Fall/Winter Issue Plus 2012/2013 Event Guide
A career you can be passionate about. Adventure • Leadership Camaraderie • Excellence
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President’s Message By Carl Underkoffler, PSIA/AASI-West President Winter 2011-12 will soon fade away in our memory banks, only to blend in with the other years already stored there. It was a difficult year for all of us in the Western Division and the data from across the nation mirrors our season: • Nationwide skier visits fell almost 16 percent from the prior season to an estimated 51 million visits. • 2011/12 witnessed the lowest total visitation since 1991/92 when 50.8 million visits were recorded. • 2011/12 was marked by the lowest average resort snowfall in twenty years. • The national average season was shortened by 7.9 percent in 2011/12, with many resorts opening late and closing early. • On the bright side lesson penetration increased 7.4 percent from prior season levels. There were less skiers but more of them took lessons. The Western Division held its summer Board of Directors meeting in Truckee August 4&5, 2012. The agenda was packed with topics including updates on the Policy and Procedure Manual, Member School policies, sponsorship opportunities, insurance/ worker’s compensation issues, accounting practices, certification policies/procedures, as well as calendar and budgeting for 2012-13. These major topics were dealt with in a serious manner with all of our division’s stakeholders in mind. You did a great job electing a well balanced Board of Directors. On behalf of the Board of Directors and our membership we would like to extend a “THANK YOU” to Glen Smith for his time and commitment to the division. Glen has been a very positive voice for the Adaptive community. He willingly accepted the job of Adaptive Committee Chair that no one else wanted at the time. He stepped in and made a difference in programs and Run for PSIA/AASI-W processes for our adaptive Board of Directors members. Candidate Statements are due by Jan. 20th, 2013 When you to be considered. see Glen on Qualifications: member in good standing, and the snow or a willingness to work hard for the membership. in the locker Send your statement of approximately 300 words room please and a ‘head shot’ to the PSIA/AASI office, take a momdion@psia-w.org. ment to say great job and Directors are elected by a vote of the membership. thanks. Successful candidates will earn a three year term.
This October some of our key chairs, along with representatives from across the country, will be attending a national standards meeting hosted at Copper Mountain. The purpose is to focus on standards and training towards each of our disciplines including Adaptive Skiing, Adaptive Snowboard, Alpine, Cross Country, Telemark, Snowboarding, Children and Freestyle. The collaboration and discussion that will happen at this event will help build consistency across divisions. As I grow older, the years get meshed and jumbled but when you get down to it, none of them have really been that bad. It’s all a matter of perception. There is always a bright side. So while 2011/12 was not the best year snowfall-wise the skiing and riding that was available in late spring was fantastic. I have noticed that once resorts begin to close for the season a lot of you hang up your tools and put the season to rest. The reasons can be endless, spring job, burnout, injuries, attitude, “I’m over it” seems to echo in the locker rooms. If you have a real passion for your career in snowsports, give yourself a fresh start for the next season and go on a spring vacation to a resort that is still open. Work on your craft in the am and enjoy the surroundings in the pm. Set yourself up for success the next season by using the end of one season to be the start of the next. Utilize the time wisely and change the way you think about spring. Yes it is a time for cycling, hiking, fishing, moto cross, baseball, softball, sailing etc. but if snow is still available go find it and embrace it. This March you all will be asked to elect members that have the desire and time to sit on the Board of Directors. You all play an active role in choosing the next representatives so please take the time to read the bios and make your voice heard. If any of you are considering a bid for the BOD and are unsure of duties, roles or responsibilities please contact Mitch or myself. You could become the most influential board member. Often Kennedy’s words inspire me “Ask not what your division can do for you but what you can do for your division.” Slight edit but sure you get the idea. In closing enjoy the season that will be upon us shortly, thank Glen Smith, get out and train in the spring for yourself and vote for your Board of Directors.
Carl U
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Benefits of Membership PSIA/AASI Certification is recognized nationally and internationally by snowsports school directors and resorts. We have over 50 years experience providing premier education events, customized training, and certification standards for over 32,000 instructors located in nine divisions from Alaska to the East Coast. National Benefits: • 32 Degrees – The Journal of Professional Snowsports Instruction contains cutting edge articles on technique, teaching, and keeping you in touch with the rest of the industry. • Movement Matrix – A giant online video library that covers everything from certification standards to tailoring your technique based on terrain and snow conditions. • Online Forum – So you can stay in touch with the other 32,000 members sharing the same passion for snowsports. • Technical & Teaching Manuals – Specifically customized for instructors to help prepare you for everything from teaching levels 1-9 to certification and beyond. • National Academy – Premier event that features extensive curriculum designed to keep pace with the rapidly changing snowsport industry. Special on and off-hill seminars with an assortment of guest speakers.
deals, manuals, educational resources, and an assortment of customized clothing with our PSIA/AASI logos. •
Subaru VIP Program - if you need a new vehicle this offer has a potential savings that would cover more than 30 years of membership dues at current prices.
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GAP – Accidental medical and professional liability insurance.
Western Division Benefits: • The Edge – The Journal of Western Snowsports Instruction keeping you up to speed with what’s happening in our division! •
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Professional discounts – Available from regional and national reps on most major brands and suppliers.
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Online Education Materials & Certification Guides – Customized materials to prepare for certification events and general education resources in 5 disciplines.
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Certification - in Alpine, Adaptive, Nordic and Snowboard disciplines.
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Accreditations – in specialty areas such as Freestyle, Children’s, and Seniors.
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Instructor Training & Continuing Education – led by some of our countries finest skiers, riders, and teachers. Our division offers over 150 events throughout the season.
• Exclusive Equipment & Gear Offers – Available from 40+ Suppliers across the country. • Accessories Catalog – Accessible online and sent to you annually this catalog contains a listing of all the professional
Discount Resort Tickets – Available at most resorts throughout the western division.
the
edge
The Edge is a publication of the The Western Division of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA-W) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI-W) covering California and Nevada. We are one of nine divisions that make up the American Snowsports Education Association (ASEA). PSIA was founded in 1961 to develop a standardized system for teaching and to unify instructors throughout the country in the disciplines of: Alpine, Nordic, Snowboarding, Adaptive. The Edge is published two times annually. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors, and are not necessarily the policies and opinions of PSIA/AASI Western Division. For advertising submissions and information, contact our office: PSIA/AASI Western Division 9709 Highway 267, Suite B, Truckee, CA. 96161 phone (530) 587-7642 fax (530) 587-4273 admin@psia-w.org For all membership inquiries, check out our website at www.psia-w.org or contact our office for additional information.
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Heritage
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By Steven Evenson Nic Fiore Award 2013
Nic Fiore
This will be the 3rd year for this special recognition award to highlight the “Unsung Heroes” in our division. These are the men and women that are the glue that holds our division and ski schools together. There are no special certifications or restrictions for these nominations. You know who they are at your specific areas. They are the mentors and people in your locker rooms that are the “GO TO” staff if you have any questions or problems. This award is truly the peoples’ choice. All nominations come exclusively from the membership so start thinking about who inspires you. For those of you that have the pleasure of knowing Nic he was one of the Founding Fathers of our Division and instrumental in the high standards that we in Western Division set for ourselves as instructors. His signature is there on my Full Cert Diploma circa 1978. Heck, that was so far back that I always get asked if Nic ‘whitttled my pin out of wood on the front porch after the exam!’ Even 20 years later
Congratulations to the 2012 Nic Fiore Award winner, Mike Iman! Mike grew up in Snowbasin, Utah and followed a passion for ski racing. In 1966 he became an instructor at the Papoose Ski School in Squaw Valley, becoming a Full Certified instructor in 1967. In 1970 he was awarded FWSIA (which later became the PSIA-W) Instructor of the Year. He has contributed much to the PSIA, he was an examiner from 1970 to 2006, served on the Board of Directors for many years and trained the Western Demo Team. He was the Ski School Director at Northstar from 1977 to 1990, when he moved to Sugar Bowl, where he is still the Director today. Congratulations Mike!!
Nic would still call me Stevie when we met. I would always reply “Nic you can call me Steve now that I am in my 50’s.” He would wink at me and say “You’ll always be a kid to me!” That is the spirit of this Award. The first year’s honoree was Ernie Gray of Tahoe Donner, followed by Mike Iman of Sugar Bowl last year. The winner will be presented a recognition plaque at our Spring Convention in Mammoth. If you would like to nominate someone: Submit your nomination in writing, 1000 words or less to Mitch at the PSIA/AASI Office (mdion@psia-w.org) by Feb 15th. Give us the history and background for your “Unsung Hero” and why you feel they should be recognized. The Heritage Committee will review all the submissions and announce the recipient of the Nic Fiore Award. So all Alpine, Snowboard, Nordic and Adaptive members get on the bandwagon and get those nominations in. This is your chance to deliver for someone special!
Pray for Snow and Ski ya later, Weavin Steven
Mike grew up in Snowbasin, Utah and followed a passion for ski racing.
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By Dan Stormer
Adaptive
Marcus Haile Memorial Adaptive Scholarship Provided Again This Year Last year the Mt High Adaptive program started the Marcus Haile Memorial Adaptive Scholarship. It is named in honor of Marcus Haile, a long-term supporter of adaptive skiing. The fund awarded ten scholarships to support training in adaptive snowsports and will be available to all adaptive instructors in PSIA/AASI-W again this year. Marcus Haile was never a paid or certified adaptive instructor, however, he was one of its strongest supporters, making a wonderful contribution to the Adaptive movement by his support for his wife, Lynne, and his two children, Cavan and Marta. Marcus passed away last year and is greatly missed by family and friends. Lynne Haile has directed the Adaptive program at Mt High for over 30 years. As a Professor at Pierce College, she started a college disabled skiing program through the school’s Physical Education Department in 1976. Retiring from Pierce College in 1998 she moved the adaptive program to Mt High. Under Lynne’s direction, the program has
steadily expanded to become a leading school in Adaptive Snowsports, with a dedicated facility, and many PSIA/AASI trained and certified instructors. Growing up in this environment, it was inevitable that Lynne and Marcus’ children would become involved in teaching Adaptive students. Both Marta and Cavan acheived Level lll certifications. Lynne holds an Adaptive Level II Certification, Alpine Level II Certification, and Seniors Level II Certification. She has served on the Adaptive Tech Team as a clinician and examiner and was on the Adaptive Committee for many years. For those who knew him, it is not surprising that Marcus’ support allowed Adaptive snowsports to greatly benefit from the incredible talents of this family. This Scholarship is intended to keep alive the memory of this wonderful man and to recognize the benefits Adaptive Skiing and Snowboarding has received from his support. This past year the Fund gave out 10 Scholarships to instructors at Heavenly, Mammoth, and Mt High. These included clinics and
Lynne & Marcus Haile
examinations for both Level 1 and Level 2 Adaptive exams. For those people seeking information, please contact Lynne Haile at Mountain High, (760) 316-7861. Scholarships for both training events and for examinations are available. Lynne will provide the application form. A committee then reviews the applications and makes approvals.
Dan Stormer Dan Stormer is an instructor and trainer at Mountain High. He is on the Adaptive Tech Team and is Adaptive LIII Certified, as well as Alpine LII, Seniors LII and Children’s LII.
Congratulations to Debi Keys of Snow Valley. Debi was awarded our first ever “Member School” award last fall: In recognition of a director, staff trainer, manager, or supervisor’s outstanding performance, and dedication. Debi’s creativity in support of instructors in pursuit of excellence in snowsport instruction has made Snow Valley a fun and supportive workplace. Debi serves as a staff mentor, provides inspiration and support to the staff, embraces a team spirit and being a life-long learner of snowsport education.
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Delivering a Great Adaptive Lesson By Dan Stormer & Bobby Mourino How many of us have started a lesson and realized almost immediately that we are not getting through to our student? For an instructor there is no worse feeling, as depressing as, say world poverty and hunger. Well, maybe not that bad but you get the idea. The need for great communication skills is vital to the Learning Partnership, particularly in an Adaptive lesson. All of our commitment, athleticism, experience, and training, (not to mention good looks, intelligence, and charm) will go to waste unless we can effectively ‘deliver’ our knowledge to our students. We have all experienced that great clinic, the one where all of a sudden we “got it”. We suddenly understood. It is immediately easy. How does that happen? The answer is, “not easily and not without work.” It requires effective planning, delivery and content. THE PLAN Every lesson must begin with a plan. At Mountain High, we get paperwork in advance of the lesson with information on
Dan Stormer
the student. Instructors will then meet to plan the lesson. These discussions run the gamut from attitude to medications to ability and should include a discussion of the particular student’s ability to understand and communicate and how to address those areas. In the Adaptive setting this often depends on the nature of the person’s disability. Is she visually impaired? Is there a cognitive impairment? Is there a musculature issue? Is there Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? We learn as much as we can from the paperwork and usually follow-up with a phone interview, making sure the student or care giver knows that the information requested is vital for the lesson outcome and will remain confidential. This information allow us to match the student with the most appropriate instructor. An effective plan should include strategies for relaxing the student and building their confidence in their instructor. Maslow’s Hierarchy provides great guidance for us here. Without first addressing fundamental needs such as safety, security, acceptance and ego reward, the focus of their attention will be elsewhere. Effective communication facilitates the Learning Partnership and allows the instructor to develop an effective teaching cycle. Every great lesson starts with a great plan!
THE CONTENT The content is, in some ways, is the easiest. Content assures that the well-planned, well-delivered communication has information that is useful. As ‘instructors’ we have the expectation of providing the student with a high level of skill and understanding. Know your material! While it is possible to fake a good lesson with an incredible student, it is impossible to fake a good lesson with a student who truly needs instruction. PSIA/AASI has provided us with tons of wonderful material to prepare content. As an instructor you should be conversant with the various learning styles –(visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, (thinker, doer, watcher, feeler ..) all of which can be found in the “Core Concepts” manual. I have found that there are literally dozens of outstanding YouTube demonstrations that give truly exceptional information. We utilize other divisions’ websites for their materials. The training provided through our tech teams is amazingly good. There is also much to learn from the trainers at your home school, as well as your fellow instructors. When planning content, two areas that should be given extra attention are (1) setting reasonable expectations or goals and (2) implementation of a progression that will meet that goal. Just as in a mainstream lesson, a common problem in Adaptive lessons is too much talking without a properly skill development focused and planned progression. Nothing beats a well designed progression, combined with some fun mileage.
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Delivering a Great Adaptive Lesson (cont’d) By Dan Stormer & Bobby Mourino THE DELIVERY Effective communication includes non-verbal cues such as gestures, attitude, physical manipulation, visual and physical demonstrations, as well as many other communicative devices. We establish rapport; we show concern for their fears. We communicate concern for their physical well-being. We show them how much we love the sport and show our appreciation for the beauty of our landscapes. We tell jokes to relax the student. These all help enhance the student-teacher relationship and increase the likelihood of effective learning and fun. Remember the first half of the teaching cycle; Introduction, Assess the student, Determine Goals and Objectives, and Present and Share Information. Even the best plans delivered in the wrong manner can fail. Over the years I have witnessed, literally dozens of lessons become ineffective due to the form of the delivery. One common error is using the one-size fits all approach to communication. For example teaching a lesson to someone with a visual impairment but no cognitive impairments, will differ significantly than a lesson with someone with Down Syndrome or Autism. I have witnessed an instructor speaking to a person with cerebral palsy as if he had a learning or cognitive impairment that prevented him from understanding, when in fact, the person simply had musculature issues that prevented effective expressive communication. The student understood everything perfectly but got taught as if he was an 8 year old. As an example, communicating the concepts of flexion and extension provide a challenge to all of us, so how does one impart our wisdom to someone with a
disability? Communication with a person who is visually impaired might involve guiding their hands to show movement. Teaching a lesson in bumps, one can use the hands to evoke a similar flexion and extension response that one would use in the knees. This same lesson involving a person with Autism would require a substantially different form of communication, perhaps a visual demonstration or simply “follow me” modeling skiing or riding. For a cognitively impaired person with Down Syndrome you might structure some exercises which develop muscle memory through flexion and extension, such as providing motivational rewards (reaching for treats), or fun games in which the student reaches “foragonally”. A recently injured, but healed, paraplegic learning the mono-ski may want you to demonstrate specific body movements in order to understand how their new body works. For them, there is probably no cognitive impairment (however, always check where the injury involves a traumatic incident) but learning the movement might invoke more of an understanding of the body. Even within this example one must be aware of the difference in the flexion and extensions abilities between a T3 and a T12 and be able to communicate the appropriate information. Similarly, someone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder might need different approaches on different days given the ebb and flow of PTSD symptoms. A good instructor structures her communication around the capabilities of the student. During the second portion of the Teaching cycle (Present and Share Information, Guided Practice, Demonstrations, Check for Understanding and Summarizing the Learning Segment) you might
find that your usually successful progression is not working. This may be because your initial assessment of the students athletic ability, snowsports knowledge, physical, mental and emotional abilities was not perfect. Better have a Plan B to fall back on. Sometimes Plan B is merely changing your teaching style, or adapting to the student’s learning style. Again, communication is the key. Remember to always check for understanding throughout the lesson and do a final summary that includes a plan for the next lesson. (And, such a plan should then be recorded in the programs paperwork.) The CAP model from Children’s discipline is very effective in this process. Describe to the student, parent, care giver etc at the end of the lesson how the student approached the lesson cognitively, affectively and physically-how they thought, felt and performed. So, plan, delivery, and content are the keys to communication success! Go forth and have fun! Dan Stormer Dan Stormer is an instructor and trainer at Mountain High. He is on the Adaptive Tech Team and is Adaptive LIII Certified, as well as Alpine LII, Seniors LII and Children’s LII.
Bobby Mourino Bobby Mourino is the Assistant Director for the Wintersports Program at Mt High. He is an L2 Alpine, L2 Adaptive, L1 Snowboard, L1 Children’s and L1 Seniors certified.
