STEP OUT - Step start, simply stepping out the start gate one foot at a time.
Pros: Little effort required.
Cons: Slow start as first leg to move trips wand and time starts before other foot has left start position.
PUSH START - Simple push start, push out using backward thrust of arms to push feet forward.
Pros: Clean away, usually in balance, easy safe start for novice racers.
Cons: Not much power and speed through wand and into course, need to get arms back to a forward balanced position quickly.
JUMP START - Twin foot heels up jump, assisted by forward push from arms.
Pros: Clean start, can be powerful and fast, good balance in to course.
Cons: Needs all round body strength and co-ordination, need to get arms back to a forward balanced position quickly.
SLIDE START - Slide skis forward from stationary position using backward thrust from arms to slide skis and feet forward.
Pros: Moderate start speed, Clean start, in balance, good for non-lead out dual slalom starts as no time wasted going backwards before going forward.
Cons: Needs lots of arm strength and coordination to generate speed, need to get arms back to a forward balanced position quickly.
STAMPER - One leg stamp, immediately followed with twin foot forward jump assisted by backward thrust from arms projecting feet forward.
Pros: Similar to JUMP START but uses stamp as a trigger for the twin foot jump phase.
Cons: Can prematurely hit wand in start gate and set timer off.
SLIDER - Slide skis back, then fire feet and skis forward using backward push from arms
Pros: Can generate a lot of speed.
Cons: Needs a lot of core strength and coordination from back, abdominals and arms, can slide back too far out of range for optimum power, can be tricky when ski surface is slippery or sticky.
ROCKER - Keeping skis stationary, rock upper body back beyond a squat position, fire upper body forward followed by backward pull through from arms.
Pros: A lot of speed can be generated.
Cons: Can be out of balance when leaving the start gate and have problems recovering balance and establishing early line. Can have problems with catching wand with poles.
