07winteredge

Winter 2007

Continue Moving Forward To Maintain Balance and Keep PaceNotes from the President: Neil Bussiere

The Edge, Winter 2007 - Page 1

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American Snowsports Education Association (ASEA)PSIA - Western Division - AASI

As we embark on another calendar year, our organization continues to em-brace change head-on and expand its offerings accordingly. With Fall Rally behind us, the heart of the season is now upon us. Whether pursuing a Childrens’ Accreditation or your next certification level, do not overlook the broad array of educational offerings and diverse clinic topics such as Winter Carnival and even dedicated Backcountry, Adaptive, and Nordic events. The Snowboard calendar has several Freestyle Accreditation clinics scheduled and our new Senior’s Accredita-tion will be unveiled at Convention. In

a way, dynamic learning likens itself to dynamic balance - you must keep “mov-ing” to stay centered and keep pace. It’s not too late to plan a full complement of clinics and topics to maintain your “edge” as an instructor, mentor, and coach. Re-member, the best teachers are perpetual students. Please keep “moving” forward and stay involved.

The past few months saw a well-at-tended Sports School Directors’ Meeting in Mammoth on November 13th, an upbeat Snowboard Ed Core and Alpine Tech Team Training on Nov 14th-15th, and Fall Rally on December 3-4th at

Squaw Valley despite challenging snow conditions. Those in attendance at the Directors’ Meeting in Mammoth were treated to an interactive presentation by Seana Doherty of Streamline Consulting aimed at growing and expanding our Educational Scholarship Fund. Also the new “Go with a Pro” DVD was screened for your Directors and should now be available to view through your respective Sports Schools. Each school should have a copy on hand. The DVD features Na-tional Team members from all disciplines with short “tip-based” video snippets

Elections for Western Division Board of Directors will be held this Spring. Four positions are up for re-election this year. If you are interested in running, please submit a letter to our office stating your background and qualifications, and a photograph suitable for printing in the Edge by Feb. 15, 2007.

To serve on the Board you must com-mit to attending our two annual meetings, which occur on the Thursday prior to Spring Convention, usually toward the end of April, and our Summer meeting, the first weekend in August. Other qualifications include a willingness to work hard for the benefit of all Association members. Board members are reimbursed for expenses as-sociated with fulfilling their duties.

Want To Run for Board?Spring Deadlines Loom

Inside Story: Six PSIA/AASI-W members were honored for their lifetime con-tributions at the National Fall meeting. Read their profiles on Pages 14-15.

Online Updates: PSIA-Western Division has new software that allows us to update portions of our www.psia-w.org website directly from our office. That means more timely event scheduling information for you, so look first to the website for event information including latest conditions, schedule changes, cancellation or relocation possibilities.


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accompanied by an eclectic mix of good music. This one is a must see and is avail-able through the national website if you want your own copy.

If you are fortunate enough to be “mov-ing” around the division this season and come across one of our many member school areas please remember to consult the Member Benefits page and partake of the area discounts and freebies listed there. However, do make sure to follow the protocol listed including any em-ployment letter requirement if necessary. Some of my fondest memories are those visits to some of the smaller, off-the-beaten-path areas around the division that still embrace a more rustic ski experience.

Each area offers new opportunities to explore, test your skills, meet new people, and expand your network of fellow in-structors. Keep an open eye, though. I plan to make the rounds this season and I just may be making tracks and coming up behind you.

As I stated in the last issue, feel free to contact me or any board member directly if you have any ideas for moving forward. Each idea will receive due consideration and you will receive feedback regarding your suggestion. After all, you deserve it for taking the time to make a difference.

Lastly, “moving” toward March means our annual Board of Directors’ election is nearing. If you are someone with good ideas and a passion for snowsports

instruction, please consider throwing your hat in the ring. The deadline for the submittal of your Position Statement and photo is February 15th. Don’t be shy, make your voice heard. We look forward to your involvement.

Don’t be afraid to “move” to the front, take a different clinic, travel the division, or entertain a new challenge. Whether mentally, physically, or emotionally, keep “moving” forward in all your snowsports endeavors. Read some of the other articles in this copy of The Edge. You will see how individual passion has the potential to “move” others. The bottom line is simple, everyone benefits when we share the pas-sion behind what we do. We hope to see you out there. Slide safely, Neil.

Continue Moving Forward To Maintain Balance and Keep Pace

By Doug FagelThe new Snowboard Freestyle Accredita-

tions are an exciting addition to our Snow-board training and certification program.

This Accreditation will focus on de-veloping freestyle instructors & coaches in the Western Division. This program, which will be offered this year as Freestyle Level 1 & Freestyle Level 2, will guide instructors through freestyle progressions and coaching skills with the use of real life teaching applications and riding demon-strations. Candidates will learn to use safe teaching practices to progress students through stages of learning in freestyle arenas. The program will also be a forum for supporting and educating current NSAA (National Ski Areas Association) safety standards such as “Smart Style” and proper Park and Pipe Etiquette.

This program is not a certification, but rather an addition to a certification that someone already holds. All Level 1 Snow-board certified members are eligible to sign up for the Freestyle 1. In addition, members will be allowed to take their Level I Ac-creditation in the same year that they receive their certification. All AASI Level 2 and 3 members will be able to move directly to the

AASI-W’s Adds L1 and L2 Freestyle AccreditationsAdditions To Program Will Focus on Developing Instructors, Coaches

Level 2 Accreditation if they so wish.While the focus of the Accreditations is

towards the ability to instruct and coach freestyle, riding requirements are also a prerequisite to enrolling in the program. A workbook will accompany each level of ac-creditation and will need to be completed prior to start of the course.

The Level 1 Freestyle Accreditation is a two-day program and the Level 2 Ac-creditation is a three-day program.

