FALLEdge2009

President’s Message

Finding Your Roots

We all have individual stories and experiences which define our respective

journeys through the snowsport ranks. At some point along the way these snowsport origins began to intertwine with the roots of the organiza-tion we now call home, PSIA/AASI-W. A strong organization like ours is rooted in its past and the collective makeup of those individuals who preceded us. Among the most distinguished of these individuals is Nic Fiore. Sadly, Nic passed on this past June and we should all take a moment to reflect on his exemplary list of contributions.

As an instructor, administrator, Executive Director and visionary Nic was instrumental to the founding and growth of the Far West Ski Association and its transformation into PSIA/AASI-W as we know it today. Based in Yosem-ite for over 55 years, Nic became an ambassa-dor for the outdoors and an icon across the industry. In recognition, Yosemite National Park is planning a public memorial this December to acknowledge his lifelong contribution to the area and celebrate his life. I would like to encourage our membership to acknowledge and celebrate the life and contributions of Nic and his late wife Midge this winter on Saturday, December 5th at the Curry Village Amphitheatre. See inset for information. Hope you can make it.

As for the current Board of Directors, Elianne (El) Furtney, Ted Pitcher, and Steve Evenson were re-elected to three-year terms on the Board this past Spring. We welcome

Important By-Laws Information . . . . . . . .pg .2

Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pgs . 10-11

Teaching Kids With Props . . . pgs . 12-13

Sodergren Scholarship Recipients . . . . . . pg .17

Fall Line . . . . . . pgs .18-19

Kemp Dowdy to the Board as our new Convention Chairperson, replacing Chris Fellows on the Board who served with distinction in a variety of roles for fifteen years. The current slate of Directors has been hard at work to redraft our divisional By-Laws into a comprehensive document which will allow the Board

(cont’d on pg. 15)

Neil Bussiere, PSIA/AASI-W President

By Neil Bussiere, PSIA/AASI-W President

Fall 2009

Farewell Nic Fiore

December 1, 1920-June 16th, 2009Nic passed away peacefully last Spring surrounded

by friends and family. Nic Fiore was a pioneer in devel-oping the standards of ski instruction in California and Nevada. He helped found the Far West Ski Instructors Association in the 40’s and 50’s which was reorganized as the Western Division of the Professional Ski Instructors of America. He served as Executive Director across the two Associations for nearly 30 years.

A memorial to celebrate his life will be held Dec. 5, 2009 at Curry Village Amphitheatre in Yosemite Valley. A large turnout is expected: Reservations required. See http://www.yosemitepark.com/nicfiore.aspx for registra-tion and information. Remembrances in his memory may be made to the Yosemite Fund.

theedge • Fall 2009 Page 2

By Laws 101 By Carl Underkoffler, PSIA/AASI-W Executive Vice President

Your Western Division Board of Directors is in the process of revising the Association By Laws. We are clar-ifying some potentially ambiguous or confusing areas, and are eliminating some information that is ‘procedural’ in nature. Consider this a season long house cleaning project.

The Association By-Laws are the blueprint of how our not-for-profit Corporation operates. The By-Laws spell out the types of memberships we offer, the rights and obligations of membership, required meetings,

etc. Well written By-Laws should not need to be changed often. Instruc-tions for the day to day operations of the Association will be addressed in a “Policies and Procedures” manual.

The Policies and Procedures Manual will be a document that can be changed frequently as conditions dictate. PSIA/AASI-W office staff and Board members are currently working on the various components of the “P&P” manual, including event signup and cancellation poli-cies, exam procedures, certification requirements, etc. This document will be updated on a regular basis as needed.

Here is where all of you come in. We need you to VOTE on the updated version during our Annual Membership meeting on April 17, 2010 at Squaw Valley in conjunction with our Convention. In order for us

to conduct business we need you, the members, to approve the re-written by-laws. It is extremely important for us to have your vote of approval so we can go forward. We expect to post the DRAFT By-Laws on the Western Division web site, www.psia-w.org, so you can review and know what you are approving. While at first glance this document may seem rather ‘dry’ reading, we hope you appreciate the work that has gone into this effort re-baselining the basic principles by which we operate.

Please help us to complete this important job, which will act as a roadmap for decision making for future Boards.

Thank you,

Carl Underkoffler

theedge The Edge is a publication of the The Western Division of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA-W) and the American Association of Snow-board 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 devel-op a standardized system for teach-ing and to unify instructors through-out the country in the disciplines of: Alpine, Nordic, Snowboarding, Adaptive, as well as Backcountry.

The Edge is published three times annually. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors, and are not the policies and opinions of PSIA/AASI Western Division.

For advertising submissions and information, contact our office:PSIA/AASI Western Division9709 Highway 267, Suite B, Truckee, CA. 96161phone (530) 587-7642fax (530) [email protected]

For all membership inquiries, check out our website at www.psia-w.org or contact our office for additional information.

Two websites? As a member, you will regularly use both of the websites listed below. The

National office is located in Lakewood, CO and is the central administrative office for PSIA and AASI. The Western Division, Truckee, CA., covering Cali-fornia and Nevada, publishes this magazine, and is responsible for putting on

certification and education events in our area.

Western Division website: www.psia-w.org • Join as a new member• Learn about our calendar of certification and education events• View types and benefits of membership• Learn about the path to certification in Western Division, including exam

and education materials

National website: www.thesnowpros.org • Log in using your National ID # and access your membership and certification history and renew your membership online • Access promotional offers on ski gear and accessories, Subaru, and other suppliers • Order manuals and accessories • Register for our certification and education events (anticipated, Nov. 2009.)

Season PassWestern Division will again offer our Season Pass, which

gives members discounted registration on most education events on our calendar. At the time of publication, we are still working on

the cost and administrative details. Watch the home page of www.psia-w.org in the next months for information.


Hello everyone. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Kemp Dowdy. I look forward to this upcoming 09-10 winter season trying to fill the big shoes of Steve (Weavin’) Evenson as the PSIA/AASI-W Convention Chair.

This year the convention is heading its way back up to Lake Tahoe. It will be held at Squaw Valley on the weekend of April 16th-18th, 2010. We are excited about what Squaw Valley has to offer our members, great skiing and a variety of options for lodging and activi-ties in one location. While much is still in the planning stages, family members and guests will want to attend this Convention. Squaw will offer ski passes and an assortment of activities while you are involved in your PSIA/AASI clinics. Expect a ‘really nice view’ from our Saturday evening banquet. And I have some ideas to ‘spice up’ the Kick-Off party. Keep an eye on the www.psia-w.org “Spring Convention” page for information. I want to make this Convention as memorable and fun for everyone as possible, but I could use some help. If you have any new and exciting ideas for the parties, clinics, or anything related to Convention, please email me at [email protected].

Let’s have a great 2009-2010 Winter Season!Kemp Dowdy

By Kemp Dowdy Spring Convention 2010 at Squaw

With your help, we will make this Spring Convention 2010 at Squaw one to remember. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.

