In the final episode of the Finding Our Why mini-series, PSIA-AASI’s Nathan Chapple reflects on two decades in snowsports instruction—starting as a 15-year-old junior instructor in the Pacific Northwest and growing into an Intermountain examiner who measures success by the lives he touches. Nathan shares how teaching gave a shy kid a consistent forum to practice communication, how certification structure sharpened his craft, and why a student-centered approach (and today’s People Skills emphasis) creates better teachers—and better guest experiences.
Nathan also opens up about scaling impact by training instructors, the season he nearly lost his spark, and how changing environments (hello, Snowbird) helped him rediscover joy. His advice for anyone on the fence about Level II or Level III is pure gold: control what you can, avoid outcome-only goals, and treat this as a game to play—not a game to win. It’s a grounded, generous conversation that brings our series home: purpose isn’t a pin or a title—it’s the way we show up for guests, peers, and the broader mountain community.