This
past year has brought many changes to the different snowsport disciplines. All
of the education certification committees have been working on some sort of
standardization using the Core Concept and
Technical manuals in their respective
disciplines.
The
Alpine Certification Committee has developed a strategic pathway that provides personal
growth for instructors regardless of plans, or no plans, for certification. The Core
Concepts manual addresses the use of “stepping stones”. This methodology of education-based program
development presents choices an instructor can make to move forward in his or
her career as an instructor. PSIA-C has
recognized a need to provide additional education programs, geared to provide alternative
education to our members.
The
strategic pathway starts with development that focuses on education. If we provide elective events for our
members that are valuable, and enhance instructor skills and training, then PSIA-C
has accomplished its goal as an education-based organization. The basic theme, “education”, with a means
along the way for validating progress, goes hand in hand with strategic pathway
choices. Some stages may include
beginner, intermediary or advanced skiing mechanics. Some may be indoor technical sessions or intermediary and advanced
core curriculum sessions. PSIA-C wants
to offer education curricula useful to all members.
Use of video is a good learning tool for everyone. PSIA-C is in the process of developing a video that can be used by ski schools for training. It will include most skiing tasks that are required at all levels of development. Encourage your school directors to stay in touch with the education staffs that are working on this project. Additionally, for any instructor seeking validation by certification, the PSIA-C Study Guide outlines information required in exams.
Change
in Examining Process for Alpine
The Alpine Level II exam has been
changed. The on-snow exam will be a
two-day event with a different examiner on each day. Teaching and skiing will
be evaluated on each day, and the candidate must meet national standards for
teaching and skiing on both days to become Level II certified. If national
standards are met on both days for only the category of teaching or category of
skiing, the candidate will be accredited in the category in which national
standards were met for both days. The
Level II certification event fee will be $150 for evaluation in both
categories, but will be only $75 if an accredited candidate is being evaluated
in only one category.
: The previous process forced “at a
glance examining.” Examiners spent a
very short period of time with each candidate during the teaching exam day and
may only see each skiing maneuver once. This format, unfortunately, brought conflict and disagreement
between candidates and examiners. As a
result, consistency and creditability have suffered. These changes in the Alpine Level II exam will allow candidates to
demonstrate skills for two different examiners, reducing subjectivity and
allowing participants to have greater confidence in the exam process.
This
year’s Snowboard schedule will parallel the Alpine schedule. There are more and more cross over members
from each discipline. The venues that
are chosen should provide more shared camaraderie and experience for all PSIA-C
members. This will give us an opportunity to recruit from within, and will provide
more experience to our core group of instructors. Look forward to having more fun at events with focuses on half
pipe riding, free riding and big air.
As
the season approaches, don’t forget to check your equipment. This is a good time of year to pull out your
gear, and prepare or replace it for that first snowfall. This is also a good time of year to plan PSIA-C
events and mountain trips. Your
respective education certification committees have put together an exciting season
of events. Member instructors are the
ones who will carry it back to their schools.
Have an exciting year, and be safe!