Terrain Parks In Keystone Lessons

Terrain park features are a great place to ski and snowboard, both on your time off, and with lessons if students are ready.

Used inappropriately and without care, they can become a hazard which can result in serious injury. Keystone instructors are expected to follow published guidelines and policies when utilizing a terrain parks or features independently and with students.

In order to bring students into ANY park, instructors must EITHER have PSIA-AASI Freestyle Specialization OR attain Freestyle Verification through Keystone’s in-house training program.

This program provides prep clinics that emphasize fundamental skill development, safe teaching tactics, and logical progressions for students’ first entry into the terrain park and continuing on through the intermediate zone.

IN-HOUSE VERIFICATION

The Freestyle Verification Program is designed to give you skills and knowledge necessary to guide students safely in and through terrain parks with freestyle progressions.

Candidates are expected to arrive at the verification event with a clear understanding of the performance and knowledge necessary to attain a Park Pass.  Verifiers will offer demonstrations of freestyle riding or skiing tasks and a successful teaching progression before asking candidates to demonstrate skills and lead the group through a 15-20 minute freestyle teaching progression.

TEACHING CRITERIA FOR GREEN CARD VERIFICATION

• Clear Logical Progression Begins Outside Park & Moves Into Park

• Use of ATML to Describe Task / Trick

• Provide Individual Movement Analysis Feedback

• Demonstrate Understanding of Skills & Movements Required for Student Success

• Use of Park SMART – Talking About Safety with Students

SNOWBOARD REQUIREMENTS

Flatland:

2-Footed Jump
Ollie & Nollie
Flat Spin & Tail/Nose Butters
Tail Press & Nose Press
Nose/Tail Rolls
On-Snow Grabs
Switch Carve on Green

Beginner Boxes & Rails:

50-50
FS/BS Boardslides (60°- 90°)
Nose/Tail Press

Jumps & Rollers:

Straight Air with Grab
Shifty
Air 180’s Outside & Inside Park

Keystone Park Passes

Historically, 4 different park passes were available throughout Vail Resorts, including Keystone. Beginning the 2023-24 Season, the Orange, Blue, and Black Park Passes are no longer valid at Keystone.

The Orange Pass has been eliminated due to the lack of XS terrain at Keystone. Additionally, if students are skilled enough to enter Medium and Large sized parks, they should be working with instructors with FS2 & FS3 certifications, respectively.

Green = Go!
The remaining Green Park Pass is offered through in-house Verification clinics that will give access to Small Terrain Parks. This saves instructors money if they’re not ready to pursue the FS1, but it’s essentially designed to be a FS1 equivalent.

Prerequisites:
A minimum of Cert 1 required to obtain a Green Park Pass.

Students must be Level 5 to use the parks’ rolls and berms.

Students must be Level 6 in order to use boxes, rails, and to learn tricks on rolls, berms, and jumps.

Freestyle Prep Clinics

Instructors are required to attend Beginner Freestyle clinics to prepare for this verification. These clinics will also prepare instructors for their Freestyle Specialist 1. These clinics explores freestyle fundamentals for teaching and skill development for freestyle skiing and riding.

Clinic leaders will also review the verification format, provide an opportunity for participants to practice teach, offer feedback for improvement, and session terrain park features and skills for rider and skier improvement.

The required clinics for the Freestyle Green Card are:

• FS Prep Course - Alpine or Snowboard - 6 Hour Clinic

• FS Verifier - Alpine AND Snowboard - 6 Hour Clinic