More experienced instructors- can you shed some light on what to expect/how to prepare?

[climbingbetty]

I'm ski instructing this season. Its my first season. It's exhausting, but oddly satisfying despite that. Admittedly, I'm not a super strong skier, certainly not compared to the folks that I work with. (On Sunday we did a ski clinic and I totally fell apart in the bumps. Then I bit it on a black diamond run trying to keep up. It was...embarrassing to say the least ) But I have to constantly remind myself that this is really only my 4th season skiing and already I've skied more days this season than any of the other three! I also have to remind myself that I can and WILL learn to ski better through the clinics and through the process of teaching our guests.

My strengths seem to be more on the teaching side. Last weekend was my first weekend with the 'training wheels' off- taking on my own groups. On Sunday, I was assigned to teach adult 'never-evers.' In the afternoon, one of the girls also assigned to that area had to go home early because she was sick. So after lunch, for my second lesson ever, I had a group of 18 total newbies!!!! My supervisor said he would boot up and come help me that that group. To make a long story short, he was really impressed with how well I handled the group and taught especially consider how new I was. He even pointed this out to several other instructors on the bunny slope as well and they were pretty blown away too.

So now I'm definitely hooked. I just joined PSIA and I want to work toward taking my Level 1- hopefully by the end of this season. I've downloaded and I'm halfway through the Alpine Level I Study guide. I know I need to have 50 documented teaching/training hours. Between my ITC and the last two weekends, I calculate that I have at least 35 of those squared away already. Beyond that, the rest of the path to Level 1 cert is unclear to me though. Are there formal clinics I have to take? I've been combing the website this morning and I see that there is an online course that you have to take for Levels II & III and I'm seeing the requirements listed for them, but not a lot of info on Level I. From the what I can tell, there is a weekend Level 1 exam, you show up the first day, ski and they give you feedback on what you personally need to improve, then Day 2 focuses on teaching. You teach your class, talk about how you handle certain types of students/situations, demonstrate the "Stepping Stones" exercises and the viola! If you're not completely hopeless, you get a pin and your Level 1 at the end of the weekend??? Am I understanding that correctly or am I missing something???

 

[Jilly]

Can't help you with PSIA, but welcome to the world of ski teaching!

 

[bounceswoosh]

So now I'm definitely hooked. I just joined PSIA and I want to work toward taking my Level 1- hopefully by the end of this season. I've downloaded and I'm halfway through the Alpine Level I Study guide. I know I need to have 50 documented teaching/training hours. Between my ITC and the last two weekends, I calculate that I have at least 35 of those squared away already. Beyond that, the rest of the path to Level 1 cert is unclear to me though. Are there formal clinics I have to take? I've been combing the website this morning and I see that there is an online course that you have to take for Levels II & III and I'm seeing the requirements listed for them, but not a lot of info on Level I. From the what I can tell, there is a weekend Level 1 exam, you show up the first day, ski and they give you feedback on what you personally need to improve, then Day 2 focuses on teaching. You teach your class, talk about how you handle certain types of students/situations, demonstrate the "Stepping Stones" exercises and the viola! If you're not completely hopeless, you get a pin and your Level 1 at the end of the weekend??? Am I understanding that correctly or am I missing something???

Congrats!! 18 newbies. OMG.

I think the exact requirements for level I may be different for different regions. Do you have someone in your ski school you can ask? Failing that, you can reach out to your local chapter by email ..

 

[climbingbetty]

Congrats!! 18 newbies. OMG.

I think the exact requirements for level I may be different for different regions. Do you have someone in your ski school you can ask? Failing that, you can reach out to your local chapter by email ..

Oh yes, several of the instructors on staff are examiners. I started to ask one them about it on Sunday, but he was too distracted by the radio and other things going on. I'll be up on the mountain tomorrow and the forecast is absolute s###, so I suppose I'll have time to ask about it tomorrow....maybe...hopefully. I thought I'd ask here though to get more "inside information" from people who have been there, like "practicing this really helped me" or "try and take this class before hand."

