. . . to get my PSIA Level 1? Once I retire, I'm thinking of volunteering to help with an adaptive program. I understand that to eventually be certified, I'll need a Level 1. I'll be 67 if I begin the process in the 26/27 season.
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Am I Too Old . . .
- Thread starter BlizzardBabe
- Start date
liquidfeet
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
No! You don't need to be able to ski challenging stuff with pizzazz or speed to get your PSIA Level I. You need to be teachable and eager to learn. Do the studying that's recommended and take a course that leads to the exam. I'm not sure how they do it these days, but I bet you'll be just fine.
The adaptive program director where you want to teach can tell you how and when to do the Level I exam prep. I'd suggest you contact that director to get started. You may need to be hired by that director as an adaptive volunteer and get onto the staff list to do the prep and exam. That should be no problem as long as they need volunteers.
Have fun! What mountain?
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I'm not sure yet. Likely either Liberty or Massanutten.
Yes, my thoughts exactlyI admittedly don't know a lot about getting a PSIA level 1, but my answer to basically any "am I too old to..." question is no.
Are we off-base? Maybe I should start a thread "I AM Too Old..." but I don't really want to dwell on it.
Not too old. I'm sure Massanutten Ski School would love to have you do the training sessions in December. Just remember that you'll be teaching beginners. Best to ask beforehand if trainees can choose to work with children or 16+. Also could ask when/where instructors usually take the Level 1 ski/teach exams. They used to hold them at Mnut in late season, along with other PSIA Clinics.
I observed Walter in a clinic for Level 3 instructors that was fascinating. Probably about ten years ago.
Lol. Yeah, I've observed Walter working with a couple of L2s aspiring to L3. He's pretty merciless
. He often brings one of his charges along when we do a lesson together.
One of the Silver Clinic sessions I did with Walter was doing bumps that had been seeded at the top of Paradice. He wanted to help a few instructors working towards the L2 exam. That's when he was saying "flow like water."Lol. Yeah, I've observed Walter working with a couple of L2s aspiring to L3. He's pretty merciless
Given that Liberty is owned/operated by Vail Resorts list at this point, I'd stick with Massanutten for PSIA training. Especially if that's where you want to do Adaptive stuff.
I haven't fully investigated it yet, but Liberty used to have an amazing adaptive program. It may have been pre-Vail, however. The advantage w/Liberty is that it only takes me 1.25 hours to get there.
liquidfeet
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I decided two seasons ago to volunteer as an adaptive instructor at Liberty.
They have a good program. I went to the orientation and met the people in charge and liked everything about it. But when I looked at the times they needed a part-time volunteer and at my calendar for the winter season, I realized I would have to give up too much of my social life to show up at Liberty. So I backed out.
Where do you live? Those two mountains are not really near each other.
I live in Reston, VA and, taking Rt. 15, it only takes me about an hour and 15 minutes to get to Liberty, so I can "commute" during the week. Massanutten is convenient b/c my mom lives in the resort, but I can't go back and forth on a daily basis. I've met the guy who runs the adaptive program at Massanutten many times in the parking lot (we compete for the same parking space ). Nice guy, but not someone I immediately warmed to.
). Nice guy, but not someone I immediately warmed to.
I can hear his voice. Easier said than done!
