Six stages of learning — snowboard
The STRAMA School's own programme — 6 stages, 6 Stramus Bear Badges on a snowboard.
SnowboardThe STRAMA School's own programme
STRAMA Ski and Snowboard School was the first in Poland to develop its own system for teaching children to snowboard. It was built on the many years of experience of qualified snowboard instructors and grew out of the need to pass on a passion for this winter sport to the youngest.
All children are welcome in the Stramus Bear Club — those who are only just beginning their adventure with snowboarding and those who want to refine the skills they already have.
The programme consists of 6 stages. Once a child has mastered the skills assigned to each stage and passed the exam, they receive a special Stramus Bear badge. The exam is run by instructors of the STRAMA School.
Every child also receives a logbook in which their progress is recorded. The young pupils are accompanied by their most loyal supporter — the Stramus Bear mascot.
Level I: red badge
Getting used to the snowboard, learning the basic stance and how to move about, short sideslips, runs with a stop, riding the drag lift, safety rules on the slope.
- Straight and diagonal sideslip with a stop on the heel edge of the board between cones, moving sideways with one foot strapped into the binding, climbing uphill with side steps
- A traverse across the slope from cone to cone on the heel edge and on the toe edge of the board, changing edge after stopping and turning around
- A run along the fall line (straight ahead), starting from the heel edge of the board with the weight on the leading foot, stopping on the heel edge before a set line
Level II: blue badge
Refining balance and board feel, mastering the shift of weight on the board from the toes (toe edge) to the heels (heel edge) and back, weighting the front and the back foot, riding with turns.
- A run with turns along a set course — shifting the weight from the heels to the toes and from the toes to the heels
- A flat half-spin from the heels to the toes (frontside) and from the toes to the heels (backside) while traversing the slope, using torso rotation and a change of edge weighting
- A run along the fall line on the front part of the board (nose) with the weight on the front foot, and a run on the back part of the board (tail) with the weight on the back foot
1 snowflake
2 tasks
2 snowflakes
3 tasks full badge
Level III: green badge
Mastering the down-up movement in the turn, refining the change of edge weighting, the weighting of the front and back foot, balance and board feel.
- A run with turns using the down-up position — slowly lowering the stance and touching the marker before the edge change, unweighting the board (rising up) and changing edge
- Performing a full flat spin (frontside and backside) while traversing the slope
- Performing a tailroll — turning the board by weighting the back foot and using torso rotation
1 snowflake
2 tasks
2 snowflakes
3 tasks full badge
Level IV: bronze badge
Riding switch, refining and adding dynamism to the down-up unweighting of the board, balance and board feel, safety rules in freestyle riding.
- Riding switch with turns along a course of cones
- Short swing — a run in short, dynamic turns, using down-up unweighting of the board
- Performing a noseroll — turning the board by weighting the front foot and using torso rotation
1 snowflake
2 tasks
2 snowflakes
3 tasks full badge
Level V: silver badge
Riding with turns on the edges, a correct snowboarding position, refining balance and board feel.
- Carved turn — a correct run on the edges in all phases of the turn
- Performing an ollie over a set obstacle
- A snow cross slalom without falling, keeping a correct snowboarding position and using different riding techniques and turn radii
1 snowflake
2 tasks
2 snowflakes
3 tasks full badge
Level VI: gold badge
Refining riding on the edges, balance and board feel, using down-up unweighting when riding on the edges.
- Carved down-up turn — a correct run on the edges with down-up unweighting, keeping a correct snowboarding position in all phases of the turn
- Performing a nollie over a set obstacle
- A slalom run within a limit of 20% over the time set by the instructor
1 snowflake
2 tasks
2 snowflakes
3 tasks full badge