“Expect a ‘really nice view’ from our Saturday

evening banquet. And I have some ideas to ‘spice

up’ the kick off party.”

– Kemp Dowdy

$105$105$105$ 55$ 70$ 55

2009-10 Renewal Dues

Have I Paid?To check your membership status, look up your

certification record and pay dues online, go to www.thesnowpros.org. Log in using your member ID number which can be found on your Member ID card or above

your name on the “32 Degrees” publication.


Alpine By Elianne Furtney, Alpine Vice President

What’s new with you?

As you look at this year’s calendar you may notice a few changes. Here’s a quick summary of what’s new for us this year: 1. We have a new early Novem-ber indoor clinic “Build your Technical Foundation” 2. Resort Trainer Series: Instead of just one event – Ed Core – we are offering ongoing education for resort trainers at a low cost. Participants should be Level 3 (or 2 in certain cases) and engaged in staff training at their home mountain. We hope to provide Tech Team-type training to a

Mountain biking down a hill

whether on a cross-country or

downhill bike involves the same

tactical skills we employ while

downhill skiing and many of the

same technical skills.

– Elianne Furtney

wider group. In-House Level 1 trainers must attend one day of the series. 3. Level 3 prep clinics will be two days each to al-low for better assimilation of information and more practice time. They are still not mandatory but should be very helpful. 4. SoCal Winter Session: A Fall Rally-like event in the South! Varied topics for both skiers and snow-boarders at Big Bear and Snow Summit in mid- January.

As always check the calendar and event descrip-tions for more info and please sign up two weeks before the event date.

Elianne Furtney

Elianne Furtney. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.

Mountain biking has been my summer passion for a while now and has expanded over the last two summers to include as much downhill lift-served riding as pos-sible. Going downhill on a moun-tain bike (as many of you know) is arguably the best non-snow ski training you can get. Don’t get me wrong, I know that doing squats, box jumps and agility drills will

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

By Elianne Furtney, Alpine Vice President

get your legs in the best possible skiing shape, but I’m talking about more than just physical training. In part there’s what my husband Rob terms “fear train-ing” - keeping your skills and wits sharp amid the adrenaline rush of pushing your personal limits - just like we do while skiing. It is far too easy to relax all summer amid the complacency of beach days and barbeques. Sure you may be running or biking or boating, but are you keeping yourself mentally fit? Mountain biking down a hill whether on a cross-country or downhill bike involves the same tactical skills we employ while downhill skiing and many of the same technical skills. Reading terrain and picking the smoothest (or most fun) line; maintaining dynamic balance while negotiat-ing a variable, often unpredictable route through rocks, loose dirt and sometimes air – these are all

skills we can put to good use in skiing.

Where I find perhaps the most similarities is in the act of turning. Just as in skiing, riding a bike down a hill involves turn after turn, all subject to the same forces and laws as a turn on snow, albeit with a different set of tools. An experience I had this summer truly impressed on me not just the physical similarities of turning a bike or a pair of skis but also the commonalities of how we inter-pret and learn new movements.

Rob brought home the movie “The Tipping Point,” a story of last year’s World Cup Downhill season as told and shown by the sport’s top riders (it is an amazing and inspiring film by the way). As we watched we noticed a recur-ring movement pattern as the rid-ers entered each turn. At first it appeared as if they were

(cont’d on pg. 5)


Alpine Fall EventsLooking for a great start to the 2009-2010 season? Polish your skills and fulfill your educational requirements

Nov. 14, 2009 – Build your Technical Foundation Heavenly – Monday Indoor clinic focusing on the technical aspects of contemporary skiing and the practical application of movement analysis.

December 6-7, 2009 – Fall Rally Mammoth – Sunday - MondayFall Rally is open to all alpine members and will offer a variety of Educational clinic topics at a low cost. You may attend one or both days. Cost is $40 per day, and $10 for a Mammoth lift ticket if needed.

Alpine Resort Trainer SeriesEducational resources for Resort trainers including personal ski improvement, tactics and techniques for staff clinics, and exam standards. These events are open to all interested Level 2&3 certified members. Dec. 6-7 – Mammoth Dec. 13 – Squaw ValleyJan. 10-11 – Snow Summit SoCal Winter Session Feb. 18 – Alpine Meadows

Jan. 6-7 – Mini-Academy with the National D-Team Alpine Meadows – Tuesday - WednesdayLearn from the best! Two days of ski improvement and teaching ideas from National Team members. This event made possible in part by a grant from the PSIA-AASI Education Foundation

Jan. 10-11 – So Cal Winter Session Snow Summit – Sunday - MondayTo sign up: At the time of publication, we anticipate that event registration for all Western Division events can be done on-line on the National website, www.thesnowpros.org.

Rob Furtney working on his “fear training.”

By Elianne Furtney Summer Vacation (cont’d)(cont’d on from. 4)leaning into the top of the turn, but having personally experienced too many times the consequences of banking into my turns (includ-ing a dislocated elbow) I knew that wasn’t all there was to it! As we watched more closely in slow motion I saw how they were mov-ing their shoulders in but keeping them more level than I had been doing, creating balanced pres-sure to the inside front tire edge which enabled them to “carve” their turns. When we next went

to the bike park at Northstar, we began to play with the movement, and I found that by actively pressing down on my inside handlebar with-out excessive leaning (much like we pressure the inside edge of the outside ski) I was suddenly able to maintain a cleaner, tighter, faster line through turns. In particular I felt the front of my bike was under far greater control than ever before.

As fall approaches and my thoughts turn to skiing, it occurs to me that my epiphany is much like that of the skier who finally moves into the turn and feels the shovels engage and shape the top of the turn. Upon further reflec-tion I realized that mountain bik-ing can also be a channel for the kind of technical mental exercise most of us reserve for the ski sea-son. Without the technical under-standing I have gained through ski instruction; the knowledge of physics, biomechanics and turn mechanics, I don’t know that I would have been able to translate what I observed with what was occurring on my bike. For those of you pursuing certification this year, expect a renewed empha-sis on technical knowledge. We do this because we believe that a solid technical understanding is essential not only to how you teach skiing but will also help you to reach your skiing goals. As we move forward into the new season I encourage you to exercise not just your body, but also your mind – it may even help your skiing!

Elianne Furtney


Ed Core/ Resort Trainer

This year we are making some changes to our Ed Core Event. The Ed Core/Resort Trainers Event

will be the place to hone your skills on training

your staff and fellow instructors to

reaching their next level of AASI Certi-fication and is the place

to develop personally as a trainer. The Resort Trainer Course is re-quired each season by the trainers that will be involved in imple-menting a resort’s In-House Level One Certification Program.

