The first of five guides in the Sports Skills Instructional Program focuses on teaching alpine skiing to mentally retarded students. Each unit contains the following elements: overview, long-term goal, short-term objectives, modifications and adaptations, sports skill assessment, teaching skill, skill sequence, task analysis, teaching suggestions, recording forms, and information on infusing the skill to general academic areas. Following description of a dryland training program, a home fitness program is reviewed. Skill assessment is presented, followed by a focus on 11 specific skills: walking, recovery, side stepping, straight run, wedge, wide track parallel, pole plant, linked parallel turns, kick turn, herringbone, and lifts. Racing and safey and rules units conclude the guide. (CL)