PSIA 50/50 was an historic event!

The Professional Ski Instructors of America hosted the National Academy this year is in Aspen instead
of in Snowbird.

Normally at this time of year everybody is packing up their cars and driving out to Snowbird and this year we're not. Its an interesting experience to be here rather than on the road, because when I go to Academy every year, its an opportunity to focus on skiing without worrying about other responsiblities. on the other hand, I'm kind of glad for my kids because I'm hoping be gone for the summer starting in June, and so I'm sort of glad that I'm not taking a trip right now.

Last night, we went to the opening welcoming banquet and got to see so many faces! It was dissapointing not to see many people who have been academy attendees over the years, but I understand the situation, this year's event, being the 50th, was much more expensive than the Snowbird even. I myself only went to the dinners and social events, which were quite expensive just on their own.

So we're down at the welcoming banquet and we're hanging around and everybody is saying hi to everybody and I turn around and all of a sudden, who do I see standing there, but
Michael Hickey!

Mike Hickey is my first coach.  I went to him as a, you know, pre-Level 1 and said,  "Will you train me to try out for the national team in five years?" I'm sure he thought I was insane, but he looked at me and he said okay.

Michael Hickey and Andy Hawk at the PSIA 50/50!

Of course, I had no idea what I was asking of him and I'm pretty sure that he knew exactly what I was in for, since he'd been through several tryouts at that level and been on a team himself.

He took me seriously enough and he unbuckled my boots andtook away my poles for three months and basically, forced me to learn balance.  He was the first person to teach me a patience turn and, and really to hold the level of accountability in training that I had not found in other areas.

It was wonderful to stand there and see Michael join all the past team members for his photo. It was amazing to see Weems, Michael, Kurt and Megan standing together, amongst a sea of other incredible teachers and mentors. What an amazing night to be present!

These folks, as well as POC and Elan, all believed in me before I had proved myself to anyone, and it is thier continued belief in me that helps me stay on track, not let go of my dreams, and not focus so hard on how impossible the task is, but just let every turn count, go skiing, be open, evolve, learn, play and connect. I'm so grateful!!

Its hard to believe in someone before they can show you the proof that they are worth your time, faith and energy. But that is when we need to be believed in. Just like raising kids, we don't wait for them to come home at 24 with a degree and a good job before we encourage and respect them. We believe in them preemptivly, and that's what these guys did for me. Its a lesson that I take to heart, understanding that one of the reasons I've been able to stick with my goals even when its scary or dark or lonely is that I'm really not alone.

Watching them mentor me has taught me a lot about how to be a better teacher, mentor, parent and friend myself.

For more info on the 50/50, other articles and photos, visit the PSIA website here.

Take your skiing to the next level in New Zealand!

PSIA National Academy Slideshow

2010 PSIA National Academy Slideshow from Grant Nakamura on Vimeo.

Thanks to Grant Nakamura for a fantastic closing banquet slideshow!

Academy Registration is OPEN!

Don't miss the best time you can have on skis! Come learn, play, and party with the National Alpine Demonstration Team in Snowbird this spring! REGISTRATION IS OPEN, and this bad boy fills up fast. Trust me. Its a huge party on skis, and it will change your skiing forever.

Sign up HERE.

Ski/Ride/Park Tip of the Day cards!

FREE STUFF . . .
Did you know that you can get Tip of the Day cards free from PSIA-AASI?

These free instructional handouts, sponsored by Subaru, are great to pass along to your guests. They include pre-printed, discipline-specific tips, and have space for you and your students to add personalized notes.

Choose from skiing, snowboarding or park & pipe cards. Just pay shipping – or, add them to your next order and we’ll send you a pack of 50 at no extra charge.


Get yours at www.thesnowpros.org or from the PSIA-AASI Accessories Catalog.

Full Cert Free Ride: 500 members, new group!

WOW, we got almost 500 members in about 2 months! The discussion is so exciting and there are so many people talking about it that we've moved it from an event to a Group on Facebook!

Thanks for joining the event and getting us started, please join the Group here, and keep posting those questions and comments for and against! I'll update the FAQ at the website this week.

Thanks for your enthusiasm, here are just some of the comments so far!

Janell Owens wrote
at 9:56pm on December 10th, 2008
I'm soooooo there!
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Damian Olivato wrote
at 3:55pm on December 3rd, 2008
Frickin' awesome idea. I have my full cert but usually only ride at other resorts when I'm attending some sort of event. This would definitely help.
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Chip Coxe (Asheville, NC) wrote
at 5:47pm on November 29th, 2008
I am already Level III but would love to have a program like this.
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Robert Baldassari (Salt Lake City, UT) wrote
at 2:33pm on November 26th, 2008
Sweet! I love free stuff for being awesome.
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Matt Evans (Salt Lake City, UT) wrote
at 1:25pm on November 26th, 2008
This is the perfect, perfect chance to build relationships and get the industry even more interconnected! Plus give us a chance to try new areas and see what the fuss is about!!
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Lee Hunter (Aberdeen) wrote
at 12:08pm on November 26th, 2008
I think that would be a fantastic incentive to get new instructors into the industry and lets face it we need something. This is an incentive that doesn't cost them any real money. Good luck!
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Mike Shaughnessy (Allentown, PA) wrote
at 12:40am on November 26th, 2008
Honestly, I've let my PSIA membership lapse, because there isn't enough benefit to it for me. I got a Level I cert when I was working full time, but now I'm part time at another ski area. The area I work at doesn't have a pay raise for a cert, so there's not really much in it for me to keep my membership up. I would definitely reinstate and pursue my full cert if it meant skiing free everywhere!
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Keith Lawrence (Boston, MA) wrote
at 6:00am on November 25th, 2008
I wish!
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Ben Gottlieb (Los Angeles, CA) wrote
at 5:35pm on November 24th, 2008
Yeah Katie this is a great idea. My experience with PSIA/AASI has not been entirely positive. The main reason I join is because of the pay and priority raise that I get for paying my dues and stepping in line with the rest. This would motivate me to get my cert. 3 for sure. All of a sudden a lot of mt. adventures would become affordable. Keep the dream alive, people that live to ride are the heart of the sport, this plan is good for the heart.
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Callie Stolz wrote
at 2:23am on November 24th, 2008
Sounds fantastic! Nice work! Let's make it happen! :)
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Travis Toelkes wrote
at 8:08pm on November 23rd, 2008
Sounds like a brilliant idea!!! Count me in!
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Jeffrey Brian Kenzie (Anchorage, AK) wrote
at 1:44am on November 21st, 2008
um....in true dirtbag tradition, can i just couch surf and ride for free without going through the trouble of getting full cert? this sounds like the best deal for my personal party.
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Tom Baker (Boulder, CO) wrote
at 11:55am on November 20th, 2008
Probably too many full certers out there, but what the hell. I had a similar thought except it was for Ed Staff (Examiner) level.
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Heidi Kanayan (Carson City, NV) wrote
at 4:55pm on November 19th, 2008
Hell yeah we need this. I am curently working towards my L3 and if this goes through that would be such a great incentive and a great way to make our industry that much tighter.