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PSIA/AASI-W 50 Year Club
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By Mitch Dion
PSIA/AASI West welcomes our newest members to the 50 year club, representing 50 years of continuous membership. George and Marte represent the profession of Snowsports instruction very well in terms of their accomplishments both on snow and off. Congratulations! George Bishop
George Bishop
Marte Miller
George started skiing at age 11 in his backyard in Pittsfield, Massachusets. His neighbor, Mr. McCarty, cut a ski trail on a hill behind his house and strung lights for night skiing. George wore out many sets of leather gloves on the tow ropes at Pittsfield’s “resort” called Bousquet. He skied ‘long thongs’ and remembers ‘freezing’ in the first version of stretch pants made by Bogner. As a teen his idol was Stein Eriksen. George could be found practicing Eriksen’s “reverse shoulder” move using every doorway in his house as imaginary slalom poles. George was certified in Eastern Division, teaching at Lake Placid in 1962. As a Snowsports Professional, he has done it all, including owning a ski school at a resort in Denton, PA, managing Slide Mountain for Incline, and as an instructor at Northstar. His fondest memory includes reconnecting with two 1960’s era Eastern friends; Kenny Bruielly and Don Rosenberg, all working as instructors in the Sierra in 2012! Best PSIA memories include a week at National Academy in Chamonix with Kevin Mitchell, and a recent “Mastery of Skiing for Seniors” clinic with Mike Iman and a day, “doing racing turns matching chairlift shadows on a pair of Aaron Rosen’s 160 Vokl Tiger Sharks.” This year, as George steps on the snow for his 50th season, he will teaching/coaching beginners on the Johnsville Junior Ski Team (near Portola, CA.) George observed that he still teaches “essentially the same herringbones and snowplows that I learned at age 11.”
Martha Miller
Martha Miller, known to her family and friends as Marte, was raised in the coastal town of Carpinteria just south of Santa Barbara. Her family was enamored with the Sierra Nevada, and spent their summers camping in the Eastern Sierra and working in Yosemite National Park. Marte’s first skiing experience was as a girl scout in the Los Padres Mountains in Southern California."I just put on the skis,” she said, “and went straight, fast, and missed the trees!" In her teens she worked at Badger Pass in Yosemite, where under the tutelage of Luiggi Foeger, she became a ski instructor. With Nic Fiore at the helm of the ski school, she grew in the profession and was one of the first women to be fully certified. She described Nic “as her greatest colleague, friend and mentor.” Marte did not limit her skiing to downhill, aspiring for the 1964 Winter Olympics as a member of the first US Cross Country Ski team. The team was later dissolved in order to initiate a beginning program for Junior skiers. Nevertheless, she proudly represented the United States at the ‘64 Innsbruck Games at a Hospitality Center for the athletes, families and foreigners. She has continued with a lifelong love for the Olympics, summer or winter. She skied throughout Europe in 1963 and 1964 teaching in Mayrhofen in the Zillertal Valley in Austria. She continued to teach part time through the years in Yosemite, at Alpine Meadows and with Women's Way Ski Seminars in Squaw Valley. But for Marte the hills were alive with the sound of music. She dovetailed her hotel professional career with a career in the performing arts with Opera Production. She remained a regular at Spring Conventions over the years, Of her Level 3 certification, Marte says "It almost killed me, but I did pass". She proudly holds her Level III Alumni certification, maintaining a passion for skiing forever. Now, still a part time Hotel Manager in Yosemite, Marte has given her skis to a younger friend and taken up driving a miniature horse with cart! "A little less risky!"
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Do you ski your best when teaching? By Greg Lyons I was watching an instructor teaching a lesson. I ski with him in training sessions and know his strengths and weaknesses. He is comfortable on single blacks but is often challenged on double blacks, where he has a tendency to square up on the steeps. During training sessions he is focused on upper/lower body separation which allows him to be prepared early for the initiation of each new turn. I was amazed to watch him square up over and over again while teaching the student. What was going on? He does not do this in training. What is so different? His eyes told me what I needed to know. He was teaching his students turn shape and having them follow his path down the hill. After every second or third turn he would look at his guest and then give verbal feedback. Whichever direction his eyes looked, his hips and shoulders followed. So if he looked across or up the hill at his guest, he squared his skis. If he made a turn and focused his eyes down the hill, he skied in and out of counter and maintained his goal of appropriate upper/lower body separation. After the lesson, the instructor and I skied a run. I asked him to ski PSIA Basic Parallel turns with his focus on upper/ lower body separation. He skied well. I asked where his eyes were focused? He accurately responded that he was looking down the hill. I then had him ski the Basic Parallel turns with me skiing behind him. He was to give me feedback. On the first turn, he squared his hips and I stopped him. I asked where he was looking. He said he was looking back at me. I asked why he squared his hips when looking at me and not when looking down the hill. He was silent.
He realized that even though he emphasized upper/lower body separation when training or free skiing, he squared to his skis when teaching. Vince Lombardi had an appropriate quote: “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” In this case, while the instructor did practice when he had a student with him, he did not practice perfectly. Our guests learn from what we do. If we skid, they skid. If we use a pole touch, they use a pole touch. If we square our hips and shoulders they will square their hips and shoulders. I have observed the instructor since and he has changed his ways. He uses cones and counting to emphasize turn shape. He still leads in a follow-the-leader lesson format, but he does not look back as often. He uses a line rotation or has students ski past him one or two turns before stopping. He tries to make the image he is presenting the image he wants to present. One reason to be a ski instructor is the opportunity to improve your skiing. Whether teaching or free skiing, ski your best. You and your guest are worth it!
Greg Lyons PSIA/AASI-W BOD Executive-VP PSIA-W Education Foundation President
Photos by Heidi Ettlinger.
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Promoting who we are and what we do. Whose job is it anyway? By Heidi Ettlinger, Publicity & Advisory Chair
Clockwise: 1: Jacqueline Rockman and Jon Sween on route to SkiDazzle Sacramento! 2: Debs Herne represents the division at the UNR Ski Swap. 3: Claudina Evans and Kevin Thompson sharing the passion at SkiDazzle LA! 4: Jake Jakubowski answers questions at the Warren Miller Premiere Reno.
Over the past few years speculation has been building as to who is responsible for promoting professional snowsport instruction to the public and how to retain and increase the number of guests utilizing our services. We can either debate accountability or develop resources to address the situation. There is no one entity that can penetrate the complexities of the snowsports field and resolve the barriers to guest participation. The onus is ultimately on each of us as professionals to do our part for the future success of the industry and our livelihood as career instructors. The Western Division is currently designing new strategies to improve the events we launched last season. We are committed to both the retention and recruitment of members in our association as well as promoting who we are and what we do to the public. The goal this season is to target and educate existing consumers of our resorts with the spectrum of services we can provide to them. The following is a partial list of work projects for this coming season: 1. We are participating in projects conducted by National (surveys and committees) to combine divisional resources and determine how we can improve the perceived value of PSIA/AASI to our member school directors and resort executive staff. 2. Last season we participated in everything from snowsport festivals to ski swaps in an effort to reach out to potential guests. This season we plan to communicate directly with ski & snowboard clubs and associations by using representatives, print and online media. 3. We will continue to support Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and their Bring a Friend Campaign by helping our member schools promote a positive beginner experience. 4. New this year we plan to partner with regional Visitors Centers to publicize the availability of professional instruction and promote the message of who we are and what we do. 5. Member schools will be provided with promotional signage for sales and developmental areas with our association logos and professional details. We also plan to display signage at resorts when we are conducting events to help increase our visibility to the public. We would like to thank everyone who volunteered last season to represent our association at regional events. If you are interested in helping with any of the projects listed above or would like to contribute suggestions please forward your email to heidiettlinger@yahoo.com.
Launch your season check out the 2012-2013
event guide
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General Information Event Registration Details signing up: View the Event Calendar online at www. psia-w.org. To sign up you will be re-directed to the national site www.thesnowpros.org for event Registration. If you have difficulty registering online, you can downlaod an “event application” (available on psia-w. org, under ‘Forms and Applications’ or request from the office.) We do not take phone registration. Your registration must be received 2 weeks prior to the events to guarantee your spot. A late registration fee of $20.00 will be assessed for sign ups less than two weeks from the event. EMAIL VERIFICATION: We will email a confirmation of your registration, updates and changes to all participants with a valid email address. Make sure we have your email and that you
PSIA-AASI Western Division Education Foundation For more information on how to obtain a scholarship from our Education Foundation, please visit psia-w.org and open the Education Foundation page. There are three different types of scholarships available, each has their own criteria and application process. All applications must be received by February 1, 2013 (no exceptions). SATO Scholarship Membership Scholarship Sodergren Scholarship
have not ‘blocked’ email from the National database. WAITING LIST: Our goal is to serve all members who sign up for clinics. If a clinic is full, you may still sign up and be placed on a Waiting List. If it is possible for us to accommodate you, we will email or contact you by phone. A fee of $20.00 will be charged for late sign up. CANCELLATION POLICY: Registration fees are not refunded for last minute attendee cancellations. To avoid paying fees, cancel at least 10 business days prior to the event. **Western Division reserves the right to cancel any event if it lacks registration by the published date. All fees will be returned. CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES: Exam requirements, study materials and “Certification Guides” can be downloaded at www.psia-w.org listed in Education Materials under each discipline. This is the best source for more information on preparation materials and recommended training. MEETING TIME & LOCATION: All education events and exam modules begin at 8:30 a.m., unless otherwise indicated on your confirmation. In most cases, the meeting area is in the resort base lodge (look for event signage at the area.) When there is more than one base lodge for the resort, you will receive an email confirmation of the event meeting place.
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Types of Membership REGISTERED $96 Annual Dues (Includes Division & National Fees) New members working toward Level I certification. Affiliation with a snowsports school.
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General Information ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be at least 16 years old. REQUIREMENTS: Registered Members are working toward their Level I Certification. *If you are not actively employed at a snowsport school you can only take your Level I Certification. If you pass you must complete at least 20 hrs. of teaching (verified by your school director) before receiving your Level I pin. If you do not complete 20 hrs of teaching you will only receive a certificate of completion. BENEFITS: You receive divisional and national benefits and can take Education and Level 1 Certification Events in any of the nine PSIA/AASI divisions. See Member Services at psia-w.org. ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be at least 16 years old & certified.
CERTIFIED $96 Annual Dues (Includes Division & National Fees) Our most common membership.
REQUIREMENTS: You are required to take (1) educational event every year or (2) educational events every 2 years. *Education requirements are mandatory for maintaining your certification. CERTIFICATION: You can take certification events. Level I (must be 16 yrs. old) Level II (must be 18 yrs. old & employed at a snowsports school) Level III (must be employed at snowsports school) BENEFITS: You receive divisional and national benefits and can take Education and Certification Events in any of the nine PSIA/AASI divisions. See Member Services at psia-w.org. ELIGIBILITY: Members who had let their annual dues lapse - and would like to resume “membership” status. Fill out a reinstatement form on www. psia-w.org, click on ‘Recertifying you Membership.’
MEMBER REINSTATEMENT For members who have let their annual dues lapse.
REQUIREMENTS: Back Dues Fees ($35 for each year lapsed - max. of $140) Current Dues ($96) Education requirements to be fulfilled the same year as reinstatement - (1) day if you are Level I Certified or (2) days if you are Level II or III Certified. Over ten years: If you have allowed your membership to lapse for more than ten seasons, additional requirements will apply, including passing the written portion of the certification exam and attending designated educational events to insure you have the most current knowledge of the industry.
HOW TO JOIN & BECOME A MEMBER OF PSIA/AASI-W To become a Registered Member of PSIA/AASI-W you need to be at least 16 years old. You do not need to be affiliated with a snowsports school but we highly recommend you contact one of our PSIA/AASI Member Snow Sports Schools for an instructor’s position and join a Learn to be an Instructor or New Hire training program. See our “Become a Member” page at psia-w.org for a detailed explanation of member benefits. From this page you can register online or complete the membership form to fax or mail back to our office in Truckee, CA. Once you have paid for your Registration Membership, you can take Educational Events through PSIA/AASI-W. If you become a Registered Member you can take the Level I Certification Module (if you are actively working at a snowsport school) or the Level I Certification Module for New Instructors (if you are not actively instructing at a snowsport school.)
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Adaptive Education & Certification Program Hello, All! My name is Bill Bowness and I am the new Adaptive Representative to our Division’s Board of Directors. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our past Representative, Glen Smith for taking the helm of the Adaptive committee these last several years. Glen will continue his involvement with Adaptive by heading a series of educational clinics aimed at our division’s member schools that do not have an adaptive presence. This training will introduce the basics of and need for adaptive at all resorts. For more New Adaptive Representative, Bill Bowness. information, contact Glen (glentsmith@frontier.com) or our “Events” Chair, Nicole Charshafian (sierrahye@att.net). The PSIA/AASI- Western Tech Teams will be training at Mammoth mid-November. If you are interested in joining the Adaptive Tech Team you must be either: Adaptive Certified Level II and Alpine or AASI Certified Level II -orAdaptive Certified Level III If you meet these requirements, we welcome you to submit a resume listing teaching experience, clinic/training facilitator experience, and other professional development to the PSIA/AASI-W Adaptive Committee (bill@unlimitedskiing.com). If accepted, you will be expected to attend the annual Tech Team Training, a two-day process broken down into skiing/riding, presentation skills relating to disability knowledge, technical aspects of adaptive skiing/riding and instructor education. The educator at this level is able to present educational information to anyone who wishes to teach adaptive skiing/riding. One of the days of Tech Team training will be a one day try-out that integrates demonstration of skills, all mountain technical skiing/riding, and on-snow clinic leading skills. Candidates will be assigned a topic with which they will state a training objective to use while they lead the group, solicit participation, and give feedback to effect changes in understanding or movement patterns in the group. PSIA/AASI National has developed an Adaptive National Exam Standard for both adaptive alpine and adaptive snowboard. You can find the new national standards on the www.thesnowpros.org site. For adaptive alpine and snowboard standards go to: http://psia-w.org/adaptive/ Keep in mind that the national standards are minimum standards and the standards here in the Western Division may be slightly higher. If you have questions or comments that pertain to adaptive, please do not hesitate to contact me at: bill@unlimitedskiing.com. I hope you have a great season and look forward to making turns with you at one of our fantastic educational events! Bill Bowness, PSIA-W Adaptive Representative
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Adaptive Education & Certification Program ADAPTIVE RESORT TRAINER TRAINING December 12 – Location: Alpine Meadows January 29 – Location: TBA (in the Big Bear area) This one-day training course is required for resort trainers to lead an In-House L1 Adaptive Validation. Participants must be a minimum L2 Adaptive Certified and must be selected by their home ski school. ___________________________________________________ ADAPTIVE TECH TEAM TRAINING November 15-17 – Location: Mammoth Mountain This is a two-day training course for members of the Adaptive Tech Team. Participants must be L3 Adaptive or L2 Adaptive and L2 Alpine or Snowboard and must be selected by the Adaptive Committee. If interested in becoming a part of the Tech Team, contact Bill Bowness (bill@unlimitedskiing.com) ___________________________________________________ ADAPTIVE EXAM PREPARATION February 24 – Location: Mammoth Mountain March 11 – Location: Heavenly These clinics will be tailored to the needs of the members. Candidates MUST contact Nicole Charshafian (sierrahye@ att.net) 3 WEEKS PRIOR to training to arrange desired prep clinic content. The group leader will give instruction and feedback on any subjects requested by the participants with the primary goal being preparation for the Level 1, 2, 3 exams. ___________________________________________________ ADAPTIVE LEVEL 1 IN-HOUSE VALIDATION (SKI OR SNOWBOARD) March 18 – Location: Bear Mountain April 8 – Location: Heavenly More dates and locations will be scheduled by individual home resorts Level 1 (Scheduled by the home resort.) This is a one day clinic/exam where you will be coached and tested on your skiing/riding and teaching/technical ability in one of the disciplines (VI, mono, etc.) at L1 standard. Candidates must have participated in a multi-week training program conducted at their home area by a qualified in-house trainer. In the validation, you will be coached and tested on teaching skiers/riders through open stance parallel/L4 riding. You will also be coached and tested on your functional skiing/riding as it relates to adaptive teaching and assists for your discipline. Successful candidates will display an understanding of the disabilities and the medications you may encounter with skiers/riders under these categories. Candidates will perform free skiing/
riding, demonstrations, and tasks. Adaptive L1 skiing/riding requirements/standards are the same as Alpine or Snowboard L1 skiing/riding standards. For a complete event description, see http://psia-w.org/adaptive/. ___________________________________________________ ADAPTIVE LEVEL 1, 2, 3 SKIING/RIDING (SKI OR SNOWBOARD) April 29-May 1 – Location: Mammoth This is a one-day skiing/riding exam for Levels 1 and 2, and a two-day skiing/riding exam for Level 3. You will be coached and tested on your skiing/riding ability. Candidates will perform free skiing/riding, demonstrations, and tasks. Adaptive L1, 2, and 3 skiing/riding requirements/standards are the same as Alpine or Snowboard L1, 2, and 3 skiing/riding standards. Passing the Adaptive Skiing/Riding exam, or the Alpine or Snowboard skiing/riding exam is required as well as the Teaching and Technical exam of the level of certification being obtained. For a complete event description, see: http://psia-w. org/adaptive/. ___________________________________________________ ADAPTIVE LEVEL 1 TEACHING AND TECHNICAL EXAM (SKI OR SNOWBOARD) April 29-May 1 – Location: Mammoth Adaptive Alpine is separated into six disciplines: 1. Cognitive/ Intellectually Disabled, 2. Vision Impaired, 3. Bi-ski, 4. Monoski, 5. Three Track, and 6. Four Track, Adaptive Snowboard is separated into five disciplines: Cognitive/Intellectually Disabled, 2. Vision Impaired, 3. Bi-ski, 4. Mono-ski, and 5. Stand-up. Each discipline is a one-day exam. Candidates will be coached and tested on their ability to teach skiers/riders in one discipline (Cog, VI, 3T, 4T, Mono, etc.). Candidates will be given teaching scenarios to perform on the snow. You
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Adaptive Education & Certification Program will be coached and tested on teaching skiers/riders through beginning wedge Christie or level 4 riding. You will also be coached and tested on your functional skiing/riding as it relates to adaptive teaching including, guiding and assists appropriate for the discipline. Successful candidates will display an understanding of the disabilities and the medications they may encounter with skiers/riders in the discipline. Candidates are required to bring an Adaptive L1/2 Workbook, completed in the discipline which they are taking, and be familiar with the alpine or snowboard level 1/2 workbook or have a level 1 alpine or snowboard teaching certification. Passing one discipline in this exam as well as passing one day of the Adaptive L1 skiing/ riding exam (or passing the L1 Alpine or Snowboard Skiing/ riding exam) constitutes an Adaptive L1 Certification. For a complete event description, see, http://psia-w.org/ adaptive/ Adaptive page. ___________________________________________________ ADAPTIVE LEVEL 2 TEACHING AND TECHNICAL EXAM (SKI OR SNOWBOARD) January 9 – Location: Alpine Meadows – Module: Ski-Cog/VI January 10-Location Alpine Meadows – Module: Ski- 3/4 Track March 19 – Bear Mountain – Module-TBA* April 9 – Location: Heavenly – Module-TBA* Contact Nicole (sierrahye@att.net) 3 WEEKS PRIOR to training to arrange desired exam. Adaptive Alpine is separated into three modules: 1-Cognitive/ Intellectually Disabled and Vision Impaired, 2-Bi-ski and Monoski, and 3-Three Track and Four Track, Adaptive Snowboard is separated into three modules: 1-Cognitive/Intellectually Disabled and Vision Impaired, 2-Biski and Mono-ski, and 3-Stand-up. This is a one-day module. Candidates will be coached and tested on their ability to teach skiers/riders in one module (Cog./VI, 3T/4T, Mono/Bi, or Stand-up). Candidates will be
EXAMS - All levels & all disciplines of exams MAY be offered upon candidate’s request. Candidates MUST contact Nicole Charshafian (sierrahye@att.net) at least 3 WEEKS PRIOR to exam dates to arrange desired exams.