For complete descriptions of the pro-

grams and the needed prerequisites for the accreditations please look for information on www.psia-w.org in the Instructional Home section of the website.

Jan. 25-26, Freestyle 1 Accreditation, Bear Mountain;Jan. 25-26, Freestyle 1 Accreditation, Northstar;April 27-28, Freestyle 1 Accredita-tion, Mammoth;April 26-28, Freestyle 2 Accredita-tion, Mammoth.

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It was a beautiful early season day at Mammoth. I strapped on my front foot and started to skate to the lift, ready to make the first turns of the season. I was so ready after a long summer. All of the sudden I spotted a familiar face, it was Mason Aguirre - you know, the pro snowboarder from Mammoth. I’ve been watching him on TV for the last year or so and he seems like a cool kid and a great ambassador of our sport. I must admit I was excited to share the slopes with him. As the day went on, the group he was rid-ing with kept getting larger. He had a big posse. For a moment I thought it would be cool to hang with his group to see if I could pick up some tricks, but I was in Mammoth for this year’s Ed Core. Here I was taking clinics from our Division’s best clinicians and I realized that I was part of a cooler posse. We must not forget how amazing our Tech Team members are and the tremendous amount of knowledge and experience they have to offer all of us. I wonder if Mason wondered who we were, or what we were doing. What he would say if he knew we were among those responsible for growing the sport that has benefited him so much.

I’m proud to say that the team is in

awesome shape. We worked hard, day and even at night, preparing for the changes to all three certification modules as well as the new freestyle accreditation. We are preparing an on-line exam manual that will give our examiners a better tool to work with and it will also be a great tool for candidates looking to take the modules, as it shows the standards and expectations we are looking for. Look for this new manual at our Divisional website, www.psia-w.org. I will also get some printed versions to all of the Sports School Directors. As a result please be aware that there are some updates to the calendar printed in the last “Edge.” Keep an eye on our website (www.psia-w.org) for the newer dates, and sorry for any inconvenience.

I want to say a special thanks to a select group who has really stepped up their re-sponsibility on the team. Blair the leader in so many ways; Amy Louisa our kid’s pro; Donny, I never realized how lucky we are to have you; to Ady and Christian, thanks for your guidance and hard work; Doug Fagel for your hard work on the freestyle accreditation and a possible run for the Board, we would be lucky to have you represent us at that level; and to Josh

Spoelstra for being the driving force in adaptive snowboarding in the west.

This year’s Tech Team:

Duggan SmithDonny MealingStu ReaBlair McLeodAdy MillicanRichard Naunton-EvansDoug FagelJosh SpoelstraSteve BethellPam Millican SantiagoAmy LouisaKen MattsonJason RennoMike PhelanJamie LaneAngie HamiltonChase GardnerEric AsayClay SawyerRobert (Bob) KaneJohnny Norman

On behalf of the entire team, we look forward to delivering over and above your expectations this year. Will see you out there.

Ridin’ with the Crew in Mammoth: It’s an Impressive PosseBoarding - Ken Mattson, Snowboarding Chair


Are YouA Professional?

By Nic FioreA Bad Instructor Will:• Let you fall a lot.• Tire you out before your lesson is over.• Show off , to the extent that his demonstrations of what you should be striving

for are so perfect (i.e. feet and legs almost glued together) that there is not the remotest chance you’ll achieve any semblance of imitation.

• Talk too much, wasting your precious skiing and learning time. After all, your muscles only learn by doing.

• Keep telling you what you are doing wrong instead of what you should do or cor-rect your alleged mistake – i..e. “You’re sitting back.” “You’re leaning in.” “You’re turning too much.”

• Choose, often quite unwittingly, diffi cult locations where the snow is either too hard or too soft, or the shape of the terrain improper for the exercise or maneuver, or where there is simply too much traffi c to allow you to concentrate on the task at hand.

• Entertain you without teaching you, which is better than a lot of lessons you might get.

• Try to inculcate style and body mannerisms (positions) instead of basic skills and natural movements.

• Let you get cold.• Not inspire you to try your hardest or to out-do yourself.• Try to teach you fi nal forms – something which took him fi ve years to master.• Leave you frustrated, tired, defeated – with no sense of accomplishment, a feeling

of time wasted, without fun, joy, or progress.

Editor’s Note:Reprinted from archival information

provided by Ted Pitcher


Alpine - Mike Hafer, Alpine VPTurn Mechanics and the Alpine Level 2, 3 Exams

If you are thinking about taking the Level 2 or Level 3 exam this winter, or are a trainer or coach re-sponsible for preparing candidates for an exam, now is the time to think about certification.

Whether we are the coaches or the candidates, we all play a role in improving our teaching and riding at our home mountain. In order to be successful with the modular format at Level 2 and 3, I would like to revisit the past season. The pass rate on the Skiing Module was higher than usual, while not as many candidates were successful with the Teaching portion of the exam. It appears most candidates were coached to pass the Skiing Modules, and if successful, then began their training towards the Teaching Modules. A common thread for many of the candidates was the lack of understanding of turn mechanics and how to present the information. I am speaking of the fundamentals of ski teaching. If we understand the what, why’s, and how’s of a turn we will have the ability to break a turn down and put together a logical progression that will improve movements. This level of understanding will allow us to process new information more easily and make for a better coaching experience during the modules.

From the coaching side, I believe the training needs to en-compass all aspects of ski teaching throughout the year. This will develop all skills simultaneously. One idea is to coach your athletes and then immediately or shortly after, have them present the same information back to the group. This will help solidify the new information and they will take ownership of their new movements. I am also a firm believer in weekly tech talks. This is a great setting to wrap up those on hill questions that take more than a chair ride to answer. This is also a great opportunity to review video of your training group and or some high level athletes in order to develop their eye for movement analysis. Tech talks will also create a stronger bond throughout the group.