Jed Haupt wrote
at 6:57am on November 19th, 2008
The idea of combining level III aspirations or accomplishments with the dirtbag culture is an interesting one . . .while I've taken a year off from teaching full time, the trend was that mostly older, semi retired people have the funds, time, and inclination to pursue full cert . . .while the "dirtbag" skiers and riders pursued night jobs that paid just enough to allow such a lifestyle, so they can ski all day and not stand around in the freezing cold talking about it, as instructors are inclined to do . . .I worry about an age vacuum, as instructor wages stay stagnant and it becomes harder and harder to actually make a living teaching skiing, so only those who don't necessarily need a living wage will teach!
So here's to the spirit of skiing, of sleeping in your car in the parking lot for those precious first tracks, and anything to promote free skiing for true "snow"bagging!
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Dan Goodell (Grand Valley State) wrote
at 7:13pm on November 18th, 2008
Sounds like a great idea to me!
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John Penxa (Seattle, WA) wrote
at 2:08pm on November 18th, 2008
GO Kate GO!!! :-)
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Parker Cross (Utah Valley University) wrote
at 10:26pm on November 17th, 2008
I think it would be epic. Who knows, maybe one of the divisions will get crazy and try it out in their own division. I'd be stoked because I'm Intermountain and I can think of a lot of places I'd enjoy riding, and it would definitely impact my travel plans for the season if I could get free lift tickets. Anyway, I'll say it's a good idea. It doesn't seem like it would be terribly impacting for a mountain to allow it, and it may even open the doors for employees to want to change mountains. I can think of no school that wouldn't want more full certs checking out their terrain, because if it's good, people are going to want to migrate there next season...
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Bridget Ericsson (Denver, CO) wrote
at 2:47pm on November 17th, 2008
I'm only level 2 can I still go?
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Witt Kohlman Hilley wrote
at 8:50am on November 17th, 2008
need to find me a good steady job first, so....
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Jodi Bedson (Albany, NY) wrote
at 9:34pm on November 16th, 2008
Not that I'll ever get a full cert, but more power to you guys!! =)
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Katherine Rockwell (Davidson) wrote
at 7:37pm on November 16th, 2008
The living wage and comp tickets go hand in hand. The more it means to be a LIII, the more valuable you become and the more likely you are to be extended these benefits. We have to hold up our end of the deal and train to become better resources for our resorts.
I'm all for this group and it's a great idea. The better the product (meaning us) that PSIA produces, the more we're worth to the industry, the more resorts will be willing to pay for us (in either tickets or cash).
I'm at Killington- if anyone is in the area, I can't get you a ticket for free, but I can get you one for $29 midweek, $49 weekends, no blackout.
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Jai Whitney (Burlington, VT) wrote
at 6:31pm on November 16th, 2008
Wouldn't it make more sense to petition for a livable wage so we could just afford to ride wherever we want regardless? And I wasn't aware the dirtbag rider community didn't exist anymore. The evidence is otherwise. See you in Silverton!
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Tyler Jeppesen (Burlington, VT) wrote
at 6:27pm on November 16th, 2008
This would go a long way to keeping full certs in the industry as well - would work for me!
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Aidan Wynn (Western Colorado, CO) wrote
at 6:18pm on November 16th, 2008
fine ill go PSIA!!!!!
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Jim Forster wrote
at 6:38pm on November 15th, 2008
Good on ya for trying to get this going. Who wouldn't want hassle free/$free skiing. There was a time when any instructor could show up anywhere usually with a letter from their director & usually get a free ticket. Times have changed.

Most instructors wouldn't be able to use it too often though, because they are usually working.
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Thomas Gunter-Kremers (Rochester, NY) wrote
at 3:09pm on November 15th, 2008
It's such a commitment to the snowsports industry to get to this level....as long as the organization doesn't ease things up, I'm all for it. Heck, it took me 4 tries to pass the riding portion.....how much money did I put into the industry to get there....
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KC Gandee (Burlington, VT) wrote
at 2:07pm on November 15th, 2008
If J Randy says "yes", I'm in!
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Dennis Matthew Burgess wrote
at 1:59pm on November 15th, 2008
I think I am attending this event anyway, at Killington March 30- April 1st, if someone will sign a piece of paper for me...
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Evan Vomacka (Castleton) wrote
at 1:35pm on November 15th, 2008
Sounds like a great idea! I would love to get my level III and then be able to ski everywhere and anywhere. It's always great to go somewhere else and see how they do things. I like being able to take what I've learned at one mountain and bring it to another.
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J Randy Price (Albuquerque, NM) wrote
at 9:10am on November 15th, 2008
sounds like a party!
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Paul Berntsen (BT (British Telecommunications)) wrote
at 7:57pm on November 14th, 2008
Absolutely!!!
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Kristen M. Kafka (Seattle, WA) wrote
at 4:53pm on November 14th, 2008
AWESOME!!!
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