The “Become a Pro” Program by Garry Crane PSIA-E Alpine Level 1 Mt. Sunapee Resort, NH On the weekend of January 8-9, Steve McGrath and Gary Hendrickson, members of the DCL Educational Staff, delivered an in-house First Tracks under the new “Become a Pro” format. Twenty-one instructors from around the area, all of whom were members of the Mt. Sunapee Resort Learning Center, made “First Tracks” with PSIA-E, and became the first group to take advantage of the new “Become a Pro” program. We were introduced to the “stepping stones” process of teaching within the American Teaching System. We received on-snow analysis of our movement patterns, and received coaching in the latest methods used by PSIA-E to promote learning and fun in skiing. The program provided us with an overview of the PSIA structure and a means to give us a more common understanding of the terms used within teaching. The First Tracks program picked up where our initial employee training program left off, and included lesson plans that can be used beyond the first-timer “get into” lessons. During chairlift conservations we compared notes on how to handle several common situations
Courtesy of Mt Sunapee Photo
that arise in teaching. The clinic style structure allowed us to network with other instructors who received different initial trainings over several years, and from different resorts. One aspect of the program that I particularly liked was the amount of time spent skiing, and the small amount of time spent talking skiing. The real benefit of the “Become a Pro” program was the reduced cost to become involved in PSIA-E. This program allows for initial membership in PSIA-E, but does not require that you join PSIA National until you take your Level 1, or until your 2nd year in PSIA-E. This
cost savings is a great boon to those who have limited resources, particularly students, and for those looking to “try the waters” of PSIA. Many of those in attendance have now gone on to get their PSIA-E Level 1 Certification. As you can see from the happy faces of the 21 folks at the Mt Sunapee event, the “Become a Pro” program is a great way to go! Join in at your area if you have the opportunity. ◆◆
Maintain Perspective to Maintain the Joy of Skiing by Sue Pursel PSIA-E Alpine Level I Ski Roundtop, PA Exam preparation is hard work. For years I had taken development clinics every weekend morning. Some days, getting out there and on snow by 8 am was easier than others. I became very focused - too focused - on getting ready for the exam. I critiqued every turn I made, thought about each movement, and analyzed the fun right out of it! One day while skiing a focused run it dawned on me - this wasn’t fun anymore. I had lost the spark. How could I carry the joy of skiing to my students, when I had lost it myself? I stopped taking clinics. After hundreds of hours of training, I knew what I had to do. I still came out at 8 am those weekend mornings,
but I enjoyed the quiet. The crowds weren’t there yet, and I enjoyed the freshly groomed snow under my feet. I listened to my body, and it told me when I was “doing it right”. At first, I felt a small spark – a Zing beneath my feet. Then, with more skiing, it became a few turns with Zing. Finally, whole runs with that Zing. I had rediscovered the joy again. It just felt right. I knew I was ready for the exam. The last weekend of spring skiing I went for a run with our ski school director who confirmed that I could plan to go in 2005. But, early winter 2005 was dreadful. The January thaw came with a vengeance, leaving our hills looking like white and brown Swiss cheese.
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The surface was anything from mashed potatoes to snow cones, and the Zing evaporated. But, I continued to ski and to listen, and, when the snow returned, so did the Zing. My Zing was threatened though, when I came to the exam. Everyone was wringing their hands and criticizing themselves. “What if I don’t pass?” they wailed. It was no longer fun. There was no joy. Well, I had worked entirely too hard getting back my Zing to let it go without a fight. I was here to have a great time skiing for two continued next page