French Fries

Term from Ski Instruction industry explained for recruiters

French Fries is a fundamental skiing technique term used by instructors to teach beginners how to position their skis. It refers to keeping skis parallel to each other, like french fries lying side by side on a plate. This is one of the first skills taught after "Pizza" (wedge position) and is essential for basic skiing. When you see this term in a resume, it indicates the instructor has experience teaching beginners the progression from basic stopping to controlled parallel skiing.

Examples in Resumes

Taught over 200 first-time skiers the French Fries technique for parallel skiing

Specialized in transitioning young learners from pizza wedge to French Fries stance

Created beginner-friendly lesson plans incorporating French Fries and other basic techniques

Typical job title: "Ski Instructors"

Also try searching for:

Ski Teacher Snow Sports Instructor Alpine Ski Instructor Children's Ski Instructor Beginner Ski Coach Learn-to-Ski Instructor

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you adapt your teaching of French Fries technique for different age groups and ability levels?

Expected Answer: A senior instructor should discuss various teaching approaches, including games for children, technical explanations for adults, and how to modify the progression based on student confidence and physical capabilities.

Q: How do you train other instructors to teach the French Fries technique effectively?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership experience by explaining mentor methods, common student challenges, and how to maintain consistency in teaching standards across the ski school.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What exercises do you use to help students transition from pizza to French Fries?

Expected Answer: Should describe specific drills, progression steps, and how to build student confidence through gradual terrain and speed increases.

Q: How do you handle a student who is struggling to master the French Fries position?

Expected Answer: Should explain patient troubleshooting approaches, alternative teaching methods, and ways to maintain student motivation.

Junior Level Questions

Q: Can you explain the French Fries technique in simple terms?

Expected Answer: Should be able to clearly explain parallel skiing position and why it's important for basic ski control.

Q: What safety considerations do you keep in mind when teaching French Fries?

Expected Answer: Should discuss proper terrain selection, speed control, and basic safety protocols for beginner lessons.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-1 years)

  • Basic understanding of French Fries technique
  • Ability to demonstrate parallel skiing
  • Basic lesson planning
  • Simple teaching techniques

Mid (2-4 years)

  • Advanced teaching progressions
  • Multiple teaching approaches
  • Group lesson management
  • Terrain selection expertise

Senior (5+ years)

  • Instructor training abilities
  • Advanced progression development
  • Program coordination
  • Multi-level teaching expertise

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Unable to demonstrate proper parallel stance
  • Lack of teaching progression knowledge
  • Poor communication skills
  • No understanding of basic safety protocols
  • Inability to adapt teaching style to different age groups