I did comb the Eastern division's website... still didn't seem very fruitful

 

[marzNC]

Found this list of reading material and suggestions for the Level 1 exam in a relevant EpicSki thread. Written by a PSIA-E Master Teacher and Level 2 instructor who I was lucky enough to ski with a few weeks ago in NH. As I understood his description, the Master Teacher qualification (not the same as certification) means he did a bunch of courses that are often taken by people going for Level 2/3 certification. Has some knee issues and old enough that he didn't want to go through the effort of taking the Level 3 exam, especially the skiing part. He does as much Adaptive instruction as he can at his local hill.

The Children's Instructor Manual sounds like a good idea given that Level 1 instructors teach kids a lot. I observed a Children's Clinic at Massanutten last season. The trainer was having his students act like kids a lot. They had a lot of fun. It was a mix of gear: snowboards (trainer on a board), alpine, telemark.

* * *
To take the test. [PSIA Level 1 in PSIA-Central]

1. Sign up for it. Your ski school director (SSD) will need to sign the application.
2. Read and study the PSIA-C Level 1 Study Guide.
3. Read and study PSIA Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors. (Your SSD should be able to help you get this.)
4. Read and study PSIA Alpine Technical Manual. (Your SSD should be able to help you get this.)
5. Teach a bunch of lessons. Be able to explain what and why you teach things.
6. Listen to the established pros at your school and ask them questions.
7. Be able to ski comfortably on blue terrain with an open stance parallel turn.
8. Be able to demo, straight runs, wedge turns, wedge christie turns, and open stance parallel turn. (When you demo don't do it mechanically. You love to ski and teach. Let that love of skiing shine through in your demos.)

Nice to know for test.

1. Read the PSIA Children's Instruction Manual.

Good books to have. (Both are available from PSIA.)

1. Vail Beaver Creek Adult Alpine Instructor's Handbook.
2. Vail Beaver Creek Children's Alpine Teaching Handbook

* * *

 

[BackCountryGirl]

Climbingbetty, you've got it down! The study guide should give you most of what you really need to know -- if you check out the national standards for Level 1, it shows that the focus is on demonstrating your ability to teach students in the beginner zone. I suggest that you also review the new alpine technical manual and the core concepts manual. You shouldn't have to take a formal PSIA clinic, but if your mountain offers regular training clinics, it's always a good idea to attend as many of those as you can.

When I did level 1 in the East in 2005, you had to take a clinic called "First Tracks," but that no longer is a requirement.

 

[BackCountryGirl]

Here's a link to the national standards. I haven't looked at the division's sudy guide, but I'm going to guess they've been incorporated into it, as well:


https://www.thesnowpros.org/Portals...ication_National_Standards_6_1_2014_FINAL.pdf

 

[abc]

if your mountain offers regular training clinics, it's always a good idea to attend as many of those as you can.

That.

I can't imagine your hill doesn't do such clinics. The one I teach at is tiny compare to yours and we had them every week. Also, you're not the only new instructor there who wishes to progress to PSIA cert.

I have no interest in becoming PSIA certified but I did attend a few of the clinics and found it super useful both for teaching, and my own skiing too. (I'm a learn by doing kind of gal, so reading manuals bore me to death)

p.s.
I can't believe they gave you 18 students for a group lesson!!! I hate big groups.

(one thing I found I dislike about teaching skiing is having to shout to keep the group together -- a hazard of teaching kids. I don't mind picking up toddlers all day, but when the group spreads out, having to shout tires my voice out very quickly. My legs, and even my backs, last a lot longer than my vocal chord)

 

[climbingbetty]

Found this list of reading material and suggestions for the Level 1 exam in a relevant EpicSki thread. Written by a PSIA-E Master Teacher and Level 2 instructor who I was lucky enough to ski with a few weeks ago in NH. As I understood his description, the Master Teacher qualification (not the same as certification) means he did a bunch of courses that are often taken by people going for Level 2/3 certification. Has some knee issues and old enough that he didn't want to go through the effort of taking the Level 3 exam, especially the skiing part. He does as much Adaptive instruction as he can at his local hill.

The Children's Instructor Manual sounds like a good idea given that Level 1 instructors teach kids a lot. I observed a Children's Clinic at Massanutten last season. The trainer was having his students act like kids a lot. They had a lot of fun. It was a mix of gear: snowboards (trainer on a board), alpine, telemark.

