I have previously written quite extensively about 'learning zones' firstly, to introduce my conceptualisation in a blog post, dated September, 2019 - Learning Zones - part 1: From preparation to flow - and then again in October 2019, to explain how learning zones work with the 'Diamond Model of Skill Acquisition (DMSA) - Learning Zones - part 2: Mapping learning zones onto the Diamond Model of Skill Acquisition. Both of these blogs formed some of the content for the chapter titled 'Practice with Purpose' in my book Learn, Enjoy, Flow & Grow which was published in 2020. Now, in 2025, I felt it was an appropriate time to revisit these zones of learning and look at how they work with The Method which was created by the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada (PSIC) and is used - under licence - by the Professional Ski Instructors of Europe (PSIE).
So, in this blog I will first revisit 'Learning Zones' in the context of learning and teaching snowsports. I will then give an overview of 'The Method', and then finally look at how these two concepts work together to help snowsports instructors deliver fantastic lessons that cater for each individual and ensure an holistic approach to their development.
Learning Zones Revisited
Below is an updated graphic depicting the Learning Zones: Preparation, Comfort, Stretch, and Flow.
Unlike other depictions of learning zones my conceptualisation has four zones and ALL of them are zones where 'learning' takes place. This is an important distinction from some other models which often include a 'panic zone' which is both negative and clearly not a zone where any productive learning will occur!
So, let's have a look at each learning zone in turn:
Preparation Zone
One of the unique things about snowsports is that you need to take lifts up in order to ski or ride down! This uplift time is an incredibly valuable part of any lesson, giving the instructor and learner the opportunity to prepare for the next run. So, from the moment you meet your guest(s) at the beginning of the lesson there is opportunity to bring them into the 'preparation zone' and learn all about them; their background, previous experience, hopes and fears, recent skiing etc. This is valuable time and also helps you to set a great climate for the session ahead. But to be really successful at this, throughout the lesson, you need to Give Your Learners A Voice and actively listen and hear them. As Carl Rogers put it, "we think we listen, but very rarely do we listen with real understanding".
"We think we listen, but very rarely do we listen with real understanding"
Carl Rogers, (1980, p.116)
This ability to truly listen will help to develop trust between you and your learners and trust in the learning journey is something I eluded to in my original blog on Learning Zones as noted in the opening paragraph of this blog.
Comfort Zone
Learners want to feel comfortable and every session should have these periods. The comfort zone is where confidence is built because the learner is engaged in practicing skills they can already do in an environment that is relatively friendly. This is not to say that some people do not like being stretched and pushed (and this will vary from one person to another) but even those who enjoy getting out of their comfort zone will need periods where they are comfortably within their abilities. The challenge for the instructor is knowing when to move into the stretch zone and how to challenge each learner. Keep in mind however, that real progress will only take place when individuals move beyond their comfort zone.
Stretch Zone
In this zone the learner pushes themselves, they challenge their available skills (physical, mental, and technical). Snowsports is a fantastic sport that offers many challenges due to the complex interaction of the body, equipment, and environment. The bodies movements need to change and adapt as a response to the equipment's interaction with the snow which is affected by the ever changing environment. And because there are so many variables it is easy to be stretched too far which can lead to frustration or even anxiety and fear. So, the key is to stretch one's abilities just enough so that the task is difficult yet achievable. It should also be noted that in snowsports (and other sports) focusing attention on the environment is more beneficial when operating in this zone. For more on this take a look at BEE Focused During Skill Acquisition.
Flow Zone
Moving into the Flow Zone is highly desirable (but not guaranteed!) for the learner for many reasons. Being in this 'mental state' means that attention is 100% on task, the attention becomes effortless, attention is external yet there is total awareness of how your body is moving, feedback is immediate, there is a loss of self consciousness, there is a sense of control, there are no distracting thoughts, and time often appears to pass more quickly. And all of this means that learning happens more quickly and deeply.
And post 'flow experiences' there is a sense of achievement, the experiences are often very memorable, your self-concept in strengthened and the enjoyment derived makes you want to keep doing the activity enhancing your motivation. In addition, studies have shown that regularly finding flow is good for your mental health.
Therefore, as a learner, accessing flow state is a very good thing but doing so really hinges on how the stretch zone is managed through the right amount of challenge.
The Method
Below is the PSIC's diagram of the The Method.
The Method is the 'how' to deliver The Adventure: - Fun, Safe, Learning giving instructors the knowledge and tools to deliver great experiences for each individual learner whether working with groups or private lessons. It combines the science of learning with the science of skiing and caters for all three sides of the human condition: - Intellectual, Emotional, and Physical.
My own experience of traditional instructor training in snowsports is that there is a massive emphasis on technique and form rather than function. Furthermore, there is very little training with regards to the mental side of the sport and the psychological needs of our guests. The Method opens the door to learning about the brain, cognition and emotions and how the mind and body work together. This is a massive step in the right direction for helping instructors develop the knowledge and skills to work with their learners in a truly holistic way!