SoCal Winter SessionThe new southern educa-

tional event, the SoCal Winter Session will kick off at Bear Mountain on Sunday January 10 and continue through the fol-lowing day, Monday January 11, 2010. This new event will include the southern areas Ed Core/ Resort Trainers event as well as a number of educational based events. The SoCal Winter Ses-sion is available to all registered AASI members. So whether you’re a first year instructor looking to

get your L1 cer-tification or you are a seasoned AASI veteran you can take part in educational and riding clinics with some of the best educators in the West. Clinic list includes: Resort Trainers Course, Meet the Demo Team, Path to Certification, Rid-ing Techniques, and more.

El Nino in the AirWith increased temperatures

over the pacific and forecasters predicting an El Nino year, this could be an epic season for all of us shredding the steep and deep. And hopefully, an incentive for many more new and seasoned riders to make their way up to the winter havens we call home. It is time to get stoked on the full winter season ahead and crunch time for getting physically prepared, geared up and mentally focused on the 2010 Season!!

Snowboarding By Doug Fagel, Snowboard Vice President

Student FocusHow do you judge your value

as an instructor and educator in our industry? I have seen sports educators develop and grow with the feeling that as their experience grows in the industry, so should the experience of their students; this is far from the truth. The educators that are most likely to develop and retain new partici-pants into our sport are those with the most motivation and knowl-edge on how to capture these new participants in the snowboard community. If we can realize that the true gauge of our success is not how high a level of student we can try to teach, but rather the amount of non-snowboarders we make into snowboarders, we start tapping into the real passion for educating our sport. It is in the first time lesson that we have the ability to change someone’s life forever. Do you remember when you became a snowboarder? I sure do and it was a difficult and painful process. And if I can make that process easier for others, while still connecting them to the passion that I felt when I was able to call myself a snowboarder and the passion that I feel every time I am on the hill, than I am one step closer to my goal. It is my real-ization and the realization of the industry as whole, that we must increase the number of students retained after each lift, rental and lesson purchase and it is the purpose of the educator to do all in his or her power to make the connection that will keep them coming back. Question what you have done in the past to connect with your students and develop new ways to connect and stay in touch with all your students you have the opportunity to educate.

Doug Fagel

Doug Fagel drops in. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.

Snowboard Fall EventsSnowboard Resort Trainer Series, Educational resources for Resort trainers including personal ski improvement, tactics and techniques for staff clinics, and exam standards . These events are open to all interested L2&3 certified members .

Snowboard Resort Trainer Series – Dec. 6-7, Mammoth Jan. 5-6, Alpine MeadowsJan. 10-11 Bear Mountain (SoCal Winter Session)

To sign up: At the time of publication, we anticipate that event registration for all Western Division events can be done on-line on the National website, www.thesnowpros.org.


Over the last year, repre-sentatives from each of the nine PSIA-AASI national divisions met twice to establish standards for teaching and certifying adaptive instruction. The plan is to have standards and an agreed upon set of criteria for each of the exam levels which can be ap-plied uniformly throughout the country. The result would be that the standard criteria for Levels 1, 2, or 3 would be the same in the Northwest, or any other regions, as it is here in the West.

I had the privilege of at-tending both sessions on behalf of Western Division, joined by Adaptive Chair Glen Smith. Bill Bowness, PSIA-AASI-W Adap-tive Tech Team and the National Adaptive Demo Team Coach, was also in attendance at both ses-sions representing the National office.

The initial meeting was held October, 2008 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The goal of the meeting was to share informa-tion about each division’s certi-fication process. We discussed national standards and consistent curriculum elements for adap-tive certification programs and attempted to identify standards of current divisional adaptive certi-fication programs for both skiing and snowboard.

By Dan Stormer, Adaptive Tech Team Adaptive

Another of the discussions focused on identifying needs and formatting for the next generation of adaptive support materials including a library of video teaching aids, a new “Adaptive Instruction Manual” and an outline for the upcom-ing adaptive matrix.

Building on the success of the first meeting, seven of the nine divisions were represented at the ‘so-called’ Adaptive Rendezvous in June 2009 at Mt. Hood, Oregon. Myself and Glen were joined by Brent Kuem-merle from our Adaptive Com-mittee and Tech Team staff.

The on mountain training at Mt. Hood was outstanding. We got to see demonstrations from people throughout the country, including in-depth examina-tion of content and processes for hands-on teaching methodologies for Levels 1, 2 and 3. Mt. Hood in June offers some particularly unique skiing characteristics in the summer months. Chief among these is the volcanic ash which rises up through the snow as the day progresses. Notwith-

National Strategy for Adaptive

Adaptive instructors from across the nation sharing their expertise at Mt. Hood, OR.

standing that, the skiing was excellent and the demonstrations were outstanding.

What became quickly appar-ent is that the adaptive certifica-tion process varies greatly from division to division. West, East, and Rocky Mountain have very established and thorough certifica-tion processes, though different. All three of these adaptive leaders were very open to sharing their exam formats, written exams, on-hill exam content, and study materials. The other six divisions

(cont’d on pg. 8)

Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.


Nordic By John “Cedar” Seegar, Nordic Chair

Nothing like the first rain of the fall to get the sap flowing again!

Gear reviews in the mags, fall in the air. Oh yeah…

The Climate Prediction Center is modeling a moderate and building El Nino centered on “Boreal winter”. I like that term, sounds good, as in “tree skiing”…Let’s hope the hose takes aim on PSIA-W territory. In years past El Nino has been good to us. With that in mind, we have booked and scheduled the 09-10 Nordic Sym-posium for the week of December 16-18. It will be at Northstar at Tahoe and I’m stoked!! (see ac-

Greetings Everyonecompanying article). It is a very nice venue for us and I appreci-ate the effort put out by the good people at Northstar to host our event.

Of special interest this season is the addition of several new offerings. For those up in the “Great North Woods in the State of Jefferson,” we are offering two days of Cross Country and Telemark Improvement Clinics at Mt. Shasta, January 12-13, 2010. A February Telemark Education Event at Squaw Valley, “Steeps and Deeps” will be led by our young, strong, visionary clini-cians. Also for our Southern

California members we are plan-ning a “Crossover to Tele day event at Snow Summit Feb 21, and a Level 1 Prep on Feb. 22. Please check the PSIA-W Nordic calendar for updates and changes.

As we head into the coming season, keep in mind the value of our PSIA membership.

How has it benefited our lives? Are we better skiers? Has it furthered our career goals? En-riched our social lives thru long, enduring friendships? Provided an opportunity for service to others? Good value for our dues? For me, the answer to all the above is yes. For that reason I am grateful for the opportunity to work for and with you doing what we love.

“Teach, learn, ski. It’s

all good. See you at

Northstar, Dec 16. I

checked the internet

again…another storm

is rollin’ in…”

J. “Cedar” SeegerNordic Chair Guy

PSIA/AASI instructors “free their heels” at the 2009 Spring Convention. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.

Adaptive (cont’d .) By Dan Stormer, Adaptive Tech Team

(cont’d from pg. 7)were tasked with improving or creating their own certification process, keeping in mind their “divisional culture,” consistent with the Adaptive National Stan-dards.

