First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast

Tune into this bonus episode where we chat with the Director of Operations from the Rocky Mountain region as their Season Kickoff event happening. There's a big group of instructors in the background having a good time so apologies for the sound quality but listen in to hear more about the event and why there are so many members there from other regions. Enjoy the bonus content!

On this feature episode, we’re chatting with Interski President and former AASI Snowboard Team member Eric Sheckleton. You’ll also hear from Pete Allison, a regular guest on First Chair Podcast and Pete Kray, the Lead Writer for PSIA-AASI. This group is chatting about Interski, what it is, what it means and how we’re preparing for the return of Interski to the US! Interski has not been in the US since it came to Aspen in 1968. Similar to the PSIA-AASI National Team, other countries have skiers and riders who represent the best instructors and coaches from their country. Every four years, Interski travels to a new country where members from 32-36 separate countries come together to share, network and grow the sport and the education around snowsports. The last Interski in 2023 was in Levi, Finland. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

PSIA Alpine Team Member Kevin Jordan sits down with our podcast host, George Thomas at Team Training to chat about what the week of Training entailed. Kevin goes into detail talking about what the week holds and what the larger goals were to come from this event. There was more of a mechanical focus to this Training that involved some pre-work relating to the basic parallel turn. Kevin talks about what it’s like to be a two-term member and how this term is already a bit different than the last. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

CARV is a PSIA-AASI Official Supplier which provides data on your skiing. Dozens of pressure and motion sensors work to provide you with data that can help you improve your skiing. CARV used to be a insertable footbed product but due to its popularity and use, they’ve updated it to be a clip on attachment. CARV tracks your ski IQ, which is similar to Strava, where you can track your skiing metrics and get tips on how you can improve. This tool can provide you with extra help for your instruction needs or for your own benefit. PSIA-AASI members get pro offers on CARV products. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

AASI Snowboard Team member Brian Donovan joins us again for Part 2 of The Good, The Great and the Let’s Maybe Not Try That Again. In this episode, George and Brian chat about things that are going to help make your lessons more fun, more engaging and help you further your certifications. Brian talks about how instructors are very good at describing the “what” in a lesson. Do this to fix that. Sometimes the student needs the “how” and the “when” to be thoroughly described as well. They then go into assessment and certification tricks and how you can work towards bettering yourself during assessments. Treating and exam you may be conquering the same way you’d conquer teaching a lesson, is a good way to ease your mind. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Andy Stein who is the Digital Marketing Manager for PSIA-AASI. You may have seen Andy on the recent social series “American Snow: The History of US Snowsports Instruction" where he discussed the history of PSIA-AASI. On this episode, Andy and George chat about putting tiny habits into motion and relevant areas where you can apply this outside of snowsports. George explains SMART goals and relates that to any goal you’re working on. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Pete Allison, Associate Professor at Penn State University and Josh Pighetti, Ph.D candidate researching how to be inspirational in your teaching regarding snowsports instruction and PSIA-AASI. Pete talks about where this research topic came from – the 2021 PSIA-AASI National Team tryouts – and how PSIA-AASI can work towards every instructor being inspirational. Josh goes on to explain the 5 main themes of his research and how they relate to the Learning Connection Model (LCM). This is an extraordinary episode with a lot of great information and ideas – take the time to listen to it in its entirety. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Pete Allison, Associate Professor at Penn State University. Pete has been working with PSIA-AASI for nearly a decade and is working to prove the value and worth of a PSIA-AASI certification. The (Learning Connection Model) LCM is PSIA-AASI's main educational tool. It identifies the student as the center of three pillars of great instruction. People, Teaching and Technical Skills. George and Pete chat about how to make the technicalities in teaching on snow more fun and engaging. This discussion dives into some of the intricacies of being good at teaching and people skills, but not being as good at delivering technical ideas in a fun way. Pete goes on to talk about how giving students 1-2 things to work on at a time is more efficient than calling everything out at once. “Drip feed” your students and make them aware that what they’re doing will feel different and new and reassure them that this is a good thing. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Angelo Ross who’s the Education Development Manager for PSIA-AASI. In this episode, George and Angelo talk about being honest about what’s going on in your life. This is a great episode on finding ways to start identifying and producing solutions to tough teaching situations you may face. Angelo talks about how important it is to dive into and immerse yourself in snowsports culture. What do you think about this topic? Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Ben Potts – a PSIA National Alpine Team member. On this episode, George and Ben talk about what life’s like in New Zealand. Ben and George chatted back on pod 712 while Ben was teaching at the Woodward camp at Copper Mountain in Colorado. After New Zealand, Ben may stop in South America before heading back to the States for a few weeks break ahead of the PSIA-AASI National Team Training in early November in Colorado. So, needless to say he’s been busy this summer (winter?). Ben is in New Zealand for Rookies Academy which offers camps and instructor training in New Zealand, Italy, Japan, USA, Canada and China - bringing together passionate skiers from around the world. Ben walks us through a week in the life of an instructor in New Zealand and talks about his highlight of the year so far. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.