For the candidates: the goal for your training is obvious, to pass the modules. When you begin your training, watch and listen to your coach. The reason this person is a coach is because they are a very successful teacher. Note how they put together a logical progression. Watch how they move the group. Do they give you clear and concise feedback on your skiing? I bet they

do. Take note, these are some key elements to a good teaching presentation.

Organize study sessions with your group. This is the place to ask specific questions related to the level of certification. One topic that I recommend is turn mechanics throughout the phases of the turn. This would be a great topic for an early season tech talk! The more you understand about turn mechanics, the more you will learn on the hill.

Some recommended reading material would be Core Con-cepts, the Alpine Technical Manual, the appropriate study guide (posted as a pdf file on the division’s web page), and the Childrens’ Instructional Manual.

The Level 1 Module is slightly different in that it encompasses skiing, movement analysis, and teaching all in one module. The best way to prepare for Level 1 is to get out there and teach. The on-hill practice will be your most effective learning experience. I recommend reading the materials listed above. Bring an open mind to the Level 1 module because you may receive a good deal of feedback. It is meant to be a learning experience as well as a certification process.

As you train for certification, I think it is important to remem-ber the old adage, “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” It is easy to lose sight of this. I know I have done so in the past. Successful or not, the exam experience provided me a better understanding of our sport and more importantly, I have made lifelong friendships. Good luck with your endeavors this season and enjoy the process!

Last season’s results showed many Level 2 and Level 3 candidates passed the Skiing Module, but not the Teaching Module.


Education - Finlay Torrance, Education ChairmanPSIA/AASI Offers Education Credits Option

Well, it was a lean Thanksgiving and the Snow Gods haven’t been cooperating. Tell the snowmakers at your area thanks. Tech Team training was very productive and while I was in Mammoth I got the ball rolling for the 2007 Convention, scheduled for April 27-29.

We have secured a lodging contact that has about 600 beds available at several condo sites. Friends and co-workers can group together in condos and the cost can be greatly reduced, and hopefully result in some good times and good relationships. Another bonus: if you book for 5 days you can receive 2 extra days lodging free to extend your stay before or after convention.

The contact is:Steve Norton, Reservation managerwww.Mammothreservationbureau.comoffice 800-462-5571 x 224local 760-934-2528fax 760-934-2317

Mention my name and PSIA convention and receive an additional 10% discount for early bookings, so if you know you’re attending book now!

I have secured a boot-fitting seminar thanks to Pat Medau

Education, “You can’t progress in America today

without one”!True, however, in the snow sports

industry it’s not about the school or uni-versity you attend, but more importantly the ”lessons” you learn at your home resort, the clinics you take and the books you read.

A great education in this industry should be based on the study of the best instructors in your school. Try to ride/ski with them, watch them teach, and learn how they make teaching and tactical deci-sions. It is also important to search for as many sources of information as possible. In all professions, the top pros have the most current and relevant information. Some of this information is gained by peer interaction but most is the result of study. AASI/PSIA have produced some excellent educational materials over the years but if this is the only training in-

formation you are prepared to research you will be setting your personal training bar too low.

Almost all the educational material developed by international snow sports associations are relevant and worthy of study. There is no one way to teach or move, only appropriate and inappropri-ate teaching and movements in any given situation and snow condition.

As the education chair person for the AASI/PSIA-W, I am always looking for in-novative ways to coach the sport of sliding on snow. As your representative, I’m recep-tive to you the membership when you try to advance your knowledge in the quest to be a better teacher and rider. I admire people who look to develop themselves by using all the resources available to them. A great education in my opinion starts with good trainers but is only possible when a student (instructor) is willing to look outside of the readily accessible material.

The education Chairperson (me) is re-sponsible for assessing and validating the accepted process for gaining educational credits. I encourage you to look outside the box of PSIA/AASI and your preferred discipline to gain educational credits by participating in Adaptive, Telemarking, Snowboarding, Alpine, and kids. It’s all good.

In addition you may be granted edu-cational credits by participating in non AASI/PSIA events. These include, but are not limited to, ISIA recognized courses, USSCA coaching clinics and certification, avalanche awareness clinics and relevant first-aid, CPR and EMT training.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to petition for credits for any educational enterprise. I will seriously consider any petition, because our associa-tion wants to develop professionals in the snow sports industry.

As always may the force be with you.

from Tahoe Boot and Bike works and am working on some celebrity clinicians. Any Tech Team or ED Core members that have specific clinic ideas for convention can contact me at the email address below. The earlier you get your topics in, the better chance you have of securing a spot. Please include a basic outline and level ability of your clinic,

We will again be holding a silent auction to benefit the Sodergren Foundation scholarship programs. If you can supply any items for the silent auction, we can generate more grants and solidify the “Soddy” foundation base. Anything is appreciated. It doesn’t have to be ski specific, (ie. golf, tennis, glider rides, clothing, etc.). Look in this issue for more information on the changes going on in our Foundation and its fundraising efforts.

Once again, thanks for all the volunteer sup-port from the membership. This is your event and you keep it going. Feel free to contact me if you want to help. Pray for white mountains

and blue skies!Ski ya later, Weavin Steven [email protected]

2007Convention

LodgingPackage

AnnouncedAt

MammothClinic Ideas,

Auction ItemsAlso Sought


Over the past two months, Truckee-based Streamline Consult-ing Group has been busy investigating the possibility of growing the PSIA-W Education Foundation/Soddy Fund. Streamline has been interviewing PSIA-W Board members, PSIA division staff and researching comparable organizations to gather the best idea on how to grow the Foundation.

In addition, Streamline traveled down to Mammoth on November 16, 2006 to hear from the Ski School Directors (and do a few turns with the group) on how best to expand the Foundation. Approximately 40 ski school directors and various industry pros were in attendance.

This group was asked the following questions in order to iden-tify key benefits and strategies for the Foundation expansion. Results of the brainstorming session are listed below.