The important outcome of these planning and training ses-sions is that a certified adaptive instructor from one division is held to the same standards as an-other division, so that the bronze, silver, and gold pins mean the

same thing across the nation. This is a wonderful step forward for both students and instructors. The materials developed at these and subsequent meetings will be a tremendous asset for all of us.

Dan Stormer


By John “Cedar” Seegar, Nordic Chair Nordic

Nordic Symposium Tentative ScheduleDec. 14 – Telemark Examiner Training (open to Level 3 Telemark instructors)

Dec. 15 – Cross Country Examiner Training (open to Level 3 XC instructors)

Dec. 16-18 – General Interest Clinics for Telemark and Cross Country - $ 60/day

Dec. 16 – Cross Country Level 1 Prep - $70

Dec. 16 – Telemark Level 1 Prep - $70

Dec. 17-18 – Telemark Level 2 Prep - $160

With El Nino gaining strength, the timing couldn’t be better for this season’s NORDIC SYMPOSIUM.

Thanks to Northstar for host-ing our premier event of the sea-son. As a welcome change from prior years, Telemark and Cross Country events will all be based together at the Northstar Cross Country Center at mid-mountain. From there we have slopeside access to nearly 40 km of XC trails and the mid-mountain lifts, making it easy to coordinate clinics and activities from one location. Our annual “banquet” on Wednesday, Dec. 16 will be at the Timber Creek eatery in the Northstar Village, affordably ala carte with our social reception on Thursday Dec. 17 at the Village ice rink for some after skiing blade work, or just hang out by the fireplace and socialize.

All Level 3 members for the appropriate discipline are invited to attend the Telemark Examiner Training on Monday Dec. 14 and the Cross Country Exam-iner Training on Tuesday, December 15. This

is a great (and free!) opportunity to learn and share new ideas and get Education credit. Pricing and registration information for the Dec. 16-18 clinics will be posted on the Nordic Symposium page at www.psia-w.org. This event will be a great opportunity for Nords to “Cross Over” to Cross Country or Telemark. Discounted rental gear will be available for Symposium attendees to try out something new.

All in all, it is shaping up to be a very promising Symposium this season. Invite your friend or co-worker to join PSIA now and be part of the fun. Level 1 Cross County and Telemark clinics are offered, a perfect time to improve with our top notch and affordable clincs.

It’s OK to mark your calen-dars now and block out the week of December 16-18 for the Nordic kick off to the 09-10 season STOKE!!

Nordic Symposium – Dec. 16-18 at Northstar

PSIA/AASI-W Nordic Tech Team members Urmas Franosch and Aaron Pealman with member Mary Ellen Houston.


2009-10 E V E N T S Event Date Event Location Cost 1/11 Welcome to Adaptive Heavenly $601/18 Welcome to Adaptive Mt. High $603/21-26 L1 Validations various $90 3/28-4/2 L1/2 Exams various 4/19 L1/2/3 Exams- COG Squaw 4/20 L1/2/3 Exams- VI Squaw 4/21 L1/2/3 Exams-Mono Ski Squaw 4/22 L1/2/3 Exams-Bi-Ski Squaw 4/23 L1/2/3 Exams- 3Track, SU Squaw 4/24 L1/2/3 Exams-4Track, SU Squaw

Event Date Event Location CostTBA 6-Day Level 1 Module $600 for new instructors TBA 11/14 Build your Technical Found. Heavenly $6012/6-7 Fall Rally/Resort Trainer Series #1 Mammoth $8012/13 Resort Trainer Series #2 Squaw $4012/18-20 Alp L1 Exam Northstar $2101/6-7 Mini Academy w/ National D-Team Alpine $1401/10 DIY training program Northstar $601/10 SoCal Winter Session Snow Summit $60 1/11 Resort Trainer # 3 Snow Summit $801/11-12 Alp L3 Teach prep Heavenly $1201/13 Alp L2 Ski prep Mt Rose $601/14 Alp L2 Teach prep Mt Rose $601/19 Boot Alignment Analysis Mammoth $601/21 Finding the “cause” in Cause and Effect Sierra at Tahoe $601/24 Intro to Teaching Seniors Snow Summit $601/25 Don’t get “Piste-off” - Intro to crud and bumps Northstar $601/25 Tricks of the Trade Snow Summit $601/26 Freeskiing 101-Adv. Steeps & Bumps Mammoth $601/27-28 Alp L2 Teach Module Homewood $1601/27-29 Alp L1 Module Heavenly $2102/1 Intro to Teaching Seniors Heavenly $602/1-2 Alp L3 Ski prep Squaw $1202/2 Alp L2 Ski Prep Mammoth $602/3 Alp L2 Teach prep Mammoth $602/3-4 Alp L3 Teach Module Alpine Meadows $180 2/7-8 Women’s Camp Squaw $120

Event Date Event Location Cost2/7-8 Senior Specialist Level 1 Snow Summit $1402/8-9 Alp Freestyle Specialist Bear Mountain $1402/9 GS Fundamentals Sierra at Tahoe $602/9-11 Alp L1 Module Mammoth $2102/10 Boot Alignment Analysis Mt. Rose $602/10 Teaching in Spanish Northstar $602/11 Skiing Tasks - Not Just for Exams Anymore Heavenly $602/12 Skiing Tasks - Not Just for Exams Anymore Mammoth $602/17 Intro to Freestyle Boreal $602/18 Resort Trainer Series #4 Alpine Meadows $402/22 Fill your Toolbox Levels 1-4 Sugar Bowl $602/23 Fill your Toolbox L5-7 Sugar Bowl $602/23 Tech Team Tryouts Mammoth $902/25 Carving Dynamics Heavenly $602/27-3/1 Alp L2 Ski Module Snow Summit $2403/1-2 Senior Specialist Level 1 Mt. Rose $1403/1-3 Alp L2 Ski Module Diamond Peak $2403/4 Fat Farm -fat ski culture & technique Squaw $603/7-9 Senior Specialist Level 2 Snow Summit $2103/8-10 Alp L3 Ski Module Mammoth $2703/10-11 Senior Mastery of Skiing Sugar Bowl $1203/10-12 Alp L1 Module Alpine Meadows $2103/11 Freeskiing 101-Adv. Steeps & Bumps Squaw $603/13-15 Alp L1 Module Snow Summit $2103/15-17 Senior Specialist Level 2 Diamond Peak $2103/16 Teaching in Spanish Heavenly $603/16 GS Fundamentals Mammoth $603/17-18 Alp L2 Teach Module Alpine Meadows $1603/18 Skiing with Nat’l D Team Mammoth $703/21-22 Senior Mastery of Skiing Bear Mtn $1203/23-25 Alp L2 Ski Module Heavenly $2403/23-25 Alp L3 Ski Module Alpine Meadows $2703/25-26 Alp Freestyle Specialist Northstar $1403/27-28 Alp L2 Teach Module Snow Summit $1604/1 Crudbusters Alpine Meadows $604/7-8 Alp L3 Teach prep Squaw $1204/17-18 Senior Specialist L1 (Spring Conv) Squaw TBA4/17-18 Senior Mastery of Skiing (Spring Conv) Squaw TBA 4/19-21 Alp L1 Module Squaw $210 4/19-21 Alp L2 Ski Module Squaw $240

Alpine Events

Adaptive Events

Register online and check for updates or changes at www .psia-w .org .


C A L E N D A R Event Date Event Location Cost4/19-21 Alp L3 Ski Module Squaw $2704/19-21 Alp L2 Teach Module Squaw $1604/19-21 Alp L3 Teach Module Squaw $180

Event Date Event Location Cost12/6-7 Resort Trainers -Children’s $80 In-House training Mammoth $4012/13 Create a Smile Northstar $601/25-27 Children’s Certification L2 Snow Summit $2101/28-29 Children’s Certification L1 Mt. High $1402/3-5 Children’s Certification L2 Alpine Meadows $2102/25-26 Children’s Certification L1 Mammoth $1403/8-10 Children’s Certification L2 Mammoth $2103/18-19 Children’s Certification L1 Sierra at Tahoe $1404/17-18 Children’s Certification L1 (Spring Conv) Squaw tba

Event Date Event Location Cost12/16-18 Nordic Fall Symposium Northstar12/16 L1 XC Prep Northstar $7012/16 L1 Telemark Prep Northstar $7012/17-18 L 2 Telemark Prep Northstar $1601/9-10 L2 Telemark Prep Sierra Summit $1601/12 L2/3 XC Prep Tahoe Donner $80/$901/12-13 Tele and Cross Country clinics, all levels Mt.Shasta $1201/25 L1 Telemark Prep Sierra at Tahoe $701/26-27 L2 Telemark Prep Northstar $1601/28-29 L3 Telemark Prep Alpine $1802/21 Cross-over to Telemark (for beginners) Northstar $602/21 Cross-over to Telemark (for beginners) Snow Summit $602/22 L 1 Telemark Prep Snow Summit $602/22 L 1 Telemark Prep Northstar $702/23 Tele in the Steep and Deep Squaw $603/8 L 1 Telemark Exam Northstar $703/9,10 L2 Telemark Exam Northstar $1603/11,12 L3 Telemark Exam Alpine Meadows $1803/22 L1 XC Exam Tahoe Donner $703/27-28 L2 Telemark Exam Sierra Summit $1603/31 Level 2/3 XC Exam Tahoe Donner $80/$90

Event Date Event Location Cost12/6-7 SB Ed Core/ Resort Trainer Mammoth $8012/19-21 SB L1 Module Northstar $2101/5-6 Resort Trainer Alpine Meadows $801/10-11 SoCal Winter session Bear Mountain $1201/15 Steeps Riding Kirkwood $601/20 Divisional Trainer-Prep 1 Sierra at Tahoe $701/21 Park Riding Basics Boreal $601/25-26 Freestyle Specialist L1 Mammoth $1401/25-27 SB L1 Module Mammoth $2101/27 Divisional Trainer - Prep 1 Mammoth $701/29 Girls Shred Day Northstar $602/3-5 SB L1 Module Alpine Meadows $2102/8-9 SB Freestyle Specialist L1 Bear Mountain $1402/8-10 SB L2 Riding Module Northstar $2402/24-26 SB L2 Riding Module Mammoth $2402/24-26 SB L3 Riding Module Mammoth $2702/28-3/2 SB L2 Riding Module Bear Mountain $2403/1 Movement Analysis: Cause & Effect Alpine Meadows $603/2 Movement Analysis: Cause & Effect Mammoth $603/4 Camber vs. Rocker Northstar $603/5 Steeps Riding Mammoth $603/8 SB L2 & 3 Teach Training Mammoth $603/9 Rocker vs. Camber Mammoth $603/10 SB L2 Teach Training Mt. High $603/11-12 SB L2 Teaching Module Northstar $1603/15-16 SB L3 Teaching Module Mammoth $1803/15-16 SB L2 Teaching Module Mammoth $1603/15-17 SB L1 Module Mammoth $2103/17 Divisional Trainer - Prep 2 Mammoth $703/18-19 SB L2 Teaching Module Bear Mountain $1603/20-22 SB L1 Module Snow Summit $2103/22-24 SB L2 Riding Module Squaw $2403/22-24 SB L3 Riding Module Squaw $2703/25-26 SB Freestyle Specialist L1 Northstar $1403/29-31 SB Freestyle Specialist L2 Northstar $2104/8 SB L2 & 3 Teach Training Alpine Meadows $604/15 SB L2/3 Teach Training Squaw $604/15-16 Divisional Trainer - Exam Squaw $1404/15-16 SB Freestyle Specialist L1 Squaw $1404/19-21 SB L1 Module Squaw $2104/19-20 SB L2 Teaching Module Squaw $1604/19-20 SB 3 Teaching Module Squaw $180

Children’s Events

Nordic Events

Register online and check for updates or changes at www .psia-w .org .

Snowboarding Events


Teaching kids is one of the most rewarding parts of an instructor’s job, and offers each of us an important role in growing the future of our sport. How do we spice our lessons up so these children will remember their day or week in the snow for the rest of their lives? When done correctly, a kid’s class can be like a movie or an adventure and you, the instructor, are the director. So, why not bring a couple of tools to help you out for the production? Try integrating some props into your next lesson.

Ages 3 to 6 Your young stu-dents have a vast imagination, and that 3-6 year old mind is your ticket to a great lesson. A furry little ski dog that lives inside your coat can be your team mascot for the day. An obstacle course that you make from flags, with a nudge to their imaginations can become a castle. Or maybe there are dragons hiding on the trail and the kids have to ‘fight them off’ with imaginary swords. When done correctly, the exercise using props not only requires the child to think about the task at hand but also incorpo-rates a skilled movement that will improve their skiing for their stage of development.

Children’s By Kemp Dowdy, Tech Team Member

Ages 7-12As a child ages, they can start handling more com-

plex and competitive games, as long as the instructor is sensitive to the group dynamics and no one is getting singled out for excessive negative or positive feedback. At the start of the lesson you can pull out of your coat one of those army parachute people, or an airplane/rocket

ship and set up an adventure for the day. Every run you launch your airplane off the chairlift in a safe area, and as a team you set up a rescue mission. At this point, you can incorporate any drill set movements you want to work down this run as long as you relate it to the rescue mission. Or you can incorporate other sports that are familiar to your group into your drills. Why not get a couple of hockey sticks, a soccer ball, or a football out on the snow and pass a ball around while you’re skiing? The games allow you to work on movements that are going to help develop their skiing in a fun way that they can relate to.

