CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
WITH PREP AND COMMITMENT, THIS COULD BE YOUR BEST SEASON EVER
By Ed Younglove, PSIA-AASI Chairman of the Board I
hope you enjoyed another great summer of motorcycle trips, mountain biking, surfing, kite boarding, or whatever your summertime passions are, but now it’s time to start getting ready for your winter passion of teaching snowsports. What can
you do different this year to better prepare for your best season ever? I have a few suggestions based on personal experience.
COMMIT TO BEING FIT Like any athletic endeavor, skiing and riding is more enjoyable – and you’ll perform better – if you’re in good physical condition. For me, staying in shape has always been an important part of my personal lifestyle. But it doesn’t get any easier with age. I’ve had to adjust my conditioning to accommodate physical changes that come with getting older. Swimming has replaced running for aerobic conditioning. Instead of trying to achieve maximum weight lifts, I’ve focused more on the number of repetitions in a set. Whether you’re young or somewhere north of young, tailor your training to get the most out of it. Being in good physical condition can help make early season training more enjoyable and effective and set you up for a great season of sliding. Whatever your chosen form of exercise,
it’s never too late (or too soon) to establish a routine. I’ve found that working a physical conditioning program into some routine makes it easier to follow through on the commitment. It also helps to have a workout partner, to push you and for company. My wife and I meet for a lunch workout every day we can. Alternating swimming and a weight routine helps keep it interesting. It also breaks up the day. Doing it throughout the year is so much easier than trying to pick it up each summer or fall for the upcoming season.
MAKE THINGS CLICK WITH CLINICS When you finally get on snow, there are other things you can do to boost winter performance. Take a clinic. Whether it’s an early season clinic offered by your division or
4 | 32 DEGREES • FALL 2016
your school’s trainers, you can start your season off right by getting some good drills to practice. Remember, practicing the fundamentals is only helpful if done correctly. Correct practice leads to improvement. A PSIA-AASI certified trainer can help you with that. Speaking of clinics, one of the best tips
I received as a newer instructor was to be willing to explore an unfamiliar movement pattern in my skiing. Because it was a different feeling than I was used to, I was
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is a great time to do so. In addition to the popular alpine, snowboard, cross country, and telemark manuals, there’s a brand- new freestyle manual that will expand your knowledge and teaching skills in this exciting area of snowsports. Don’t forget that these new education
materials are available in digital format with embedded videos, for access even when you’re not connected to the web. Every time I read the manuals I find at least a few nuggets I either missed or didn’t fully comprehend in earlier readings. Te new manuals are incredibly
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In this video, PSIA-AASI Board Chair Ed <RXQJORYH RffHUV ZRUGV RI ZLVGRP IRU QHZ DQG IXWXUH LQVWUXFWRUV Ȃ LQFOXGLQJ WKH YDOXH RI LQWHUDFWLQJ ZLWK PRUH H[SHULHQFHG FROOHDJXHV DQG WDNLQJ DGYDQWDJH RI 36Ζ$ AASI’s education tools.
assured it would feel uncomfortable at first. And, of course, it always did… but it always helped. So now I don’t let the fact that I’m feeling uncomfortable deter me from trying new things. In fact, allowing myself to get out of my comfort zone has been a key to many improvements in my skiing and riding. Don’t be afraid to try something different and stick with it, even if at first it may feel awkward. Of course, it helps to have confidence in your coach! Results will promote that.
READ MANUALS, MAGAZINE If you haven’t had a chance to study the new technical manuals, the lead-in to the season
informative, but don’t forget there are also great articles in 32 Degrees. Be sure to read up on last spring’s National Academy in this issue. And don’t miss the articles from Interski on the different international techniques and approaches. Tose are available in recent issues, and accessible through the free PSIA-AASI Snow Pro Library App (which you can download from the iTunes, Google Play Store, or Kindle Fire app stores, depending on your device) so you don’t have to clutter your house, as I do, with hard copies that never quite make it to the bookcase or recycling bin.
CHART CERTIFICATION PATH Maybe this is the season for you to seriously consider obtaining a higher level of professional certification, or add a new specialty credential to your profile. Now is the time to start mapping out your plan. One key is to find a mentor, or a couple of mentors, and include them in your planning.
Another helpful step is to clarify the outcomes you seek. I encourage you to think about making professional development itself your goal. If what you hope to attain is improvement in your skiing/riding and teaching ability, there is no reason it won’t be a successful season, regardless of how you do on exam day! Just think… this could be your season of excellence – if you start now!
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