given teaching scenarios to perform on the snow. You will be coached and tested on teaching skiers/riders through open parallel or level 5 riding. You will also be coached and tested on your functional skiing/riding as it relates to adaptive teaching including, guiding and assists appropriate for the module. Successful candidates will display an understanding of the disabilities and the medications they may encounter with skiers/riders in the module. Candidates are required to bring an Adaptive L1/2 Workbook, completed in the discipline which they are taking, and be familiar with the alpine or snowboard level 1/2 workbook or have a level 1 alpine or snowboard teaching certification. Passing all three level 2 adaptive teaching/technical modules and a one day Adaptive level 2 skiing/riding module (or passing a L2 alpine/ snowboard skiing/riding module) constitutes a level 2 adaptive certification. For a complete event description, see, http://psia-w.org/ adaptive/ Adaptive page. ___________________________________________________ ADAPTIVE LEVEL 3 TEACHING/ TECHNICAL EXAM (SKI OR SNOWBOARD) This is a three day module where you will be coached and tested on your ability to teach students of all levels under all disciplines. You will also be coached and tested on your functional skiing/riding as it relates to adaptive teaching. Successful candidates will display an understanding of the disabilities and the medications you may encounter with skiers/ riders under these categories including multiple disabilities. There is no partial pass, all disciplines must be successfully completed. Passing this exam as well as one day of the Adaptive L3 skiing/riding exam (or passing the L3 Alpine or Snowboard Skiing/riding module) constitutes an Adaptive L3 Certification. For a complete event description, see http://psia-w.org/adaptive/. To schedule, contact Nicole Charshafian (sierrahye@att.net).
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Alpine Events Greetings It’s a privilege to be your new Alpine VP, and I’m looking forward continuing the excellent work done by Elianne Furtney, I’m also eagerly anticipating another epic season on the slopes of the Sierra. This summer we lost the great Jerry Berg who passed away while riding his mountain bike near his home in Colorado. “Bergie” was one of PSIA’s most influential ski pros having served as a national team member and examiner for Rocky Mountain for more that 20 years. I had the great pleasure of hanging out with him several times on various PSIA ventures to Colorado. Here is one of the classic Finlay Torrance, Alpine Chair. Bergie stories as recounted by Bob Barnes. “It was the evening before the Ski day of the PSIA-RM Full Certification (Level 3) exam at Taos, New Mexico. All of the candidates were assembled together for an overview of the coming day. We announced that the “Variable Terrain and Conditions” run would take place on “Juarez,” an awesome chute accessed from a hike high above the tree line along Highline Ridge. A candidate in the back raised his hand and complained that he didn’t think it was appropriate to ask people to hike, that he wasn’t a hiker and we shouldn’t have to work that hard, or something to that effect. Bergie looked directly at him and said, “No problem. You don’t have to hike. We have something just for you. Level 2.” The candidate was silenced. But he hiked the next day, and actually had a great run in Juarez. After it was over, I overheard him thanking Bergie for pushing him to accomplish something beyond himself.” Apart from remembering a true legend of our profession this story also highlights the fundamental purpose of certification which is to hold a standard and to require candidates to stretch the boundaries of their thinking and preparedness for events. If you are a Level Three instructor you can relate exactly with this story. If you aspire to any level of certification let this story be the foundation for your training regimen. A successful exam candidate is typically the one that has done more than the minimum requirement and stretched the boundaries of what he or she understands to be the minimum requirement for success. I hope that you all have a fantastic season and are able to accomplish something beyond yourself. May the force be with you, always….
Finlay Torrance, PSIA-W Alpine VP
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Alpine Events Premier Multi-Day Events: Fall RALLy Dec. 10-11 Location Squaw Valley This 2-day event (with an option of 1 day only) is open to the entire membership as an opportunity to get an early season tune-up. Come prepared to have fun, hone your skiing skills, and receive updates on divisional and national materials. This year we are combining Fall Rally with the Mini Academy to offer a greater range of skiing and learning opportunities from National Team members from across the Nation and our Tech Team. This clinic is great way to get season started with a bang! ______________________________________________ Resort Trainer course #1-4 #1 Dec. 10-11 Location: Squaw Valley #2 Jan. 2-3 Location: Mammoth #3 Jan. 27-28 Location: Snow Summit #4 Feb. 7-8 Location: Northstar-At-Tahoe The Resort Trainers Series are individual clinics and do not require that you attend the entire series. The events provide educational resources for resort trainers or those interested in becoming a resort trainer. Open to all interested level 2 or 3 Alpine certified instructors. The clinic provides the opportunity to review the most current standards and educational materials, receive feedback, and hear important training information to take back to your resort, share ideas on leading exceptional clinics and get feedback on your personal skiing. Topics covered: Level I In-House Training programs, demos and tasks for Level II and III Modules, and developing a solid technical understanding of movement patterns. This series is highly recommended if you are trying out for the Alpine Technical Team. ______________________________________________
Date: Feb. 10-12 Location: Squaw Valley Questions on agenda, lodging, special requests: Contact Heidi Ettlinger at heidiettlinger@ yahoo.com
So Cal Winter Session Jan. 27-28 Location: Snow Summit This 2-day event (with an option of 1 day only) is open to the entire membership as an opportunity to get an early season tune-up. Come prepared to have fun, hone your skiing skills, and receive updates on divisional and national materials. ______________________________________________ PSIA-W Women’s Summit Feb. 10-12 Location: Squaw Valley Top women clinicians from the Western Division and beyond will provide insight, knowledge, inspiration and a whole lot of fun for participants of all ability levels! The program will include am/pm clinics to customize each day with different terrain and packing options. Clinic selection will include a wide variety of on-hill and optional indoor presentations. Check the online event description for a detailed agenda and lodging info. If you have questions or special requests please contact Heidi Ettlinger (heidiettlinger@yahoo.com) ______________________________________________
Professional Development Events: Foot and Lower Leg Biomechanics Nov. 12 Location: Sky Tavern Clinicians: Bud Heishman This indoor clinic is staffed by industry pros who will present fundamental information for understanding foot and lower leg biomechanics. The following areas will be covered: Movements and function of the foot, ankle, and lower leg specific to skiing. Assessment of the attendee’s feet and lower legs for boot fit considerations. How to understand the ultimate goal of footbed and boot modifications. How to understand boot fitting and alignment issues to improve your and your students skiing potential. ______________________________________________ Build your Technical Foundation Nov. 17 Location: Heavenly This indoor clinic will build your knowledge of biomechanics, turn mechanics, and performance skiing utilizing fun multimedia presentations. It will include a comprehensive overview of the technical aspects of contemporary skiing. Come prepared for an entertaining day and learn how you can apply these technical foundations to your skiing, teaching and movement analysis. Each participant will receive a workbook and custom dvd. ______________________________________________
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Alpine Events Teaching in Spanish Dec. 18 Location: Heavenly This clinic is designed to translate common skiing language into Spanish. Come prepared to either develop your current Spanish abilities or start with the basics. Learn how to better communicate with your Spanish speaking students and have more fun! ______________________________________________ Skiing FUNdamentals: Jan. 6 Location: Heavenly Tour the mountain while covering the basic FUNdamental movements that connect dynamic skiing on groomed to off-piste terrain and steeps. This clinic will kick start your season with ample skiing as well as video analysis of your day sampling different terrain. ______________________________________________ Understanding Boot Alignment Jan. 8 Location: Mt. Rose Clinician: Bud Heishman Improve your understanding of the effects of predetermined angles equipment places on a skier’s stance. You will be shown different fore/aft and lateral set-ups on five pairs of identically prepared skis as well as having the opportunity to observe how these changes affect a skier’s movement and stance. You will learn to differentiate between technique and equipment caused skiing movements, improving your effectiveness as a ski instructor! ______________________________________________
Teaching Ideas for Intermediate Students Feb. 14 Location: Sierra-At-Tahoe This clinic is focused on teaching ideas for level 3-6 students. It will develop ideas of what movement patterns need to be developed and where to develop them, while exploring fun and exciting ways to get them there. This clinic is great for anybody taking their level II teach module or if you are looking for new teaching ideas. ______________________________________________ Teaching Ideas for Advanced Students Feb. 15 Location: Sierra-At-Tahoe This clinic is focused on teaching ideas for level 6-9 students. It will explore ideas of what movement patterns need to be developed and where to develop them, while exploring fun and exciting ways to get them there. This clinic is great for anybody taking their level III teach module or if you are looking for new teaching ideas. ______________________________________________ Fill Your Tool Box Feb. 17 Location: Mt. Baldy This is a teaching focused clinic. Your clinician will give you new “tools” to use, and teach you when, where, why and how to use them. You will get to try out new ideas as you explore the mountain. This is a great clinic to take if you are thinking of taking a teach module, or if you are feeling like you need to expand your teaching horizons. ______________________________________________
Level III and Beyond: Jan. 14 Location: Northstar-At-Tahoe The primary focus of the clinic will be on high level skiing performance and the ability to see, understand, and describe the skiing movements of other participants. Clinic/teaching skills will be integrated into the event activities. This is the first step for instructors who are interested in becoming trainers, clinicians, or examiners. ______________________________________________
“Just Move”, Secrets of Dynamic Skiing Feb. 25 Location: Alpine Meadows This clinic focuses on the accurate and precise mechanics that are required to create the desired turn-shape for the type of snow, pitch and terrain. You will also explore the finishing phase of the turn and how that will allow you to maximize your ability to rip into the new turn and throughout it. A great clinic for anybody wanting to make their skiing more dynamic! ______________________________________________
All Conditions All Terrain Jan 23 Location: Mammoth If you like to explore varying terrain, snow conditions and speeds, sign up here! Develop the tactics and technique to be an all-terrain, any-condition skier. This clinic will also improve your skills to be a more effective instructor and enable your clients to become A.C.A.T skiers as well! ______________________________________________
Intro to Bumps & Off-Piste Mar. 1, Heavenly This clinic will focus on the fundamental movements and tactics for easy bumps and off-piste terrain. You will practice basic skill development and receive on-hill and video feedback. We will also cover ways to make bumps more fun and less intimidating for guests by exploring skill building tasks and progressions. ______________________________________________
MA & Turn Mechanics for Level II: Jan. 29 Location: Heavenly This clinic that will focus on exploring the movement analysis skills and understanding turn mechanics for Level II Certification. Participants will use Level II demos and tasks to practice MA on each other as well as on-hill analysis of intermediate skiers. ______________________________________________
Level 1 and 2 in one season March 5-6 Location: Diamond Peak This clinic is specifically designed to help those who have petitioned to take their level 1 and 2 in a season. This clinic will assess where you are and what you need to do to pass your level 2 exam. Skiing, demos, tasks, movement analysis and teaching scenarios will all be covered.
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Alpine Events All Mountain Adventure Mar. 6 Location: Mammoth Are you ready to charge? This clinic will focus on skill development and tactics for exceptional steep and mogul skiing. Coaching will highlight specific feedback on personal performance and may be used as training for certification. This clinic is designed to help you break through terrain barriers. ______________________________________________ How to Create Dynamics & Performance Mar. 6 Location: Snow Summit Turn it up a notch with a review of both technique and tactics for skiing with performance while anchoring your strengths. This clinic will help you refine dynamic skill application on all terrain while sharing what separates the good from the great! ______________________________________________ Skiing Detectives-Level II Movement Analysis Mar. 11 Location: Mammoth What do you see when you watch somebody ski down the hill? What is the most efficient progression to get them to the next level? This clinic is specific to improving movement analysis, understanding cause and effect and then developing a progression from those observations. This is a great clinic to take as preparation for the Level II teach module. ______________________________________________ Skiing Detectives-Level III Movement Analysis Mar. 12 Location: Mammoth What do you see when you watch somebody ski down the hill? What is the most efficient progression to get them to the next level? This clinic is specific to improving movement analysis, understanding cause and effect and then developing a progression from those observations. This is a great clinic to take as preparation for the Level III teach module. ______________________________________________ Level II Ski and Demo Prep Jan. 9 Location: Homewood Feb. 3 Location: Snow Valley Feb. 12 Location: Mammoth Mar. 13 Location: Alpine Meadows Apr. 8 Location: Squaw Valley This clinic is for anybody who is thinking of doing their Level II ski certification, or anybody who has their II and would like a refresher. If you just want a little extra training, a better understanding of the process and standard, or are not sure if you are ready yet this is a great event to attend. Demos, tasks, and free skiing standards will all be covered along with personal feedback. ______________________________________________
From left to right: Eva “Bambi” O’Neill, Trish Pattison, Suzanne Ward, Susan “Sparky” Irving, Sharon Milton, Robyn Keith Baird. Lisa Chester, Heidi Ettlinger, Debi Keys. Photo by Heidi Ettlinger.
Level II Teach Prep Jan. 10 Location: Homewood Feb. 4 Location: Snow Valley Feb. 7 Location: Dodge Ridge Feb. 11 Location: Mammoth Mar. 14 Location: Alpine Meadows Mar. 17 Location: Snow Summit Apr. 9 Location: Squaw Valley This clinic is for anybody who is thinking of doing their Level II teaching certification, or anybody who has their II and would like a refresher. If you just want a little extra training, a better understanding of the process and standard, or are not sure if you are ready yet this is a great event to attend. On-hill teaching presentations, teaching methodology and movement analysis will be covered along with personal feedback. ______________________________________________ Level III Ski and Demo Prep Feb. 4-5 Location: Squaw Valley This clinic is for anybody who is thinking of doing their Level III ski certification, or anybody who has their III and wants a refresher. If you just want a little extra training, a better understanding of the process and standard, or are not sure if you are ready yet this is a great event to attend. Demos, tasks, and free skiing standards will all be covered along with personal feedback. ______________________________________________ Level III Teach Prep Jan. 16-17 Location: Alpine Meadows Apr. 8-9 Location: Squaw Valley This clinic is for anybody who is thinking of doing their Level III teaching certification, or anybody who has their III and would like a refresher. If you just want a little extra training, a better understanding of the process and standard, or are not sure if you are ready yet this is a great event to attend. On-hill teaching presentations, teaching methodology and movement analysis will be covered along with personal feedback.
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Alpine Events Freestyle Events: Freestyle Specialist Level 1 – Intro to Freestyle Course Jan. 29-30 Location: Bear Mountain March 21-22 Location: Northstar This course will enable instructors of all ages and ability levels to learn the core foundations of freestyle teaching. Instructors will learn how to understand and manage terrain parks and pipes on their own and with their students. By breaking down the components of features and maneuvers to their most basic elements, we can guarantee that every participant will walk away having made huge steps toward confidence in skiing and teaching in & around the park & pipe. This course will give you the ability to safely progress like never before by taking an outside park to inside park approach to progression building. Participants will have an amazingly fun experience no matter their skill level. Prerequisites: Must have at least a PSIA Level 1 Certification, an understanding of teaching and coaching concepts, a willingness and ability to perform the required freestyle maneuvers, and the completion of Level 1 Freestyle Specialist Workbook. Helmets are mandatory and twin tip skis are strongly encouraged for this course. Please go to the Western Division Website to download the required workbook and current standards, which includes details of the required readings for this Freestyle Specialist Course. ______________________________________________ Freestyle Specialist Level 2 May 16-17 Location: Mammoth Basic through Intermediate Freestyle – (Past Western Freeride Level 1)This course is for any Alpine ski instructor that wants to teach basic through intermediate guests in parks and pipes and has already developed some freestyle skills in those arenas. The Level 2 Specialist consists of two days of training & evaluation. Each day requires on hill activities that are educational as well as interactive. Candidates will need to show their application and analysis of the use of safe and effective freestyle progressions, as well as recognize movement patterns as they applying proper teaching concepts. The candidate will also need to demonstrate required maneuvers, included but not limited to, 360 aerial spins and grabs on jumps and in the pipe as well as a range of sliding maneuvers. A solid understanding and application of skills must be shown in order to successfully complete the course. Prerequisites: Candidates must have at least a PSIA Level 1 Certification, an understanding of teaching and coaching concepts, a willingness and ability to perform the required freestyle maneuvers, and the completion
of Level 2 Freestyle Specialist Workbook prior to the first day of the course. Helmets are mandatory and twin tip skis are required for this course. Please go to the Western Division Website to download the required workbook and current standards, which includes details of the required readings for this Freestyle Specialist Course. ______________________________________________ Alpine Race Camp May 10-15 Location: Mammoth This is a 6 day event that will focus on racing fundamentals and tactics. It is designed for everyone, even those who have never had experience in gates. Participants will be grouped according to similarities in skill, pace and goals. The camp will include slalom and giant slalom practice. Participants can expect to run through a variety of drills, tactically set courses and full length courses. The camp will also include directed free-skiing, video analysis and off-hill activities. The focus of the camp will be on developing participants’ technical skills toward greater precision and accuracy, learning racing tactics and strategies and increasing confidence in the race course.
