First Chair: Psia-aasi Podcast

Nate Gardner chatted with First Chair twice this month. In the first interview, he shares his excitement about participating in the 2020 PSIA-AASI National Team Selection event, that was scheduled for April 2020 and now postponed until next season. In the second interview, Nate shares how he’s going to continue to train for Team Selection and how he’s home schooling his two children. Follow PSIA-AASI social media channels and to stay connected to your #snowpros community: www.thesnowpros.org/socialmedia

First Chair catches up with Stacey Gerrish during Day 7 of her stay-at-home lockdown. Stacey talks about a message she shared with Beaver Creek Ski and Snowboard school instructors last week and reflects about how she’s found a silver lining during these interesting times. Listen to how she's been expressing her gratitude in a variety of ways. Please follow PSIA-AASI social media channels to reach out and safely stay connected to our community: www.thesnowpros.org/socialmedia

First Chair catches up with some folks who help PSIA-AASI with some internal administrative operations, such as contract photographer Linda Guerette and communications specialist, Katrina Brinkerhoff. Get the skinny on some of the people working behind-the-PSIA-AASI scenes!

First Chair catches up with Stacey Gerrish to get the scoop about the fundamentals of teaching children and how you can help them determine their goals. Take a listen to get some tips and trick to teach kids from Stacey, then check out PSIA-AASI’s free e-learning course “Introduction to Working With Children.” https://lms.thesnowpros.org/product/introduction-to-working-with-children/

First Chair catches up with PSIA Alpine Team members Stephen Helfenbein and Brenna Kelleher about the benefits of summer skiing and how visiting other countries in the off season can help you keep your year-round edge. Be sure to check out PSIA-AASI’s new Fitness for Skiing and Snowboard resource too! Access your free digital edition: https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/digitalmanuals

First Chair catches up with Geoff Krill and Josh Spoelstra from the PSIA Adaptive Team to talk about what it’s like for them as they enter a tryout year for the team. Also, learn more about some of the most impactful events in the last 12 months of professional snowsports instruction. Read more: https://www.thesnowpros.org/news/id/2468/2019-year-in-review-top-stories-in-adaptive-instruction

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI National Team Manger Jeb Boyd who talks about the 2020 PSIA-AASI National Team Selection process and how ti helps PSIA-AASI select the nation’s best instructors to represent the association at the highest level. As a result, the team will embody these three attributes outlined by the Teams Taskforce: lifelong learners, inspirational educators, and inspirational athletes. Take a listen and learn more about next steps for the 2020 – 24 PSIA-AASI National Team Selection event.

First Chair catches up with Pete Allison about PSIA-AASI’s Learning Connection Model, which emphasizes an equal focus on people skills (which tie into the culture of snowsports), technical skills (which are at the core of good technique), and the teaching skills (which strengthen the student’s connection to snowsports).

First Chair catches up with Kristi Prochazka and Ryan Christofferson from the PSIA-AASI Western Division to chat about ways that PSIA-AASI members can get involved in the division and in the industry. Volunteering is a great way to become involved in your snowsports community. The best way to volunteer for the Western Division is to run for a position on its board of directors. If you have the qualities and experience that would make you a valuable member of the PSIA-AASI Western Division Board of Directors, and you have ideas on how PSIA-AASI can better serve its members, please contact info@psia-w.org.

First Chair catches up with Greg Dixon and Grant Bishop to discuss the top highlight from the PSIA Telemark Team over the past few years. Learn how the biggest highlight for this term was the trip to Interski in Pamporovo.

First Chair catches up with Emily Lovett, current PSIA Cross Country team member. Meet Emily and learn how her teaching background started when she started teaching cross country skiing at the Steamboat Ski Touring Center in 1995. Did you know that an October 2016 Outside magazine article ranked nordic skiing the world’s toughest outdoor sport? Meet Emily and then check out these videos to get started cross country skiing this season. https://www.thesnowpros.org/take-a-lesson/how-to-learn-to-cross-country-ski

First Chair catches up with PSIA Alpine Team members Matt Boyd and Ann Schorling who recently led one-day seminars as part of the National Ski Areas Association Winter Conferences. Each seminar focused on providing training for snowsports managers about the Learning Connection Model. This is a tool that is helping directors ensure their snowsports school teams have the teaching and people skills needed to connect with their resort guests.

PSIA-AASI National Team Alumni member David Oliver chats with First Chair about what it means to be a Level I, Level II and Level III PSIA-AASI certified member. Listen to D.O. share more insight about each certification level and what it means, both from an instructor standpoint and as a student taking a lesson from an instructor that has this certification. Watch these videos to learn more: https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/certification

First Chair catches up with a group of instructors from Eldora, Colorado, who just passed their PSIA Level I alpine exam. Listen to their stories and get the scoop on their journey and why they wanted to learn more and create some lifelong adventures through education. Learn more about PSIA-AASI certification and education opportunities: https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/certification

PSIA-AASI National Team Member Brenna Kelleher teams up with PSIA-AASI Level III instructors Glen Plake and A.J. Oliver for a segment in this season's Warren Miller film "Timeless," presented by Volkswagen. Brenna shares her story about performance anxiety that comes with representing instructors and PSIA-AASI members on the big screen. Listen to her experience, and then check out "Timeless" when it plays near you. https://www.thesnowpros.org/news/id/2424/member-spotlight-northern-rocky-mountains-brenna-kelleher

The Outdoor Retailer Snow Show took place in January at the Colorado Convention Center, with dozens of PSIA-AASI Official Suppliers showing off next year’s skis, snowboards, and accessories to retailers and snowsports instructors. First Chair catches up with Scott, Booster Strap, POC, Leki and more. Listen in for some of the top news that they wanted to introduce for instructors, and their students as well. Read more Outdoor Retailer Snow Show news from Nordica, HEAD, Salomon, Never Summer, Blizzard and Atomic: https://www.thesnowpros.org/news/id/2503/snow-show-standouts-new-womens-skis-never-summer-snowboards https://www.thesnowpros.org/news/id/2511/snow-show-standouts-new-skis-and-boots-for-instructors

First Chair catches up with current Team Manager Jeb Boyd, who will serve as the Head Coach of the 2020-24 PSIA-AASI National Team. Jeb shares an update about the new National Team selection process, who are individuals that are selected on a “best in the nation” concept. Every four years, men and women are chosen to represent the association following a rigorous selection process and will serve a four-year term. Hurry, your applications are due Friday, Jan. 10, 2020! www.thesnowpros.org/teamselection

First Chair catches up with PSIA Adaptive National Team members Geoff Krill and Josh Spoelstra about the 32nd annual Hartford Ski Spectacular that took place Dec. 9 - 15, 2019, in Breckenridge, Colorado. This event, hosted by Disabled Sports USA and held in conjunction with PSIA-AASI’s National Adaptive Academy, is the nation’s premier adaptive winter sports festival. Check out PSIA-AASI's top stories in adaptive instruction from 2019: http://tiny.cc/02d6hz

First Chair catches up with Jeff Brier to chat boardercross. Learn how it combines speed, jumps, and drops and how the feeling of the sport can help you become more connected to the performance of their snowboard or skis. Learn how moguls and banked turns in the trees directly relates to boardercross and advancing your fundamental skills as you maneuver through changing terrain.

First Chair catches up with Jim Shaw, about his new role as PSIA-AASI Rocky Mountain division’s Telemark Committee chair. Learn what Shaw is doing in this role to apply consistency across the board for PSIA telemark national standards, as well as apply all skills found in The Learning Connection to education experiences. Check out PSIA-AASI National Standards: thesnowpros.org/education/national-standards