LEVEL II ALPINE, CHILDREN’S SPECIALIST 1; WINTER PARK RESORT, COLORADO PRO FILE: CINDY MILLER
How did you fi rst get involved in ski instruction? My mom was a ski enthusiast who became a ski instructor when I was a kid. T e fi rst time I went skiing was at age three. At 15, I was asked by Ski School Director Willie Jenkins to join the staff at Springfi eld Ski Club in Blandford, Massachusetts. Since then, I have taught skiing on and off at Butternut Basin in Massachusetts, Breckenridge, Colorado, and am now at Winter Park, Colorado.
What about it originally appealed to you? What fi rst appealed to me about ski instruction was the camaraderie amongst instructors and the idea that even the best were always trying to get better. Come to think of it, that’ still a part of what I love about it.
Are there any particular highlights or moments in a class that stand out for you? T e most memorable class I ever taught was a beginner class about 25 years ago that included two women who were very frightened to try skiing and quite reticent to say why they were there. By the end of the class they had gained enough confi dence to ride the lift and enjoy linked turns. T ey actually had some giggles toward the end of the day. It wasn’t until the end of the class that
they decided to tell me they were in a counseling group for parents whose kids had been paralyzed by spinal injuries. Since their kids would have to face life in many new ways, their counselor at Denver’s Craig Hospital challenged the parents to try something that would feel overwhelming to them. T ey did not do other sports and were frightened by trying something new like skiing. I helped them learn to ski – something they never thought they would ever do. T ey later admitted they had a “back-
out plan” before they even got to the meeting area. With tears in their eyes, they told me of the new hope they had for their kids in being able to adapt to a new way of getting around in the world. Somehow
14 | 32 DEGREES • WINTER 2016
they had found courage and now they knew their kids could too.
In September, you went to Interski in Ushuaia, Argentina. What made you decide to go? Ushuaia was my second Interski. I also attended Interski 2003 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. I went this year
for many
reasons: fresh inspiration, to see where PSIA- AASI stands in the world of ski instruction, to enrich/develop my abilities as a ski instructor, to fi nd out how other countries consider senior skiers in their teaching, and for the cultural education of visiting Argentina.
What stood out? When people from around the world share a single passion – the love of snowsports – our diff erences mean very little. Maybe if we put all the leaders of the world into the same snowsports lessons we could have world peace? (“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one...”)
What aspect of Interski would you like to share back home? Inspiration! Every country had something a bit diff erent and useful to share. T ey were all inspiring. Nowhere, except Interski, will you ever fi nd the opportunity to meet Team members and all levels of ski and snowboard instructors
from all over the world in
just one week. It’s a one-week, world- wide “selfi e” of our profession. It’s the best opportunity to learn where we, PSIA-AASI, fi t into the world of snowsports. (And it’s just freakin’ FUN!).
How can we improve our lessons in the USA?
Each of us can improve by paying deep
Cindy Miller with PSIA-AASI Freestyle Specialist David Oliver.
attention to T e Learning Connection and the 5 Fundamentals. [Editor’s note: see Interski 2015: T e Big Picture” on page 20.]. I repeat: deep attention. Look at it from your personal point of view as a skier and instructor. From seasoned pros to fi rst year instructors, we should all be asking how we can best use this framework in our daily classes. Personally, the more I use this framework, the more inspired and creative I feel about skiing and teaching.
Any questions you wish I had asked? Yes, “what were you, a 65-year-old grandmother, doing at “the end of the world” in the Hungarian freestyle workshop and the American freestyle workshop at Interski 2015?! Answer: Having fun!!! AND learning
how well our 5 Fundamentals and T e Learning Connection model really work in all disciplines for all ages and abilities. (Shout-out to PSIA Freestyle Specialist David Oliver!).
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OF INTERSKI In addition to attending Interski herself, Cindy Miller was instrumental in working with Winter Park Resort to contribute to the Interski Fundraising campaign that helped send PSIA Nordic Team Telemark Specialist – and fellow Winter Park instructor – Jim Shaw to Interski.
SUSAN URBANCZYK
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