is to provide coaches with the tools necessary to safely introduce your athletes to the exciting and fun sport of aerial acrobatics on skis

3. Philosophy
Aerial acrobatics on skis can be a fun and exciting skill for young athletes to learn. Fundamental acrobatic ski skills will help a young athlete no matter which Freestyle or Freeride skiing discipline they decide to focus on in the future.
Special attention needs to be paid to the safety of the athlete at all times during this process to help minimize the risks.
Young athletes, when taught solid fundamentals for both trampoline and skiing, will progress very quickly.
While acrobatics on skis is a very biomechanical and physics intensive sport, the simpler you as a coach can communicate skills during training, the more productive athletes of all levels will be.

4. Aerial 100 Online Clinic Section 1 - Trampoline Safety and Progression
Section 2 – Skiing Ability, Age Appropriate Maneuvers and Proper equipment
Section 3 - Jump Choice & Speed of the Athlete
Section 4 – Athletes body position on takeoff and landing
Section 5 – Online Exam

5. Section 1 - Trampoline Safety & Progression
Proper use of the trampoline as a training device is critical to insure the athlete’s training can be made as safe as possible.
Proper trick progression gives the athletes the proper building blocks to move onto more advanced acrobatic maneuvers as safely as possible

6. Trampoline Safety – Risk Management
Risk management has three purposes;
Risk management seeks to eliminate those injuries that are predictable and totally preventable. For example, predictable and preventable injuries include injuries due to horseplay and injuries due to known facility hazards.
Risk management tries to reduce the likelihood of those injuries which can not be predicted nor prevented. Unpredictable injuries sometimes occur when the trampolinist and the coach do everything correctly, but an injury still occurs.
Risk management seeks to ensure that the injury is handled appropriately when an injury does occur. Injuries in physical activity are inevitable and therefore must be managed by prior planning and preparation.

7. Safety Rules for Trampoline
No student, instructor, or performer should ever use a piece of trampoline equipment that is not completely safe in every respect. Standard safety frame pad, properly installed trampoline bed and end spotter tables should always be used.
No one, regardless of ability level, should ever use a piece of trampoline equipment unless they are under the direct supervision of a qualified instructor.
No student or performer should ever attempt to execute any trampoline skill unless that skill has first been properly taught to the student by a qualified instructor.
No one should ever use a trampoline under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any medication that will dull and inhibit the normal sense and coordination faculties.
No one should ever use a trampoline when that person is tired, fatigued, or is in a state of vertigo.
No horseplay should ever be allowed on the trampoline.
Proper training clothes should always be used.
Two people should never jump in the same trampoline at the same time.

8. Safety Rules for Trampoline
No student or performer should ever dismount from the trampoline by either jumping or executing a skill to the floor.
No trampoline should be set up closer than 8 feet from a wall or under a ceiling that is less than 20 feet in height.
No one should ever jump on a trampoline where the lighting is judged to be insufficient or poor.
No somersault skills should ever be attempted unless an overhead spotting mechanic is used to teach the skill or a qualified instructor is there to utilize a hand-spotting technique.
All trampoline equipment should be safely stored and locked when not in use.
Never sit on, stand on, or lean on the sides or ends of the trampoline when a person is jumping.
Never sit on, or lay on deck pads located around the trampoline.
Never land with one leg on the trampoline and one on the pad, always two feet on or two feet off.

9. Trampoline Progressions
The proper and consistent use of skill progressions at every level of trampoline is an important part of the development of body awareness and safety
All trampoline maneuvers should exhibit a strong lift off of the trampoline, a tight body position in the air and purposeful and controlled movements

10. Sample Trampoline Progression
Back Drop
Back Drop, part II
Coffin drop
Coffin drop, part II
Airplane 180
Airplane 180, part II
Airplane 360
Back bounce
Log roll 180
Log roll 360
Log roll 360, part II
Log roll 720
Combinations of the above
Spread
Twister
Daffy
360 w / positions
Mute grab
Straight jumps
Tuck jump
Straddle jump
Straddle Jump, part II
Pike jump 90
180
360
540
540, part II
720
720, part II
Seat drop
Hand and knee drop
Hand and knee drop to stomach drop
Stomach drop
CLICK ON THE GREEN LINKS TO VIEW VIDEO

