1. Introduction to the First Year Course: Objectives; the Aspen lab week experience; the Power of Four; details of the four mountains.
   Boot Fit and Body Alignment: The significance of proper boot selection; body alignment measurement and analysis; and achieving the optimum kinetic chain.


2. Psychology of Successful Performance: Achieving a state of centeredness; realizing fear and strategies for overcoming fear.
   Laboratory Week in Aspen: Course details and arrangements.


3. Equipment and Apparel: Shaped skis and types for different snow conditions; principles of layering and new clothing materials; personal gear and supplies checklist.
   Lab Week Orientation: Travel; arrival; equipment selection.


4. Skills and Techniques: Parallel skiing; linked turns; angulation and edging; tipping; pressure; weight transfer; phantom movement; pole plant; dynamic anticipation.


5. Skills and Techniques: Additional terms in the skier's glossary; use of different types of shaped skis; special considerations for carving, bumps, crud, and powder snow conditions.


6. Mountain Environment: Terrain reading; trail map navigation; chair lift technique; skier responsibility code; mountain discount card; Insider's Guide; town map and locations; skier shuttles.


7. Sports Diamond: Weems Westfeldt's innovative method of categorizing performance components and how to balance those components for brilliance.


8. The Aspen Idea Realized: Skiing for the fusion of body, mind, and spirit; history of the Aspen ski community; opportunities for co-curricular experiences at the Aspen Institute and the Historical Society.
   Development of the Skier Journal: Details for laboratory week.


Typical Daily Laboratory Schedule:
• 8:30 Arrive at ski mountain; get skis from overnight check


• 8:45-9:00 Lifts open; individual practice time and warm-up


• 9:45 Report to instructor for ski school


• 3:00 End of Lesson


• 3:00 Individual practice time


• 3:30-4:00 Lifts close

Texts:

• Thomas F. Crum. Journey to Center: Lessons in Unifying Body, Mind, and Spirit
• W. Timothy Gallwey and Robert Kriegel. Inner Skiing
• Lito Tejada-Flores. Breakthrough on the New Skis
• Sally Barlow-Perez. History of Aspen
• Weems Westfeldt. Brilliant Skiing, Every Day

Other Materials:

• Individual videos prepared at Aspen by Professor Pugh and Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass for classroom illustrations.
• Other instructional materials selected by the instructor to illustrate points, skills, and techniques.
• Professional Ski Instructors of America. Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors.