YOUR SPACE
but as it falls through a moist atmosphere, it gets layered with rime ice. Graupel is fun to pronounce (it’s “GRAU-pull”), painful to get pelted with, and sublime to ski through. It rolls downhill and flows like water, creating cascades of snow that falls over cliff bands. One afternoon we got three inches of graupel and every student on the hill got a lesson in the wonders of this snow – and, wow, was the skiing surreal! Te mountains offer natural phenomena and raw sensations that few people get to experience in their daily lives; each of those offers a glimpse into the workings of the natural world.
INSTILL A SENSE OF COMMUNITY LEARNING
A group lesson has the potential to create learning opportunities exponentially greater than a one-on-one setting. Group learning allows people to understand more about themselves and how they relate to others. Skiing and riding already involve a certain
degree of risk-taking, but learning with your peers requires social risks as well. What if I fall
a cohesive – and hilarious – team. It stands out as one of the most fun and uplifting lessons I’ve taught. It’s a huge lesson in learning to operate in a team, feeling safe to take risks, and knowing that everyone will be supported. Wouldn’t it be great if everything in life were this way? No doubt you’ve had experiences similar
Great instructors teach mechanics and instill
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in front of everyone? What if I can’t keep up? What if everyone is too slow and I have to wait? With your guidance, students can overcome these barriers in the right setting, and can then be part of a much larger celebration of the success of the entire group. My favorite example involves a group
of six never-ever adults. Teir awkwardness was palpable as we started the lesson. But before long they were cheering each other on, consoling whomever was struggling, helping retrieve wayward skis, and becoming
WHAT PSIA-AASI HAS DONE FOR ME
I grew up going skiing on weekends with my family to local ski hills in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. At age 13 I decided to learn how to snowboard and continued riding through college. $IWHU FROOHJH D FORVH IULHQG RI PLQH -Hff &DGU\ KHOSHG PH WR JHW D job teaching skiing at the Yellowstone Club in Montana. 0\ fiUVW WLPH RQ VNLV LQ DOPRVW D GHFDGH ZDV IRU P\ 36Ζ$ /HYHO Ζ KHOG at Big Sky, Montana. I was used to sliding around on a snowboard for WKRVH
to these in your career, and you’ve already discovered unexpected rewards in teaching people the simple joys of arcing down a snowy slope. As you map out your plans for this upcoming season, take a moment to reflect on the greater good of your job, and strive not just to teach the mechanics of skiing or riding, but also to help instill lessons that may be unexpected, yet even more profound.
Karin Kirk is in her happy zone when she’s up on the mountain honing her own skills and helping others do the same. She’s a Level III alpine instructor, trainer, and guide at Montana’s Bridger Bowl. When she’s not skiing, her next favorite thing is writing about it. Facebook: www. IDFHERRN FRP NDULQ NLUN
Website: www. NDULQNLUN FRP Email:
karin@kirkframeworks.com
\HDUV DQG SDVVHG WKRXJK EDUHO\ P\ /HYHO Ζ 7KDW ZHHNHQG Ζ felt so welcomed into this new community of skiers. 0\ fiUVW VHDVRQ WHDFKLQJ LQYROYHG VNLLQJ DQG WUDLQLQJ ZLWK DQ\RQH who would take me out. I was super motivated to get better at skiing and decided to go for my Alpine II in the same season. Training for my /HYHO ΖΖ GHfiQLWHO\ KHOSHG PH WR LQFUHDVH P\ RZQ SHUVRQDO VNLOOV RQ VNLV as well as my teaching skills. I was starting to have an understanding of the sport of skiing! I did pass my II that same season and was very grateful for all the trainers and examiners who had helped me. I recently just passed my Level III and will certainly say that the amount of training I put into passing has helped my skiing and understand of skiing immensely, which in turn has helped me grow as an instructor of the sport.
Aside from improving my skiing and teaching, I have made incredible connections with many people through PSIA-AASI events. I am still close friends and training buddies with people I took my Level I with four years ago. Through these connections, I ZDV DEOH WR EHJLQ WHDFKLQJ LQ 3RUWLOOR &KLOH IXOfiOOLQJ P\ GUHDP RI living an endless winter. Through PSIA-AASI events I have improved
10 | 32 DEGREES • FALL 2016
Katie White
my skiing, teaching, and made many lifelong connections with people. It has helped me to form my career as an instructor and also helped my passion for the sport grow.
Katie White Alpine Level III Snowboard Level I Children’s Specialist 2 Freestyle Specialist 1 Yellowstone Club, MT Portillo, Chile
KARIN KIRK
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