First Chair: Psia-aasi Podcast

Last week, First Chair met up with PSIA-AASI National Team Head Coach, Jeb Boyd, and PSIA-AASI Director of Education, Dave Schuiling, to recap the Team Training event. Jeb and Dave shared that PSIA-AASI’s National Team worked hard to review and plan for the rollout of consistent training and implementation around PSIA-AASI’s new standards. This month, PSIA-AASI’s “Fall Conference” training event hits the internet and road. PSIA-AASI divisional educators will receive web-based learning and live on-site unified training, and many National Team members will take part in this process. Envisioned as a three-phase process of standards adoption, training, integration, implementation, and quality assurance and enhancement built around PSIA-AASI’s Learning Connection, the new approach to certification promises to assure a better, more consistent process for candidates, examiners, and trainers. Learn more: https://www.thesnowpros.org/certification/national-certification-standards/

First Chair catches up with AASI’s Snowboard Assistant and Development Team Coach, Tony Macri, about how his freestyle coaching at Woodward during the summer helps him with his teaching during the winter season. Tony shares tips on how you can help your students learn while helping them to manage through a challenging experience or their fear of the unknown. Meet Tony, who hails from Copper Mountain, Colorado: tiny.cc/meettony

In honor of the dropping temperatures and changing leaves, PSIA-AASI Official Supplier Nordica is celebrating “Protober” with special deals to get you ready for winter. First Chair catches up with Nordica’s Andy Hare and PSIA’s Alpine Team Coach Michael Rogan, about Nordica’s skis and why they are a great fit for instructors. AND, for a limited-time, you can enjoy added savings on brand-new Nordica Spitfire Skis (72, 76, 80mm) during the month of October with bindings included. In addition, for a limited time, deals are also available on award-winning Enforcer and Santa Ana models. PSIA-AASI members can shop Nordica's "Protober" now: members.thesnowpros.org/products/pro-offers

First Chair catches up with Women of Winter (WoW) founder Chris Walch. PSIA-AASI and Women of Winter partnered this season to provide scholarships and host five instructor education events for Black, Indigenous, Women of Color that will encourage and support women to pursue opportunities to teach skiing or snowboarding. Participants select the location they would like to attend and submit an application by 10/31. There are a maximum of six participants at each event. Learn more: https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/scholarships/women-of-winter/ Events will be held at: February 1 – 4, 2022: Hyland Hills Ski Area, Bloomington, Minnesota (Alpine Level I) February 7 – 10, 2022: Windham Mountain, Windham, New York (Alpine Level I) February 7 – 10, 2022: Eldora Mountain, Nederland, Colorado (Snowboard Level I) March 5 – 8, 2022: Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana (Alpine Level I) March 5 – 8, 2022: Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana (Snowboard Level I) Special thanks to these PSIA-AASI Official Suppliers for t

First Chair catches up with co-authors, Mark Aiken and Kevin Jordan, about what you’ll see this Fall when PSIA-AASI launches the brand-new Teaching Children Snowsports manual. The Teaching Children Snowsports manual will help you introduce your students to a new adventure in the outdoors as they foster an appreciation for the mountain environment.

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet returning PSIA Alpine Team member, Josh Fogg, who hails from Aspen Snowmass, Colorado. Learn more about Josh: http://tiny.cc/meetjosh

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet returning PSIA Alpine Team member, Ryan Christofferson, who hails from Heavenly, California. Learn more about Ryan: http://tiny.cc/meetryan

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet returning PSIA Alpine Assistant and Development Coach, Matt Boyd, who hails from Loon Mountain, New Hampshire. Learn more about Matt: http://tiny.cc/meetmattboyd

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet returning PSIA-AASI Adaptive Team Coach, Geoff Krill, who hails from Loon Mountain, New Hampshire. Learn more about Geoff: http://tiny.cc/meetgeoff

First Chair catches up with Alison Powers about getting ready for the upcoming season. Alison is the only cyclist, male or female, to hold the national champion title in Road, Criterium, and Time Trial in the same year (2014). Listen in to learn what you can do right now to get your legs ready for your best winter ever. Remember to download a free copy of Fitness for Skiing and Snowboarding too! https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/digital-manuals-for-every-discipline/

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI Central Division CEO, Ron Shephard, about what’s happening this season in the Midwest. Ron also shares details about “What a Pro Knows,” a local initiative designed to promote education and instruction and sharing knowledge with other instructors, students, guests, and the industry.

First Chair catches up with Matthew Zabransky, founder of Midwest Skiers, to talk about the impact and opportunity Midwest ski areas can have on growing the sport because of their proximity to urban areas. In this interview, Matthew also explains how Midwest skiers share a passion and love for skiing that is truly on a deeper level. Learn more about Matthew and Midwest ski areas: https://www.midwestskiers.com/

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet returning PSIA Alpine Team member, Stephen Helfenbein, who hails from Deer Valley, Utah. Learn more about Stephen: http://tiny.cc/meetstephen

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet PSIA Alpine Team member, Ben Potts, who hails from Breckenridge, Colorado. Learn more about Ben: http://tiny.cc/meetbenpotts

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet returning PSIA Alpine Team member, Brenna Kelleher, who hails from Big Sky, Montana. Learn more about Brenna: http://tiny.cc/meetbrenna

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet AASI Snowboard Team Snowboard Assistant and Development Team Coach, Tony Macri, who hails from Copper Mountain, Colorado. Learn more about Tony: http://tiny.cc/meettony

First Chair catches up with John Emery, the CEO of Alpine-X, which is a company that is working to develop indoor snow sports facilities that will provide an authentic alpine experience to guests of all skill levels, while also making participation inclusive, accessible, convenient, and affordable to all. Listen to John’s vision to help bring the mountain to more people while delivering a fun, safe, consistent and memorable family entertainment experience.

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet PSIA Alpine Team member, Mike Hafer, who hails from Breckenridge, Colorado. Learn more about Mike: http://tiny.cc/meetmike

The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. In April 2021, PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members selected spring 2021 – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding. Meet PSIA Alpine Team member, Troy Walsh, who hails from Sunday River, Maine. Learn more about Troy: http://tiny.cc/meettroy

First Chair catches up with Robert Joseph from Anti Ordinary, which is a company that’s created a beanie that prevents head injuries. Rob shares his story about how he got into the industry and why he decided to start this company. Learn more: https://antiordinary.co/