Alpine Skiing, Telemark, Snowboarding (OET) Module​ - Certified

Module Overview

The Alpine Skiing, Telemark, and Snowboarding module is designed to examine the Candidate’s ability to navigate highly technical advanced and expert terrain confidently, safely, and efficiently.

It consists of 6 components:
  1. Groomed run
  2. Steep run
  3. Mogul run
  4. Crud run
  5. Equipment carry
  6. Patrol skills
The module has two (2) prerequisites that need to be completed before the Candidate is eligible to participate in the Annual Exam:
  1. A Candidate will need to complete “Certified Candidate Sponsor/Pretest Registration form” found at: www.nspeast.org and present this to the Eastern Division Certified OET Chair, or their designee, at the pretest.
  2. A Candidate will be required to attend and successfully pass an Eastern Division Certified OET Pretest. The Pretest is a condensed version of the annual Certified OET Exam Module geared to evaluate the Candidate’s current abilities and demonstrates whether the Candidate has a reasonable expectation of passing the module at the Annual Exam.
Component Details
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The Pretest and the Annual Exam will be held mostly on advanced and expert terrain (groomed ungroomed and mogul). Pre- and post- runners (NSP or qualified PSPA Certified members) will be used for demonstrations at both the pre-test and the annual exam too:
  • Act as a visual example of successful or unsuccessful ability to blend the Ski, Telemark, or Snowboard Fundamentals listed below.
  • Demonstrate to the Examiners how an NSP or qualified PSPA Certified member selects and navigates the chosen line(s), conditions, tempo, terrain difficulty, and length of the run.
Groomed Run
  • Demonstrate the ability to use a combination of varying turn shapes, sizes, and lines as intended or in response to the terrain and conditions.
  • ​Demonstrate a high level of blended technical ability during the entire length of the run.
    • Terrain: Advanced and Expert groomed terrain.
Crud Run
  • Demonstrate the ability to use differing turn shapes, sizes, and lines as intended or in response to terrain and conditions.
  • Demonstrate the ability to navigate the terrain in any snow conditions, in a stable and aggressive manner, and with style and confidence.
  • Demonstrate the use of a variation of techniques to control speed, avoid traversing, and ski/ride within the fall line.
    • Terrain: Advanced or expert terrain with variable snow and trail conditions. Terrain may include chutes, glades, variable terrain, etc.
Modul Run
  • Demonstrate the ability to use differing turn shapes, sizes, and lines as intended, or in response to the terrain, in a fall line descent with confidence and at a high level of blended technical ability during the entire length of the run.
    • Terrain: Advanced or expert terrain with moguls.
Steep Run
  • Demonstrate the ability to use differing turn shapes, sizes, and lines as intended, or in response to the terrain, with stability and aggressiveness.
  • Demonstrate a blend of technical ski/ride skills including controlled speed, minimal sideslip, and minimal traversing.
    • Terrain: Advanced or expert steep terrain which may be groomed/ungroomed or with moguls.
Patroller Skills
  • Demonstrate the ability to use differing ski/ride skills including snowplow, sideslip, transitions (approved variations are acceptable), pivot slips, pivot turns, and kick turns as intended, or in response to the terrain, with stability and consistency.
  • Demonstrate the ability to control speed and line through an efficient blending of these skills (listed above) while navigating natural terrain and/or a designated set course in part of, or throughout, the entire length of the run.
    • Terrain: Advanced or expert terrain with moguls.
Equipment Carry
  • Demonstrate the ability to use differing turn shapes, sizes, and lines as intended, or in response to the terrain, with stability and confidence while carrying patrol related equipment.
  • Candidate's tempo is more aggressive than conservative, and they should ski/ride in the fall line with minimal traversing for the entire length of the run.
    • Terrain: Advanced or expert terrain with moguls.
Scoring Criteria and Critical Indicators
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Scoring Criteria
Exam scores correlate with the Technical Fundamentals in accordance with the scale listed below and are used to examine each of the 6 components.

Technical Fundamentals:
5= Not Present (NP)
6= Beginning to Appear (BA)
7= Appears, not with consistency (NC)
8= Appears frequently, at a satisfactory level (FQ)
9= Consistently above the required level (CS)
10= Continuously at a superior level (CT)

A successful Candidate will need a minimum cumulative score of 288, compiled from each of the 6 components. To compile scores, the highest and lowest Examiner scores for each Candidate, in each component, will be eliminated leaving 6 Examiner scores to be totaled.
For example:
  • 6 scores x 8 (minimum passing score to be successful) = 48 points x 6 components = 288 points
The minimum passing score from any one Examiner in all components is an 8. It is possible for a Candidate to score low (7 or lower) in one component and high (9 or above) in another component and still be successful in the module if the total cumulative score is 288 or more.
Critical Indicators
A successful Candidate will be able to demonstrate (based on equipment) their ability to blend the following fundamentals during each component:

Alpine Skiing Fundamentals (5):
  1. Control the relationship of the center of mass to the base of support to direct pressure along the length of the skis.
  2. Control pressure from ski to ski and direct pressure toward the outside ski.
  3. Control edge angles through a combination of inclination and angulation.
  4. Control the skis’ rotation with leg rotation, separate from the upper body.
  5. Regulate the magnitude of pressure created through ski/snow interaction.

Snowboarding Fundamentals (6):
  1. Control the relationship of the center of mass to the base of support to direct pressure along the length of the board.
  2. Control the relationship of the center of mass to the base of support to direct pressure across the width of the board.
  3. Regulate the magnitude of pressure created through the board/surface interaction.
  4. Control the board’s tilt through a combination of inclination and angulation.
  5. Control the board’s pivot through flexion/extension and rotation of the body.
  6. Control the twist (torsional flex) of the board through flexion/extension and rotation.

Telemark Skiing Fundamentals (6):
  1. Control the size, intensity, and timing of the lead change.
  2. Control the fore/aft relationship of the center of mass to the base of support to manage pressure along the length of the skis.
  3. Control the lateral relationship of the center of mass to the base of support to manage pressure from ski to ski.
  4. Control the turning of the skis with rotation of the feet and legs in conjunction with discipline in the upper body.
  5. Control edge angles through a combination of inclination and angulation.
  6. Regulate the amount of pressure created through ski/snow interaction.