A crucial part of The Method is the 'Challenge Zone' recognising the importance of challenging the learner in a way that matches their abilities with the difficulty of the task. This may sound like a simple concept but it is perhaps one of the most important and difficult aspects of the snowsport instructor's job and requires knowledge, experience and great decision making. I will expand on this in a lot more detail as I look at how the method works with the learning zones.
Learning Zones and The Method
Looking at the diagrams of Learning Zones and The Method the most obvious question, perhaps, is whether The Method's Challenge Zone is just another name for The Learning Zone's Stretch Zone. In a sense yes, but as great teachers of snowsports we need to understand when to stretch our learners and how to challenge them.
"Combining Learning Zones with The Method means understanding when to stretch our learners and how to challenge them in this complex sport".
The word 'complex' is very important. Sports vary considerably in their complexity and snowsports are one of the most challenging because of the sheer variety of challenges. Firstly, there is the environment (check out Alison Thacker's great new book: Off Piste Performance for more on this). There are so many different types of snow; hard-packed, icy, spring, powder, chapped up fresh snow, heavy snow, crust. There are many terrain variations; bumps, groomed/un-groomed piste, steeps, narrow, rollovers, cambers etc. Busyness of the slopes and other obstacles (especially off piste); trees, rocks, thin cover etc. Then you have the weather conditions; wind, poor visibility, temperature, rain, snow, sun. Secondly, equipment; different ski widths/lengths, boots/stiffness etc. And thirdly, there is YOU. Your physical condition, fitness, subtleness, strength, agility. Your mental state; motivation, past history/experiences/injuries, attitude, goals, emotional regulation, mental skills. And finally, fourth, there is your technical ability. It is not surprising then, that an appropriate challenge for one person is not the same as another! Therefore, to get each of your learners into their challenge zone means there are many factors to consider.
"An appropriate challenge for one person is not the same as another and goes way beyond just technical ability. Abilities means considering the intellectual, emotional, and physical."
This loops back to the Learning Zones and reemphasises why it is so important to use the preparation zone to get to know each of your learners, then use the comfort zone to build their abilities before moving into the stretch zone. It is a process and the beauty of the Learning Zones is that they are all useful and the great instructor is not afraid to take their learner out of the stretch zone and back to comfort or preparatory if more appropriate.
Given that there are so many factors involved in this complex sport a great tip for instructors is to try and only change one variable at a time. For example, do not change both the terrain and the task! So if you change the task, or the difficulty level of the task, keep on the same terrain. The 'challenge' in this instance is coming from task difficulty. If you want to challenge the robustness of the skill you can change the terrain while keeping the task the same. Here the challenge comes from and increase in steepness or the variability of the terrain.
Try to only change one variable at a time. For example, change the task or task difficulty. Or change the terrain. But not BOTH!
But people's perception of 'challenge' is also different. For some it may be steeper, faster, harder etc. While for others it may be precision and accuracy. Don't let your own biases interfere with your learner's needs!
So, what about FLOW. How does The Method's Challenge Zone relate to the Flow Zone and flow experiences. If you take a look at Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's original 'model of the flow state' from his 1975 book, "Beyond Boredom and Anxiety" you will notice a lot of similarity with the Challenge Zone as depicted in The Method. However, what the PSIC have done brilliantly is to combine one of the most important flow foundations, namely the 'Challenge/Skills Balance', with the model of flow state' to create a more user friendly and practical model that instructors can easily understand and apply. And it is by understanding HOW to challenge each individual learner appropriately that sets the right conditions for entering the Flow Zone optimising the learning that takes place and the enjoyment that is derived from the experience. There are no guarantees that your learners will enter the flow zone but better understanding how to challenge each individual will greatly increase the likelihood. And it is a very worthwhile pursuit given the many benefits of regularly experiencing flow as noted earlier.
Conclusion
Snowsports and learning snowsports is complex. It can be frustrating. But with the right guidance it is FUN. It is SAFE. And the LEARNING that occurs loops back to being fun, giving a sense of achievement, and growing as an individual. Understanding your Learning Zones (and those of your learners) combined with using The Method is what makes the journey an adventure!
References
In addition to the in text links to various blog post these are the references:
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1975). Beyond Boredom and Anxiety: Experiencing flow in work and play. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Rogers, C. R. (1980). A Way of Being. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Tate, D. N. (2020). Learn, Enjoy, Flow and Grow: Using the principles of positive psychology to help find passion and meaning in life (First). Parallel Dreams Publishing.
Thacker, Alison. (2025). Off-Piste Performance. Pesda Press.
About the author
Derek Tate is an alpine skiing coach and director of British Alpine Ski School Chamonix. He is the President and co-founder of the Professional Ski Instructors of Europe, a mental skills coach, positive psychology practitioner, strengths practitioner, and author. His recent books include, "Six Steps for Training the Mind", "Learn, Enjoy, Flow & Grow" and "Transformational Flow Coaching". You can learn more from his author page. He is a member of PSIE, BASI, and IASI.
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