1. What are the key benefits of (PSIA/AASI) Membership for the individual?• Nationally recognized Certification and Training

Association provides standards for training and professional-ism that are recognized and transferable on a National and, to some degree, an International level.

• Education Through published materials, training courses and interac-tions with PSIA/AASI staff and clinician.

• RelationshipsCamaraderie and friendships, as well as opportunities for networking and career advancement.

• Personal BenefitsOpportunities for increased pay, access to deals and dis-counts.

2. What are the key benefits of PSIA membership for the ski school?• Quality Training Program

Consistency and standardization, sharing of teaching and training information between schools, ability to check professional status of applicants.

• Risk ReductionIndependent certification reduces exposure to liability.

• Good for businessIncreased credibility, public perception of value. Improved staff retention and longevity.

3. If the Education Foundation had additional resources, how would you like to see it spent? • Broaden opportunities for Scholarships. Categories might

include:- Subsidized education materials (videos, manuals) - Subsidized educational costs/ exam costs- Support for members delinquent on their education

credits- Support by discipline (i.e. Adaptive, Children, Nordic)- Instructor retention

• Marketing the “Profession”- Promote public awareness of the Profession. Offer guest

speakers, professional training, business skill training - Focus on Heritage – keep the history- Enhanced Training- Explore multi-media offerings, rotating Clinicians, In-

ternational Exchange• Improve Fundraising Operations

- Creating a menu of giving options - Reward donors

Streamline also surveyed the membership at December’s Fall Rally/ Ed Core event. The next steps in developing the Founda-tion/Soddy Fund will be forming anew Foundation Advisory Council, exploring options for fundraising, and completing a Summary Report on feasibility findings for Board review in February.

“Though still in the investigative phase, we believe there is a lot of passion and great ideas coming from with-in PSIA-W to really take the Foundation to the next level,“ said Streamline principal, Seana Doherty. “We really see the Foundation as a key membership benefit that could potentially strengthen all aspects of PSIA-W.”

If you have any questions or would like information about the development of the Foundation, please contact Seana Doherty at Streamline Consulting Group, 530-582-6762, [email protected].

For more information about Streamline Consulting Group, please visit www.streamlineconsultinggroup.com.

Education Foundation / Soddy Fund NewsFeasibility Study Update from Steamline Consulting Group

Camaraderie and friendships were listed as one of the ben-efits of PSIA/AASI membership.


Nordic Notes - Tor Brown, Nordic Team, PSIA-W ExaminerAn Update on the Nordic National Team, Season Events

Greetings to all the members! Hope-fully there’s snow on the ground and the season is now underway. There have been a few changes in leadership on the Nordic side this season and I am confident that everyone will appreciate the great work that will get done by all this winter (and probably some fun too!).

Two years ago, when I was selected to the National Nordic Demo Team, I felt a little in the dark about what the National Team did and thought about. I soon found I was not the only one. So one of the ways we (the National Team) have begun attempting to break down this gap is by writing an “Annual Manual” at our fall team training at Cop-per Mountain. By the time you read this, the “Ann Mann” should be published on the National website (www.psia.org, click on “Nordic). It is an unpolished and unabashed compilation of what the Team is thinking about, working on and progressing towards. This year’s Annual

Manual topics include telemark boot fitting, binding mounting, American style skiing, and a great list of track ideas taken from last winter’s Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. So if any of these subjects interest you, please take the time to go on line and read our Annual Manual.

As far as events this year, I hope as many of you as possible made it to the Nordic Symposium, our Western Division kick off event for the season.

The other important event is the Nordic Track Examiner’s College at West Yel-lowstone held during Thanksgiving week. This year we are tackling the job of revis-ing our National standards. We are always striving to make our American Teaching System the most up to date, useful system out there. We have taken a strong look at what USSA currently uses to train their coaches and athletes. We have looked in-ternationally at what other nations focus on in their skiing and teaching. And we have done our best to bring some of these

most up to date findings in line with our National Track Standards. I am confident that the Nordic Track Examiner’s College will produce a revised set of standards that meet our current expectations and help both examiners and students succeed for many seasons to come. The “new” Nation-al Track Standards will be posted on line as well, once adopted by all the divisions and passed by the National Board.

Interski, which is held every three years, is a ‘convention’ of National Teams from many different countries. Interski will take place this winter in South Korea. Due to the international climate between the United States and North Korea, PSIA/AASI will not be attending the event. But the Nordic Team still wants to bring home and integrate some international instruc-tor perspective so we organized our own trip to Japan in early February where we will be exchanging teaching ideas with the Japanese Telemark Association. We look forward to bringing back and sharing with the membership some valuable new ideas and approaches to telemark instruction.

Another great event is the annual Bear Valley Telemark Festival, February 8-11. Hopefully you are all aware we have the nation’s best tele festival in our own back yard! This winter, the Team regretfully will not be in Bear Valley due to our Japan trip but please make it to the Festival and have a lot of fun skiing with top local instruc-tors, several of whom are former National Team members. After the Festival there are two Spring events that you should add to your calendar: The Nordic Ren-dezvous, April 6-8 at Big Sky in Montana and the PSIA-W Convention April 27-29 in Mammoth. The Nordic Rendezvous provides an opportunity to meet and ski with National Team members (and be the first to get the new info we gain from Japan). Both events will include some great backcountry trips.

So check out the Annual Manual and then get yourself to Bear Valley, Montana and Mammoth. I wish everyone a fun and successful winter!National Nordic Team member Tor Brown, photo courtesy of Fischer.


PSIA Rocky Mountain

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Get yours at: PSIA-RM.org

Fresh IN-TELE-GENCE !