TeensAny instructor who works

with teens knows how compli-cated this age can be. Their cog-nitive awareness is expanding and they are turning into their own person. They have some life experiences, and they have

created some abstract ways of thinking. Teenagers may be a lot more self-conscious, so games may be perceived as silly or uncool. Finding the ‘cool factor’ can make or break your lesson. What is cool then? You may have to do a little research, what television shows, video games, Olympic athletes or X Games stars does this group relate to? Most of these teens enjoy competing as long as it doesn’t affect their status with their peers. As an instruc-tor, you can take a flag out of your coat and have the teens pair up and play a version of capture the flag while skiing. You can experiment with their center of mass as a way to improve their skiing. Have the student wear a weighted back pack, or have them hold a weighted ball out in front of them. Or thinking new school set up pine cones, or bamboo in the snow and see if they can jump (cont’d on pg. 13)

Teaching Kids With Props

Children’s Snowsports Program Manager-Dodge Ridge

Successful candidate will oversee Snowplay and Children’s Ski & Snowboard School. Early Childhood Development Degree and PSIA cert. required. Details & apply at www.DodgeRidge.com.

When done correctly, a kid’s

class can be like a movie or

an adventure and you, the

instructor, are the director.


By Kemp Dowdy, Tech Team Member Children’s (cont’d)

By Greg Lyons, Children’s Chair New In-House Children’s Program for 2009-10!

We will be adding a new option to achieve Children’s Specialist 1 this season. The Children’s In-House Level 1 will follow the successful models provided by the Alpine and Snowboard In-House programs. Resorts with a ‘qualified’ (see below) Children’s trainer will be able to conduct the course. Candidates who have completed the training attend a one-day validation with a member of the Children’s Tech team. All details will be on www.psia-w.org. .

If you would like to be a trainer for your resorts Children’s In-House program you will need to complete one day of the “Resort Trainers” series, and meet the following pre-requisites:

Children’s Specialist 2 and Level 3 Alpine or Snowboard

(Level 2 Alpine or Snowboard may apply to the Children’s Commit-tee for permission).

Thank You,Greg Lyons, Children’s Committee Chair

PSIA-W Tech Team member Kemp Dowdy planning a “rescue mission” with a young student.

(cont’d from pg. 12)over them. I promise you, if these teens start feeling the improvement in their skiing and have fun in a cool way they will be hooked and wanting more.

As with every strategy involv-ing teaching kids, the use of props should be consistent with the child’s Cognitive, Affective and Physical stage of development (CAP Model). Props fit naturally in the children’s teaching cycle (Play, Drill, Adventure, Summary) and help in relating to the child (Teaching for Transfer). If you properly incorporate the use of props into your lesson, you will create that perfect kids’ experience that will keep them coming back for more!

Kemp Dowdy

Children’s Specialists Rebecca Shutte, Greg Lyons, Glen Smith, Shelley Black, Joe McCoy, Bill Saugez and David Williams. Photo courtesy of David Williams.


Senior’s By Ted Pitcher

Senior’s Program Enters its Fourth Season!The PSIA-W, first in the Nation, Senior Special-

ist Accreditation Program continues to grow with the addition of more education events and fun skiing improvement clinics.

During our first three years over two hundred in-structors have taken our accreditation and education events, including instructors from other Divisions.

New this year is our “Senior Mastery of Skiing” clinic designed by Mike Iman, and aimed at our se-nior instructors who want to improve their skiing.

ALL OUR EVENTS LISTED ON THE SENIORS CALENDAR ARE OPEN TO PSIA INSTRUCTORS OF ANY AGE. You don’t have to be a senior, to take any of our accreditation or educational clinics, in-cluding our new “Senior Mastery of Skiing” clinic.

Senior Event DescriptionsHere’s our calendar and description of Senior

Events on the schedule for this season. All these clin-ics count for educational credits.

Seniors Specialist Level I: This two day event is for Level 1-2 or 3 certified

instructors of any age who would like to improve their skills working with beginning and intermediate senior skiers. Course includes study of contemporary skiing and modern equipment-how these elements can maximize enjoyment of the sport for seniors. We will also cover how to work with seniors in terms of pacing a lesson, group dynamics, and flexibility to student’s physical limitations. This is a Teaching Clinic and Exam. You will be evaluated on your teaching. There is NO skiing exam, however coach-ing and video analysis of attendees skiing is included. Successful candidates will receive a Seniors Specialist Level I pin.

Prerequisites:You must be at least Level I Certified.

Recommended Reading:Senior Handbook-found on www.psia-w.org.

Dates:Sunday and Monday - February 7th and 8th

Snow SummitMonday and Tuesday – March 1st and 2nd

Mt. RoseSaturday and Sunday April 17th and 18th

Spring Convention at Squaw

Seniors Specialist Level 2: This senior event now in its fourth season is

the “granddaddy”! The first Senior Specialist Ac-

creditation in the Country. This 3-day event is for Level 2-3 certified instructors of any age who would like to improve their skills working with all levels of senior skiers. Course includes in-depth study of the technical and tactical elements of contemporary skiing and modern equipment as applied to seniors. We will study how modern technique can optimize strength and balance and expand enjoyment. We will also cover how to work with seniors in terms of pacing a lesson, group dynamics, and flexibility to student’s physical limitations. This is a Teaching Clinic and Exam. You will be evaluated on your teaching. There is NO skiing exam, however coach-ing and video analysis of attendees skiing is included. Successful candidates will receive a Senior Specialist Level II pin.

Prerequisites:You must be at least Level II Certified. You don’t

have to take Seniors Specialist Accreditation Level I before taking Seniors Specialist Level II.

Recommended reading: Senior Handbook-found on www.psia-w.org.

Dates offered:Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – March 7th, 8th

and 9th Snow SummitMonday, Tuesday and Wednesday – March 15th,

16th and 17th Diamond Peak

Education EventsIntroduction To Teaching Skiing To Seniors:

This one day educational event focuses on con-temporary skiing mechanics as applied to your own personal skiing, including video analysis. Our teach-ing focus is on how to adapt the teaching model and methodology to beginner and low intermediate senior skiers. SENIOR EDUCATION EVENTS ARE OPEN TO ANY MEMBER OF ANY AGE. CERTIFICATION IS NOT A REQUIREMENT.

Dates offered:Sunday – January 24th Snow Summit

Monday – February 1st Heavenly

Senior Mastery Of Skiing: This is a new two day skiing improvement event

open to any member regardless of certification level. Everyone is welcome! This fun educational event is aimed at instructors who want to ski stronger, longer

(cont’d on pg. 15)


(cont’d from pg. 14) 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 more stamina and less strain and effort. Groups will be divided by terrain and ability to make this an optimum learning experience for you. You will be individu-ally coached and analyzed on video each day to help you become a better skier. It’s all about the skiing and all about the fun! SENIOR EDUCATION EVENTS ARE OPEN TO ANY MEMBER OF ANY AGE. CERTIFICATION IS NOT A REQUIREMENT.

Dates offered:Wednesday and Thursday – March 10th and 11th at Sugar BowlSunday and Monday – March 21st and 22ndat Bear Mountain (Big Bear)Saturday and Sunday – April 17th and 18th at Spring Convention Sqauw

Keep an eye on the Western Division website at, www.psia-w.org for all the latest information. Also check out the National Seniors Skiing Website at: www.seniorsnowsports.org.