Certification Modules: Level 1, New Instructors, 6 Day Certification Module Dec. 2-7 Location: Heavenly This 6 day program is for people who are not actively teaching at a snowsport school, but would like to become a Certified Instructor. The course involves skiing, teaching, movement analysis, and technical knowledge which meets our National Level I Certification Standards. Successful candidates receive a certificate of completion and then have 2 years to complete the 20 hours of teaching required to become a Certified Level I instructor.
PSIA Alpine Team members from left: Greg Lyons, Tim Reeve, Steve Evenson (seated), Debs Herne, Terry Peters. Photo by Heidi Ettlinger.
2012-2013
EVENT
Register online and check for updates or changes at www.psia-w.org.
Spring Convention Event Date Event Location 4/26-28 Spring Convention -all disciplines Mammoth
Adaptive Events Date
Event
Event Location
Cost tba
Cost
12/12 Adapt. Resort Trainer Alp $50 1/9 Adapt. L2 VI/COG-DD Teach/Tech Exam Alp $80 1/10 Adapt. L2 3T/4T Teach/ Tech Exam Alp $80 1/29 Adapt. Resort Trainer Bear Mountain $65 2/24 Adapt. Exam Prep Mammoth $65 3/11 Adapt. Exam Prep Heavenly $65 3/17 Adapt. Cog/DD Training Snow Valley $65 3/18 Adapt. L1 In-House Validation Bear Mountain $90 3/19 Adapt. L2 Teach/Tech Exam Bear Mountain $80 4/8 Adapt. L1 In-House Validation Heavenly $90 4/9 Adapt. L2 Teach/Tech Exam Heavenly $80 4/29-5/1 Adapt. Exams Mammoth $70-90/day Alpine & Senior Events Event Date Event Location Cost 11/12 Alp Foot and Lower Leg Biomechanics Sky Tavern $50 11/17-19 Alp Alp L1 Module Mammoth $210 11/17 Alp Build Your Technical Foundation Heavenly $50 12/2-7 Alp L1 6 Day Module Heavenly $500 12/10-11 Alp Resort Trainer #1 Squaw Valley $100 12/10-11 Alp Fall Rally Squaw Valley $65/Day 12/18 Alp Teaching in Spanish Heavenly $65 1/2-3 Alp Resort Trainer Series #2 Mammoth $100 1/6 Alp Skiing Fundamentals Heavenly $65 1/7 Alp L1/L2 Prep Training LVSSR $65 1/8 Alp Understanding Boot Alignment Mt. Rose $65 1/9 Alp L2 Ski and Demo prep Homewood $65 1/10 Alp L2 Teaching Prep Homewood $65 1/14 Alp L3 and Beyond Northstar $65 1/16-17 Alp L3 Teaching Prep Alpine Meadows $130 1/19 Alp L1/2 Ski/Teach Training Snow Valley $65 1/21-22 Alp L2 Ski Module Mammoth $160 1/22-24 Alp L1 Module Sierra at Tahoe $210 1/23 Alp All Conditions-All Terrain Mammoth $65 1/27-28 Alp SoCal Winter Session Snow Summit $50/day Alp Resort Trainer #3
1/29 Alp Movement Analysis and Turn Mechanics for L2 Heavenly $65 1/29-30 Alp Freestyle Specialist 1 Bear Mountain $140 1/30-31 Senior Specialist L1 Mt. High $140 2/3 Alp L2 Ski Prep and Demo Prep Snow Valley $65 2/4 Alp L2 Teach Prep Snow Valley $65 2/4-5 Alp L3 Ski and Demo Prep Squaw Valley $130 2/5 Senior Intro to Teaching Seniors Northstar $65 2/6-8 Alp L1 Module Mammoth $210 2/7 Alp L2 Teach Prep Dodge Ridge $65 2/7-8 Alp Resort Trainer #4 Northstar $100 2/7 Alp Tech Team Tryouts Mammoth $65 2/10-12 Alp Women’s Summit Squaw Valley $65/day 2/11 Alp L2 Teaching Prep Mammoth $65 2/12 Alp L2 Ski and Demo Prep Mammoth $65 2/13-15 Alp L2 Teaching Module Northstar $240 2/14 Alp Teaching Ideas for Intermediate Students Sierra at Tahoe $65 2/15 Alp Teaching Ideas for Advanced Students Sierra at Tahoe $65 2/24 Senior Intro to Teaching Seniors Bear Mountain $65 2/24-26 Alp L1 Module Bear Mountain $210 2/25 Alp “Just Move” Secrets of Dynamic Skiing Alpine Meadows $65 2/26 Alp Tech Team Tryouts Squaw $65 2/27-3/1 Alp L3 Teach Module Squaw Valley $270 2/28-3/1 Alp L3 Ski Module Squaw Valley $180 3/1 Alp Intro to Bumps and Off-Piste Heavenly $65 3/3 Alp L2 Ski/Teach Training Snow Summit $65 3/4-5 Alp L2 Ski Module Heavenly $160 3/4-5 Senior Mastery of Skiing Heavenly $130 3/5-6 Alp L1/2 in a Season Diamond Peak $130 3/6-7 Senior Specialist L1 Sugar Bowl $140 3/6 Alp All Mountain Adventure Mammoth $65 3/6 Alp How to Create Dynamics and Performance Snow Summit $65 3/10-11 Alp L2 Ski Module Snow Summit $160 3/11 Alp Skiing Detectives L2 Movement Analysis Mammoth $65 3/11-13 Senior Specialist L2 Diamond Peak $210 3/12 Alp Skiing Detectives L3 Movement Analysis Mammoth $65 3/13 Alp L2 Ski Prep Alpine Meadows $65 3/14 Alp L2 Teaching Prep Alpine Meadows $65 3/17-19 Senior Specialist L2 Mt. High $210 3/17 Alp L2 Teaching Prep Snow Summit $65
CALENDAR Register online and check for updates or changes at www.psia-w.org.
3/20 Senior Intro to Teaching Seniors Heavenly $65 3/21-22 Alp Freestyle Specialist L1 Northstar $140 3/21-22 Alp L3 Ski Module Mammoth $180 3/25-26 Alp L2 Ski Module Mt. Rose $160 3/25-27 Alp L2 Teach Module Sierra at Tahoe $240 4/6-8 Alp L2 Teach Module Snow Summit $240 4/8 Alp L2 Skiing Prep Squaw Valley $65 4/8-9 Alp L3 Teach Prep Squaw Valley $130 4/9 Alp L2 Teach Prep Squaw $65 4/29-5/1 Alp L1 Ski Module Mammoth $210 4/29-30 Alp L2 Ski Module Mammoth $160 4/29-5/1 Alp L2 Teach Module Mammoth $240 4/29-30 Alp L3 Ski Module Mammoth $180 4/29-5/1 Alp L3 Teach Module Mammoth $270 5/13-15 Alp Park and Pipe Mammoth $360 5/10-12 Alp Race Camp (SL) Mammoth $360 5/13-15 Alp Race Camp (GS) Mammoth $360 5/16-17 Alp Freestyle L2 Mammoth $140 Children’s Events Event Date Event Location Cost 12/14 Children Tip for Teaching Kids Squaw $65 1/7 Children Supervisor and Trainer Event Northstar $65 1/8 Children Advanced Educators Clinic Northstar $65 1/15-16 Children Specialist L1 Alpine Meadows $140 1/23-25 Children Specialist L2 Northstar $210 1/29-30 Children Specialist L1 Snow Valley $140 2/13 Children Progressions Homewood $65 3/7-8 Children Specialist L1 Mammoth $140 3/21-23 Children Specialist L2 Mammoth $210 4/27-28 Children Specialist L1 Mammoth Conv Nordic Events Event Date Event Location Cost 12/13 Nordic XC Level 1 Prep Mammoth $70 12/13 Nordic Telemark L1 Prep Mammoth $70 12/13-15 Nordic Symposium Mammoth $65/day 1/8 Nordic XC L1 Prep Tahoe Donner $70 1/9 Nordic XC L2 Prep Tahoe Donner $80 1/24-25 Nordic Tele L3 Prep Squaw $180 1/28 Nordic Tele L1 Exam Sierra At Tahoe $70 1/29-30 Nordic Tele L2 Prep Alpine Meadows $160 3/4 Nordic Tele L1 Exam Alpine Meadows $70 3/5-6 Nordic L2 Tele Exam Squaw $160 3/7-8 Nordic Tele L3 Exam Alpine Meadows $180
3/19 Nordic XC L1 Exam Tahoe Donner $70 3/20 Nordic XC L2/3 Exam Tahoe Donner $80/$90 Snowboarding Events Event Date Event Location Cost 12/2-7 SB 6-Day Module Mammoth $500 12/3-4 SB Resort Trainer Mammoth $100 12/10-11 SB Resort Trainer Alpine Meadows $100 1/7-8 SB Resort Trainer Western Slope $100 1/8-10 SB L1 Exam Heavenly $210 1/11 SB Divisional Trainer Prep 1 Mammoth $70 1/15-16 SB Freestyle L1 Northstar $140 1/23 SB L2 & L3 Training Alpine Meadows $65 1/27-28 SB SoCal Session Bear Mountain $65/day 1/27-28 SB Resort Trainer Bear Mountain $100 1/31 SB Steeps Riding Kirkwood $65 2/5-6 SB L2 Riding Module Northstar $160 2/11 SB L2 Teach Training Northstar $65 2/12-13 SB L2 Ride Module Mammoth $160 2/12-13 SB Freestyle L2 Mammoth $140 2/12-14 SB L1 Module Mammoth $210 2/12-13 SB L3 Ride Module Mammoth $180 2/26-28 SB L2 Teach Module Northstar $240 2/28-3/1 SB L2 Freestyle Bear Mountain $140 3/4 SB Freestyle/Halfpipe Coaching Woodward $65 3/5-6 SB L2 Ride Module Squaw $160 3/5-6 SB L3 Ride Module Squaw $180 3/7 SB Divisional Trainer Prep 2 Squaw $70 3/11 SB MA Progression Building Alpine Meadows $65 3-13-15 SB Freestyle L3 Northstar $210 3/13-14 SB Freestyle L2 Northstar $140 3/13-14 SB L2 Ride Module Bear Mountain $160 3/15-17 SB L1 Module Snow Valley $210 3/19-21 SB L3 Teach Module Squaw $270 3/19-21 SB L2 Teach Module Squaw $240 3/22 SB Women’s Development Day Squaw $65 3/25-26 SB Divisional Trainer’s Exam Squaw $140 3/27-29 SB L2 Teach Module Snow Summit $240 4/9-10 SB L3 Ride Module Squaw $180 4/9-10 SB L2 Ride Module Squaw $160 4/16 SB L2/3 Teach Training Squaw $65 4/26-27 SB Freestyle L2 Mammoth conv 4/29-5/1 SB L1 Module Mammoth $210 4/29-5/1 SB L3 Teach Module Mammoth $270 4/29-5/1 SB L2 Teach Module Mammoth $240 5/13-15 SB Park and Pipe Camp Mammoth tba
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Alpine Events Prerequisites: Participants must be at least 16 years old, and a registered member of PSIA/AASI-W. Participants must be capable of linking parallel turns on blue intermediate terrain. Participants must read the Western Division Level I Study and Certification Guide, located on the website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”, and complete the Level I Workbook (located on the same page). The completed workbook is handed to the clinician on the first day of the module. Participants should also review The National Level I Study Guide (also available under “Education Materials”). Participants are also strongly encouraged to purchase educational materials, the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual 2nd Edition and the Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors are highly recommended. The National Website also has several handbooks with teaching progressions, and children’s specific manuals available at www.thesnowpros.org. ______________________________________________ Level I In-House Training and Certification To be scheduled by host resorts The In-House Training Program allows members who are actively instructing at a resort to train for their Level I Certification with an In-House Trainer. After the study sessions and on-hill trainings have been completed and signed off by the trainer there is a validation by a PSIA-W examiner to assure that the National Level I Standards are meet. Successful candidates receive their Level I Certification. Training and validation dates are set by the Resort Trainer. Necessary Steps: Check to see if your Snowsoprts School offers an In-House program Find out who your coordinates your resort training and let them know you are interested in joining an In-House Level I Certification program. Become a registered member of PSIA-W by FEBURARY 1st Download the Level I In-House Portfolio, Alpine Level I Study and Certification Guide and The Level I Workbook (on the www.psia-w.org website. Click on “Alpine” and then on “InHouse Level I Certification”) Participants are also strongly encouraged to purchase educational materials, the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual 2nd Edition and the Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors are highly recommended. The National Website also has several handbooks with teaching progressions, and children’s specific manuals available on the National website at www.thesnowpros.org A $ 90 validation fee TWO WEEKS prior to the validation clinic. Prerequisites: Participants must be at least 16 years old, and a registered member of PSIA/AASI-W. Participants must be capable of linking parallel turns on blue intermediate terrain. ______________________________________________
Level I Certification Module Nov. 17-19 Location: Mammoth Jan. 22-24 Location: Sierra-at-Tahoe Feb. 6-8 Location: Mammoth Feb. 24-26 Location: Bear Mountain April 29-May 1 Location: Mammoth Please read the Western Division Level I Certification Guide for detailed information (found at www.psia-w.org website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”) This 3 day program is for people who are actively teaching at a Snowsport School. The course involves skiing, teaching, movement analysis, and technical knowledge which meets our National Level I Certification Standards. Prerequisites: Participants must be at least 16 years old, and a registered member of PSIA/AASI-W. Participants must have 20 hours of teaching at a Snowsports School. Participants must be capable of linking parallel turns on blue intermediate terrain. Participants must read the Western Division Level I Study and Certification Guide, (located on the website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”) Participants must complete the Level I Workbook (located on the same page). The completed Level I Workbook is handed to the clinician on the first day of the module. Participants should also review The National Level I Study Guide (also available under “Education Materials”). Participants are also strongly encouraged to purchase educational materials, the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual 2nd Edition and the Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors are highly recommended. The National Website also has several handbooks with teaching progressions, and children’s specific manuals available at www.thesnowpros.org. ______________________________________________
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Alpine Events Level II Ski Certification Module Jan. 21-22 Location: Mammoth Mar. 4-5 Location: Heavenly Mar. 10-11 Location: Snow Summit Mar. 25-26 Location: Mt. Rose Apr. 29-30 Location: Mammoth Please read the Western Division Level II Certification Guide for detailed information (found at www.psia-w.org website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”) This 2 day Level II Certification Module includes a skiing assessment, feedback and coaching from the examiner to meet the National Level II Standards. Level II certified instructors have the skills to make short, medium and long radius turns on blue and groomed black terrain with minimal skidding. Skill application and accuracy may vary with terrain and snow conditions. Demonstrations and tasks need to illustrate accurate movement patterns. Scoring for this event is a pass/ fail. Essential elements of all skiing maneuvers must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass. Prerequisites: Must be a Certified Level I Instructor, current with membership, education credits and actively working in a snowsports school. Participants must read the Western Division Level II Certification Guide and the national Level II Study Guide (located on the website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”). Participants are also strongly encouraged to purchase educational materials, the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual 2nd Edition and the Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors are highly recommended. The National Website also has several handbooks with teaching progressions, and children’s specific manuals available at www.thesnowpros.org. ______________________________________________ Level II Teaching Certification Module Feb. 13-15 Location: Northstar-At-Tahoe Mar. 25-27 Location: Sierra-At-Tahoe Apr. 6-8 Location: Snow Summit Apr. 29-May 1 Location: Mammoth Please read the Western Division Level II Certification Guide for detailed information (found at www.psia-w.org website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”) This 3 day Level II Certification Module includes a teaching assessment, feedback and coaching from the examiner to meet the National Level II Standards. Candidates will be evaluated on their use of the Teaching Model, ability to communicate, use of methodology, “tools”, tasks, drills, exercises, and overall presence. Candidates will be asked to teach adult and children ATS levels 1-7. Scoring for this event is a pass/fail. Essential elements of all teaching and demonstrations must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass. Prerequisites: Candidates must have passed the Level II Skiing Module within the last season Candidates must have completed the Level II Workbook (located on the website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”), and hand the completed workbook in the first morning of the module.
