NEWS OF NOTE I
LINEUP
CENTRAL DIVISION’S JOHN PEPPLER HONORED WITH PSIA-AASI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
n the more than 50-year history of PSIA-AASI, only 13 people have received the association’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Late last year, Central Division’s John
Peppler became the fourteenth member of that exemplary group of ski and snowboard instructors. He was also awarded lifetime membership in PSIA-AASI
Peppler began his skiing career at Sugar Loaf Ski Resort in Northern Michigan in 1973 and was the area’s race director, from 1976 to 1988. A member of Central Division since 1974, he is a Level III alpine instructor with a Children’s Specialist 2 credential. He is a member of the Central Division education staff and serves as an alpine examiner and clinic leader.
A LEADER ON MANY LEVELS Troughout his long tenure with
Q 2 state runner-up titles Q 1 state championship
Peppler was the head ski coach of Northern Michigan University from 1996-97, and in 2008 was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Here, Peppler talks about receiving the PSIA-AASI Lifetime Achievement Award,
a
PSIA-AASI, Peppler has fulfilled many leadership roles. Nationally, he as
served as: QVice Chairman of the Board
QCommunications Vice President
QOperations Vice President Q Selection Committee for PSIA Alpine Demonstration Team
In Central Division, he held these positions: QMember, Board of Directors QEducation Vice President QEducation Staff Development Manager Q Alpine Training Committee
A member of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association
since 1980,
Peppler is a Level 3-certified alpine coach, referee, chief of course, and chief of race for that organization. During an extensive ski coaching career, he led boys and girls teams at various schools, including Glen Lake High School and Traverse City St. Francis/TC Christian, where he helped
his teams win: Q 14 conference championships Q7 regional championships
12 | 32 DEGREES • FALL 2015
distinction he shares with PSIA co-founders Jimmy Johnston, Bill Lash, Max Dercum, Doug
Pfeiffer,
Donald Rhinehart, and Curt Chase; past presidents Ray Allard and Mark Anderson, as well as PSIA-AASI members Junior Bounous, Hal O’Leary, Doug Pringle,
Herbert Schneider, and Jerry Warren. He also gives a shout-out to all the instructors who have inspired him along the way.
What does the award mean to you?
Te award was totally unexpected. I am humbled to be a recipient and am still letting it all settle in.
What are some of the key highlights of your instructional career? I have always loved the thrill of skiing, ever since my first time down the hill with my grandfather on a Christmas morning many years ago. As a result, I just love sharing this wonderful lifestyle with anyone who shows an interest. PSIA training certainly has made all this sharing easier. Attending events, skiing with the Alpine Team, and sharing the joy of skiing just seems right.
Who are some of the instructors who have inspired you? I especially want to thank my friend and mentor Mark Anderson for his help and direction over the years. Mark has a level head and certainly helped me both as a ski instructor and as a member of the PSIA- AASI Board of Directors. I adopted Mark’s motto for making decisions at the leadership level, which is to always “remember the member.” If decisions are made with the benefit of the member in mind, it is almost impossible to make the wrong decision. Instructors who have influenced me are
those who always had a genuine passion for the sport. Nationally, past and present Alpine Team members like Ellen Post Foster, Rob Sogard, Michael Rogan, Mike Porter, and Shawn Smith fit that mold. All my skiing buddies on the Central Alpine Ed Staff have contributed as inspirations, and the annual ed staff meetings are the highlight of the year. It’s just a blast to help a skier – at any level – make a breakthrough, and that’s why teaching skiing is so rewarding.
Why is PSIA-AASI so important to you?
PSIA-AASI is a great organization because of the members. It’s especially rewarding skiing with friends for 30-40 years. I always look forward to the Central Division Fall Workshop to get reacquainted with these friends to re-start the season. I look forward to continuing as a Central Education Staff member and sharing the joy of this wonderful sport.
I want to thank the PSIA-AASI
Board of Directors for considering me for the award. And to thank PSIA-AASI Chairman of the Board Ed Younglove and (former) PSIA-AASI Executive Director and CEO Mark Dorsey for coming to Boyne Highlands to present the award. It was great seeing them and sharing lift rides for most of the day. Most importantly, I want to thank all the instructors I have had a chance to ski with over the years, because you have done more for me than you can imagine!
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