MORE THAN 400 SKI INSTRUCTORS AND ENTHUSIASTS ARE TODAY (FRIDAY) WINDING UP THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS FOR SKI INSTRUCTORS AT BAD GASTEIN, IN AUSTRIA. FOR THE PAST WEEK THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN AN INTENSIVE STUDY OF THE BEST METHODS OF TEACHING PEOPLE TO SKI AND IMPROVE THE TECHNIQUES OF THOSE WHO'VE ALREADY MASTERED THE SNOW.

SOME TWENTY-FIVE COUNTRIES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE CONGRESS, AND WITH WINTER SPORTS BECOMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR IT'S BEEN FOUND NECESSARY TO REVISE AND RENEW TECHNIQUES ALMOST YEARLY. THE SUBJECT HAS BEEN TREATED IN AN ACADEMIC WAY WITH LECTURES, FILMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS.

TWELVE COUNTRIES PROVIDED DEMONSTRATION GROUPS FOR THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, AND OBSERVERS PLACED THE AUSTRIAN AND JAPANESE TEAMS AS THE BEST.

TO MOST PEOPLE, THE THEORY WOULDN'T MEAN MUCH, BUT THE PRACTICAL RESULTS ARE LIKELY TO BE FELT DURING THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS OR SO. AN OUTCOME WILL PROBABLY BE EASIER METHODS OF TEACHING THE PARALLEL OR STEM TECHNIQUES TO BEGINNERS -- SOMETHING, NO DOUBT, MOST BRUISED AND DAMP BEGINNERS WILL BE PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT.