Alpine – Trainer’s Development Program (Intro)/(Intermediate)/(Advanced)
What: Trainers Development Program (Intro) is designed as an introductory course for ski school trainers or people interested in training instructors. Intermediate and Advanced for veteran trainers who have taken a trainer’s course before.
Why: This course gives trainers and ski school directors tools to bring back to their ski schools to train their staff on and off snow direct from the PSIA-C Education Staff
How: Trainers Development is a two day program with indoor and outdoor training. The group will work collaboratively with each other and members of the Education Staff to walk through the latest training concepts focusing on movement analysis skills, the teaching model, skiing skills and the customer service model. Ed staff will work to meet the needs of all levels/degrees of experience who attend. Emphasis will be on training regimes and concepts, organization of training sessions, and analytical skills so that the participants will gain a higher level of confidence in their ability to train instructors to meet the #1 demands of resort owners: Retention (if they ski already keep ‘em excited about improving and doing so AT YOUR RESORT) and conversion (if they’re new, get ‘em excited about coming back and becoming a life-long skier.)
NOTE: Not all resorts are appropriate for this course. For 2016/17, we will offer this course at Cascade, Afton and Schuss in early March, and Marquette in late March.
Alpine – Alpine Level 1 Exam
What: The Level 1 exam is designed as the first step in the certification process. The weekend gives instructors an opportunity to have their skiing, teaching and technical skills evaluated against PSIA National Standards for Level 1 certification. The candidate will receive a written evaluation at the end of the weekend.
Why: The Level I exam gives the candidate an opportunity to learn collaboratively with the PSIA C education staff as well as other candidates. The Level I exam is the beginning step in the exam process for instructors who wish to expand their teaching careers. The candidate has the opportunity to enhance their teaching, skiing and technical skills.
How: The exam consists of two days. Day 1 consists of a clinic lead by an education staff member to demonstrate teaching skills for beginning skiers using the Y-Model and skiing skills from first turns to basic parallel. Day 2 is an exam based on the format learned in day one. In Day 2 an education staff member will evaluate the candidates skiing skills, teaching skills and technical skills against PSIA National Standards for Level 1.
*All Written Exams are to be taken online at least two weeks prior to the start of the event. To take your written exam please click here.
Alpine – Alpine Level 2 Exam
What: The Level 2 exam is designed as the second step in the certification process. The 3-day weekend gives instructors an opportunity to have their skiing, teaching and technical skills evaluated against PSIA National Standards for Level 2 certification. The candidate will receive a written evaluation at the end of the weekend.
Why: The Level 2 exam gives the candidate an opportunity to learn collaboratively with the PSIA C education staff as well as other candidates. The Level 2 exam is the next step after Level 1 in the exam process for instructors who wish to expand their teaching careers. The candidate has the opportunity to enhance their teaching, skiing and technical skills at a higher level.
How: The exam consists of three days where the candidate is evaluated against on their skiing, teaching and technical knowledge against PSIA national standards for Level 2. The skiing portion will be an evaluation of skiing ability and the application of skiing skills throughout different movement pools. The teaching portion will consist of evaluation of the instructors teaching skills and knowledge application skills in the intermediate zones. The candidate must pass their skiing, teaching and technical knowledge two out of the three days to attain Level 2 certification.
*All Written Exams are to be taken online at least two weeks prior to the start of the event. To take your written exam please click here.
Alpine – Alpine Level 3 Exam
What: The Level 3 exam is designed as the third step in the certification process. The 3-day weekend gives instructors an opportunity to have their skiing, teaching and technical skills evaluated against PSIA National Standards for Level 3 certification. The candidate will receive a written evaluation at the end of the weekend.
Why: The Level 3 exam gives the candidate an opportunity to learn collaboratively with the PSIA C education staff as well as other candidates. The Level 3 exam is the next step after Level 2 in the exam process for instructors who wish to expand their teaching careers. The candidate has the opportunity to enhance their teaching, skiing and technical skills at a higher level including training other instructors at your local school.
How: The exam consists of three days where the candidate is evaluated against on their skiing, teaching and technical knowledge against PSIA national standards for Level 3. The skiing portion will be an evaluation of skiing ability and the application of skiing skills throughout different movement pools. The teaching portion will consist of evaluation of the instructors teaching skills and knowledge application skills in the Advanced zones including movement analysis. The candidate must pass their skiing, teaching and technical knowledge two out of the three days to attain Level 3 certification.
*All Written Exams are to be taken online at least two weeks prior to the start of the event. To take your written exam please click here.
Alpine – Skiing Fundamentals (Skier Update Course)
Participants will isolate and explore the skiing fundamentals. This offering will help you to understand skills, movements, biomechanics, and how they apply to skiers through the Intermediate Zone. Some exercises may include: skiing a variety of turn shapes, carving on groomed terrain, and short dynamic turns on steeper terrain. Participants will discover ways to lead, manage and inspire students to become better skiers. Group leaders will demonstrate varied approaches for the establishment an optimal learning environment, and achieving student goals.
What: At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be able to reference elements of the 5 fundamentals relative to the skills concept, as applied to skiers in the intermediate zone.
Why: The Alpine Skills Concept has long served as a reference tool for movements in skiing. The 5 Fundamentals serve as a rubric for application of skills. Instructors who understand the interaction of both concepts have the framework for successful outcomes.
How: Discussions regarding the fundamentals and skills will be interspersed through-out the two days. All “Skier Update” courses are activity based, employing the PDAS (play-drill-adventure-summary) model.
Alpine – Experienced Instructor Group (Skier Update Course)
The Experienced Instructor Group is designed for more senior instructors who wish to ski at a slower pace. Challenging terrain and conditions will be approached more cautiously and explored with deference to age and ability. Topics for discussion will be decided by group consensus at the outset of the event.