An Educational Telemark DVD

970-879-8335

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Submitted by Peter MayfieldOver Thanksgiving week, our local examiners - Urmas Fra-

nosch, Sally Jones, and Peter Mayfield - joined Examiners and PSIA National Nordic Team members from around the country to enjoy the world-famous ski trails in West Yellowstone, Mon-tana. Their purpose was to update and unify national examina-tion standards. The PSIA Nordic Team spearheaded an astound-

ing event, also creat-ing an opportunity to bring the “PSIA Ski Team” of exam-iners/clinic leaders together with the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team coaches to look at how the two organizations could better work together to foster standards all could agree on and im-prove ski education at all levels.

The last time a national track event of this magnitude occurred was in No-vember of 1992. Ralph Thornton, a long-time Cross

Country DECL from Choteau, Montana, remembers the tribe came together for many of the same reasons, not to mention howling at the moon with fellow nords night after night. He noted the discussions back then had a fair amount of discord between divisions.

As Ralph reflected on this year’s event though, he commented, “I am impressed with people working together. We argued, no, discussed. But not like in the past.”

In this spirit of cooperation, our modern day group began looking at a draft copy of the Track Matrix of cross country skiing standards, comparing the new, six component PSIA Skills Model with what USSA is using, a simplified three part skills model. We enjoyed a collaborative effort with Pat Casey and Matt Whitcomb, coaches from the US Ski Team. Our new three-part model includes Body Position, Timing, and Propul-sion. These components are a mirror image of what USSA is using to produce the best Nordic racers in the land.

To further refine the Track Matrix, we dove into the nitty gritty of the Nordic Team’s first draft, which lists descriptors for the various levels of certification. There is nothing like a roomful of ski instructors to over-analyze what many consider to be the simple act of sliding on snow. But at the same time, everyone

Cross Country Examiners Update National Standardsrecognized the importance of mutually agreed upon measurable and attainable standards.

If you’ve never experienced the ritual of West Yellowstone’s Fall Camps, it’s a Nordic skier’s paradise. The streets are filled with Cross Country skiers and racers of all stripes, abilities, and ages on their way to the trailhead, skinny skis in hand. Junior skiers and elite racers whiz by on the trails. Manufacturers and reps stand by at the trailhead with new equipment to demo and custom wax jobs to keep your skis fast. Hundreds of Nords, completely focused and immersed in upping their skills and fitness, fill the Rendezvous Trail system. Surprisingly, amid all this distraction, we managed to stay on our feet, avoid being flattened by serious, gun-toting nords (biathletes) and other racers, and remain on task. Days consisted of skiing and many hours of hashing through the details that would generate and clarify the Track Matrix.

We came to consensus on a new set of certification standards that we believe will clarify and standardize the exam process across all of the divisions, thus improving the experience and outcomes for participants. With that said, there is no better time to get involved in the PSIA Track/XC Certification process. Join us for the latest and greatest from both the PSIA and USSA track worlds. You will learn lots, round out your certification, and experience the exhilaration only the free heel can bring. See you on the tracks!Now is a great time to learn about

the PSIA track and cross country certification programs. There is a wealth of experience and cooperation going on behind the scenes that can benefit you. (Photo: Mark Nadell)


John personified the sport of snow-boarding…free spirited and passionate. A true pioneer of the sport, he was hik-ing and riding the peaks of Tahoe and Truckee back when most resorts did not allow snowboarding. No matter what the conditions, John was always there to inspire people to ride.

He used to say, “It may be raining, but it still beats lots of other things you could be doing.”

In the early 90’s, John was splitting time between a desk job in Sacramento, and teaching and riding on the weekends.

A powerful personal incident caused John to re-evaluate his life. John’s father suffered a stroke the day he retired. After that, John was determined that his job must provide personal satisfaction, and moved to Donner Summit to run the Donner Ski Ranch Snowboard School. He later worked as a supervisor at the snowboard school at Alpine Meadows.

He was committed to the proliferation of the sport and his involvement with PSIA/AASI as a snowboard instructor/trainer was the avenue he chose to ac-complish his goal. He was in the very first wave of early riders to earn his gold pin as a snowboard instructor. His strength was his ability to inspire his students through

In Memory of: John VanMeterA Free-Spirit, Passionate Pioneer Who Personified Snowboarding

energy and enthusiasm, and he was always looking to the next generation of riders to inspire him. Competent, yet humble, he was ideally suited to be a great instructor, trainer and mentor. He was a pleasure to work with… you could never find a more positive and even-keeled individual.

As a paraglider pilot, he found the same serenity in the air as on the snow. After several years of flying, John began teach-ing in 1996, at first for a school in San

By Elianne FurtneyWe’ve all heard the phrase “check for

understanding” and how it is a critical part of the Teaching Model. Checking for understanding involves more than simply asking your class “Does that make sense?” or “Any questions? – No? Let’s go!” Often, even if your students are totally lost and confused, no one wants to be the “dumb” one who says, “Actually, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Instead they nod and stay silent, hoping to figure it out on the next run. Checking for understanding involves more than just asking if everyone gets it.

Imagine you’ve just delivered a bril-

‘Know What I Mean?’ Checking for Understandingliant technical description of a critical move to your class. Are any of your students staring at you with a blank look of incomprehension? A friend of mine likes to call this look “fish face.” It is the look a goldfish has, bulging eyes staring vacantly and mouth mindlessly opening and closing.

Although fish face can generally be avoided by keeping your descriptions con-cise and resisting the temptation to over-teach, no matter how eloquent you are there will always be those who just don’t get it. Even if they could understand you, they may be incapable of paying attention long enough or are simply overloaded

with too much information.Watch your students’ posture and de-

meanor. Fish face is only one of the signs of incomprehension. Are they tapping their poles, shuffling their feet, looking off into the distance at others riding by? Maybe you’ve bored them beyond endur-ance by rambling on and on, or repeating things they’ve heard before, or maybe they just suffer from ADD and can’t sit still. Whatever the cause, they probably aren’t really “getting it” and you need to move this student in order to re-engage their interest. This type of student is probably more of a visual or kinesthetic learner (Continued on page 11)

Francisco, then independently as Wing-trip Paragliding. As with snowboarding, he loved teaching as much as he loved flying solo. He died July 8, 2006, in a paragliding accident, which also took the life of his tandem student, Travis Kolvet of Fernley, Nevada. Both men were natu-ral-born teachers, determined to squeeze every drop of goodness out of life then happily share it with others.