11. Tramp Progressions by Age
Trampoline progressions can be started as young as years old for the more basic skills.
Ages 6 to 9 can move onto some of the more advanced skills.
It is important that the more basic skill is mastered before the athlete moves onto the next skill.
When teaching some of the more difficult skills (stomach drop or back drop) a throw pad is recommended to allow the athlete to become comfortable landing in this new position.
Throw Pad, part II
Throw Pad, part III
Throw Pad, part IV
CLICK ON THE GREEN LINKS TO VIEW VIDEO

12. Determining Twisting Direction
It is important to identify an athletes dominant twisting directions at young age. Knowing the natural twisting method helps you to coach athletes through the more advanced skills. When athletes are young, it is also important to allow them to explore twisting in both directions.
Methods include:
Determine which foot an athlete puts forward when they take their first step As a general rule, right foot forward = twist left, left foot = twist right
Determine which way an athlete skateboards or surfs and use the same rule as above
Determine a higher comfort level for one direction or another, when an athlete jumps off the ground and rotates

13. Section 2 – Skiing Ability, Age Appropriate maneuvers and Proper Equipment
This section will help to outline the skiing skills needed to support aerial acrobatics on skis.
It will also identify ages that acrobatic skills may be introduced
It is important during the beginning of a young athletes career to focus on skill development rather than competitions. At these ages it is recommended that the athlete do no more than 2 or 3 ski competitions per year

14. Skiing Ability
Giving young athletes a strong fundamental skiing background is critical. Skiing can be introduced as young as 3 to 4 years old.
Skiing fundamentals can be taught by a number of different entities. A development Freestyle skiing program, a development Alpine program or PSIA teaching program are all excellent ways to give your young athlete the skiing skills that will support them no matter what discipline they choose.
Teaching Ski Acrobatics can be started when an athlete is confident with making parallel turns, comfortable skiing straight down a small steep slope (landings) and skiing straight into an age appropriate jump.
An athletic stance will be needed for take off and landings, as well as good stopping skills.

15. Age Appropriate Maneuvers
Even with young athlete’s, aerial acrobatics can be started using the theory of progression to introduce them to jumping.
To minimize the risks and keep the learning fun, basic maneuvers such as spreads, daffys, twisters and grabs can be introduced ages 6 – 8.

16. Age Appropriate Maneuvers
Once the athlete is comfortable with these maneuvers and exhibits a strong take off and landing, 360’s can be introduced.
Ages 8 to 10 are good ages to begin introducing 360’s.
Ages 9 to 11 are good ages for 360 w / positions and 180’s. (it recommended to teach solid 360’s before teaching 180’s as the 180 mechanics can actually make it more difficult for a young athlete to learn 3’s)
Ages 11 – 13 are good ages for 540’s and 720’s
All maneuvers should exhibit a good take off, execution in the air and solid landings before an athlete moves on to the next skill. This progression builds excellent fundamentals for an athlete to build upon.

17. Proper Equipment
Age and size appropriate skis and boots are required for aerials.
Helmets are a must for acrobatic jumps on skis.
Snug fitting goggles or glasses are also very important.
Ski poles will most likely not be used as younger athletes are introduced to new jumps. Poles will be added in as the athlete becomes comfortable with the maneuver they are performing

18. Section 3 - Jump Choice & Speed of the Athlete
Choosing a skill level and age appropriate jump is critical to ensure a safe training environment, as well as helping the athletes have as much fun as possible.

19. Jump Choice
For the first time jumper, a small table top jump will provide plenty of fun and challenge.
A relatively flat and small jump (20 degrees at take off and .25m tall) is great for giving the young athlete the feeling of being in the air for the first time.
While a steep landing provides the most safety for the athlete, a balance must be found between safe landing pitch and the ability of the athlete you are working with.
While water ramps do provide a forgiving landing, many of the basic maneuvers can be safely trained for the first time on snow.