* * *
To take the test. [PSIA Level 1 in PSIA-Central]

1. Sign up for it. Your ski school director (SSD) will need to sign the application.
2. Read and study the PSIA-C Level 1 Study Guide.
3. Read and study PSIA Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors. (Your SSD should be able to help you get this.)
4. Read and study PSIA Alpine Technical Manual. (Your SSD should be able to help you get this.)
5. Teach a bunch of lessons. Be able to explain what and why you teach things.
6. Listen to the established pros at your school and ask them questions.
7. Be able to ski comfortably on blue terrain with an open stance parallel turn.
8. Be able to demo, straight runs, wedge turns, wedge christie turns, and open stance parallel turn. (When you demo don't do it mechanically. You love to ski and teach. Let that love of skiing shine through in your demos.)

Nice to know for test.

1. Read the PSIA Children's Instruction Manual.

Good books to have. (Both are available from PSIA.)

1. Vail Beaver Creek Adult Alpine Instructor's Handbook.
2. Vail Beaver Creek Children's Alpine Teaching Handbook

* * *

Thank you for this!!!!

That.

I can't imagine your hill doesn't do such clinics. The one I teach at is tiny compare to yours and we had them every week. Also, you're not the only new instructor there who wishes to progress to PSIA cert.

I have no interest in becoming PSIA certified but I did attend a few of the clinics and found it super useful both for teaching, and my own skiing too. (I'm a learn by doing kind of gal, so reading manuals bore me to death)

p.s.
I can't believe they gave you 18 students for a group lesson!!! I hate big groups.

(one thing I found I dislike about teaching skiing is having to shout to keep the group together -- a hazard of teaching kids. I don't mind picking up toddlers all day, but when the group spreads out, having to shout tires my voice out very quickly. My legs, and even my backs, last a lot longer than my vocal chord)

Yes, my hill does regular clinics. However, they seem a little haphazard and unstructured to me. (Granted, I'm very analytical and prefer to be able to see the underlying organization of information in order to best assimilate new information.) So far, I've only had to time to take one clinic- movement analysis. While I was given some information regarding corrections to my own stance, I cannot tell you what I was supposed to be able to take away from that clinic that would specifically help my students if they have stance issues different than mine. (The instructor kept emphasizing kinesthetic cues to give the client to help them "feel" the correct movements. Which is fantastic, but you've got to show me how to analyze that person's stance first, diagnosis what is wrong with it, so I know which cues to give to correct it!) Also, I had to correct my clinic instructor a few times regarding anatomical terms- like when he asked, "which part of your body does the hip belong to?" I had to stop and ask, "what joint, exactly, are you referring to when you say 'hip'?" The joint commonly known as the "hip" is the femuroacetabular joint, which for the purposes of skiing is part of the lower body.. but he was pointing to the "hip" that one say, carries a baby on, the iliac crest/ASIS area, which, for skiing, is part of the upper body. Anyway, it was terribly confusing. And considering I'm actually teaching too much to have the time to take clinics, as well as the haphazard way in which the information is presented, I don't quite trust that these clinics will be sufficient to prepare me to take my Level 1 exam.

Out of curiosity, why do you not have any interest in becoming PSIA certified? When I told my supervisor/clinic trainer yesterday that I had just become a member, and asked about whether there would be an on-the-mountain Level 1 exam this season, both were very surprised that I had already joined and was asking about examination. It's definitely not a requirement and they haven't said anything to us new instructors about joining the PSIA or getting certified, but I don't quite understand the reasoning behind not wanting to join or be certified, so I am genuinely curious.