Resort Trainer Series Make your Training Program better This year we will be putting additional emphasis on supporting the people who do the heavy lifting for the Division, our resort trainers. We hope to provide Tech Team type training and support for resort trainers, to help them improve their ski school training programs and become stronger clinicians. By better supporting our resort trainers, we hope to help the entire membership come to our certification events with the best possible preparation. The Resort Trainer Series is a two day event with attendance both days strongly suggested. The first day will focus primarily on organizing and planning a season-long training program with the main focus on level I in house certification. This training is also a requirement to run a level I in house certification program for your ski school. Day two will focus on training programs for the higher levels of certification (Levels 2,3). We will also explore areas of candidate weakness in last season’s exam modules, and how to overcome those weaknesses. Who can come? Open to Level 2/3 instructors who perform a training role at their home resort. Also recommended for Level 3 instructors who are planning on trying out for Tech Team. Curriculum: 1. Level 2 and level 3 skiing and teaching standards, based on the PSIA/AASI national updated written standards available on the national website. What your candidates can expect from the skiing and teaching module format for level 2 and level 3. 2. How to tailor your training to the knowledge and skill level of level 2 and level 3. 3. Using video to develop movement analysis skills, turn mechanics understanding, and expert skiing skills for level 2 and level 3. 4. Ways to train and coach your instructors to true expert skiing in both technique and tactics for terrain and snow conditions. 5. Nuts and bolts drills to develop level 2 and level 3 tasks, demos and expert skiing skills. 6. How to augment your program with effective indoor sessions. 7. How to help your level 2 and level 3 candidates take professional responsibility for their own skiing and teaching improvement. 8. How to test your instructors to be sure they are prepared to be successful at the exam modules. 9. In addition to working on L 2 and L 3 skiing standards, demos and tasks, we will coach your own personal skiing, including your strengths, needs, turn mechanics and tactics for terrain and snow conditions. RTS clinics are considered good training for those interested in Tech Team tryouts. Bring your questions, ideas and goals for your training program with you. We’ll help you get your training year off to a good start.
Remember, all Member Schools in good standing receive a free entry for one to a Resort Trainer class, a $100 value.
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Alpine Events
Level III Skiing Certification Module Feb. 28-Mar. 1 Location: Squaw Valley Mar. 21-22 Location: Mammoth Apr. 29-30 Location: Mammoth Please read the Western Division Level III Certification Guide for detailed information (found at www.psia-w.org website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”) This 2 day Level III Certification Module includes a skiing assessment, feedback and coaching from the examiner to meet the National Level III Standards. Level III instructors have the ability to make short, medium, and long radius turns with the appropriate blending of skills. Demonstrations and tasks need to illustrate accurate movement patterns. Certified Level III instructors can ski any slope, with any snow condition which is skied by the public and can do so successfully and dynamically. Candidates must demonstrate strong leg action, a quiet upper body, and powerful use of ski design. Scoring for this event is a pass/fail. Essential elements of all skiing maneuvers must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass. Prerequisites: Must be a Certified Level II Instructor, current with membership, education credits and actively working in a snowsports school. Participants must read the Western Division Level III Certification Guide and the national Level III Study Guide (located on the website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”). Participants are also strongly encouraged to purchase educational materials, the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual 2nd Edition and the Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors are highly recommended. The National Website also has several handbooks with teaching progressions, and children’s specific manuals available at www.thesnowpros.org.
Level III Teaching Certification Module Feb. 27-Mar. 1 Location: Squaw Valley Apr. 29- May 1 Location: Mammoth Please read the Western Division Level III Certification Guide for detailed information (found at www.psia-w.org website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”) This 3 day Level III Certification Module includes a teaching assessment, feedback and coaching from the examiner to meet the National Level III Standards. Candidates will be evaluated on their use of the Teaching Model, ability to communicate, use of methodology, “tools”, tasks, drills, exercises, and overall presence. Candidates will be asked to teach adult and children ATS levels 1-9. Scoring for this event is a pass/fail. Essential elements of all teaching and demonstrations must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass. Prerequisites: Candidates must have passed the Level III Skiing Module within the last season Candidates must have completed the Level III Workbook (located on the website under “Alpine” then under “Education Materials”), and hand the completed workbook in the first morning of the module. _____________________________________________ ALPINE Tech Team Tryouts Feb. 7 Location: Mammoth Feb. 26 Location: Squaw Valley A.M. Skiing assessment – You will be assessed on the following: Your ability to accurately demonstrate the mechanics of skiing for Certification Levels 1-3, Demonstrate dynamic skiing in technical off-piste terrain. Candidates who meet the skiing requirement will be invited to present during the afternoon clinic skills assessment. Be prepared to perform movement analysis on your co-participants and be prepared to present movements and concepts to the group. Prerequisite: Please submit 2 weeks prior to the event an article suitable for publishing in “The Edge” and a letter of intent describing why you are applying for a position on the Technical Team.
The 2012 Women’s Summit...hiking to the summit of Alpine and headed to the backside! Photo by Heidi Ettlinger.
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Children’s Events The 2012-2013 snow sports season looks to be one with a lot of opportunities to sharpen and develop our skills as children’s instructors and trainers. Child snow sports enthusiasts are the future of our sport and creating memorable, positive, lasting experiences for this population should be an integral part of what we do as professionals. To ‘freshen things up’ a bit this year, we are pleased to have children’s instrucChildren’s Chair, Dan Ray. tion expert Stacy Gerrish (Vail Resort Training Manager/PSIA-RM Trainer) here for a visit just after the Holidays. She will be helping us put on our Children’s Supervisor and Trainer event on Jan. 7 as well as a Jan. 8 event on advanced techniques for teaching children that is open to anyone who teaches (or wants to teach) kids. Both events will be held at Northstar. Please see the descriptions for more information and be sure to sign up early! This season there are numerous opportunities to pursue Children’s Specialist accreditation, including an in-house CS1 program that makes it convenient and accessible for instructors at every mountain to become active in the children’s program. Children’s Specialist Level 2 is highly encouraged for TechTeam members, staff trainers, and level 2 and 3 certified ski instructors, as it is a primary piece of what we do as pros, and in the training/certification process. As professional instructors, if we do not keep our knowledge fresh, and continue to learn and develop, we can become stale and our product can suffer. Children’s specialist events are fun and provide a great way to bolster our skills, and teaching abilities. I would like to encourage and challenge our membership to seek out at least one new training/ accreditation opportunity as we move into the 20122013 season. Thanks; have a great season!
Photo by Heidi Ettlinger.
Dan Ray, Children’s Chairperson
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Children’s Events Tricks for Teaching Children Dec. 14 Location: Squaw Valley Fill your ‘bag of tricks’ for the Holidays. This clinic is designed to give you some new ideas and ways to use them so that you can be ready for anthing. Learn how to use spider webbing and gain some ideas for working with kids that are struggling. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Children’s Supervisors and Trainers Event Feb. 7 Location: Northstar The clinic is designed for Children’s Supervisors, Coordinators and Trainers. Spend the day covering an indepth review of contemporary teaching methods for children, organization of staff and kids groups, special needs children in group lessons, and designing your programs for success. Resort Trainers may join this clinic, and it is mandatory if you are conducting an in-house Children’s Specialist 1. This event will be led by Stacey Gerrish (see online description for Stacey’s bio and detailed event agenda). -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Advanced Children’s Educators Clinic Jan. 8 Location: Northstar-at-Tahoe This clinic is designed for kids instructors looking for professional development. Topics will include an overview of key strategies to advance your teaching skills with plenty of Q & A teaching scenarios and information on coaching specialty programs. This event will be led by Stacey Gerrish (see online description for Stacey’s bio and detailed event agenda). -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Children’s Progressions Feb. 13 Location: Homewood Learn how to break down the movements of skiing in a way that is accessible to children and apply to a lesson plan. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Children’s Specialist 2 Jan 23-25 Location: Northstar March 21-23 Location: Mammoth This is a 3 day event that assists instructors at designing and implementing creative, appropriate and movement oriented lesson plans for children 4-14. These lesson plans are focused at the high intermediate through expert level of the selected discipline. The idea is for the participants to demonstrate their ability to understand and use teaching principles provided in the Children’s Manual and other materials to develop polished and creative lesson plans. Each participant gives a full presentation lasting 45 minutes, with follow up feedback from the group on the last day of the course. Participants should have an in depth understanding of the CAP Model
utilizing previous lesson experiences. Real vs. Ideal movement patterns at higher skill levels will be reviewed. Creative and experimental lesson planning will be emphasized. This course is very interactive Prerequisites: Must be a Certified Level II or III Instructor (Alpine, Snowboard, Nordic, Adaptive), current with membership and actively working in a snowsports school. Must have completed the Children’s Specialist 1* Must complete the CS 2 Workbook (found at www.psia-w.org website under “Children” then under “Education Materials”) and deliver to the clinician on the first day of the event. * (Level II-II certified instructors in any discipline may petition for special permission to skip the CS1 requirement. Exceptions will be considered on a ‘case by case’ basis.) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Children’s Specialist 1 Jan. 15-16 Location: Alpine Meadows Jan. 28-30 Location: Snow Valley March 7-8 Location: Mammoth April 27-28 Location: Mammoth Convention This is a 2-day event explores the CAP model (how kids think, move, and feel) and teaching progressions for children in different age zones. We will also explore children’s movement patterns “kids moveology”, and work on your own skiing/ riding skills and improvement. On day 2 we cover building kid friendly teaching progressions with the Play Drill Adventure Summary method as well as focus on your own skiing/riding development. We’ll finish the day with informal group teaching presentations. This is a pass/fail event. Prerequisites: Must be a Certified Level I Instructor, current with membership and actively working in a snowsports school. Check www.psia-w.org website under “Children” then under “Education Materials” for required reading and CS1 workbook. Workbook is handed in the first day of the event.
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Nordic Certification & Events Nords Step it up… Greetings fellow Nords! The Nords are stepping it up a notch this year, beginning with a higher level Symposium. The annual Nordic Fall Symposium (December 13-15, 2012) is scheduled at a higher altitude venue this year – Mammoth! As the elevation is higher, the snow should be piled proportionally higher as well. Our top level clinicians are sure to take your skiing Nordic Committee Chair Urmas Franosch. to a higher level at this once in a season educational extravaganza. Join your fellow Cross Country and Telemark instructors, or aspiring instructors for three fun filled days of clinics, exam prep courses and social events at the highest resort in California – Mammoth Mountain/ Tamarack X-C Center. Please sign up early by visiting psia-w.org. Registration starts at 8:00 at Roma’s Room at Mammoth’s Main Lodge for hill clinics, and at Tamarack Lodge for track events. All clinics start on snow at 9:00. The Morning sessions end at noon, with afternoon sessions going from 1:00 until 4:00 On Thursday December 13, an après ski social will take place, with location to be announced. The annual banquet and general membership meeting will be held Friday evening, December 14, 6:00 pm at a location to be announced. Check out psia-w.org starting in October for a list of clinicians, clinic topics and details on evening events. Lodging specials will be available at the Pine Cliff Resort in Mammoth. The Western division office will coordinate shared accommodations if possible. The Davison Street Guest House offers reasonably priced accommodations, as does Motel 6. Treat yourself to an early season tune-up for your skiing and teaching skills to prepare for exams, or just to share tips and laughs with your fellow Nords. Contact Urmas Franosch at skiwithurmas@gmail.com or call (760) 914-0866 for more information.
Urmas Franosch Nordic Chair
Telemark instructors spread their feet and spread the love!
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Nordic Certification & Events Nordic Fall Symposium Dec. 13-15 Location: Mammoth The Nordic fall symposium is THE big event of the season for cross country and Telemark instructors! A variety of skiing and teaching oriented topics will be offered for intermediate and advanced skiers, as well as level 1 and 2 exam prep clinics (see below for descriptions of these). An après ski social and banquet with general membership meeting round out the agenda. This is a great opportunity to tune up your skills for the season and become acquainted with your fellow Western division Nordic instructors. Check psia-w.org in mid November for a schedule of clinics. ______________________________________________ Level 1 Exam Prep Clinics (X-C and Telemark) Dec. 13 XC Prep Location: Mammoth Dec. 13 Tele Prep Location:Mammoth Jan. 8 XC Prep Location: Tahoe Donner These clinics are mandatory for those seeking certification. The history, purpose, and philosophy of PSIA will be covered indoors the first hour. For the remainder of the day, skiing maneuvers, tasks and demonstrations will be covered on snow, as will hypothetical and movement analysis based teaching scenarios. Participants will be involved as teachers and students. Comprehensive verbal feedback will be offered throughout the day. For more information please refer to the PSIA-W Cross Country and Telemark Handbooks downloadable free from psia-w.org. ______________________________________________ Level 2/3 Cross Country Prep Clinic Jan. 9 L2/3 XC Prep Location: Tahoe Donner This clinic is mandatory for those seeking certification. This one day event covers skiing maneuvers, tasks, and demonstrations,
as well as hypothetical and movement analysis based teaching scenarios on snow. Comprehensive verbal feedback will be offered throughout the day. For more information please refer to the PSIA-W Cross Country Handbook downloadable free from psia-w.org. _______________________________________________ Level 2 and 3 Telemark Prep Clinics Jan.29-30 L2 Telemark Prep Location: Alpine Meadows Jan. 24-25 L3 Telemark Prep Location: Squaw Valley These clinics are mandatory for those seeking certification. Each clinic consists of 2 days on snow. The first day will be spent covering skiing maneuvers, tasks and demonstrations. On day 2 participants will practice teaching skills in hypothetical and movement analysis based formats as well as with a volunteer student. Comprehensive verbal feedback will be offered throughout the clinic. For more information please refer to the PSIA-W Telemark Handbook downloadable free from psia-w.org. ____________________________________________________ All Exams Jan. 28 L1 Telemark Exam Location: Sierra at Tahoe March 4 L1 Telemark Exam Location: Alpine Meadows March 5-6 L2 Telemark Exam Location: Squaw Valley March 7-8 L3 Telemark Exam Location: Alpine Meadows March 19 L1 XC Exam Location: Tahoe Donner March 20 L2/3 XC Exam Location: Tahoe Donner Exam formats are identical to prep clinics with regard to number of days, and proportions devoted to skiing and teaching. Comprehensive verbal feedback will be offered throughout the exam. For more information please refer to the PSIA-W Cross Country and Telemark Handbooks downloadable free from psia-w.org.
Are you a clinic junkie? Western Division will again be offering a simpler way of rewarding our members who attend multiple education events. Buy three, get one free. That’s all there is to it. Once you have paid for and attended 3 education events in a season, simply call or email our office and we will sign you up for a fourth at no charge.
If you want more, buy three more, get another one free, etc. Fine print: applies to any education event on our calendar. Does not apply to Spring Convention, Accreditations or EXAMS.
To request your free Education event, email events@psia-w.org or call (530) 587-7642.
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Senior Events Well it’s that time of year again. It’s officially Fall and our thoughts turn towards the upcoming ski and ride season. After last year’s minimal snowfall let’s all do a good snow dance and get ULLER fired up to deliver the goods this year. The day I turned 55 a close friend of mine gave me a tee shirt that said “Old Guys Rule” on the front and “The older I get the better I was” on the back. I thought that was pretty cool and still have that shirt and try to wear it in subsequent birthdays. After passing my Seniors Specialist 2 Accreditation I pondered that statement and thought “that should be changed to- The older I get the better I am!” I know I am skiing better than I was in my 20’s although albeit not as much vertical descent without a breather. A classic brain over brawn scenario. The PSIA-W Senior program is on the cutting edge of Senior Ski Development and Education in the nation. If you like to teach Seniors (50 years +) and are interested in further development this is for you! There are no age or gender restrictions to become a Senior Specialist, just the desire to expand your horizions in teaching. Think of it as the other bookend to a Children’s Specialist Accredidation. Essential reading for all the courses is the Senior Handbook. Level 1 and 2 Accreditations online tests are to be brought with you to the event. All pertinent information is available on the PSIA-W website at www.psia-w.org. For additional information go to the National Seniors website at www.seniorsnowsports.org. Learning doesn’t stop as you age it just gets more refined like a bottle of fine wine! Learning to ski and teach more efficiently is a goal I hope we all share, so let’s get out there and show the way! Let’s all pray for snow and ski ya later. “Weavin” Steven Evenson
“Weavin” Steve Evenson, Senior Chair.
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Senior Events Level 1 Senior Specialist Accreditation Jan. 30-31 Location: Mountain High Mar. 6-7 Location: Sugar Bowl April 27-28 Location: Mammoth (Spring Convention) This event is designed for Level 1 certified Alpine instructors. This two day event encompasses skiing improvement, video analysis and senior skiing and teaching models for beginning and intermediate senior skiers. Your teaching will be evaluated the afternoon of the second day (no skiing test). Successful candidates will receive our Senior Specialist Level 1 pin. ______________________________________________
Here’s a list of what’s coming up! Introduction to Teaching Seniors One day event. Feb. 5 Location: Northstar-at-Tahoe Feb. 24 Location: Bear Mountain Mar. 20 Location: Heavenly This clinic is open to any member of any age, no certification required. This clinic will introduce you to the Teaching Model as applied to seniors and the Skiing Model as applied to seniors. In addition to learning about teaching seniors, you will be individually coached on your own personal skiing. ___________________________________________________ Level 2 Senior Specialist Accreditation March 11-13 Location: Diamond Peak March 17-19 Location: Mountain High This senior event is the “grand daddy”! The first Senior Specialist Accreditation in the country. If you are a Level 2 or Level 3 certified instructor of any age, you are eligible to take this 3 day event encompassing skiing improvement, video analysis, skiing and teaching models for intermediate and advanced senior skiers. Your teaching will be evaluated on the third day. (There is no skiing test). Successful candidates will receive our Senior Specialist Level 2 Pin.
Senior Mastery of Skiing, Skiing improvement- open to all members. Two day eventMarch 4-5 Location: Heavenly April 26-28 Location: Mammoth (Spring Convention) This is a popular two day skiing improvement event open to any member regardless of certification level. This fun educational event is aimed at senior instructors who want to ski longer, stronger and better. We will work with you to help you understand how good contemporary technique and equipment can improve your skiing, and help you ski more efficiently with less strain and effort. Groups will be divided by terrain and ability to make this an optimum learning experience for you. You will be individually coached and analyzed on video to help you become a better skier. It’s all about the skiing and all about the fun!
