First Chair: Psia-aasi Podcast

PSIA-AASI’s Distinguished Service Award program recognizes those who’ve made important contributions that have added to PSIA-AASI’s success by providing educational programming support and demonstrating positive leadership skills. The Awards and Recognition Committee recently named Dee Byrne as the recipient of this award. Dee talks about what it means to her to receive this award and how her students and serving others has inspired her along the way. Learn more: www.thesnowpros.org/news

First Chair catches up with PSIA Alpine Team member Jennifer Simpson Weier, who moonlights in her off-season as an emergency room nurse. Jennifer shares her experience about ending her ski season early at Aspen and making the transition to working as a frontline ER provider in Minnesota. PSIA-AASI sends a special shout out to Jennifer and all the frontline healthcare workers today on #nursesday and every day for the important role they play in society. Check out Muffy Ritz's story about her first-hand COVID-19 experience: http://tiny.cc/muffyritz

First Chair catches up with Katie Feucht about new online learning opportunities that are available to all PSIA-AASI members. Check out how Northwest has set up and structured their digital learning opportunities and how you can hop in and continue your online learning this month on courses such as Alpine, Snowboard, and Telemark Remote Movement Analysis. Visit: www.psia-nw.org/events View more PSIA-AASI online courses: http://tiny.cc/stayhomelearn

First Chair catches up with Muffy Ritz, former U.S. Ski Team member and top-notch athlete, about her first-hand experience with COVID-19. She talks about her experience when she first became sick on March 17, to her worst day on Day 15 which included her experiencing an earthquake, to where she is now, at Day 39 for what she’s feeling now during her recovery process. Take a listen to her experience, her symptoms, what her tests revealed and her thoughts on the virus.

PSIA-AASI’s Educational Excellence Award program recognizes those exceptional few members who authored PSIA-AASI educational materials over the years and have added significantly to, and possibly even changed, the educational direction of PSIA-AASI. The Awards and Recognition Committee recently named Kim Seevers as the recipient of this award. Kim talks about the what it means to her to receive this award and all the instructors who have inspired her along the way. Learn more: www.thesnowpros.org/news

Connecting via Zoom, First Chair catches up with Henrik Lampert and Daniel Dancer from PSIA-AASI Official Supplier Faction Skis. The team chats about how COVID-19 has impacted their manufacturing, and how they're working to manage expectations for next season. Get the inside scoop on their supply chain and what that means for ski instructors interested in flat-tail skis. Check out special members-only pricing at www.thesnowpros.org/proforms.

A strange end to our season cancelled in-person education events. However, all PSIA-AASI Divisions did a quick 180 to use technology platforms to provide all PSIA-AASI members with new courses and events so the entire instructor community could continue to learn online during these unusual times. PSIA-AASI Central Division members and leaders Joel Kruger and Ron Shepard and AASI National Snowboard Team member Chris Rogers chat about the quick pivot. Take a course: http://tiny.cc/stayhomelearn

Meet Erin Connors and Ciarra Delisle from Windham Mountain. Erin helped introduce Ciarra to Windham Mountain’s Junior Instructor Program and Ciarra shares her experience about why it’s fun to work as an instructor. Learn how you can use PSIA-AASI’s Junior Instructor Program to jump start your training program for next season. www.thesnowpros.org/junior-instructor

PSIA-AASI’s Lifetime Achievement Award program recognizes exceptional members who have designed and implemented programs, projects and procedures affecting the association on a national level. PSIA-AASI’s Awards and Recognition Committee recently named Stephen Over and Mark Dorsey as the recipient of this award. Stephen and Mark talk about the meaning of the award to them and all the instructors who have inspired them along the way. Nominate a colleague: www.thesnowpros.org/awardsandrecognition

Over the years, several myths about snowboarding have taken root, including that kids need to learn to ski before they ride, that snowboard gear is too big for younger children, and that the first day on the slopes is too hard. Chloe Elliot, Burton’s B2C global resorts coordinator, busts those myths and talks about how Burton is committed to getting families out riding together and that means making gear and programs that work for even the smallest of riders. Watch videos: http://tiny.cc/mythvids

PSIA-AASI National Team members Matt Boyd, Heidi Ettlinger, Brenna Kelleher and Chris Rogers share their story about their last resort run of this season. Get the scoop too on what’s happening across the country related to how you can keep up with your digital learning while you stay at home these days. http://tiny.cc/stayhomelearn

Meet Dan Hogan from Windham Mountain who talks about how he implemented PSIA-AASI’s Junior Instructor Program to further develop his current program at his school. He shares what participants learned by going through this program and how he got parents involved too. Take a listen for some fresh ideas on how you can jump start your training program for next season. https://www.thesnowpros.org/junior-instructor

Doug Kechijian, co-author of PSIA-AASI’s Fitness for Skiing and Snowboarding book, shares guidance for an indoor fitness training regimen you can do now that will promote improved movement and body longevity for you and all snowsports instructors. Remember, there’s no time like the present to get started on a fitness regime. As Warren Miller said, “If you don’t start now, you will be one year older when you do.” Get your free digital fitness book here: https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/digitalmanuals

Chris Hargrave helps you learn about the history of summer skiing and riding at the Palmer Snowfield on Mount Hood, and how it’s become a summertime mecca for freestyle training. Listen for how you too can become a part of Timberline’s summertime coaching legacy.

First Chair catches up with PSIA Alpine Team member Ryan Christofferson about how you can make the most of your early season ending. Here are some ideas for things to do now to keep your spirits up AND tackle some indoor study sessions. While you're at it, watch Ryan’s indoor presentation from the comfort of your couch: http://tiny.cc/RyanC

The REI Co-op crew teamed up with PSIA-AASI National Team members Amy Gan, Greg Rhodes and Robin Barnes last December to create a comprehensive catalog of “learn to” cross country, ski and snowboard videos that you and your students can watch on YouTube, or that you can post on your own social media accounts to share the love of snowsports. This link takes you to those videos: http://tiny.cc/REIVideos

First Chair catches up with Hestra’s Marketing Manager Drew Eakins about the company’s decision to donate 38,000 pairs of gloves to Colorado first responders last week. During this time of so many changes, let’s keep backing each other in our industry, and if you’re able to, take advantage of your PSIA-AASI member specific-pricing on spring and summer products on the Pro Offers page and help support PSIA-AASI’s Official Suppliers. Visit: www.thesnowpros.org/shop

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ed Younglove, about why it’s so important for all of us to stay connected to our snowsports community these days. Ed also chats about what the PSIA-AASI leadership is doing to focus on the needs of PSIA-AASI members across the country to help them get through this experience and into the next season. Be sure to stay connected to your community by following PSIA-AASI’s Facebook and Instagram channels and tagging your IG posts with #snowpros: www.thesnowpros.org/socialmedia

PSIA-AASI National Team Head Coach Jeb Boyd and Director of Education Dave Schuiling talk about the plan and path forward from the postponement of the 2020 National Team Selection. Hear their feedback about next steps and how the selection will kick off in just over a year from now, on April 18, 2021. Stay connected with the #snowpros community and watch education presentations: www.thesnowpros.org/socialmedia

First Chair catches up with Karen Downing, Annette Lang, JoAnn Larsen and Maggie Loring to discuss their key takeaways from the Women’s Summit, held March 1 – 3 at Snowbird, Utah. Karen, Annette and JoAnn also discuss working as instructors at the Boston Mills and Brandywine Ski area. Hear their take on how they plan to incorporate lessons learned from this event into next season, such as using a simplified teaching model and why they'll be working on finishing their ski turns. Stay connected with the #snowpros community: https://www.thesnowpros.org/socialmedia