We are going to develop ski learning articles according to the following skiers’ characteristics based on neuroscience, psychology and biomechanics.
| Beginners – Intermediates | Advanced – Experts | |
| Braking | Usually slow down and then assess the situation | Evaluate in advance whether the situation needs stopping |
| Reaction time | React using force or by excessive thinking delaying reaction time | Minimize reactions applying proactive behaviors |
| Kinetic chain | Trigger movements are generally executed with their trunk | Usually trigger movements with their feet |
| Motor consciousness | Movements’ execution generally produces uncertain results | In addition to achieving specific results are conscious of sensory references |
| Motor behavior | Are restricted by the environment layout | Adapt to and take advantage of the surroundings |
| Tend to motor activity through the constant use of internal forces | When needed they recourse to motor passivity by letting external forces to act | |
| Motor development | Make frequently use of reactions | Obtain elaborated actions |
| Have the tendency to utilize reactive movements | Constantly employ voluntary movements | |
| Undergo the transition between uncontrolled to controlled movements | Make good use of controlled and automatic movements | |
| Are characterized by movements’ quantity | Are distinguished by movements’ quality | |
| Motor execution | Tend to use their trunk as a motor unit and legs conform a balancing function | Their trunk fulfills a stabilizing purpose and legs a motor function |
| Utilize the perceptual, decision, and executive mechanisms | Employ perceptual and executive mechanisms avoiding decision waiting time | |
| Motor control | Tend to respond after the stimulus (retroactive control) | Use motor responses anticipation (proactive control) |
| Aim to control at least one motor variable (posture) | Succeed in controlling more than one motor variable (posture, movements, actions) | |
| Coordination | It stands out their lack of coordination while executing movements and actions | All body segments move synchronically |
| Degrees of freedom | Recourse initially to articular mobility restrictions | Obtain articular releases bringing amplitude and fluency to movements |
| Lateral dominance | It is a common characteristic at this level | Lateral dominance tends to balance out |
| Action mental representation | Must learn to mentally represent skiing actions | It is already assimilated allowing execution directly through perception |
| Action anticipation | Appear to be pressed by the hurry to act | Seem to have enough time to perform |
| Performance is mainly developed through reactions | Anticipate skiing maneuvers based on predictions | |
| Do not differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information | Distinguish relevant information as useful data for actions forestalling | |
| Tend to react facing other people’s actions | Predict and anticipate the actions of other people | |
| Action execution | Tend to retain the action because of own indecision | Pursue permanent action continuity |
| Affordances | Just notice some terrain characteristics | Perceive as well the possibilities for actions the terrain offers |
| Action perception | Rely mainly on muscular information | Know how to interpret different sensory information |
| Action intentionality | Are prone to consider the final goal | Concentrate on the final result in addition to the initial action |
| Actions and movements | Tend to concentrate on movements first and then on actions | Perform movements and actions without taking them into account |
| Action and reaction | Use reactive control based on emotions to defend from the situation | Utilize a proactive control centered in perceptions to tackle the circumstances |
| React by instinct | Act by intuition |