Submitted by Lori Van Meter, Bill Dietz


and needs to see and do the movement in order to “get” it.

Another common problem is the analytical overachiever. Maybe the stu-dent is attentively listening, but they are desperate to perfectly execute everything you teach them. They may not even be aware of it when they reach the knowl-edge saturation point, but you should be. Sometimes the student will lull you into giving them too much information because they soak it up like a sponge and ask pertinent and insightful questions. And yet, when it comes time to perform, all of a sudden the great progress you’ve

been making comes to a screeching halt, often leaving them worse off than when you started the lesson.

Even if they understand you conceptu-ally, the body can only assimilate so many new movements in one session. It is up to you to immediately stop the carnage and save the person’s learning experience. When you see performance suffering, it is crucial that you rein in the student before frustration builds to a crippling level, leav-ing the student disappointed, unhappy, and much less likely to tip. It is your job to quickly step in and either take the student back to the last successful step or present an alternative to the drill or terrain that

you know they will be able to do well. Take all of the responsibility on yourself, with humor if possible, and convince the student that their failure is all your fault (which ultimately, it probably is). After experiencing another successful run, they may forget all about their brief lapse in performance.

You just can’t count on your students to come out and tell you whether or not they understand what you are trying to teach them. Learning to look for the physical signs of incomprehension gives “checking for understanding” its full and effective meaning and will give both you and your students better results.

‘Know What I Mean?’ Checking for Understanding(Continued from page 10)

Carl Underkoffler - PSIA-W Executive VP, Member Schools Chair

Catch the Buzz: Industry Events Generate ExcitementPSIA-W held its annual member school

meeting on Nov 13, 2006. Every member school was asked to send a representative. Over 40 leaders from twenty-five different schools were in attendance. It was great to see the turnout and get the creative juices flowing.

The attendees collectively worked on brain-storming ideas to better use our Education Foundation & Sodegren Foun-dation. Many great ideas came out of the session and I am confident that positive things will come out of it. We received information from Heidi Ettlinger on her “Gearing to Go Guide.” We also discussed the new format for Level 1 certification this season and were given information on new Snowboard procedures for the year. Craig Albright shared the newly released “Go with a Pro” DVD produced by Na-tional, and it was very well received. The day was capped of with recess at 2:30 for skiing and riding Mammoth’s Chair 1. I would like to thank all of you who at-tended and for those of you that were not there, all I can say is you missed out.

Recently, I participated in some other en-lightening activities - PSIA-W Alpine Tech Team Training; AASI-W Snowboard Tech Team Training; and LA Ski Dazzle.

The PSIA-W Alpine Tech Team Training session was held at Mammoth on Nov.14-15. The group of educators is reviewing a Trainer’s and Examiner’s Manual. This should be available on-line very soon. Time was spent discussing new procedures for the Level 1. Every participant worked on presentations and communication skills, as well as self-im-provement.

AASI-W Tech Team held its training at Mammoth on Nov. 16. The group worked toward developing more consis-tency in the examination process, and rider improvement. The snowboarders are also working on a Trainer’s and Examiner Manual that should be available soon.

If you have never attended the “L.A. Ski Dazzle,” it is quite a show. You can get your fill of information on most western resorts and pick out some new gear for a good bargain. Many resorts were offering specials and handing out information, lift tickets and of course, stickers. I was amazed at the amount of people that wan-dered through the Expo; some knowing what they wanted and others filling up bags with promotional information.

All of the booths and retailers present had a great attitude despite the tempera-ture outside hitting 85 degrees.

As I returned home I was thinking about how lucky I am to be in this in-dustry. Watching first hand the energy of our division members working to plan out the future, and seeing resorts working with each other gave me a buzz. It seems there is a great sense of community in this industry, whether it is the day-to-day instructor, ski school management or the resort owners. Everyone has a desire to help, a willingness to listen for improve-ment sake, and everyone wants to make things better. It is a great reminder for me of why I am in this business: People, Relationships, Experiences and Fun.

Have a great winter and I look forward to sharing some turns with you.


Maybe It’s the Equipment or the Setup - Remember BasicsBy Jimmy Smith, Adaptive Chair

As the 2006-07 season gets into full swing, now is a good time to look back at our humble beginnings as instructors in order to better serve our clients of today. Regardless of the number of certifications you have, the number of lessons you have taught, or the countless ski careers you have helped to start, starting each lesson with the basics can keep the evil stuff from creeping into your day.

Early in my career, I recall having a mono-ski student who was having trouble making right turns. We worked all morn-ing long to get the right turn to match the smooth left turn he was making, but nothing I could think of made the situ-ation better. Try as I might, nothing was working for me. As the morning wore on, I started to become frustrated with the fact that my bag o’ tricks was not vast enough to save the world and the fact that this particular lesson could not end fast enough.

Later, as I sat with my lunch before me, another instructor asked me how the morning had treated me. My response was less than enthusiastic and it outlined the problems we had with the student’s right turn, and that I could not correct the issue. I was also agonizing over the fact that I was scheduled with him for the afternoon as well and I was out of ideas. She looked at me and said, “Maybe it’s the equipment or the setup.”

