Ski Safety: Calling Your Overtake
Reading and reciting the words of that age-old Responsibility Code is one thing… but, putting those rules into practice and turning that practice into habit, teaches our little rippers good ski etiquette.
Make sure they understand, that the skiing code of conduct states, “People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.”
They will wonder what exactly does that mean? How exactly do I avoid someone while we are both moving?
As their biggest mentor, they look to you to role model and teach them how to approach other riders respectfully and pass them safely. SO…
Teach them to always call their overtake!
An overtake is when you are approaching another rider from behind and intend on passing them. They have the right of way because they can NOT SEE YOU approaching. Calling out “on your right” OR “on your left” is the polite way to pass, alerting the rider that you are approaching and on what side you will be passing. My best advice for teaching this skill is to take advantage of EVERY teachable moment!
Role model and teach this skill,
every opportunity you get, even when your child is very young
(see toddler tip below)
“Habit formation is the process by which a behavior, through regular repetition, becomes automatic or habitual.”
In the beginning, this skill will take much more mental energy but, with consistency and over time, calling an overtake will feel comfortable and become habitual. You will begin to witness your little ripper perform this complex behavior without being mentally aware of it at all. It’s a proud moment and you should pat yourself on the back for providing the consistency… but, the credit goes to the capacity of your little rippers brain: to take a behavior and turn it into an automatic routine.
Toddler Tip:
If your little ripper is very young we can’t very well expect them to know skier right from skier left but, you can still practice this skill from the beginning. Let them choose a phrase or noise that works for them, it’s ok to be silly... they might want to yell "here I come" or pretend to be a car and honk "beep - beeeeeep”.
Make It Fun:
Play with this skill on easy terrain, turn it into a game. I like to create some version of leap frog mixed with “TAG”, where calling your overtake as you approach the other rider, gives them a chance to veer away from you before you can “TAG” them.
Of course, I’m always a big supporter of letting your lil’ ripper make up their own games too. Follow their lead! See where it takes you.