Emphasis for all senior clinics is education, improving teaching and skiing skills, and of course, fun.

We’ll see you on the snow!

By Ted Pitcher Senior’s (cont’d)

Earn your Seniors Specialist pin in 2010.

By Neil Bussiere President’s Message (cont’d)(cont’d from pg. 1) to act with greater velocity and implement positive change on behalf of the member-ship. The membership will be presented with a draft this winter in preparation for a General Membership discussion and ballot to adopt the updated by-laws this April at the Spring Convention in Squaw Valley. Your participation is needed and highly desired.

Given our rich heritage of 60 years and counting, our distinguished collection of alumni like Nic, the strong and diverse makeup of the current membership, and the solid fiscal position of the division at the moment, rest assured that our roots are strong and we are poised to grow even stronger.

“As members, both past and present, you are all part of that collective strength.

Finding your roots is easy if you know where to look.”

Stay strong, Neil

Dave Hawtrey, Alpine Tech Team, is a “second generation” PSIA member. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.


With the fall’s colors and chill in the air it is easy to relish in the thoughts of the winter to come. I am personally happy to put a season between us and this reces-sion with the hopes that we as a country can turn it around. In ad-dition to traveling less and stick-ing to a budget, in my house we have started watching ski movies (Swift. Silent. Deep. – a must have… and the latest TGR film RE: Session) which have provided us with some sweet memories and heart pounding motivation for our ski future.

The Education Foundation has weathered the stock market downturn in fairly good shape. We certainly experienced some losses in the heart of the market problems, but the Foundation has seen a cumulative return of 5.3% on it’s investment since 2004. Our

thanks to Greg Wodark, a PSIA Level 2 member and financial manager, for managing this ac-count for us ‘financially illiterate’ ski instructors.

This past year the Educa-tion Foundation is proud to have awarded scholarships to eight deserving PSIA/AASI-W ski and snowboard members. We as a committee were thrilled to have broadened the scholarship of-ferings and are excited to do it again this season! This is possible through the hundreds of generous donations we get from our mem-bers. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who opened up your wallets in these difficult economic times to help other members and support the profession that you believe in.

We welcome scholarship ap-plications and are asking that they are filled out by February 1, 2010. As with last year, our goal is to reward instructors who ‘give back’ the most. We want to support instructors who give their all to their clients, their school and their fellow instructors. So here’s your helpful hint: the letters of recom-mendation are the most impor-tant. Please visit our web page to get further details.

As part of the overall effort to increase understanding of the Foundation’s work in the mem-bership, the Committee has taken hold of the Streamline Report that was approved by the Board of Directors in 2006. Chris Fellows and the Board of Directors had a vision of growing the Foundation. Fellows stated in the Fall Edge 2006 that “this report was put in motion to test the feasibility of growing the Foundation signifi-cantly through a combination of individual, corporate and private giving strategies.” He also stated, “This is an incredible opportu-

nity for the PSIA-W Education Foundation/Soddy Fund to find out what it would take to really move to the next level and have a significant impact on offering resources for our instructors.” As the new Education Foundation Chair, I have taken this report as the outline and motivation of the future of this Foundation and how to involve our members for the best of our ability.

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, or if you are in a place to donate to our Foundation, please know that it is YOU as members that make these things happen. Your donations are an investment in a future ski or snowboard teacher’s career.

I look forward to skiing with you and seeing you this winter!

Thank you for your support.Sincerely,Leigh Pierini,Ed Foundation chair

Education Foundation By Leigh Pierini, Foundation Chairperson

Greetings from the Education Foundation Chair!

Leigh Pierini. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.


Education Foundation

Mim and Mike Sodergren.

“…This past season was an experiment of sorts for me; a test to see if the life of a ski coach was a viable one. Much to my delight, I discovered that it was. Ultimately, the knowledge and enthusiasm I gained from my experience at Mammoth I can carry back to my fellow coaches.Our jobs are fun, but not easy, and we can use all the motiva-tion that we can get. Thank you again for the opportunity to improve upon and share my pas-sion for skiing and coaching…”

Matthew Cornelius, Heavenly, Sodergren Scholarship recipient.

“Thanks to the PSIA-W Educa-tion Foundation, I was fortunate enough to attend a Children’s Specialist Clinic this year at the annual Convention. Without the scholarship I would not have been able to participate. Even so, I think I was the only attendee camping in the evenings!

One highlight for me was the beginner’s terrain park. Previ-ously, I had either refused to take kids on jumps or been completely terrified to do so. Learning the terrain park rules and techniques has given me the confidence to teach valuable skills to kids in an environment they love to be in….”

Elicia Cardenas, Alpine Meadows, Certification Scholarship recipient.

“Beyond the clinics and drills that helped improve my personal performance I took something unexpected back from Spring Convention - a new attitude towards the industry. I had the opportunity to see the larger snow-sports community and their willingness and generosity in sharing skills and ideas. This has helped my professionalism and enthusiasm go up a notch. I look forward to sharing these ideas and enthusiasm with my staff and getting them just as excited as I am this next season.

I would like to say thanks to the members and the Education Foundation for the opportunity.”

Bill Saugez, Bear Mountain, Sodergren Scholarship recipient

Scholarship Recipients Speak Out

Bill Saugez with new friends at the convention’s Steeps & Deeps Clinic. Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.

“Your donations are an

investment in a future

ski or snowboard

teacher’s career.”

– Leigh Pierini


Fall Line By Forrest King-Shaw

SIERRA SUMMIT MTN RESORTSierra Summit Mountain Resort is looking for enthusiastic

people to work this coming winter season as Trainers, Super-visors, and Instructors. Minimum requirement for Instructors is Level 1. Minimum requirement for Trainer and Supervisor positions is Level 2. All applicants must be current members of PSIA/AASI.

Located in Central CA 65 miles northeast of Fresno, Si-erra Summit is a mid-size resort with family atmosphere, great snow, and a fun mountain with lots of terrain variety. Sierra Summit is a “sister resort” of Snow Summit and Bear Moun-tain in Southern CA.

Applicants can expect plenty of work, competitive wages, experience opportunity, optional on area housing, and a Snowsports School that concentrates on guest service and FUN!

Check out our website at sierrasummit.com for more info about our mountain and services as well as to print an appli-cation. Applications may be mailed to Sierra Summit Moun-tain Resort Attn. HR P.O. Box 236 Lakeshore, CA 93634 or faxed to 559-233-3689. Questions may be emailed to [email protected].

Sierra Summit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Sierra Summit operates under special use permit of USFS.

At every level of skiing, the transition from one turn to the next is often a sticking point.

