BERP

BERP refers to the overall skill of balance, and its component parts: Edging, rotary, and pressure.

Balance

The following exercises assess and improve overall balance:

• Boot games
• Tip daisies
• Toe daisies
• Sliding on one ski
• Check for a relaxed, athletic position or stance
• Check and remind client of the exercise, help him or her focus
• Hands on knees or upper thighs can help client focus and maintain balance
• Work to keep the upper body "quiet," minimizing movements which throw the body out of balance

Edging

The following exercises familiarize and practice the skill of edging:

• Sidestepping up the hill
• Duck walking
• Skating
• Side slipping down the hill
• Fall leaves
• Z-turns
• Setting and releasing edges
• Garlands
• Traversing
• Angulation
• Hockey stop
• J-turns into the hill to stop

Rotary

The following exercises reinforce the skill of rotational movements:

• Boot games (rotating the ankle and knees with the boots on)
• Looking into the turn
• Follow me
• Skiing around obstacles
• Wedging
• Flatten the inside ski (big toe/little toe)
• Christie
• Long leg/short leg

Pressure

The following exercises familiarize the client with pressure in different parts of the boot/foot and resulting force on the skis.

• Sideslipping down the hill moving forward/backward in the boot
• Boot games (dollar bill held against front of the boot)
• Foot sensitivity
• Feet position: Feet under hips
• Body position forward/backward
• Snake turns
• Position of the body in an athletic stance.