Before the afternoon lesson started, I brought the student and the mono-ski into the equipment room and started from scratch setting him up in the rig. I quickly caught on to the fact that his left leg was 3” longer than the right leg. Without modification, aligning the feet in the foot tray caused the right hip to move forward in the mono-ski bucket, which resulted in him being off balance to the left. This body position was great to help with the left turn, but it made initiating a right turn very difficult.

I solved the problem by stacking and duct taping wood blocks under the right foot until the knees were level and the hips

were even in the bucket. This fix allowed the student to be balanced from side to side in the mono-ski as well as be able to achieve a flat ski at will. It also allowed the student to initiate his right turn with ease and we enjoyed a fine afternoon on the hill.

I originally missed the leg length differ-ence because the student had the ability to transfer in to the mono-ski and strap himself in. After the student was in the

rig, I took the time to dowel the ski and verify he was balanced fore and aft, but I failed to be sure that he was balanced side to side. Any mono-ski instructor can tell you that this concept falls under Mono-ski 101 and it is one of the most basic mistakes you can make. But as I found out the hard way, sometimes it’s the basics that make the greatest impact.

For sit-down and stand-up skiers alike, the basic elements of equipment set-up involve the skier being balanced fore and aft and side to side. The skier should be on a flat ski or skis when in a balanced, athletic stance and should not have to work to get there or to maintain their balance. If a student’s disability or body configuration contributes to a problem in balance, you must take steps to either eliminate the issue or reduce the impact as much as possible. Taking the time to verify the equipment setup is absolutely crucial to success.

The concept of “Maybe it’s the equip-ment or the setup” is something that has stayed with me in every lesson I have taught since. We all need to remember the basics and address balance in our equipment setup, as well as throughout the course of our lessons. Doing so can make the difference in the student making a good turn, or not making a turn at all.

Taking the time to verify the equipment setup is absolutely crucial to success. Don’t overlook this in your lessons.

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The Western Childrens’ ProgamAlmost 200 Instructors Certified Since 2000; Here Are the Basics

Western Division has been offering a Childrens’ Specialist 1 certification pro-gram since 2000, and the Level 2 since 2003/04. In that time, we have certified over 137 instructors for the CS1, and 59 at the CS2 Level.

The program was instituted with the recognition of the importance of Chil-drens’ lessons to the overall health of a snowsports school. At many schools, childrens’ lessons comprise over 50% of the lessons given, and some of the highest paid instructors in the Division are actu-ally in the childrens’ schools.

The CS1 Course:The CS1 course is designed to assist ski

and snowboard instructors with the basics of giving great childrens’ lessons at the Beginning and Novice skill levels.

During the two-day course, coaches are introduced to the CAP Model (cogni-tive, affective and physical), which helps coaches assess their student’s developmen-tal capabilities. They will be familiarized with typical movements commonly seen in childrens’ lessons and will be provided with an overview of the ideal movements that we would like to see children display in their riding.

Finally, attendees will explore creative ideas for lesson plans that provide a fun and memorable learning experience.

The atmosphere is very interactive with participants sharing their teaching ideas with others. The CS1 is a great warm up and prep for the Level 2 exam.

The requirements for attending this course are membership in the Western Division of PSIA/AASI. A Level 1 Certifi-cation in your discipline is recommended. If you do not have a Level 1 Certification, you should have at least an understand-ing of teaching and riding of your sport to that level.

At the end of the course, each participant will be given a typical childrens’ lesson teaching scenario. They will then be asked to develop a lesson plan using the principles they have been given during the course.

The CS1 focuses on Beginning and Novice level childrens’ lessons, age 4-14. For the Alpine course, the material is focused from Beginning through Basic Christie levels with an emphasis on effec-tive instruction for 4-6 and 7-12 year old students. For the Snowboarding course, the material is focused from Beginning through Basis Turns.

CS2 Course:The CS2 is a more advanced and in

depth program focusing on teaching Ad-vanced and Intermediate students.

The CS2 is a three-day course. Suc-cessful participants will be able to dem-onstrate their proficiency in designing and implementing creative, appropriate and movement oriented lessons plans for children 4-14 years old, with the emphasis on age 7 and up.

Participants will gain an in-depth un-derstanding of the CAP Model utilizing previous lesson experiences. Real vs. ideal movement patterns at higher skill levels will be reviewed. Creative and experiential lesson planning will be emphasized. This

course is very interactive; you will get feedback from your clinician as well as your peers.

Due to the upper level teaching content covered in the CS2 program, a Level 2 Certification is required to attend the course. The CS2 course involves a lot of skiing/riding, much of it off-piste. Be ready to ski/ride and bring gear appropri-ate for the whole mountain. Many partici-pants have used the CS2 as a learning tool and warm up for the Level 3 exam.

Participants must demonstrate the ability to develop an appropriate and/or creative lesson plan to successfully com-plete the course and receive a Childrens’ Specialist Pin with the PSIA or AASI logo. Each participant gives a full presentation lasting 30-45 minutes, with follow up feedback from the group.

The Workbook:The base reference book for the courses

is the Childrens’ Instructional Manual. The Instructional Manual is available for purchase for $ 19.95 on the National website, (www.psia.org), or through our Western Division office.

Guides and workbooks for the courses are located on the Western Division web-site, (www.psia-w.org) and can be printed at any time, free of charge. Click on ‘Instructional Home.’ Completing these workbooks help the participants obtain the majority of the theoretical informa-tion that they need prior to attending the course.

Both the CS1 and the CS2 are taught separately for both Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding. Instructors specializing in Nordic instruction are welcome to join the Alpine courses where material will be adapted to their needs.

These courses are a great way to polish your teaching skills. They are also a great venue to share your teaching ideas and get new ones. Participants should be ready to put in some effort but will be rewarded with a fun and challenging experience. Hope to see you there!