20. Speed of the Athlete
Special attention needs to be paid to controlling the athlete’s speed, this is important for two reasons.
To insure the athlete gets the amount of “air” they are comfortable with and can safely handle.
Lower speeds will help the athlete to use their body for the “pop” or extension on the end of the jump.

21. As the athlete becomes more comfortable and wants to try more advance jumps, the jump size can be increased and a steeper chopped landing pad can be incorporated.
It is always a good idea to “step out” the chopped landing to make it easier for the athlete to ski through.
A site for this level maneuvers would include a mogul sized jump (26 – 30 degrees on take off, jump height of .50m with a 26 – 30 degree landing pitch)
This progression continues as the athlete begins attempting more challenging maneuvers. Remember, the athlete needs to demonstrate the lesser skill jumps with good take off, execution and landing before they move onto the next skill.

22. Section 4 – Athlete’s Body position on Take off and Landing
Teaching a young athlete a strong take off with proper mechanics is a skill that will support them the rest of their acrobatic skiing career. This skill is the basis for many advanced acrobatic maneuvers

23. Take off This skill is made up of two major pieces:
As the athlete approaches the jump, feet should be shoulder width apart (athletic stance), shoulders need to be forward over the balls of the feet. Hands should be reaching toward the top of the jump. Eyes should be above the jump, at or near the horizon.
When the athlete begins to ride up the jump, the body needs to extend or “pop” with full extension at the end of the jump. It is important that the shoulders remain over the balls of the feet through full extension. The extension can have as much “explosiveness” as the athlete can do, while remaining in balance.

24. This skill is best learned using a simple balanced maneuver such as the spread eagle.
When the take off skill is performed consistently, the athlete can move on to other maneuvers.
For non rotational maneuvers the athlete should wait until they leave the jump before they begin the maneuver they are performing.
During the maneuver make sure the athlete keeps their eyes level with the horizon through the apex of the jump.
As the athlete begins to prepare for the landing, the athlete needs to reach down the landing area with their hands and have their eyes also looking to the bottom of the landing area. A slight absorption and balanced four point landing is ideal.

25. Take off with Rotation
Rotation is created by using the hips and shoulders (body core) to begin twisting slightly as the athlete reaches the takeoff of the jump, at full extension. The less amount of twisting force applied to the jump the better, but some amount is necessary. (contact twisting)
Body should remain tight in the air, with the arms extended outward between the chest and the eyes.
Eyes should see the top of the jump, spot the horizon while leaving the jump, then take a look up the hill at 180 degrees of the rotation.
As the athlete begins to prepare for the landing, the athlete needs to reach down the landing area and have their eyes also looking to the bottom of the landing area. A slight absorption and balanced four point landing is ideal.

26. For 360 w/position, same take off as a 360.
At or after 90 degrees of rotation, the athlete can then make a move to create the position or the grab.
Position should be held until 270 degrees of rotation, then released to prepare for the landing.

27. Diagnosing issues with jumps
If an athlete has a mechanical problem with their jump, you should focus your attention in the following order
Body – 1. Stance, feet shoulder width apart
2. “Pop” or extension on end of jump
3. Shoulders square and over balls of feet
4. Core of body tight and initializing the twist (rotational jump)
Eyes / Head – 1. Eyes focus on top of jump, two moguls or 20 feet away
2. Eyes spot the horizon on takeoff
3. Head stays neutral between shoulders
4. Eyes spot up the hill at 180 degrees (rotational jump)
Hands / Arms – 1. Arms open on takeoff
2. Arms between chest and eyes
3. Arms reaching slightly forward
When coaching an athlete, try to only communicate the one item that will make the most positive change to the jumper’s performance.

28. Section 5 – Online exam

29. Conclusion
This Freestyle Aerial 100 Jump clinic has given you the tools you will need to get your younger athletes on the right path for a exciting aerial career.
Aerial 100 written by Chris “Seedog” Seemann ©2010
US Trampoline & Tumbling Association Safety Manual 4th edition