Wet knees, a stiff back and partial frustration in ski instructors and kids? This describes in a somewhat exaggerated way the experience of teaching how to snow brake (pizza slice, snowplow) despite the many aids now used in ski lessons. Along with the Fiss-Ladis ski school and ski school leader Martin Stark, his deputy Christian Rietzler, as well as Eva Stark (who is also the children’s training manager at the Tyrolean and Austrian ski school association), Sunkid set itself the task of designing a technical aid to support the teaching of snow braking to the young and old.

With the Snow V, the general idea is to teach kids the moves needed to successfully apply the snow brake on the ski slope as well. Especially preschool age kids tend to work with their body but not with their mind, which of course is quite legitimate at this age. Yet this brings quite a bit of potential for frustration for the respective ski instructor. In addition, this is often subject to a certain pressure to perform, as the (paying) parents would naturally like to see appropriate results during the course of the ski lessons.

The Snow V is based on the principle that kids use the device with their own ski equipment and can do the exercise. The kids can be simply led to the Snow V as a part of the course. There they stand on two rails in their skis and try to push them to the “snow brake" position under the supervision of the instructor. In the process, the skier will be moved to a V-shape using a rail system and the structure also makes it possible simulate “edging.” Depending on the size and age of the child, the movement can be done independently or can be supported using a lever with the assistance of the ski instructor. In an ideal case, the Snow V is set right at the beginning of the practice slope so that the kids can implement the "perceived/felt" movement pattern directly on the slope.

The success achieved so far has exceeded the expectations by far. “Practice has shown that thanks to the support provided by the Snow V, kids grasp and embrace the complex movements of snow braking much faster. That way, a quicker sense of achievement is possible,” Eva Stark concludes. Tom Egger of Hirschegg/Kleinwalsertal ski school confirms the experience after one season with the Snow V. The kids’ area of his ski school was often at its limit during peak season, as it is located in town and cannot be expanded. Thanks to the Snow V, the burden has now significantly eased at the kids’ area, as children can leave it more quickly. On top of that, he adds: “The so-called ‘shaky cases’ which feel unsure on the slope have significantly reduced in number.” This means that with the Snow V, kids come to the ski slope not only more quickly, but also more safely.