And the group of 18 adults was MUCH better than the group of 10 7-10 year olds I had yesterday! That is really too many kids for one person to handle, even if they are a much more experienced instructor than I. Even if its just something as simple as one kid needs to use the bathroom- a second instructor could take them and bring them back. By myself, I have to shepherd all 10 children inside in order to stay together. Also, trying to ride the lift as the one adult with 10 kids is pretty much a safety nightmare. For me, at least! And I had the Level 2 class, which I'm pretty sure is the hardest level to teach in a group. They are beyond straight up beginners, but not clearly in a level 3 or higher group (Our older kid levels go from 1-4). This means that level 2 becomes the "well, you're not a beginner, but we don't know where else to put you yet" catch-all, kind of group. And because its is a catch-all group, there is a large diversity of ability levels within the group. Three boys more interested in throwing snowballs than skiing, two girls who were bored with what we were doing, but not quite good enough to keep up with the next level group, an equipment malfunction that plagued me all day, parents that hovered around the bunny slope while I'm trying to teach... yeah, by the end of the day, my voice was starting to go a little hoarse and I was starting to feel pretty defeated. I didn't feel like my instruction was effective at all in improving the kid's skiing, and that really bothered me. I do realize that I am knew to this and have quite a lot to learn regarding teaching kids and certainly can appreciate why the children's specialists are required CE classes for instructors working toward Level 2 cert. Still, by the end of the day yesterday, I was riding the surface lift with my kids and daydreaming about several after-work adult beverages... and beginning to question my naive eagerness to be a ski instructor! Also, despite it being Christmas day, not a single one of the parents gave me a tip. One boy had refused to go to class in the morning, was crying & carrying on... I talked to him, got him distracted by talking about and telling me about his favorite book and then got him involved in class. His mom thanks me for that at the end of the day, tells me how great I am with kids, blah, blah, blah.. nada. I'm mean I never expect tips, but com'on, its a holiday and I basically baby-sat your kid for the day so you could enjoy some skiing. You can't throw a couple bucks my way to say 'hey thanks for a few hours of adult time and freedom from my kid!'

 

[abc]

Out of curiosity, why do you not have any interest in becoming PSIA certified?

I don't see the benefit of the low level certification so don't feel like paying even the membership fee.

I have my day job. So teaching skiing is largely a hobby for me. I enjoy working with people, which I don't get to do in my day job. That WAS the motivation when I started instructing. Though through the process, I found the training beneficial to my own skiing. But that's really a byproduct.

I do take whatever I do seriously. So I would continue to take whatever training to be a better instructor. But the actual certificate doesn't do much for me.

 

[abc]

Even if its just something as simple as one kid needs to use the bathroom- a second instructor could take them and bring them back. By myself, I have to shepherd all 10 children inside in order to stay together.

In my hill (a much smaller one), they have "runners" at the bottom that I can flag down to do that!

I still have to take the group down towards that ares. But it's a lot better than having to take the whole group all the way back to the lodge. Depending on which lift we're at, it could be a long walk.

Also, trying to ride the lift as the one adult with 10 kids is pretty much a safety nightmare.

They didn't cover that in the instructor training course???

I took the course again this year as a refresher. They covered that at good length. Every lift on the mountain has its own idiosyncrasy, which was covered specifically.

I was surprised to find my kids were generally quite good. When I asked them to wait at the top, they were all there when I got to it at the end of the group!

Some instructor prefer to go up first so they can be sure the group doesn't go down without the instructor. I'm beginning to feel that's a better strategy too. Yet psychologically, it's easier to line them up at the lift, watch them all got on the lift safely and then got on at the end of the group, taking the weakest kid with me... However, if the lift got stopped for any reason, the worry came over me what if the kids got impatient and started going down???

 

[climbingbetty]

In my hill (a much smaller one), they have "runners" at the bottom that I can flag down to do that!

I still have to take the group down towards that ares. But it's a lot better than having to take the whole group all the way back to the lodge. Depending on which lift we're at, it could be a long walk.


They didn't cover that in the instructor training course???

I took the course again this year as a refresher. They covered that at good length. Every lift on the mountain has its own idiosyncrasy, which was covered specifically.

I was surprised to find my kids were generally quite good. When I asked them to wait at the top, they were all there when I got to it at the end of the group!

Some instructor prefer to go up first so they can be sure the group doesn't go down without the instructor. I'm beginning to feel that's a better strategy too. Yet psychologically, it's easier to line them up at the lift, watch them all got on the lift safely and then got on at the end of the group, taking the weakest kid with me... However, if the lift got stopped for any reason, the worry came over me what if the kids got impatient and started going down???

