How to set a slalom course

This is a technical explaination taken from ISSA website

http://www.slalomskateboarder.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1274

Feel free to add you tips and advice.

Tags: cones, offsets, setting, spacing

Replies to This Discussion

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Fitz on March 1, 2012 at 16:36

To help set a good course without making a big mess, build it in stages.

Intro, body and end of course.

Start the course relatively close with an intro of 5 cones at about 5ft.

My feet are just over exactly 1ft so its easy to heel-to-toe step and count. I never measure with tape.

For the body of the course, open them up to 6ft for another 5-6 cones. As a beginner keep them in a relatively straight line and mark a small dot with chalk.

Practice what you have laid out and you can make small adjustments without making a big confusing mess of chalk marks on the road and not have to rebuild a big course.

Lay down some more of the body for another 6 cones and open them out to 7 or 8ft if required. You might find you're really hauling ass esp if there's an incline. If its flat you can keep it about 6-7ft.

Once you've got your course built you can chalk in the cones you want to lock.

Only chalk a half circle on the side of the cone you go around.

Mark an arrow around one side of the first cone as a reminder which side to start the course.

Chalking one half helps you adjust to make offsets for a more challenging course.

I actually only use 3 dots instead of a half circle. Front back and one side of cone. It leaves less mess esp when I got to the netball courts. They get shitty if there's a mess after I ride there. It also makes adjusting easier to rub old marks out.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Fitz on March 1, 2012 at 16:37

Quoted from Marek:

"I just use 2 purposeful paces to measure out a course, after 2 longish paces I then decide depending on the incline etc where to put the cone, on my toe or a bit in front or a bit behind. It makes setting a course almost as fast as walking. Bigger GS type hill need alot more thinking.

Although pumping around is the basic technique and good practice, the first time you try it between cones you will feel instantly stunted and off balance and it just takes a few runs to get your pace back. As you have no doubt read elsewhere, look ahead 3 or 4 cones, not at the one you going around."

ASRA AdminPermalink Reply by bernie on December 16, 2012 at 17:17