What: At the conclusion of this course, participants will have been introduced to contemporary concepts and dialogues in ski instruction.
Why: Experienced instructors often have well entrenched tools and bring a wealth of tacit knowledge to discussions. This course is designed to remind and inform even the most senior of instructors.
How: Exploration, discussion, debate.
Alpine- Performance Skiing (Skier Update Course)
This offering is a great opportunity for experienced instructors to work collaboratively with each other, exploring the skiing fundamentals in applied situations. During this course, the group will learn to make situational changes to edging, rotary, balance and pressure movements. Participants will leave with further understanding of the skiing fundamentals in respect to tactics and terrain, body movements and ski performance.
What: In this course, participants will explore dynamic skiing. They will factor for outside forces and variations in terrain, applying appropriate skill blends and maintaining the 5 fundamentals in order to ensure optimal ski and body performance.
Why: High level skiing is both fun and exciting- the creation and execution of which is both an art and a science, with a foundation in technique and understanding.
How: Situational skiing- clinic leaders will seek out opportunities to change-up the skill blend to challenge participant’s abilities and concepts.
Alpine – The Level 2 Mock Exam
This course is designed for the instructor with Level 1 Certification, who has taught or observed some classes in the intermediate zone, and wants to see if he/she is ready for the next level. Although you will not be required to bring your portfolio to the event, participants are urged to have at least 20 hours practice teaching, and to have used the portfolio reflective process to help them feel at ease teaching and skiing at this level.
Participants should review the National Standards for Level 2 and be prepared to ski and teach at that level.
The Mock Exam is the best of both worlds for the aspiring instructor. You will experience the rigors of a real exam and receive specific feedback based upon your performance under exam conditions. You will build confidence, earn education credit, and learn how ready—or not—you are for the next level.
Alpine – The Level 3 Mock Exam
This course is designed for the instructor with Level 2 Certification, experienced in the intermediate zone, who has taught or observed some classes in the expert zone, and wants to see if he/she is ready for the next level. Although you will not be required to bring your portfolio to the event, participants are urged to have at least 20 hours practice teaching, and to have used the portfolio reflective process to help them feel at ease teaching and skiing at this level.
Participants should review the National Standards for Level 3 and be prepared to ski and teach at that level.
The Mock Exam is the best of both worlds for the aspiring instructor. You will experience the rigors of a real exam and receive specific feedback based upon your performance under exam conditions. You will build confidence, earn education credit, and learn how ready—or not—you are for the next level.
Alpine – Race Clinics
What: Three options: For coaches at the High School and ski school race team level (fundamentals of course setting, drills and movement analysis in a race course);
for instructors who wish to work on their skiing skills in a race course (skills and tactics for lowering those FIS points, or improving those Masters or Nastar results); and for instructors looking to develop and refine their skills in working with children (movement analysis skills, working the ATS model, and more). The Staff leading this course will take the time to establish goals and meet the needs of each participant, regardless of which option they are interested in.
Why: Whether you are wanting to learn about coaching or are an experienced race coach at the High School/ Ski school race program level, these clinics provides a great opportunity to work with a PSIA education staff members and other coaches to work on the fundamentals of ski race coaching.
How: Course setting appropriate for the clients; drills, video and movement analysis. A typical weekend will consist of one day of Slalom and one day of Giant Slalom. Coaches should bring shin guards, pole guards and a helmet/goggles to run gates. Course difficulty will depend on the ability of the skiers in the group.
Alpine – Women`s Camp/D-Team
What: Two days of ski improvement lead with other female instructors. This group is led by current as past female members of the PSIA Alpine Team.
Why: A chance to train in a unique all female clinic environment with group leaders considered to be among the best in the nation.
How: Sign up, join a diverse group of other women, and collaborate to have a great two days of training together.
Alpine – Mini Academy (Alpine)
What: An amazing event put on by PSIA National Team Members.
Why: Many participant consider the Mini Academy the best event in PSIA-C. A great bang for your buck, if you are looking to improve your ski technique.
How: Alpine Team Members are the best of the best in PSIA. They go through rigorous training to get to be a PSIA Team Member. Because of their training, the feedback you will get is spot on.
Alpine – Spring Rally (Alpine)
What: Spring Rally in the Colorado Mountains Skiing or Boarding with other PSIA-AASI Central members conducted by Central Division Ed Staff.
Why: To end a really great season with fellow Central Division members.
How: Just sign-up and come.
Alpine – Video Analysis Workshop
What: The Two-Day Video Analysis Workshop is a course designed to help the participants learn to do movement analysis thru the use of video.
Why: Using standard video capture AND specialized slow motion video capture, participants will be able to SEE what they FEEL to develop a clear understanding of how their movements produce specific outcomes in the snow. You will be able to compare your own performance with others in the group to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental movements.
How: During indoor breaks, you will analyze video of your and others’ skiing to establish accurate cause and effect relationships in skier movements. Participants will receive a private link to their video files on the PSIA-C video website or a flash drive, following the conclusion of the event, and a personalized plan for improvement.
Alpine – Creating Great Beginner Lessons
What: Creating a Great Beginner Lesson is designed for instructors that want to work on their beginner lesson skills. Learning to carefully choose Where you teach to help the What, Why, how you teach
Why: Beginners are 90% of lessons and so important to grow our sport! Everyone regardless of level should be proficient in teaching beginner lessons. Terrain plays an important role in the potential success of any learning activity. Learning on various terrain features prepares our students for options in where they ski.
How: The weekend is a two day event where the instructors have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other instructors and a PSIA-C education staff member to work through a great beginner lesson. Discussing what’s working for each instructor plus walking though the PSIA-C Y-model. Exploring how terrain selection impacts the learning experience by promoting desired movements.