Yeah, runners would be very nice!!! At any rate, I'm going to talk to the children's supervisor the next chance I get and offer some of my feedback. For one, its a customer service issue. If I'm not feeling like the kids learned that much, the parents probably aren't going to feel that way either. If the parents are happy, we get return customers. Besides that though, if you want to encourage instructors to learn more and return in future seasons, leaving the somewhat unsupported, is not a great way to foster that.

Yes, they did cover that in the ITC, but still, if I have 10 kids, I can't ride lift with all of them. Usually on the teaching side of the hill, I can find enough 'extra' instructors (with a one private or something) to help me out. Once, I had to ask another random adult. The lifties are there to help us get the kids on and off as well, but some of these munchkins are so small... They can't put the bar down by themselves...they can very easily slip out if they aren't made to stay seated against the backrest. I worry about all of that stuff when I'm riding the lift with the kids and they are my responsibility. It's a nerve-whacking ride for me because I'm being hyper vigilant about keeping them safe!

 

[Skisailor]

Some instructor prefer to go up first so they can be sure the group doesn't go down without the instructor. I'm beginning to feel that's a better strategy too. Yet psychologically, it's easier to line them up at the lift, watch them all got on the lift safely and then got on at the end of the group, taking the weakest kid with me... However, if the lift got stopped for any reason, the worry came over me what if the kids got impatient and started going down???

This is a topic of some controversy. I feel very strongly that the instructor should ride up first. The lifties can load the kids. The idea of a bunch of unsupervised kids waiting alone at the top is terrifying to me! Going down ahead of you is not the worst thing I can think of! What about unscrupulous adults? You are responsible for those kids and their safety.

And what if the lift stops while you are still aboard? Too much can go wrong.

Unfortunately at Big Sky this is not left up to the instructor. The current policy is for instructors to ride up last. I hope they rethink this.

 

[abc]

Unfortunately at Big Sky this is not left up to the instructor. The current policy is for instructors to ride up last. I hope they rethink this.

I'm surprise at Big Sky's policy of instructor going up last. In my bunny hill, it's up to the instructor to do as they wish.

For me, the issue is more of logistics. At the lower level, some of the kids aren't too comfortable with the chair yet. So it's a constant head game to persuade the stronger kids to go on their own chair while I ride with the smallest ones. It's much easier for me to be the last. I can talk to each chair load of them right before they're ready to head to the loading line. If I go first, they would feel abandoned!

 

[Skisailor]

I'm surprise at Big Sky's policy of instructor going up last. In my bunny hill, it's up to the instructor to do as they wish.

For me, the issue is more of logistics. At the lower level, some of the kids aren't too comfortable with the chair yet. So it's a constant head game to persuade the stronger kids to go on their own chair while I ride with the smallest ones. It's much easier for me to be the last. I can talk to each chair load of them right before they're ready to head to the loading line. If I go first, they would feel abandoned!

That's where a proper collaboration with well trained lifties comes in.

 

[bounceswoosh]

I've seen instructors basically deputize adults in the lift line, asking the adults if they'll ride up the lift with some of the little guys.

 

[Skisailor]

Yes. That happens too. But lift lines can be non existent at Big Sky. Especially on our beginner explorer chair which can lead to long waits to get all the kids up.

 

[abc]

That's where a proper collaboration with well trained lifties comes in.

It's not a matter of them being able to safely load the chair. It's psychological.

Every time I go ahead of my kids, I could see the anxiety in the eyes of those who were assigned to go after me.

And the constant jiggling of them all wanting to ride with the instructor is... actually a bit hilarious.

 

[abc]

I've seen instructors basically deputize adults in the lift line, asking the adults if they'll ride up the lift with some of the little guys.

Yes, that happens A LOT!

The worst was when I was in France, the instructor asked in French if I would take one of the kid, which of course I didn't understand a word of what he said...

Nonetheless, I ended up with one anyway!

 

[Jenny]

I've seen instructors basically deputize adults in the lift line, asking the adults if they'll ride up the lift with some of the little guys.

I get sooooo anxious when that happens, because I'm sure that's when we'll get stuck, or someone will fall or heaven only knows what other disaster but I just KNOW it'll happen then!