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Snowboarding Certification & Events Greetings! I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and is getting as excited as I am about this upcoming winter. As the leaves change and the mornings become frosty, my first issue of Transworld arrives and snowsports video premieres come to town, I know that the season is just around the corner. It is all I can do to not gear up and sit on my porch and stare up at the sky for the first glimpse of snow like my dog staring at his ball waiting for me to throw it. We are very fortunate here in the Western Division to have had two of our members make The AASI National Demo Team. I would like to congratulate Chris Hargrave and Seth Johns for their hard work and dedication and look forward to working with them this season. Chris Lange, Snowboard Chair. As always, we have a lot of cool snowboard events scheduled this year including a Freestyle event at Woodward Tahoe. Come check out this truly amazing facility. We also have many educational courses scheduled, including 3 different locations this season for our resort trainers course. We are working hard to bring the training and education to you and your resort. This season is shaping up and looks to be a great one. I am looking forward to seeing all of you participating in events this year and thank all of you for help making this division the best. Sincerely, Chris Lange Snowboard VP
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Snowboarding Certification & Events Educational Clinics
Special Events: Resort Trainer Course Dec. 3-4 Location: Mammoth Dec. 10-11 Location: Alpine Meadows Jan. 7-8 Location: Western Slope Jan. 27-28 Location: SoCal/Bear Mountain Prerequisites: Must be at least an AASI Level II Certified Instructor. Develop your skills as a trainer. Work with the division’s leading educators to enhance your ability to lead a quality clinic for your fellow staff members. Stay up to speed on the exam standards to train instructors working towards their next level of certification. Meet the prerequisites for being a Trainer for the Level 1 in-house program. Train towards becoming a Divisional Trainer and ride with the educators at the core of our organization. _______________________________________________ SoCal Winter Session Jan. 27-28 Location: Bear Mountain Open to all members, this is a great event to connect with your fellow Southern California instructors and work with the top AASI educators in the West. Get a jump start on your progressions as you take part in a variety of clinics ranging from riding improvement, teaching techniques, certification prep, and freestyle riding. This nonstop two-day event brings the excitement of the Convention into an early season full-on snowboarder shred session. Make sure to get yourself to this event to show the Division just exactly what SoCal has to offer.
Women’s Development Day Mar. 22 Location: Squaw Valley Get ready to push yourself! It will be a ladies only event lead by the top female trainers in AASI West. This is a clinic designed to develop some tactics and skills to continue progressing at a charging level of riding. Riding with a team of ladies can often push you to try things that you may have never considered. Squaw Valley can offer steeps, park, half-pipe, and pretty much whatever the crew wants to ride. It is also a great opportunity to bounce ideas around to help any of you trainers out there come away with some tools to help inspire female instructors at your home mountains. Wherever we end up riding on the mountain, we will be focusing on building strength, but may be having too much fun to even notice. ______________________________________________ Half Pipe & Park Freestyle Coaching Mar. 4 Location: Boreal/ Woodward Tahoe Improve your progression building and overall coaching skills in the half pipe and terrain park. This is more than just adding a few tricks to your bag but creates a foundation for you to build progressions for your own and your student’s riding. This single day event is for any instructor that wants to grow as a coach in the areas of freestyle snowboarding while out on the hill having a blast with other riders that love showing off their style. _______________________________________________ Steeps Riding Jan. 31 Location: Kirkwood Push your riding in the steeps while improving your skills and learning a new tactical approach to steep terrain. By learning the use of a variety of movement patterns the steep terrain can become a more comfortable place. As skills are improved through the use of effective movement patterns related to timing, the riders control in steep environments can be quickly improved. This clinic is a good choice for instructors training for the Level III Certification or who just want to step up their game in the steeps and short radius turning tasks. _______________________________________________ Movement Analysis: Progression Building Mar. 11 Location: Alpine Meadows Improve your skills in Movement Analysis by finding the root cause in the performance effects of a snowboarder’s riding. Clinic will cover cause and effect relationships and how to prioritize what is needed to develop quality progressions. Using MA to build your progressions will improve your student’s experiences, help train your eye and prepare you for
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Snowboarding Certification & Events the next level of Certification. Use this clinic to prepare for your Teaching Module or just keep your instructor eye sharp. This clinic is ideal for members training for Level 2 and Level 3 Certification. _______________________________________________ LII & LIII Certification Training Jan. 23 Location: Alpine Success at advancing your level of certification comes from quality training. This training day covers your specific needs to be successful in the certification process. Led by the Tech Team Staff that will be giving the exams, this is the best place to get the right training to set you on the right path towards achieving your goal. This event will cover both riding and teaching standards for the Level II and Level III Certification, dependant on the needs of the participants. _______________________________________________ LII & LIII Teach Training Apr. 16 Location: Squaw Valley Prepare for the Teaching Module by working with one of the examiners prior to the certification event. This is the best opportunity to strengthen your weaknesses and fine-tune your presentations before the Teaching Module. Those that arrive the most prepared for the Teaching Module get the most out of it and have the most enjoyable experience. Get feedback on your progressions, work on your movement analysis skills and hone your pro knowledge. Invest in your success! This is a “must do” event for anyone training for the Level II or Level III Teaching Modules.
Snowboard Specialist Programs Freestyle Specialist Level 1 – Intro to Freestyle Course Jan. 15-16 Location: Northstar This course will enable instructors of all ages and ability levels to learn the core foundations of freestyle teaching and manage students in a terrain park. By breaking down the components of features and maneuvers to their most basic elements, we can guarantee that every participant will walk away with increased confidence in riding and teaching in & around the park & pipe. This course will give you the ability to safely progress like never before by taking an outside park to inside park approach to progression building. Participants will have an amazingly fun experience no matter their skill level. Prerequisites: Must have at least an AASI Level 1 Certification, an understanding of teaching and coaching concepts, a willingness and ability to perform the required freestyle maneuvers, and the completion of Level 1 Freestyle Specialist Workbook. Helmets are mandatory for this course. Please go to the Western Division Website to download the required workbook and current standards, which includes details of the required readings for this Freestyle Specialist Course. _______________________________________________
Freestyle Specialist Level 2 – Basic through Intermediate Freestyle – (Past Western Freestyle Level 1) Feb. 12-13 Location: Mammoth Feb. 28-Mar. 1 Location: Bear Mountain Mar. 13-14 Location: Northstar at Tahoe April 26-27 Location: Spring Convention This two day course is for snowboarders who have already developed basic freestyle skills and are looking to progress their freestyle riding and coaching. Each day requires on hill activities that are educational as well as interactive. Candidates will be evaluated on their application and analysis of the use of safe and effective freestyle progressions, as well as recognize movement patterns as they are applying proper teaching concepts. The candidate will also need to demonstrate required maneuvers, included but not limited to, 360 aerial spins and grabs on jumps and in the pipe as well as a range of sliding maneuvers. A solid understanding and application of skills must be shown in order to successfully complete the course. Prerequisites: Candidates must have at least an AASI Level 1 Certification, an understanding of teaching and coaching concepts, a willingness and ability to perform the required freestyle maneuvers, and the completion of Level 2 Freestyle Specialist Workbook prior to the first day of the course. Helmets are mandatory for this course. Please go to the Western Division Website to download the required workbook and current standards, which includes details of the required readings for this Freestyle Specialist Course. _______________________________________________ Freestyle Specialist Level 3 – Basic through Advanced Freestyle – (Past Western Freestyle Level 2) March 13-15 Location: Northstar If have been striving to achieve the top of the mark when it comes to advanced freestyle coaching and riding, then this is
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Snowboarding Certification & Events The PSIA/AASI Freestyle Courses are going National!! With the acceptance of the new National Freestyle Standards all nine divisions have come together to implement an all-encompassing Freestyle Program. What we will see in the West for this year is a simple name change of our Freestyle Courses as well as a more complete course offering in the freestyle field. This will affect both Snowboard and Alpine disciplines and creates a great framework for this program to be adapted by the Nordic/Tele discipline. We are excited to have been an integral part in developing this program with the other divisions and have confidence that it will help to improve the qualifications credibility as well as the support of membership in the area of freestyle as we move forward. New Course Names (Former Course Names)
Freestyle Specialist Level 1 – Intro to Freestyle Course Freestyle Specialist Level 2 – Basic through Intermediate Freestyle – (formerly Western Freestyle/Freeride Level 1) Freestyle Specialist Level 3 – Basic through Advanced Freestyle – (formerly Western Freestyle Level 2)
Do you already have a Freestyle Specialist Qualification in the Western Division? Congratulations, you have been grandfathered into the equivalent qualification. If you have earned the Level 1 Freestyle in a year prior to this season, you are now the holder of the Freestyle Specialist Level 2 qualification and can still train to reach the coaching and riding standards required in the top level Freestyle Course, now known as the Freestyle Specialist Level 3. If you are new to Freestyle and want to expand your knowledge, understanding and skills in freestyle the introduction course, Freestyle Specialist Level 1, will help to open up this new discipline and student demographic. Please go to the Western Division Website to download the required workbooks and current standards for the Freestyle Specialist Course. (psia-w.org/) We look forward to your involvement in this program as you expand your teaching versatility to meet the needs of our perpetually progressing sports! Doug Fagel – PSIA/AASI West Education Chair
the course for you! The Level 3 Freestyle Specialist consists of three days of training & evaluation. Each day requires on-hill activities that are educational as well as interactive. Candidates will need to show their ability to evaluate and synthesize the use of safe and effective freestyle progressions while recognizing movement patterns during the application of proper teaching concepts. The candidate will also need to demonstrate required maneuvers, included but not limited to, 540 aerial spins and grabs on jumps and in the pipe as well as technical sliding maneuvers. Understanding and application of required skills and maneuvers must be shown in order to successfully complete the course. Prerequisites: Candidates must have at least an AASI Level 1 Certification and the Snowboard Level 2 Freestyle Specialist or a current AASI Level 3 Certification, a thorough understanding of the teaching and coaching concepts, a willingness and ability to perform the required freestyle maneuvers, and the completion of the Level 3 Freestyle Specialist Workbook prior to the first day of the course. Helmets are mandatory and twin tip skis are required for this course. Please go to the Western Division Website to download the required workbook and current standards, which includes details of the required readings for this Freestyle Specialist Course. _______________________________________________ Divisional Trainer Program Prep 1: Jan. 11 Location: Mammoth Prep 2: Mar. 7 Location: Squaw Valley Exam: Mar. 25-26 Location Squaw Valley Prerequisites: Participants must have an current AASI Level III Certification, be employed by an AASI-West Member School, have a thorough understanding of teaching methodology, have experience training snowboard instructors, and have a willingness and ability to meet the demands of being an on & off hill trainer and presenter. The Divisional Trainer Accreditation consists of two prep days and a two-day exam. Prep Day 1: The first prep event will introduce material relative to being an effective trainer, giving participants an introduction to some training theory and concepts. It is expected that candidates will be involved in training programs at their home resorts and that they will have ample opportunity to put these concepts into practice. This will help candidates to develop their own style of training, and help to make them proficient at communicating more complex theories to their trainees. Prep Day 2: The second prep event will require the candidates each present a short clinic to the rest of the group. The group will then give constructive feedback, directed by the clinician. At the end of this day, each candidate will receive feedback both on training abilities and ability to give constructive feedback. This evaluation will be a good test of one’s abilities for the real world experience as a Divisional Trainer. Exam: The exam will be a two-day event that will evaluate the candidates ability to train, analyze skills, demonstrate knowledge of the material presented, and an evaluation of their riding skills. On Day One the candidate will give a clinic of their
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Snowboarding Certification & Events choice (appropriate to the group). On Day Two the candidates will give a clinic designated by the examiner (similar to what would be required in a real training situation). Candidates will be given their results at the end of the day, and a presentation will follow after all of the individual feedback has been covered.
Snowboard Certifications Level I Module, Three-Day Jan. 8-10 Location: Heavenly Feb. 12-14 Location: Mammoth Mar. 15-17 Location: Snow Valley Apr. 29-May 1 Location: Mammoth Prerequisites: Must be a registered member, be at least 16 years of age, be willing and able to perform needed riding requirements, have twenty hours of logged snowboard teaching experience and have completed the Level 1 Workbook. This three day Certification Module is an evaluation of the candidate’s skills and knowledge as well as an educational based event. The module gives all candidates a stronger understanding and ability to apply the teaching, learning, riding and service concepts. Riders must be comfortable on all blue, basic black and freestyle terrain. Candidates will be required to show proficiency in meeting the required riding, teaching and movement analysis standards. _______________________________________________ Level I Module, Six-Day Dec. 2-7 Location: Mammoth Prerequisites: Must be a registered member, be at least 16 years of age, be willing and able to perform needed riding requirements. This six-day Certification Module is the perfect course for those that are new to snowboard education and may not be working at a snow sports school in the Western Division. This training based event gives all candidates a stronger understanding and ability to apply the teaching, learning, riding and service concepts. Participants will be given an evaluation of the their skills and knowledge based on the Level I Certification Standards. Successful participants will receive a certificate of completion and will have the current season and following season to complete the required 20 hours of experience required becoming a Level I Certified Instructor. _______________________________________________ Level I In-House Program This program may be held at your resort. Check with your resort supervisor or trainer for details. Prerequisites: Must be a registered member, be at least 16 years of age, have twenty hours of teaching experience, be willing and able to perform needed riding requirements. The Level 1 In-House Program is offered and run by a Member School Resort. In this course candidates attend weekly trainings to develop proficiency in all areas of the Level 1 Standards. The participants must be a member of AASI
West during their training and register for the final validation, which facilitated by an outside AASI West Examiner. Resorts conducting the Level I In-House Program must be lead by an AASI West Resort Trainer that has gone through the yearly Resort Trainers Course. _______________________________________________ Level II Riding Module Feb 5-6 Location: Northstar-at-Tahoe Feb 12-13 Location: Mammoth Mar. 5-6 Location: Squaw Valley Mar. 13-14 Location: Bear Mountain Apr. 9-10 Location: Squaw Valley Prerequisites: Must have earned the AASI Level I Certification at least one season prior, must be employed by an AASI-West Member School, must be current in educational requirements and dues, must be willing and able to safely perform needed riding requirements, and have the professional knowledge to understand and execute riding instructions relevant to the standards. The two-day Riding Module will offer coaching to the candidates to further develop skills and techniques as well as evaluate the candidate’s ability to consistently meet the riding standards. The candidates will need to be able to ride in a variety of terrain; see the AASI West Certification Handbook for more details. Candidates that pass will be eligible to attend the Level II Teaching Module. Candidates must complete the Teaching Module in the season the Riding Module was passed or the season after. _______________________________________________ Level II Teaching Module Feb. 26-28 Location: Northstar-at-Tahoe Mar. 19-21 Location: Squaw Valley Mar. 27-29 Location: Snow Summit Apr. 29- May 1 Location: Mammoth Prerequisites: The Candidate must have successfully passed the Level II Riding Module in the current season or season prior, completed a current written exam and brought a printed copy it to the first day of the event, as well as be current in dues for AASI-West. In the three-day, Level II Teaching Module successful candidates will show the ability to apply and analyze the areas of snowboard teaching included but not limited to; Movement Analysis, Teaching Scenarios, Professional Knowledge, Proper Demonstrations, Children’s Education, use of all aspects of the Snowboard Teaching System, and Professional Etiquette and Safety. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to teach a spectrum of riders, children to adult, up to and including black terrain and freestyle features. To take this course the candidate will have already passed the riding portion of the exam. Candidates are expected to utilize proper demonstration skills in their riding to facilitate success in teaching scenarios; this includes the areas of riding that may have not been able to be fully assessed in the riding module due to weather or lack of certain terrain arenas; e.g. half pipe and park riding.
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Snowboarding Certification & Events Level III Riding Module Feb. 12-13 Location: Mammoth Mar. 5-6 Location: Squaw Valley Apr. 9-10 Location: Squaw Valley Prerequisites: Must have earned the AASI Level II Certification at least one season prior, must be employed by an AASI-West Member School, must be current in educational requirements and dues, must be willing and able to safely perform needed riding requirements, and have the professional knowledge to understand and execute riding instructions relevant to the standards. The Two-day Riding Module will offer coaching to the candidates to further develop skills and technique as well as evaluate the candidate’s ability to consistently meet the riding standards. The candidates will need to be able to ride in a variety of terrain; see AASI West Certification Handbook for more details. Candidates must demonstrate multiple movement patterns to show desired outcomes. Candidates that pass are eligible to attend the Level III Teaching Module. Candidates must complete the Teaching Module in the season the Riding Module was passed or the season after. _______________________________________________
Level III Teaching Module Mar. 19-21 Location: Squaw Valley Apr 29- May 1 Location: Mammoth Prerequisites: The candidate must have successfully passed the Level III Riding Module in the current season or season prior, completed a current written exam and submitted it to the Snowboard VP no later than the two-week event registration deadline, as well as be current in dues for AASI-West. In the three-day, Level III Teaching Module successful candidates will show the ability to synthesize and evaluate the areas of snowboard teaching included but not limited to; Movement Analysis, Teaching Scenarios, Professional Knowledge, Proper Demonstrations, Children’s Education, use of all aspects of the Snowboard Teaching System, and Professional Etiquette and Safety. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to teach and coach his or her peers on any available terrain with evident change in his or her peer’s riding. To take this course the candidate will have already passed the riding portion of the exam. Candidates are expected to utilize proper demonstration skills in their riding to facilitate success in teaching scenarios; this includes all areas of the required riding standards.
