First Chair: Psia-aasi Podcast

First Chair catches up with extreme skiing pioneer, Dan Egan. Dan starred in 12 Warren Miller movies, including the “cornice break” segment in “Extreme Winter” that became the most viewed ski segment of all-time. Dan also chats about instruction and how his lessons from early on helped him today on how he builds a great client connection with his students by always delivering on his promise “we’re going to have a great day.”

First Chair will spotlight education leaders working to create new National Standards, education resources, and communication strategies that will benefit all members. In this first highlight, meet PSIA-AASI Northwest Technical Team Head Coach Rick Lyons.

First Chair catches up with The North Face’s Global VP of Mountain Sports, Scott Mellin, about The North Face’s new monthly podcast series with PSIA-AASI that will update listeners about new product innovations, their new Official Supplier partnership with PSIA-AASI that will provide members with the industry’s most innovative performance apparel and gear, and the surprising silver lining impact that COVID-19 has had on their company.

PSIA-AASI members, Aleks and Brian Smith (who are also parents), share their strategies for success for family group private lessons. Receive some ideas on how you can help parents become partners in the learning environment during your lesson. Helping to educate a family is an art and a science and Aleks and Brian give you some suggestions for skill development success for all.

First Chair catches up with SNO-GO colleagues, Rob Aseltine and Shaun Cattanach, about SNO-GO, which looks like a snow bike and is leading a new era of technology for winter sports. Rob and Shaun talk about how SNO-GO’s mechanics work and why it’s the perfect device for ripping groomers, parks, and pow. Take this free SNO-GO webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 5 – 6 p.m. MDT to get the scoop on how this fun alternative to skiing or riding is helping our industry reach newer and more experienced snowsports enthusiasts. Register for the free webinar: https://members.thesnowpros.org/events/search?eventId=353

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI CEO Nick Herrin about how the ski and snowboard industry is working together about reopening this winter. Nick also talks about how instructors can offer educational programming in a low-risk environment this season and “Navigating the 2020-21 Snowsports Season”, a new resource created with input from PSIA-AASI’s education leaders and snowsports managers. This document aims to amplify mindfulness for how instructors can engage with and teach our guests during the COVID-19 era by following local, state, and federal protocols and using PSIA-AASI’s Learning Connection model. Learn more: www.thesnowpros.org/education/covid-19-updates

Trauma has been identified as an epidemic in our society. Studies indicate that a significant portion of the population have experienced harmful or life-threatening events which have impacted their everyday functioning or well-being. Certified Trauma Professional Christine Cowart talks about the PSIA-AASI webinar that she’ll lead on this topic on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 at 6 p.m. EDT. And why this webinar is an especially timely educational resource for ski and snowboard instructors teaching in the time of COVID-19. Register now and earn 1 CEU: https://members.thesnowpros.org/events/search?eventId=341

PSIA-AASI Eastern Division member, Brian Donovan, chats about how instructors can work to build their client base for ski and snowboard lessons this season. For example, it might seem counter intuitive to narrow your focus when you want to broaden your client base, but finding your instructor niche is often the key to expanding your clients!

In this 3-part podcast series, PSIA Alpine Team member, Brian Smith, chats about how to manage a family group lesson. Take a listen to get some ideas for this upcoming season for your group lessons. For example, learn what to do when your best-laid plans for managing your family group lesson plan goes awry. Listen to Part 1 of the series: http://tiny.cc/gmrrsz

First Chair catches up with Paul Howard, who serves as the President, Technical Director for the Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (PMBIA). PSIA-AASI recently partnered with PMBIA to bring year-round educational opportunities to ski, snowboard, and mountain bike instructors. This partnership means ski and snowboard instructors can pursue education and training opportunities in the off-season so they can teach others to mountain bike, and mountain bike instructors can pursue education and training opportunities that will help them work as ski and snowboard instructors.

PSIA Alpine Team member, Brian Smith, chats about how to manage a family group lesson. Take a listen to get some ideas for this upcoming season for your group lessons. For example, consider group size and accommodating all family members to set up your students for success.

First Chair catches up with pro skier, Julian Carr, who has been featured in seven Warren Miller films, developing a reputation not only for capturing the biggest airs, but for all around skiing. Listen to how his background in gymnastics and his fascination for deep powder, has helped him to hone his craft.

First Chair catches up with PSIA Cross Country Coach Emily Lovett about how learning to cross country ski this winter will be a perfect half-day family and friend activity for this upcoming winter season. Listen to her recommendations on how instructors can approach teaching groups that may include students with different skill levels. To learn more about cross country skiing, check out your local Nordic centers and this “Beginner’s Guide to Cross Country Skiing”. http://tiny.cc/XClessons

First Chair catches up with Tanya Milelli about how instructors can stay positive this season while facing a return to something new for this winter season. Listen for some suggestions on how to look at the bigger picture, while applying some different and complex thinking to help roll out the red carpet for a return to winter. This season will be a great opportunity for you to really hone your people skills, so that together, we can strengthen our community, understand and embrace one another, and rebuild and reopen.

First Chair catches up with Kevin Jordan and PSIA Alpine Team member Jonathan Ballou, to learn about the history of Snowmass Bike Park and the Snowmass Bike School. They also share some insight about how the school is providing mountain bike lessons this summer to teach students foundational skills. You’ll also get some insight about how Snowmass has worked with local and state guidelines to make it a safe summer operational season.

First Chair catches up with pro skier Julian Carr and Nabil Rahman, vice president for Spot, which is a company that has reimagined the insurance ecosystem for the outdoor industry and its enthusiasts. PSIA-AASI recently partnered with Spot to offer all members injury insurance specifically designed for ski and snowboard instructors. For an affordable, one-time payment of $50, you can purchase Spot for the 2020-2021 season and get up to $20,000 for your medical bills each time you’re injured while skiing or snowboarding. Learn more: http://tiny.cc/spotinsurance [Photo Credit: Hanna Whirty]

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI National Team Alpine Assistant and Development Coach Matt Boyd and Snowboard Assistant and Development Coach Tony Macri about PSIA-AASI’s education staff and team coaches announcement on their decision for a positive path forward for the PSIA-AASI National Team Selection that will continue to build on the current team’s successes and also provide valuable benefits for members.

First Chair catches up with PSIA Alpine Team Coach Michael Rogan, PSIA Alpine Team member Dave Lyon, and PSIA-AASI Northwest member Melody Buell about their participation in Dave Lyon's race camps at Timberline Ski Area, Mt. Hood in Oregon this summer. Get the scoop on how the camps are operating during this unusual time.

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI National Team Head Coach, Jeb Boyd, and PSIA-AASI Director of Education, Dave Schuiling, about the Learning Connection model and talks about how two of the three tenets, teaching and people skills, are the same across all disciplines. The Learning Connection emphasizes that great lessons rely on the instructor’s ability to offer a blend of people skills, teaching skills, and technical skills. Whether students are new to skiing and riding or experts seeking greater mastery of their chosen sport, this approach creates informative, fun, and personalized experiences that keep students engaged in the learning process for life.

First Chair catches up with Dave Horne, a Level III alpine instructor, who hails from the Rocky Mountain Division. Dave shares his story about why he decided to pursue his passion to work in the snowsports industry and teach skiing and work at Vail Mountain. He also talks about what it’s like working in the snowsports industry as a Black ski instructor and shares ideas about how the industry can work to diversify its instructor core.