Jack is one of only a handful of members who have attained Level III certification status in three disciplines (Alpine/Snow-

board/Telemark), and has been a leader in ski and snowboard instruction and the ski industry for over three decades. Jack ac-tively served the Western Division as an Examiner/Trainer, Board member, Certification VP and Education VP for many years. During this time Jack served on many National Commit-tees, culminating with his service as the Chair of the Steering Committee in the late 90’s. Jack is currently the Vice President of Hu-man Resources at Mammoth Moun-tain and still teaches every chance he gets at Mammoth.

During his ten-ure Jack authored countless articles, manuals and hand-books both divi-sionally and nationally. He may be best known for his work on the “Universal Plumbing Code,” an analogy he successfully used to get divisions to agree on minimum exam standards, no easy task.

The Association honored Jack with the “Educational Excel-lence” award in 2004.


The Western Division members profiled on the next two pages were honored for their life-long contributions to the snowsports industry at the PSIA/AASI National Fall meeting in Lakewood Co., Oct. 2006. We would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to them.

Marcel has been a member of PSIA for over 40 years. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, he moved to Yosemite in the mid-

50’s and worked as an Instructor at Badger Pass. Since 1967, Marcel has been the Ski School Director at Lee Canyon, a small ski area just outside of Las Vegas, during which time Marcel has introduced tens of thousands of people to the sport of ski-ing. In addition to his many other interests, Marcel is an avid mountaineer, and once worked as an assistant to Ansel Adams. Marcel has been a tireless supporter of PSIA/AASI.

Marcel Barel Jack Copeland

Rusty has been an integral part of the Reno/ North

Tahoe ski scene since the late 1950’s and a member of PSIA for nearly 50 years. Over that time, Rusty has touched thousands of lives as a Junior Coach and Ski Instructor at Mt. Rose. Rusty continues to teach daily rac-ing and high performance skiing clinics and is helping Western Division develop the Senior Credential pro-gram. Rusty reports that he currently skiing on two tita-nium knees, “but both of my hips are still originals and working.” He embodies our vision of “a lifelong passion for the mountain experience.”


Continued from page 14

Rusty Crook

Greg has been a member of PSIA since 1972. During this time Greg was a professional “freestyle” skier, instructor,

snowsports school Director, Examiner, Chief Examiner and served as the PSIA-W President for four years.

Greg Felsch

Katherine was a leader in the field Adaptive Sports business for three decades. She was instrumental in the development

and success of the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School at Alpine Meadows and guided it to become one of the leading Adaptive Schools in the nation. Katherine served on the PSIA-W BOD for 12 years, and served as Na-tional Adaptive Chair-person for six years. She was the lead author of the first Adaptive Teach-ing Manual published by PSIA. She also worked to implement the certification process for adaptive instructors.

Katherine has retired from running Tahoe Adaptive and is raising her sons Zeke (8) and Taber (2) to be avid skiers and instructors.

Bruce Sato was a leader in Snow-

board Instruction for 20 years. After teach-ing skiing for many seasons in Pennsylva-nia, he moved out west to Mammoth. He soon took up snowboarding, a sport in its infancy and became a leader in the development of Western’s snowboard certification. Bruce served one term on the PSIA Snowboard Team and continued to be involved with examining in the Western Division until his untimely death this summer in a kite-boarding accident near Reno, NV.

Bruce will be greatly missed by his colleagues and is owed a debt for his contributions to our Association.

Bruce Sato(Awarded Posthumously)

Katherine Hayes-Rodiguez


NonprofitU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #2325

San Diego, CA

PSIA - Western Division - AASI9709 Hwy. 267, Truckee, CA 96161(530) 587-7642, Fax: (530) 587-4273Email: [email protected] site: www.psia-w.orgForwarding service requested

PSIA-W/AASI-W Board of Directors and Officers2006-2007

OfficersPresident Neil Bussiere (08)Executive Vice President Carl Underkoffler (07)Alpine Vice President Mike Hafer (08)Snowboard Vice President Ken Mattson (07)PSIA Representative Craig Albright (08)Past President Dave Achey (06)

DirectorsCraig Albright (08), Neil Bussiere (08), Heidi Ettlinger (08), Steve Evenson (09), Elianne Furtney (09), Chris Fellows (09), Mike Hafer (08), Greg Lyons (07), Ken Mattson (07), Ted Pitcher (09), Finlay Torrance (07), Carl Underkoffler (07).

Nordic Chairperson - Urmas FranoschAdaptive Chairperson - Jimmy Smith

Creating a top-notch snow sport adventure is challenging especially when combining a group of students with differ-ent levels of experience, varying weather conditions, and the readiness and motivation you bring to your students. Teaching others how to ski or snowboard allows you to share the excitement and adventure that snow sports can offer. However, applying the 4 “E” Formula to your cur-rent teaching model may be the recipe you need to create an unforgettable experience.

• Expertise – Share your knowledge and give your students confidence that you know what you’re talking about. This is an opportunity to establish trust and reassurance that you will be safely guiding them on this adventure.

• Experience – Connecting with your students is easier when you can relate to their experiences and vice versa. Using funny stories or simply how you became an in-structor reiterates your dependability and reliability as

Expertise * Experience * Enthusiasm * EngagementHow To Apply the 4 E’s for Top-Notch Coaching

By Heidi Ettlinger, Publicity and Advisory Committee

their instructor.

• Enthusiasm – Think about what makes you want to share your passion for snow sports with our guests? Instill confidence and convey excitement to your mixed group of thrill seekers and comfort cruisers.

• Engagement – How do you interact, communicate, and develop rapport with your students? Whether this is their first or fifteenth lesson, leaving them with a lasting impression they’ll remember 5 years from now is key in encouraging them to return.

The corner posts of a well packaged lesson are expertise, experi-ence, enthusiasm, and engagement. They support a memorable and lasting impression with new and seasoned skiers and riders. This genuine and meaningful presentation of snow sports will hopefully have our guests heading back to the mountain for another day.

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