These games are good group games that can be used anytime during practice. They can be adapted to work on specific skills and can be used to incorporate skiers with varying abilities into one group.
Cut the Pie
Make a large pie circle in the snow; there should be four slices in the pie. The players can only ski around the perimeter or along the four cuts in the pie. One person is “it” and tries to tag another player. Anyone who falls into the pie or cuts a corner becomes “it”, so don’t cut the pie! Safety is a circle five meters in diameter in the center of the pie, but there cannot be more than three skiers there. The skier who has been in the safety circle the longest has to leave if a new skier enters. The pie can be about 50 meters in diameter if there are 10-15 players, bigger if there are more or older skiers.
Play without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
Duck, Duck, Goose!
Arrange the skiers into a circle facing the center. Choose one skier to be “It”. This skier skis around the outside of the circle tapping each skier, saying “Duck, duck, duck, . . .” then he/she taps someone and says, “Goose!” The “goosed” skier jumps up and chases the “it” skier, trying to catch him/her. That skier is then “It”, and starts the second round of “Duck, Duck, Goose!”
Play without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow; turning
Easter-Egg Hunt
No need to wait for Easter! Use small candies and scatter them in a field or open woods while skiers are not watching. Younger children start two minutes before the older children.
Play with or without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
Mystery Time Race
This type of race is designed for any one in the group to be able to win, regardless of ability. Pick an approxi- mate length of time for the activity, say 20 to 45 minutes. Select one person to pick a time between 20 and 45 minutes (to the nearest second), write it down, and hide it. Start the group out skiing, telling them to be back between 30 and 45 minutes. Score the race by those that come back closest (absolute time) to the mystery time. Distance, speed, and style are of no concern.
Play with or without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
Obstacle Course
Ski over bumps, climb over a bench, ski under a rope, around poles and bushes, sidestep up a ramp or hill. Turn the course into a relay.
Play with or without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
Technique: incorporate hills and corners to teach a variety of techniques, e.g., herringbone, skate corners, etc.
Samurai Swordsman
Form a large circle with all participants. A samurai is located in the middle with an object representing a large sword. Game starts with all participants bowing to samurai. If he swings the sword up high then you must duck; if he swings it low, then you must jump; if he jabs forward then you must side step. The key to this game is to keep it moving and to make analogies regarding participants’ destruction (e.g., “John, you look like a piece of Swiss Cheese!”).
Play with or without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
Technique: side-stepping
Ski Soccer
Skiers play soccer on skis but use their hands instead of their feet to move the ball. With a large group, try using two balls.
Play with or without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
Spider Man
Random formation on a field with all players having a flag tucked in the back of their pants or pocket. On the start signal each person tries to steal the others’ flags. Once you lose your flag you cannot ski but must keep one foot on the flag on the ground. You can reach out and steal the flag of someone else skiing by you. Last person with a flag wins.
Play without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
What’s Around the Corner?
Set two or three stations along the trail. Skiers must stop and do something at each station: say the first half
of the alphabet, count backward from 25 to 0, spell their name and mailing address, switch poles to opposite hands, do some toe touches, sing one verse of a favorite song, drink a cup of juice, etc.. You can ask younger and older skiers to do different things at certain stations.
Play with or without poles
Balance, agility, coordination, feel for snow