2011/12 Exam and Accreditation Passes Congratulations to our Western Division members, listed below, who took the next step in their professional development last season. We recognize the effort that you put into preparing and attending these events. Alpine Level 1 Adams, Emily Truckee, CA Andersson, Matilda L.. Genoa, NV Antedomenico, Jack Las Vegas, NV Avery, Cristina Los Angeles, CA Backer, Rebecca Truckee, CA Baker, Jake Bear Valley, CA Bariggi, Lihue Truckee, CA Bartilucci, Bryan Wantagh, NY Bauman, Nicola Camperdown 1450, NSW Beckham, Forest L. Prather, CA Bell, Michael Tulare, CA Bellack, Leah Los Angeles, CA Bellsola Ferrer, Maximo Twin Bridges, CA Bertoni, Gaston Kirkwood, CA Biehl, Cynthia Wrightwood, CA Bohm, Kiana Portola, CA Brache, Rachelle A. Kyburz, CA Braun Daher, Marlene Brower, Julie Reno, NV Brumbach, Holy Zephyr Cove, NV Bruner, Elizabeth Mammoth Lakes, CA Burs, Nicolas Twin Bridges, CA Buser, Patricia Reno, NV Byrnes, Keegan Tahoe City, CA Cannon, Cecil Abilene, TX
Capaldi, Jon Reno, NV Carey, Laura Carlisle, Preston Sugarloaf, CA Carroll, Katie West Glover, VT Castia, Celeste Volcano, CA Chambers, Kirk Incline Village, NV Chan, Arthur San Leandro, CA Choi, James Henderson, NV Chong, Curtis San Rafael, CA Chow, Pauline Boulder, CO, Christian, Coral Incline Village, NV Clowers, Jagger Sparks, NV Coates, Brian Emmett, ID, Collins, Ross Truckee, CA Cone, Jessica South Lake Tahoe, CA Cook, Tyler South Lake Tahoe, CA Cooper, Ingrid Reno, NV Coronado-Smith, Anthony Truckee, CA Costa, Joseph Mammoth Lakes, CA Courval, Robyn Reno, NV Dahlgren, Janelle Mi Wuk Village, CA Dahlgren, Tess Mammoth Lakes, CA Dalporto, Amber Kings Beach, CA Danker, Sebastian Kirkwood, CA de la Torre, Jennifer Truckee, CA
Dehshid, Mona den Hartog, Pieter Lodi, CA Diede, Neal Chico, CA Doyle, Ryan Walnut Creek, CA Driller, DeeDee Tahoe City, CA Elliott, Shane Incline Village, NV Epaminondas, Luke Olympic Valley, CA Fahncke, Lisa Fair Oaks, CA Feret, Christine Mammoth Lakes, CA Flynn, Thomas Reno, NV Fogarasi, Vanda Las Vegas, NV Ford, Troy Truckee, CA Forsythe, Sharon Truckee, CA Foster, Colin Truckee, CA Foxworth, Cynthia Mammoth Lakes, CA Frelinger, Jessica French, Katrina North Dunedin, Dunedin Gains-Germain, Leslie Boise, ID Garbarino, Jay Truckee, CA Garcia Nagy, Julian Twin Bridges, CA Garland, Kasia New York, NY Gemperle, Jealeisa San Diego, CA Gibson, Robert Truckee, CA Giesin, Grete Kings Beach, CA Giesler, Chet Las Vegas, NV Gitard, Olivia Buenos Aires Gonzalez, Francisco Gorostiaga, Francisco Olympic Valley, CA Gowing, Laura Mammoth Lakes, CA Graves, Margaret Los Altos, CA Green, Andrea Reno, NV Grossblatt, Michael Crowley Lake, CA
Hagedorn, Kathryn South Lake Tahoe, CA Halikis, Elizabeth Wildomar, CA Hall, Cory Incline Village, NV Hancock, Ed South Lake Tahoe, CA Hansen, Steve Truckee, CA Harbord, Luke Marietta, GA Harrison, William Bear Valley, CA Harvey, Jennifer Irvine, CA Heller, Dalya San Francisco, CA Henderson, Colin Reno, NV Henderson, Jack Hess, Kathy Reno, NV Heykes, Connor Roseville, CA Hinrichs, Claus Lakeshore, CA Hogenson, Andrew Martinez, CA Holmer, Judi Truckee, CA Hopkins, Mark Big Bear Lake, CA Hourcades, Natalia Lakeshore, CA Howard, Corey A. Wrightwood, CA Howell, William Truckee, CA Huang, Jonathan Fremont, CA Huber, Miles Ladera Ranch, CA Hudson, Wesley Villa Park, CA Hughes-Stinson, Laura Dana Point, CA Huneycutt, David L. Reno, NV Iglesias Paiz, Santiago Jehenson, Michele Monte Sereno, CA Johnson, Nathaniel South Lake Tahoe, CA Jones, Christian Sparks, NV Kaesman, Ann Big Bear Lake, CA Kaplan, Cindy Strawberry, CA Kearns, Jeffery Fresno, CA
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2011/12 Exam and Accreditation Passes (cont’d) Kenney, Eban Incline Village, NV Kievit, Robert Sparks, NV Kim, Clement Yorba Linda, CA Kinnier, Alyssa Turlock, CA Kirkhoff, Elyse Lebanon, PA Kitchens, Katie Atlanta, GA Kjolhede, Annalise Truckee, CA Kohberger, Kathy Pacifica CA Krzywicki, Mark Redding, CA Lambdin, Elizabeth Big Bear Lake, CA Lampe, Shahin Incline Village, NV Laney, Lance Hanalei, HI Lauth, Edward Fawnskin, CA Lawry, Tom Big Bear Lake, CA Lehman, Mary A. Idyllwild, CA Leschevin Carey, Isabelle Incline Village, NV Levine, Scott Tahoe City, CA Lichty, Zachary Rocklin, CA Liebersbach, Matthew Mammoth Lakes, CA Lipschultz, Steven Truckee, CA List, Ben Lopez Martinich, Felipe A. Vergennes, VT Low, Loretta Washoe Valley, NV Lynott, Lorna Clovis, CA Mansfield, Katie Truckee, CA Marenco, Alicia Mammoth Lakes, CA Marso, Jaime Mammoth Lakes, CA Martinelli, Marci Los Gatos, CA Mattinger, Anna Cupertino, CA McCarthy, Lida South Lake Tahoe, CA McDonald, Sid Homewood, CA McGlasson, Scott Visalia, CA McHugh, Ryan Stockton, CA McInnes, Maggie South Lake Tahoe, CA Mckay, Sheena Naples, FL McPherson, Julie Truckee, CA McVittie, Becky Lafayette, CA Melinn, Todd Big Bear Lake, CA Mendoza, Brianna Clovis, CA Michener, Randy Big Bear Lake, CA Millard, Josh Grays Point, NSW, Miller, Alexandra Kirkwood, CA Miller, Katherine Reno, NV Mirviss, Mark Olympic Valley, CA Mittermaier, Erika Tahoma, CA Molacavage, Shanon San Carlos, CA Moore, Daniel C. South Lake Tahoe, CA Moore, Heather Wrightwood, CA Morro, James Chicago, IL Mullen, Greig Kings Beach, CA Neal, Stephanie Elk Grove, CA Nelli, Ezequiel Twin Bridges, CA Ninow, Nicholas Bear Valley, CA Nordland, Erik Reno, NV Norman, Hannah Woodside, CA Oakey, Matthew Chesterfield, VA O’Connell, Rebecca Okawa, Gordon Sacramento, CA Passaretti, Michael Zephyr Cove, NV Peck, Melanie A. Reno, NV Pedaline, Dave Riverside, CA Perriaux, Jaime Pilkington, Janice Tahoe City, CA Ploog, George
Poarch, Dennis R. South Lake Tahoe, CA Pope, Angela Melbourne, (Non U.S.) Popeck, Evelyn South Lake Tahoe, CA Poteet, Amanda Grass Valley, CA Powell, Thomas Reno, NV Prosperi, Juliana South Lake Tahoe, CA Racher, Emily Indianapolis, IN Revello, Kristina Truckee, CA Richert, Lindsey Grass Valley, CA Rofsky, David San Clemente, CA Rogers, Michael Long Beach, CA Saffo, Richard E. Incline Village, NV Sander, Kathryn Truckee, CA Sarries, Sofia A. Quilmes, Buenos Aires Schwartz, Everett Davis, CA Sciaroni, Maria Emilia Tahoe City, CA Scott, Richard Wrightwood, CA Sealana, Sharon South Lake Tahoe, CA Segretti, Gianna Corona Del Mar, CA Seifert, Therese Corona, CA Serfaty, Micaela Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Shahmirza, Kristine Truckee, CA Shattow, Eric Reno, NV Shaw, Hannah R. Reno, NV Shears, Jaclyn Normal, IL Shelton, Aaron Smith, Madeleine Hastings On Hudson, NY Snedden, Cindy Sonora, CA Spora, Christoph Truckee, CA Stegmann, Emilio Kirkwood, CA Stegmann, Tomas Kirkwood, CA Steinberg, Betsi Las Vegas, NV Steward, Shelly Eugene, OR Stoddard, Shawn Reno, NV Supersano, Mariana Reno, NV Tapia, Richard, Reno NV Thomas, Benjamin Mammoth Lakes, CA Thompson, Alice E. Reno, NV Tippett, August Sonora, CA Tovornik, Kyle Myersville, MD Townsend, Benjamin Aberdeen Turner, Joel Woodland, CA Valdes Lopez, Rodrigo Kirkwood, CA Van Thienen, Maria E. Twin Bridges, CA Vance, Daniel Rancho Santa Fe, CA Varela, Arthur Palmdale, CA Vertrees, Lauren Carlsbad, CA Vickers, Amy Bellevue, WA Vroomen, Samantha Santa Cruz, CA Walker, Chanel, Glenbrook, NV Watanabe, Erick Long Beach, CA Watson, Logan J. Victor, ID Watts, Sean Mammoth Lakes, CA Webb, Wesley Nevada City, CA Webster, Jonathan A. Mammoth Lakes, CA Weisz, Steven Tahoe City, CA White, Lindsay Bear Valley, CA Wilson, Beverly Pollock Pines, CA Wood, Don Twain Harte, CA Yip, Kelvin San Francisco, CA Yoshikawa, Aeko Stockton, CA Young, Kevin South Lake Tahoe, CA Yuki, Nicholas Malibu, CA Zarhi, Vanessa
Zemel, Kathleen
Wexford, PA
Alpine Level 2 Ace, Allison T. Truckee, CA Amid, Gilda Beverly Hills, CA Bitz, Bill J. Fair Oaks, CA Bourke, Mike Corte Madera, CA Britton, Kate Truckee, CA Chamblin, Dale Carnelian Bay, CA Chau, Phu South Lake Tahoe, CA Collins, Ross Truckee, CA Cordovero, Josefina Twin Bridges, CA Croucher, Michael Davtyan, Elli Mammoth Lakes, CA Diede, Neal Chico, CA Dunne Rosche, Joseph Hoquiam, WA Durano, Louis Reno, NV Frankoski, Patrick Sparks, NV Gardtman, Thomas Truckee, CA Georgiev, Georgi Tahoe City, CA Gisriel, Patrick Truckee, CA Goodwin, William Truckee, CA Haskell, Charlotte Twin Bridges, CA Herlihy, Christian Kings Beach, CA Iida, Lauren Incline Village, NV Knowles, Nick Kings Beach, CA Leonard, Gregory Olympic Valley, CA Morro, James Chicago, IL Nelms, Alex Kings Beach, CA Olsson, Ingemar Martinez, CA Peterson, Kyle Reno, NV Polito, Tommy South Lake Tahoe, CA Richard, Justin Playa Del Rey, CA Ryerson, Henry Truckee, CA Sheckler, Brian Olympic Valley, CA Shelton, David Tahoe City, CA Spora, Christoph Truckee, CA Sternlicht, Mark D. San Francisco, CA Woodcock, Christine M. Zephyr Cove, NV
Alpine Level 3 Berzellini, Brian A. Phoenix, MD Bush, Stephen South Lake Tahoe, CA Ergish, Zachary Mammoth Lakes, CA Fok, Benjamin South Lake Tahoe, CA Slaton, Matt Reno, NV Vale, Joshua Mammoth Lakes, CA
Children’s Specialist Level 1 Ballew, Meagan Incline Village, NV Ace, Allison T. Truckee, CA Alderman, Debbie Big Bear Lake, CA Baum, Erin E. Big Bear Lake, CA Beegle, Nikki Sugarloaf, CA Bellack, Leah Los Angeles, CA Bowler, Jordann Washoe Valley, NV Brache, Rachelle A. Kyburz, CA Brookens, Jody Big Bear City, CA Cotter, Helga Markleeville, CA Cotter, John T. Markleeville, CA Crawford, Cindy Incline Village, NV Din, Thomas W. Rockville, MD Downing, Mark Reno, NV Evans, Traci Big Bear Lake, CA Frantz, Ruth Kings Beach, CA
Genz Jr, Kenneth R. Reno, NV Gibson, Robert Truckee, CA Greenwood, Ken R. Placerville, CA Halter, George Big Bear Lake, CA Harris, Jennee Reno, NV Herlihy, Christian Kings Beach, CA Hernandez, Aaron A. Anaheim, CA Hiser, Ashley Bowral, NSW Hoaglund, Andy Kirkwood, CA Huggett, Kelsey Hayward, CA Hutchins, Julia Roseville, CA Jones, Christian Sparks, NV Knoll, Bonny Garden Grove, CA Kohberger, Kathy Pacifica CA Krzywicki, Mark Redding, CA LaGore-Phillips Michelle M. Big Bear Lake, CA Lopez Martinich, Felipe A. Vergennes, VT Maibach, Meghan A. Dolores, CO Matthews, Tom Reno, NV Misiewicz, Kirk Kings Beach, CA Mitchell, Jeffrey Reno, NV Peterson, Kyle Reno, NV Ratiu, Denise Woodland Hills, CA Rodriguez, Silvia Sugarloaf, CA Romero, Felipe I. Kirkwood, CA Salmonson, Crystal Grass Valley, CA Sander, Kathryn Truckee, CA Schroeder, Thomas Mammoth Lakes, CA Shattow, Eric Reno, NV Shunk, Stephen Sisters, OR Smith, Joshua Tahoe City, CA Smith, Matthew Watsonville, CA Stancik, Karin E. Big Bear City, CA Sternlicht, Mark D. San Francisco, CA Stranford, Carol Reno, NV Takenaka, Harry Big Bear Lake, CA Thomson, Bryan A. Mammoth Lakes, CA Tinsley, John Newark, CA Trigo, Guadalupe Bologne, Buenos Aires Walkerden, Paul RD5 Rangiora Wilkerson, Tim Palo Cedro, CA
Children’s Specialist Level 2 Bauer, Rachel Olympic Valley, CA Christofferson, Ryan Kirkland, WA Johnson, Andrea Tahoe City, CA Smith, Sandra South Lake Tahoe, CA DeNike, Dustin South Lake Tahoe, CA Hill, Leanne Johns, Seth Sweet, ID Logal, Lea South Lake Tahoe, CA
Cross Country Level 1 Collins, Ross
Truckee, CA
Telemark Level 1 Cook, Christopher Pasadena, CA Embrey, Robyn Kings Beach, CA Errazuriz, Juan Manuel R.M. Santiago, Viteuriva Hansen, Steve Truckee, CA Hebert, Raymond R. Reno, NV Lautner, Wendy Truckee, CA
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2011/12 Exam and Accreditation Passes (cont’d) Seban, Michael South Lake Tahoe, CA Weiss, Maxine Carson City, NV
Telemark Level 2 Kelly, Meghan C.
