Mermer Blakeslee

[liquidfeet]

Dave Capron, who does a podcast featuring interviews with famous skiers, has just posted an hour-long interview with Mermer Blakeslee, a PSIA instructor, examiner, trainer, former National Team member, author, gardener, and writer (poetry, novels, and more). For those of you who might not know, Mermer is the author of Into the Yikes Zone! A Conversation with Fear. She conducts special skiing programs for dealing with fear, and runs the well-known Power Learn program at Windham Mountain Resort. She will be a part of the upcoming PSIA Women's Summit at Stowe in late February.

Here's the interview.

The Fall Line with Chaos and Co.

 

[newboots]

The discussion of teaching fearful people starts around 29.50.

 

[liquidfeet]

Mermer is talking to PSIA members in this interview. She and they all know each other, and they know other PSIA people whom they mention by first name. So it's in a way an insider interview. I could recognize some of the folks they referred to by first name, but only because I have participated for so long in PSIA events. So the interview may be a bit opaque to some listeners here.

What comes across most strongly, I think, is Mermer's infectious laughter ... and her and intense passion for teaching and thinking about how people learn.

In her book she dives deeply into dealing with fear.

 

[newboots]

Her stories about childhood, failure, and what she wanted to change in teaching methods promulgated by PSIA are all very interesting. She is unguarded and, at times, a little goofy, likely because she is among friends.

 

[liquidfeet]

She violates all kinds of culture codes. All the time. With a twinkle in her eye.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

DH had a PSIA event several years ago at Sugarbush. Fresh snow, great conditions, his first trip there, loved it. These events are grouped to a clinic leader. When he came home, he told me that his clinic leader had a peculiar name, M-something. Ha! "I can name that tune in one note." He indeed had Mermer Blakeslee as his clinic leader for the event, got to ski with her for 2 days. Pics somewhere

 

[SmuggsSkier]

Dave Capron, who does a podcast featuring interviews with famous skiers, has just posted an hour-long interview with Mermer Blakeslee, a PSIA instructor, examiner, trainer, former National Team member, author, gardener, and writer (poetry, novels, and more). For those of you who might not know, Mermer is the author of Into the Yikes Zone! A Conversation with Fear. She conducts special skiing programs for dealing with fear, and runs the well-known Power Learn program at Windham Mountain Resort. She will be a part of the upcoming PSIA Women's Summit at Stowe in late February.

Here's the interview.

The Fall Line with Chaos and Co.

Mermer has amazing wisdom about skiing and life in general. I was at the Women's Summit at Stowe and went to her presentation on performance. Great stuff.

 

[SmuggsSkier]

DH had a PSIA event several years ago at Sugarbush. Fresh snow, great conditions, his first trip there, loved it. These events are grouped to a clinic leader. When he came home, he told me that his clinic leader had a peculiar name, M-something. Ha! "I can name that tune in one note." He indeed had Mermer Blakeslee as his clinic leader for the event, got to ski with her for 2 days. Pics somewhere

Mermer is talking to PSIA members in this interview. She and they all know each other, and they know other PSIA people whom they mention by first name. So it's in a way an insider interview. I could recognize some of the folks they referred to by first name, but only because I have participated for so long in PSIA events. So the interview may be a bit opaque to some listeners here.

What comes across most strongly, I think, is Mermer's infectious laughter ... and her and intense passion for teaching and thinking about how people learn.

In her book she dives deeply into dealing with fear.

Mermer is an amazing gardener as well as skier. She often posts photos of her garden on Facebook.

 

[newboots]

Hey, @SmuggsSkier - I'm not sure I have had a chance to say hello. I was at the Summit at Stowe, too, but unfortunately I brought home Covid. Anyhow, we are glad to have you here!

 

[SkiBam]

Hey, @SmuggsSkier - I'm not sure I have had a chance to say hello. I was at the Summit at Stowe, too, but unfortunately I brought home Covid. Anyhow, we are glad to have you here!

Perhaps this is posted somewhere but I haven't seen it.... but I'd love to see a report on this women's summit at Stowe. How was it organized? Was it worthwhile? I saw one report (on Facebook I think) from a CSIA level 4 who was there but I would be interested in hearing from some divas.

 

[newboots]

Perhaps this is posted somewhere but I haven't seen it.... but I'd love to see a report on this women's summit at Stowe. How was it organized? Was it worthwhile? I saw one report (on Facebook I think) from a CSIA level 4 who was there but I would be interested in hearing from some divas.

On this thread:

Women's Summit Stowe: Feb 27-March 1, 2022

Sharing this from my ski instructor: This year, PSIA’s women’s summit is open to friends, not just PSIA members. Event will be held: Feb 27-March 1. Link below: https://www.psia-e.org/ev/feature-events/womens-summit/ Per one of the ski instructors at my home mtn.: "It’s an amazing...

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