Whether we are helping a new skier overcome his fear of engag-ing the fall line or improving an intermediate skier’s pole plant, the students perception of what a turn is may be the key to success. The same holds true when the instruc-tor is charged with improving pressure management offpiste with an advanced, experienced skier or discussing line choice in slalom. Perhaps, if we as coaches/instruc-tors redefine the turn as fall line to fall line - rather than traverse to traverse - we can minimize the amount of reprogramming we’ll need to do as our students/athletes progress.

All too often, skiers think the job is done when we have crossed the fall line and finish the turn - the drama is over. Our brains and bodies don’t seem to have any pressing business – nothing that can’t wait, so that’s what happens: we wait. We relax. We change from dynamic to static. We shop for turns. As we admire the scen-ery, that good mojo we stacked up in the last turn is allowed to dis-sipate. Now we have to start that engine all over again - reboot.

As new skiers become famil-iar with the way the “machine” works, what I see most often is an unwillingness to embrace the fall line. The smooth wedge straight run morphs into a labored (some-times braking) wedge turn where the skier is locked on the downhill ski, primarily because the skier doesn’t want to turn downhill. Perhaps, if the skier sees the turn as getting out of the fall line then getting back in, instead of getting in, then getting out – he/she will develop a better sense of control during these early stages of devel-opment. With proper terrain use, a new skier can dance and wiggle across the fall line all day. Another

Redefine the Turnhealthy byproduct of ‘starting’ the turn in the fall line is that it fur-ther trains the skier to be in tune with what is coming rather than what has just been accomplished. The importance of turn shape is addressed from the beginning - in the skier’s mind, the sequence of movements starts again when facing down-hill, not across. We can teach our students to shape the turn from the beginning, so to speak…

Adopting this focus can sim-plify movements that often seem complicated for skiers as they become more accomplished. The

discussion has always been about the fall line, so it is a familiar term, and seen as friend, not foe. For example, we can introduce pole plants – and their various uses - based on where the skier is relative to the fall line. For example, the gliding pole plant triggers the simultaneous chang-ing of edges as the skis turn into the fall line (our new ‘finish’). A blocking pole plant occurs when the skis are relatively perpen-dicular to the fall line (our new transition). In heavier, deeper or perhaps softer snow, a skier may (cont’d on pg. 19)

Whether we are helping a new skier overcome his fear

of engaging the fall line or improving an intermediate

skier’s pole plant, the students perception of what a turn is

may be the key to success.

– Forrest King-Shaw


By Forrest King-Shaw Fall Line (cont’d)(cont’d from pg. 18) spend more time in the fall-line to balance the increase in drag. Steeper terrain likely dictates that the skier spends less time in the fall-line because of the effects of gravity.

Using this frame of reference, a skier will be more comfort-able choosing a line when skiing moguls, as the apprehension of that first turn is reduced. What’s more, that skier has been trained to get out, then back in the fall line, so traversing the slope look-ing for that “perfect” place to turn is not on the list of options before him. When teaching retraction (or extension) in a cross-under (or cross-over) movement pattern, we can discuss when is the skier tallest, which position is stron-gest, and when the forces stack up based on where these things occur relative to the fall-line or the be-ginning of the turn.

The same holds true when coaching our athletes. As long as I can remember, ski racing tech-niques and tactics have been based on turning between gates, not at them. To quote Finn Gunderson (USSA Director, Alpine Educa-tion), “…today’s slalom line is very simple: initiate the turn in the fall-line above the gate” [Ski Racing, 12/26/2007]. The goal is to enhance our athletes’ ability to make P-E-R turns (pressure-edge-rotary) after they were introduced to the sport by making R-E-P (rotary-edge-pressure) turns.

While the end-game remains developing all of the four skills (balancing-, rotary-, edging- and pressure-movements) equally so that athletes can make any move at any time, in our daily training sessions we spend a preponder-ance of time talking about early edging and pressure movements – how to get that higher edge an-gle, earlier in the turn. Visualizing these turns as fall line to fall line is the conduit to early preparation and the resultant fluidity.

During course inspection, we discuss where in the ‘rise-line’ (fall line ) an athlete should target to best set up for the next turn or combina-tion, and how to ad-just the line where there is a double ‘fall line ’ or other terrain features in that particular section of the course.

From beginners up through World Cup athletes, the defini-tion of the turn is critical.

Whether a small child just getting his or her feet wet, or seniors embracing that break-through, the speeds may be different but the mind-set and discipline need not be. Versatil-ity is the common thread among strong skiers – most importantly, versatility between the ears.

As the old r&b song goes – “a smile is just a frown turned upside down.” Let’s turn the fall line - that speed bump that all too often impedes our students’ and athletes’ progress - into a spring board: REFEDINE THE TURN!!!

Tips & Tricks (some examples of ways to show the fall-line as friend, not foe)• wedge wiggles to lane chang-

es (changing size of wedge to start a ‘lane change’: a shallow turn on flatter terrain with upper body relatively square to direction of travel)

• human slalom (see your tar-get, read my belt buckle)

• 500 steps (start or stop step-ping every time you cross the fall-line

• upside-down turns (cross the fall-line on the outside edge of your downhill ski) airplane turns/leapers (focus on cross-ing the fall-line in the air)

• converging step turn (to turn into the fall-line in soft, deeper snow, promoting an increased sense of control when introducing off-piste)

• diverging step turns to change line in racing (as a way to experiment with rhythm changes in slalom, or to cor-rect a bad line in GS)

• flush gate drills (see Schlep-per wiggles)

• Schlepper wiggles (straight run, flat terrain where the skier quickly tips the ankles simultaneously, wiggling – no steering of the feet) [as seen in Sean Warman’s first Alpine Skills video]

Forrest King-Shaw

Forrest King-Shaw is an Alpine Level 3 and a USSA certified coach at Alpine Meadows. He also coaches with the National Brotherhood of Skiers Western Regional Team. The above article was submitted at PSIA Alpine Tech Team tryouts last season.

Forrest King-Shaw going “fall line to fall line.” Photo courtesy of Aaron Rosen.

PSIA W Ski Education FoundationPSIA - Western Division – AASI9709 Hwy . 267, Truckee, CA 96161(530) 587-7642, Fax: (530) 587-4273Email: admin@psia-w .orgWebsite: www .psia-w .org

Nonprofit Org .

U .S . Postage

PAID

Sacramento, CA

Permit No .1704ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PSIA-W/AASI-W Board of Directors & Officers 2009-10 Officers:President Neil BussiereExecutive Vice President Carl UnderkofflerAlpine VP Elianne FurtneySnowboard VP Doug FagelNat’l PSIA Representative Craig AlbrightPast President Dave Achey

Directors:Craig Albright (11), Neil Bussiere (11), Kemp Dowdy (12), Heidi Ettlinger (11), Steve Evenson (12), Elianne Furtney (12), Leigh Pierini (11), Greg Lyons (10), Ken Mattson (10), Ted Pitcher (12), Finlay Torrance (10), Carl Underkoffler (10) .

Nordic Chairperson: John “Cedar” SeegerAdaptive Chairperson: Glen Smith

Documents

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