Zephyr Cove, NV
Telemark Level 3 Ortman, Will
Truckee, CA
Senior Specialist Level 1 Aadland, John Incline Village, NV Benson, Randall Los Angeles, CA Bourquin, Pierson San Francisco, CA Culbertson, Neal Temecula, CA DeCamillis, Ray M. Truckee, CA Dresser, Bruce Pinon Hills, CA Embroden, Nord Pinon Hills, CA Hackett, Greg Truckee, CA Jehenson, Michele Monte Sereno, CA Levin, Stella Los Angeles, CA Martinelli, Marci Los Gatos, CA McDonald, Sid Homewood, CA Mourino, Robert L. Hesperia, CA Nerad, Jennifer Panorama City, CA Stoker, David Sacramento, CA
Senior Specialist Level 2 Anderson, Sigrid Wawona, CA Carlson, Kent J. Truckee, CA Foley, James E. Olympic Valley, CA Kennedy, Cathey M. Livingston, TX Nabulsi, Haz Los Altos, CA Olsson, Ingemar Martinez, CA Stoddard, Charles Kihei, HI Uptegrove, Dale Berkeley, CA Weiss, Steep Carson City, NV
Snowboard Division Trainer Blair, Matthew Reno, NV Chapman, Elisa A. Tahoe City, CA Crombie, Gary Peoria, AZ Desjardins, Henry L. Truckee, CA Fountain, Asa J. Jones, Teresa Markleeville, CA Moughan, Sean Big Bear Lake, CA Smith, Adria J. Kings Beach, CA Terhardt, Dany Truckee, CA Weber, Anna Princeton, NJ
Snowboard Freestyle Level 1 Aker, Rena Dunsmuir, CA Anro, Giancarlo Dunsmuir, CA Embroden, Nord Pinon Hills, CA Evans, Mike Grass Valley, CA Gatewood, David S. Mount Shasta, CA King, Jared Mount Shasta, CA Melinn, Todd Big Bear Lake, CA Rohm, Todd San Clemente, CA Rowe, Levi Big Bear City, CA Silber, Alden J. Dunsmuir, CA Toste, Roberto Artesia, CA Vertin, Christopher San Jose, CA
Snowboard Level 1 Adams, Lucas Aiello, Jason Alferos, Eyan
Chico, CA Sparks, NV Orange, CA
Anderson, Jonathan Athens, AL Anro, Giancarlo Dunsmuir, CA Arancibia, Diego Fiddletown, CA Baldwin, Chris Las Vegas, NV Bauman, Nicola Camperdown 1450, NSW Becker, Kevin San Diego, CA Bertoli, Natalie Santa Rosa, CA Bohannon, Ophelia Incline Village, NV Bonner, Matthew Reno, NV Botelho, Brian Palmdale, CA Boughner, Thomas Reno, NV Brunette, Kendall Pinedale, WY Buchfuhrer, Julia Long Beach, CA Calhoun, Shannon Mammoth, CA Castagnera, Kimberly A. La Mesa, CA Chanana, Ashton Houston, TX Chantikian, Evan Larkspur, CA Chatfield, Sam San Diego, CA Chen, Steve Truckee, CA Collier, Gary Wrightwood, CA Colyer, Nicholas Connelly, Jamie Kennesaw, GA Cornelius, Ian Yosemite National Park, CA Couture, Joseph Big Bear City, CA Cox, Chris San Diego, CA Coyle, Kiana Vista, CA Dawson, Colten Reno, NV Donahue, Colin T. South Lake Tahoe, CA DoniCA Tyler Vista, CA Evans, David Reno, NV Evans, Justin Fassler, Aaron Granite Bay, CA Fejtek, Kristen Orange, CA Flora, Brad Incline Village, NV Follette, Michael Sacramento, CA Forde, Odin Gulfport, FL Fortune, Jennifer South Lake Tahoe, CA Foster, Colin Truckee, CA Fowler, Ben Los Gatos, CA Galletti, Tiago Walnut Creek, CA Gates, Charles Tahoe City, CA Geary, Tricia Tahoe City, CA Gilbert, James E. Truckee, CA Gildner, Paige Oakton, VA, Gill, Sheridan South Lake Tahoe, CA Gomez, Justin Whittier, CA Gorbach, Chris Big Bear Lake, CA Goulet, Christine Big Bear City, CA Gray, Sarah Mammoth Lakes, CA Green, Taylor South Lake Tahoe, CA Greene, Dan Valencia, CA Greig, Peter Mammoth, CA Harvey, Tyson Northumberland, PA, Haskins, Hurvey Hermiston, Luke Hood, Chris R. Jupiter, FL Howell, William Hunt, Brooke Big Bear Lake, CA Johnson, Andrew Tahoe City, CA Kiel, Mike Reno, NV Kleven, Viktoria Gardena, CA Knoerr, Michael Knollin, Daniel Knowles, Jonathan
Knowlton, Bradley S. Gardiner, OR, Krone, Timothy Moorpark, CA Lane, Samantha Garden Grove, CA Leach, Bryan Crestline, CA Leggett, Ben Yosemite National Park, CA Lennon, Corey Reno, NV Loper, Julie Mammoth Lakes, CA Madden, Jessie Murphys, CA Mahal, Karanpreet Venice, CA Manna, Stephen Sydney, New South Wales Manning, Mark Truckee, CA Marchant, Austin Mammoth Lakes, CA Marshall, Hugh Virginia City, NV McCaffety, Garrett South Lake Tahoe, CA McCarty, Kenneth Incline Village, NV Melinn, Todd Big Bear Lake, CA Merz, Martin Mount Shasta, CA Meshke, Britney San Bernardino, CA Miller, Ryan Adelanto, CA Miller, Sunny San Andreas, CA Mittermaier, Erika Tahoma, CA Morris, Erin Safety Beach, NSW, Morton, John A. Tahoe City, CA Murrell, John Incline Village, NV Nelson, Elizabeth Truckee, CA Ninow, Nicholas Bear Valley, CA Nix, Jonathan South Lake Tahoe, CA Olsen, Scott Big Bear City, CA Olson, Mike El Segundo, CA Orlando, Jesse M. Paez, Rodrigo Olympic Valley, CA Palasik, Angela Vista, CA Parnell, Jeremy Lake Stevens, WA Parson, Chris Tahoe City, CA Pearson, Candice Tahoe City, CA Pellegrino, Alexandria M. Garden Grove, CA Pepatphong, Kali Prest, Hadrian Puryear, Mathew Truckee, CA Rambo, Ryan Tahoe City, CA Redlin, Danielle Reno, NV Revlock, Simon Richert, Lindsey Grass Valley, CA Rowland, Patrick Danville, CA Ryan, Margaret Incline Village, NV Saldana, Antonio Victorville, CA Sapper, Brandon Carlsbad, CA Sarma, Ravi Scherden, Richard South Lake Tahoe, CA Schwank, Alexander Ann Arbor, MI Schwartz, Eric Truckee, CA See, Helen Truckee, CA Shankland, Holly Truckee, CA Shannon, Jessica Los Angeles, CA Shattow, Eric Reno, NV Smith, Eva Bartlett, TN Smith, Madeleine Hastings On Hudson, NY Smith, Ta’Lon Reno, NV Stephens, Laura Palos Verdes Estates, CA Stilwell, Ronnie Paradise, CA Thomson, Bryan A. Mammoth Lakes, CA Torres, Justin Oak Hills, CA Treviranus, Josh South Lake Tahoe, CA Underwood, Daniel Lakewood, CA
Valliere, Nicholas Greenwood, CA Varela, Arthur Palmdale, CA Vertin, Christopher San Jose, CA Watson, Adam Oakhurst, CA Weir, Keith Apple Valley, CA White, Michael Redding, CA Wielga, Christopher Denver, CO Wildgoose, Timothy Portland, OR Wilkerson, Stephanie Mammoth Lakes, CA Williams, Leonard Reno, NV Willis, Tawni Gardena, CA Ybarrondo, Nicole Mammoth Lakes, CA Zafra, Javier Mammoth Lakes, CA Zehsazian, Brenden Weed, CA
Snowboard Level 2 Arnold, William South Lake Tahoe, CA Catlin, Kelsey Lafayette, CA Chisholm, Matt Mountain View, CA Choate, S. Cody Auberry, CA Claunch, Justin Incline Village, NV Costas, Stephen Crystal Bay, NV Cox, Matthew La Jolla, CA Dumford, Meagan Newbury Park, CA Eberst, Izaak Truckee, CA Faris, John Yucaipa, CA Ford, Laura Truckee, CA Forsberg, Craig South Lake Tahoe, CA Gaal, Max Sunnyvale, CA Goldberg, Jason E. South Lake Tahoe, CA Harasha, Brian J. Carson City, NV Heckt, William Sparks, NV Hinshaw, Ryan Point Arena, CA Huber, Laura Kings Beach, CA Johnson, Bryce Madera, CA Killian, Kyle Spring Creek, NV Kohlmoos, Cassidy Tahoe City, CA Lawrenson, Tom South Lake Tahoe, CA McInnes, Maggie South Lake Tahoe, CA Moore, Heather Wrightwood, CA Murray, Jeff S. Nevada City, CA Overfield, David Kings Beach, CA Rafter, Kiel Truckee, CA Richert, Lindsey Grass Valley, CA Rohm, Todd San Clemente, CA Ryzenkor, Anton Elk grove, CA Sher, Marlowe Berkeley, CA Stanton, Derek E. South Lake Tahoe, CA Stephenson, Cody Big Bear Lake, CA Su, Jeffery Hacienda Heights, CA Swenson, Ryan Modesto, CA
Snowboard Level 3 Espinoza, Erick Big Bear City, CA Flynn, James M. Virginia Beach, VA Gavigan, Lance Big Bear Lake, CA Gilman, Joe Newton, NJ Heays, Julian Mammoth Lakes, CA Herman, Matthew Astoria, OR Jarratt, Kyle Nipomo, CA
We apologize if your name should be here and is not. Please contact the office to see if there is a clerical issue about your certification.
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By Bryan Schilling Ever wonder how to completely botch a lesson with a Spanish speaking student? It ain’t hard apparently. Each Christmas and Easter Holiday allows me the perverse privilege to see and hear all kinds of great examples. Well meaning, overzealous gringos, eager to colonize the natives with good cuñas (gliding wedges) can be seen on bunny slopes all across the Sierra Nevada. Ok, let me come clean - I’m pure gringo, and have committed each of the foibles I’m about to list for you. It is my humble hope to share some of the my hard won experiences. It is in this spirit I introduce this coming winter season’s “Lo de Onda! y Lo de No” - (What’s Hot! and What’s Not!) to make a lesson rewarding for you and your Spanish speaking student. Lo de Onda! - Positive reinforcement. Latino culture isn’t afraid of hyperbole when it comes to giving encouragement. “Estás deslizando como un profesional!” (You’re sliding like a pro!) - and other phrases like this win gratification with your client. Keep it positive - not punitive. Excelente! (great!), Buen trabajo! (good work!), Eso! (that’s it!), Bien Hecho! (well done!) and Fabuloso! (amazing!) - keep your student engaged. Lo de No! - Shouting “Cuña!, Cuña!!, C-u-ñ-a!!!” (wedge) believe it or not does not facilitate a good gliding wedge. Just like barking “derecha!!!” (right) seems to have little effect on facilitating a turn to the right. Remember: just because we know the term in Spanish does not mean its use is an elixir to instruction. What I generally
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hear from Spanish speakers who have been burned in a previous lesson are stories about how they felt treated like a circus animal. Lo de Onda! - Understanding the value of family in Latin culture. Family member “mismatches” often come through our private lesson doors not because they don’t grasp the anglophile concept of skills grouping, but rather they really would like to experience the triumph and tragedy of learning to ski - together. The individual thinking of the sensible Yankee often doesn’t get this, and seeks to split the family into logical, teachable pieces. While many Latinos will quietly accept this Americano approach, they really came to create family bonding memories - and photos for the family mantle at home. Lo de No! - Letting the students guide the lesson. While one must respect the bravado of the student who comes ready to conquer “una negra” (black diamond) - before he can step into his bindings - it is forever the instructors responsibility to make sure that the hazards of the mountain don’t get lost in translation. This is challenging on two fronts. One: many simply aren’t familiar with the real risks of injury. The other challenge lies behind something that often sets niños latinos apart from their American counterparts. Herein, I have to admit that I can’t lay personal claim to the following insight. Rather, it’s owed to a close friend and highly respected kids specialist - Luis Sanchez while collaborating on an article on cross-cultural teaching. “You have to give them the ‘why’ for
them to follow your directions,” Luis argued. Many american kids will avoid dangers because they’re told, and later get the reasons. “If the Latinos don’t get the ‘reason why’ - they often will disregard the warning...” So it goes. I say tomatoes, you say “tomatillos”, it’s really similar for the most part - especially if we just put ourselves in the zapatos (shoes) of the other. If you keep a few things in mind, you’re sure to have a lesson - de onda (great) with your Spanish speaking clients - who in turn, maybe faster than in any other culture - come to be your Spanish speaking friends.
Sinceramente, Bryan Schilling If you would like to go more in depth in the conversation or just grow your toolbox for teaching in Spanish join me for the TEACHING IN SPANISH course on Dec. 18 that earns you an Ed. credit and a memorable day of skiing in Español - now that’s La Onda!
Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows Ski and Snowboard Schools Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows is entering a new era! Join the excitement of our renaissance and be part of the new team of Snowsports Professionals that will elevate the Squaw/Alpine experience to extraordinary! www.squaw.com/squawsrenaissance . At Squaw/Alpine our team doesn’t just talk about it. We do it. Now accepting applications for Ski and Snowboard instructors from Entry Level to Level 3 Certified, for the Children and Adult programs. We offer competitive wages and work environment. Please go to www.squaw.com/employment and send your resume to: Karen Roske Hiring Coordinator Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows Ski and Snowboard Schools kroske@squaw.com 530.452.7284
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PSIA-W Education Foundation The PSIA-W Education Foundation Expands Its Offerings The PSIA-W Education Foundation for a number of years has provided financial assistance to PSIA/AASI-W instructors looking to enhance their personal growth and further their careers in snow sports instruction. This year, the Foundation will be expanding its efforts to support instructor education. Among the new initiatives:
In addition to this new financial support for Education Materials Development, the Foundation provides the Education and Certification, Bruce Sato and The Sodergren Scholarships which are briefly described at the end of this article. Look for an Ed Materials application on the “Foundation” section of www.psia-w.org.
New: Our Education Materials Development Committee will offer financial assistance for projects that benefit PSIA/AASI-W members. Funds will be made available to individuals or groups that want to develop materials to address unfulfilled educational needs affecting the membership. Example: If it is concluded that an Adaptive Freestyle Instruction Manual would help the membership, the Foundation’s Education Materials Development committee could provide financial assistance to a group or individual wanting to write material or create a video to fill this need.
New: A “Donate Now” Link On the PSIA-W website provides the opportunity to donate to the Education Foundation when you want to. Donate link: http://psia-w.org/donate-to-theeducation-foundation/ In addition to the new on-line link, donations can be made by phone by calling the PSIA/AASI-W Office at (530) 587-7642. All contributions are greatly appreciated. NEW: PSIA-W Education Foundation Special Donation Policy Donors who give a minimum
of $5,000 now have the opportunity to designate the use of the donation. Memorial funds or children’s or adaptive programs are examples of possible designations. Existing scholarship opportunities: The Education and Certification Scholarship is open to all members and certification status. This scholarship can be used for all PSIA/AASI-W educational and certification events. The Bruce Sato Scholarship is open to all members and certification status and can be used for all PSIA/AASI-W Snowboard educational and certification events. The Sodergren Scholarship provides financial assistance to attend full immersion education events for instructors who have demonstrated commitment to the profession. Recipients have one year to use a scholarship award. The deadline application is February 1, 2013. If you receive a scholarship In February 2013, you have until January 31, 2014 to use the scholarship. Planning on your part can allow you to use your scholarship for next season’s fall events. Finally, I’d like to note that a significant amount of time and effort goes into insuring that the Education Foundation follows applicable law and that the scholarships are fairly awarded. A huge thank you to the members of the Scholarship Committee who read, evaluate and award the successful applicants.
Greg Lyons Executive VP BOD-W President PSIA-W Education Foundation
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Education Foundation Golf Tournament 5th Annual Education Foundation and Sodergren Golf Tournament was a success! Western Division ski instructors braved a 90 degree Indian Summer day at Empire Ranch for the 5th Annual PSIA-W Education Foundation Golf Tournament. The tournament was a HUGE SUCCESS bringing smiles on the 48 instructors who gathered to have fun, enjoy each other’s company and support a good cause. We estimate that we raised over $ 2,000 for the Foundation. My favorite line of the day was by Steve Evenson, “My sand wedge hits the ball farther than my driver!” The biggest yelp/scream I heard was by Josh Spoelstra after dropping a 40 foot putt. Bob Haas gave me great advice. Announce the low scoring/winning team (Shane Elliot, Blake Weller, Gwili Jenkins and Daniel Villemenz) and give all others a round of applause. No one was last! To all the players and donors THANK YOU!
The details:
Longest Drive: (1) Daniel Villemez Closest to the Pin: (1) Jerry Fouts Closest to the Pin: (2) Greg Lyons Thank You to our donors for a great raffle: Embassy Suites, Empire Ranch Golf Course, Descente North America (DNA), Dan Kleiner, Harrahs/Harveys, Heavenly Sports, Homewood, Lake Tahoe Golf Course, Mammoth, Marcus and Ashley Fine Art Gallery, NASTC, Reno Aces, Rick Raduziner (golf and sailing lessons), Ron Blum (golf lessons), Rossignol Snowboards, Safeway, Salomon, San Francisco Giants, Sandra Breylinger (wine), Sierra Star Golf Course, Squaw Valley USA, Snow Creek Golf, South Shore Bikes, Tahoe Donner Golf Course, Tahoe Sports LTD, Tahoe Trading Post, Wattabike
This year’s winning team; Shane Elliot, Blake Weller, Gwili Jenkins and Daniel Villemez. Photo by Greg Lyons.
Special thanks to Kristi Prochazka, Bob Haas, Dan Kleiner, Rick Raduziner and Jon Jacobsen.
Greg Lyons Executive VP BOD-W President PSIA-W Education Foundation
Congratulations to our Education and Certification Scholarship Recipients from 2011/12 Christine Gallo, Bear Mtn Ed Broadbelt, Heavenly Natalie Craven, Heavenly Eric Hicks, June Mtn. Nicholas VanDyke, June Mtn. Tommy Polito, Kirkwood Guillermo Alvarez, Sierra @ Tahoe Alycia Glines, Sierra @ Tahoe Robert Toste, Snow Summit Mark Johnson, Snow Valley Amy Vickers, Squaw Valley
Maria Rodriguez, Squaw Valley Dimitre Dimakides, Sugar Bowl Matt Herman, Sugar Bowl Emily Racher, Sugar Bowl Lindsey Richert, Sugar Bowl Sodergren ScholarshipsJack Cooperman, Snow Valley Stacey Fite, Sugar Bowl Emily Kay, Bear Valley Anna Weber, Northstar
PSIA W Ski Education Foundation
PSIA - Western Division – AASI 9709 Hwy. 267, Truckee, CA 96161 (530) 587-7642, Fax: (530) 587-4273 Email: info@psia-w.org Website: www.psia-w.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PSIA-W/AASI-W Board of Directors & Officers 2012/2013 Officers: President Executive Vice President Alpine VP Snowboard VP PSIA Nat’l Board Rep Past President
Carl Underkoffler Greg Lyons Finlay Torrance Chris Lange Neil Bussiere Neil Bussiere
Directors: Neil Bussiere (14), Ceci Chourre (15), Heidi Ettlinger (14), Steve Evenson (15), Doug Fagel (13), Steve Fengler (13), Chris Lange (15), Greg Lyons (13), Dan Ray (14), Bryan Schilling (14), Finlay Torrance (15), Carl Underkoffler (13) Nordic Chairperson: Urmas Franosch Adaptive Chairperson: Bill Bowness
Springtime in Mammoth-what could be better? Join us April 26-28 for a mix of great sliding and clinics, après ski fun and a healthy portion of camaraderie and learning with your fellow instructors from throughout the Division.
Look for Convention Registration info in our Spring issue of the EDGE.
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