NEW IDEAS FLOW AND GROW AT PSIA-AASI'S FALL CONFERENCE
Ski and snowboard school directors from across the country came to PSIA-AASI’s
Fall Conference in Summit County,
Colorado, in search of new ideas, updates on best practices, and – more than anything – a chance to network with each other. Attendees jumped at the opportunity to spend valuable time with their peers, both on the snow and indoors. “The chairlift rides were too short! We wanted to
Cross country educators, including members of the PSIA Nordic Team, take a break from talking technique and tactics.
What are the top three takeaways from the Leadership Summit? 1. Egos were checked at the door, as our leadership arrived at the event ready to establish our future in a new era of trust and communication.
2. Tis group spent two-and-a-half days in a small room with no windows to define key priorities. Similar to the “best practices” approach of the Fall Conference standards groups, divisional volunteer and administrative leadership looked to learn from each other and define shared strategies to reduce duplication of efforts and redundancy. A critical measure of success will hinge on follow-through, as many acknowledge that events from the past have made big promises that may not have come to fruition.
3. When this group met in 2007, they adopted the “Tree C’s” approach to working together: Communication, Collaboration, and Consolidation. Another “C” that was at the heart of many discussions was Consistency. A common goal of the group is to work together to provide more consistency across the board and establish some immediate projects that encourage teamwork across divisions, all with a goal of elevating the level of consistency for our membership and partners.
How do you think the Discipline Work Group Sessions will create more consistency and opportunities for PSIA-AASI members? Te proof will be in the work as it continues forward, from evolution of standards to creation of education materials, video content, and digital resources. Conference participants were charged with bringing the information “back home” to their divisions, to present the info at regional training events. A key priority among all participants was to continue ongoing work through Te Community (at http://
community.thesnowpros.org.
What’s the process for the results (standards) being implemented? Groups will submit their edits and recommendations to the PSIA- AASI Education Department for review, and proposals for revisions to the standards will go before the national board of directors this winter. Changes to the current standards will go into an immediate “beta” test this season if the particular group felt comfortable with the current changes coming out the conference. Tis will allow working practice of a larger group of education staff across the country.
ride around the bull wheel to delve deeper into some conversations,” said PSIA Alpine Team member Robin Barnes, who manages the Portillo Ski School in Chile, adding that snowsports management attendees who are big LQGXVWU\ LQflXHQFHUV IURP FRDVW WR FRDVW FXOWLYDWHG D G\QDPLF atmosphere of collaboration. “It wasn’t only about directors gaining ideas and strategies to deal with issues at home schools, but there was a common LQWHUHVW WR XELTXLWRXVO\ HOHYDWH VWDff DQG PHPEHUVKLS opportunities, credibility, and culture countrywide,” Barnes said. “These managers and directors care about their VWDff b 7KH EHVW LQWHUHVWV RI SURV FRQVLVWHQWO\ VXUIDFHG DV EHLQJ FULWLFDOO\ LPSRUWDQW IRU GHFLVLRQV WKDW DUH PDGH ȋb Barnes said attendees dialogued on instructor development, risk management, metrics, leadership development, and teaching methodology, among many other topics. Ȋ&RPLQJ WR HYHQWV OLNH WKLV DOORZV IRU YHULfiFDWLRQ WKDW WKH
path we choose has meaning,” said Chris Saylor, director of the Ski & Ride School at Vermont’s Okemo Mountain. “Sharing information and a passion for learning makes the HYHQW 1HZ LGHDV flRZ DQG JURZ ȋ Indoor presentations included an overview of the Snowboard Growth Initiative from NSAA’s Earl Saline, a look at school programs and participation initiatives from Shaun Cattanach of Burton Snowboards, a review of teaching methodology by U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame member +RUVW $EUDKDP DQG D fiUVW ORRN DW WKH QHZ Core Concepts manual being written by former Alpine Team Coach Rob Sogard and former Alpine Team member Ellen Post Foster. “This is my third time attending this event, and it keeps
getting better,” said Rob Gallo, the mountain school director at New York’s Mount Peter. He credited PSIA-AASI CEO Nicholas Herrin and Education Director Dave Schuiling and FUHZ IRU ȊPDNLQJ VXUH LW DOO JRHV Rff ZLWKRXW D KLWFK *UHDW MRE by PSIA-AASI National.” )RU WKH fiUVW WLPH WKH HQWLUH 36Ζ$ $$6Ζ 7HDP WRRN SDUW LQ
the event, giving attendees a chance to hear how they plan to spearhead the evolution of instruction, and also spend more time around the country with their fellow instructors. “We are on a great track. The new team members bring tremendous energy,” said Jim Kercher, senior director of Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Mountain Sports School. “This is a quantum leap to a new energy level.” — Peter Kray
What else about this Fall Conference do you feel is especially important to PSIA-AASI members? Tis event, hosted by the PSIA-AASI national office, is one of the largest, most impactful member benefits our association has to offer. Pooling our most engaged and committed education human resources to review, evolve, create, and forecast the future is often never fully understood by the membership as this event is one of many behind- the-scenes, less tangible benefits provided. However, the common message from the participants is “we want more” as the excitement of coming together is extremely inspiring and contagious.
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LINDA GUERRETTE
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