First Chair: Psia-aasi Podcast

PSIA-AASI National Team Head Coach, Jeb Boyd, and PSIA-AASI Director of Education, Dave Schuiling chat about why you should register now for Adaptive Academy, Cross Country Academy, National Academy, Rider Rally, and Telemark Academy, scheduled for Breckenridge, Colorado, the week of April 12. Hurry! Registration rates increase $100 after February 12. Register now: https://www.thesnowpros.org/events/national-academy/

First Chair catches up with Francis Do about what it’s been like this season to lead assessments and instructors chat and share their stories after this post-Level I assessment. Francis chats about how well-prepared everyone has been this season because there’s so much information that’s now online.

First Chair catches up with Stacey Gerrish about what it’s like to teach a split lesson and what you can do to help teach both skiers and snowboarders. Get some tips on what you can do to help manage a split lesson. Listen in to get some tips and ideas for your own lessons and for your snowsports school.

First Chair catches up with Katie Chong, who talks about how she got started as an instructor. In middle school, she joined the ski team for a year and then, towards the end of the season, she joined Whitetail’s Junior Instructor Program, which inspired her to get her Level I certification when she turned 16 last year. She went through her certification program with her Dad too. Learn more about Katie: https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?m=55353&i=688850&p=24

First Chair catches up with Stacey Gerrish about what it’s like to help a family on a vacation learn to ski or ride together during a family private lesson. Listen in to get some tips and ideas for your own lessons and for your snowsports school. Learn how you can help to educate your students, who may not always know what they don’t know.

First Chair catches up with Nubs Nob Winter Sports School Director Brad Miller, who hails from the PSIA-AASI Central division. Brad chat about his role as director at Nubs Nob, located in Harbor Springs, Michigan Listen in about what it’s been like to be back on snow. Brooks also talks about his first season at Nubs Nob and what it’s been like to stay open during the season this winter.

First Chair catches up with Nate Gardner, who chats about how you can train during this season and what you can do to achieve your goals if it’s a low snow season in your area. Learn how you can make the most of your terrain and your training time. Nate also shares a tip for trying one-footed skiing with no poles!

PSIA-AASI Rocky Mountain division education staff member, Phillip Anderson, and Eldora’s Director of Ski and Ride School, Jeff (JB) Brier, explain what it’s been like to get ready for early season exams and how you can prepare and get ready for your exam. Because there is a short window to train on snow, be sure to learn what's expected of you before you arrive on snow. Phillip and Jeff explain why it’s important to focus on one fundamental, and why it’s also important for you to understand why the other fundamentals also apply. Learn more: www.thesnowpros.org/certification/national-certification-standards/

Christeen Walch and Francesca Pavillard-Cain talk about the Women of Winter speaker series on February 20 that highlights BIPOC women carving their own paths in the mountains and in life. Learn more about scholarships that this event will provide for a PSIA Level I Alpine Course and Exam. https://www.womenofwinter.net/events.html

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI Board of Director member, Brooks Lillehei, who hails from the PSIA-AASI Central division. Brooks chat about his role as training director at Buck Hill, located in Burnsville, Minnesota. Listen in about what it’s been like to be back on snow. Brooks also talks about his journey to become an instructor and what he looks for in the individuals that he hires to join their team.

First Chair catches up with Nathan Y. Jarvis, a PSIA-AASI member and internationally recognized illustrator, about what it was like to illustrate the new PSIA-AASI Kids’ Activity and Coloring Book. This is a new tool to help parents, instructors, and snowsports school educate the next generation of skiers and riders. Learn more: http://tiny.cc/activitybook

The stoke is back! First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI Intermountain member, Andrew Johnston, about what it’s like to be back on snow and what it was like to run a Level I at Brighton, Utah. Listen in to get some ideas for class handling during this season, such as making sure to increase the volume of your voice and encouraging candidates to speak louder too.

First Chair catches up with PSIA Cross Country Coach, Emily Lovett, and PSIA Cross Country team members, David Lawrence and Greg Rhodes, about some of the clinics that were planned for the November Cross Country Academy 2020 event. While the event ended up being cancelled and postponed for now, you can still learn from David, Emily and Greg about their clinic topics they were going to present. Listen in to get some great tips you can practice on snow this season.

First Chair catches up with Leslie Baker Brown from Blizzard-Tecnica about the Women-to-Women (W2W) Project, a new global initiative that they’re working on to design authentic women’s products that will take passionate skiers, regardless of ability, to new levels of confidence, excitement and freedom. Leslie also chats about a new W2W Education Scholarship program that supports support women as they further their education and expertise in snowsports. Learn more and apply to the W2W Education Scholarship (deadline is 12/31): https://www.blizzard-tecnica.com/us/en/w2w-education-scholarship-program

First Chair reports live from PSIA-AASI Rocky Mountain’s Member School Management meeting held last month at Loveland Ski Area located near the town of Georgetown, Colorado. Listen in to get an educational update from Steve Edberg’s assessment standards session and get some ideas for class handling during this season.

Tracy Buchanan, a ski patroller and a Level III PSIA-certified instructor, shares an update about ways you can provide a great guest experience during this winter season. Also, be sure to review PSIA-AASI’s COVID-19 Snowsports Education Resources, which were created to foster conversations and amplify mindfulness around executing practical and successful lessons. https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/covid-19-updates/

First Chair catches up with Hannah Abuzaineh, who serves as The North Face’s Senior Manager, Social Impact and The Explore Fund. Learn about PSIA-AASI’s Official Supplier’s global commitment to work towards increasing outdoor access for all. Since 2010, The Explore Fund has created access and driven equity in the outdoors by funding hundreds of nonprofit organizations around two themes: Enabling Exploration and Loving Wild Places. Learn how you can play a part in helping to bringing the mountains to the city: https://www.thenorthface.com/about-us/outdoor-exploration/about-the-explore-fund.html

First Chair reports live from PSIA-AASI Rocky Mountain’s Member School Management meeting held earlier this week at Loveland Ski Area located near the town of Georgetown, Colorado. Listen in to get an educational update from Joe Quarantillo’s slopeside children’s clinic.

First Chair catches up with PSIA Telemark Team member, Grant Bishop, and AASI Snowboard Team member, Brennan Metzler, about uphill travel tips on skis and a splitboard. If you’re thinking about adding an uphill component to your season this winter, take a listen for some things you need to know . Also, REI Co-op teamed up with PSIA-AASI and Grant and Brennan to create videos and content on this very topic. Watch videos at: http://tiny.cc/uphill

First Chair catches up with Francesca Pavillard-Cain and Bruce Edgerly from Backcountry Access. Francesca chats about how you can make beginners feel like a pro and she talks about her freeriding and backcountry experience and how she applies those skills to her teaching at The Yellowstone Club.