Vail Ski and Snowboard School's 5T'S

As a Vail Snowsports Professional, one of the most important aspects for the profession is proper decision making. Every time you push off to make a run or get ready to load and unload a chair lift, you are making split second decisions. Understanding and executing proper uses of the 5'T'S will help keep you and your students safe.

Tactics

Red Flags
Movement Patterns
Obstacle Navigation
Speed
Line you ski or a run in relation to the terrain

Timing

Time of day
Time of season
On-snow time for guest (1st day vs 20th day)
Sequencing of activities for skill development

Traffic

Flow patterns
Choke points and bottlenecks
Location issues
Business levels
Space for the particular task to be completed for skill development
"Know before you go" - What are the traffic issues you may encounter? What have your peers experienced?
Flow Zones

Tasks

Mechanically accurate
Why? - What is the relevance of the tasks?
Does it contribute to the learning focus?
What is the desired outcome?
Is it appropriate for skill level, terrain, and traffic?

Terrain

Appropriate progression
Terrain restricted
Obstacles
New skills on old terrain
Old skills on new terrain
Is it appropriate for the task and student skill level?
Will the student be successful with turns here?
What are the risks to be on terrain that is too steep?
What are the skills the student will lose by using terrain too step?
Will this terrain choice enhance the experience and skill of my student?

Snow Surface

Snow conditions
Grooming report
Incorporating different aspects of the mountain
Be aware of variable conditions
Be aware of changes in pitch with regards to snow conditions
Skills needed to manage different conditions