Alpine Event Descriptions

Signing Up
To sign-up for clinics or events you can register online or fax in the event application. Please, no phone registration. All registrations must be received 2 weeks prior to the event to guarantee your spot. Late registrations will be charged an additional $20.

Email Verification
We will email a verification of your registration, updates, and changes to all participants with a valid email address.

Waiting List
Our goal is to serve all members who sign up for clinics. If a clinic is full, you may still sign-up and be placed on a Wait List. If it is possible for us to accommodate you, we will email or contact you by phone.

Cancellation Policy
Please cancel before the clinic registration deadline. There are penalties for cancellation just prior to the event, unless a medical verification is submitted with your cancellation. **The Western Division reserves the right to cancel any event if it lacks registrations by the published date. All fees will be returned.

Certification Options
Please see the "certification guide" listed under the discipline you are interested in for more information on written tests, scoring, preparation materials, and recommended training.

Meeting Times & Locations
All education events and exam modules begin at 8:30, unless otherwise indicated on your confirmation. In most cases the meeting area is in the resort base lodge (look for event signage at the area). When there is more then one base lodge for the resort, you will receive email confirmation of the events meeting place.

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Fall Rally
This 2-day event is open to the entire membership as an opportunity to get an early season tune-up. Come prepared to have fun and hone-in riding skills as well as receive updates on division and national education materials and updates.

Ed Core
This 2-day clinic is designed for resort trainers or those interested in becoming a resort trainer. Review the most current standards and education materials for the 07/08 season. Receive important training information to take back to your resort and get feedback on your personal skiing skills for the coming season. Share ideas about how to lead exceptional clinics! Topics to be covered: Level-I In-House Training programs, demos/tasks for Level I-III Modules, developing solid technical understanding of movement patterns. Highly recommended if you are trying out for the Technical Team.

Convention is our annual event that wraps-up a great season with good friends, spring skiing & riding, and a wide assortment of clinics. Please stay tuned to the 2008 Spring Convention page for more details throughout the season.

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6-day program for members not actively instructing at a Snowsports School

This Level I Certification Event combines 3-days of education with the 3-day Level I Module. Candidates will cover teaching progressions, skiing/riding demonstrations, and movement analysis skills for levels 1-4. This course is fun! You'll gain a basic understanding of the technical knowledge that makes up instructing while improving your own skills and personal skiing or riding. Our professional staff will inspire you to work hard and provide coaching to meet our National Standards for Level I Certification. Successful candidates receive a certificate of completion and are eligible for Level I Pin and official Certification after 20 hrs. of teaching (2yr/season cap on completing teaching hours).

Prerequisites

• Must be at least 16 years old, and a Registered Member of PSIA/AASI - W.
• Participants must be capable of linking turns (parallel for skiers) on blue intermediate terrain
• Participants must read the Level I Study Guide.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase education materials for their discipline

• AASI Snowboard Manual or the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
• AASI Snowboard Certification Handbook (available through PSIA-w only)
• PSIA Alpine Handbook (teaching exercises for adults)
• Children's Instruction Handbook: Alpine Skiing (teaching exercises for kids)

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3-day program for members who are actively instructing at a Snowsports School

This Level I Certification Event covers teaching and skiing/riding demonstrations, movement analysis, and technical knowledge to meet our National Standards for Level I Certification. Successful candidates that pass the Module and have completed 20 hrs of teaching at their snowsports school, become a Certified Level I Instructor.

Prerequisites

• Must be at least 16 years old, and a Registered Member of PSIA/AASI - W.
• Participants must be capable of linking turns (parallel for skiers) on blue intermediate terrain.
• Participants must read the Level I Study Guide.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase education materials for their discipline

• AASI Snowboard Manual or the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
• AASI Snowboard Certification Handbook (available through PSIA-w only)
• PSIA Alpine Handbook (teaching exercises for adults)
• Children's Instruction Handbook: Alpine Skiing (teaching exercises for kids)

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This program allows members who are actively instructing at a resort the opportunity to train for their Level I Certification with an In-House Resort Trainer. After all study sessions and on-hill trainings have finished, candidates will be validated by a PSIA/AASI-W Examiner - to assure they meet the National Level I Certification Standards. Candidates that meet these standards and are validated - pass their Level I Certification.

How to get Started:

1. Check that your Snowsports School offers this option for Level I Certification.
2. Find out who your coordinates your resort training and let them know you are interested in joining an In-House Level I Certification program.
3. Become a Registered Member of PSIA/AASI-W and complete the PSIA/AASI-W In-House Level I Certification Application. [This fee includes a Portfolio that will guide you through your training]
4. Attend all the study sessions/on-hill trainings that your trainer schedules.
5. Once you have completed your portfolio and training, your trainer will schedule a validation clinic with a PSIA/AASI-W Examiner, at least three weeks prior to the validation date.
6. You will need to complete an Event Application to pay for the In-House Level I Certification Validation Clinic (this application must be received in the office 2 weeks prior to the validation date).
7. Upon successful completion of the Validation Clinic, candidates will be awarded their Level I Certification.

Prerequisites

• Must be at least 16 years old, and a Registered Member of PSIA/AASI - W.
• Participants must be capable of linking turns (parallel for skiers) on blue intermediate terrain.
• Participants must read the Level I Study Guide.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase education materials for their discipline

• AASI Snowboard Manual or the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
• AASI Snowboard Certification Handbook (available through PSIA-w only)
• PSIA Alpine Handbook (teaching exercises for adults)
• Children's Instruction Handbook: Alpine Skiing (teaching exercises for kids)

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This 3-day event includes a skiing assessment, feedback, and coaching from clinician to meet the Level II National Standards. Level II certified instructors have the skills to make short, medium, and long radius turns on blue and groomed black terrain with minimal skidding. Skill application and accuracy may vary with terrain and snow conditions. Demonstrations should illustrate accurate movement patterns. Scoring for this event is pass or fail. Essential elements of all skiing maneuvers must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass.

Please refer to the Alpine Certification Guide.

Prerequisites

• Must be a certified level I instructor, current with membership dues and education credits.
• Must be actively working at a Snowsports School.
• Participants must read the Level II Study Guide.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase education materials for their discipline

• PSIA Alpine Technical Manual
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
• PSIA Alpine Handbook (teaching exercises for adults)
• Children's Instruction Handbook: Alpine Skiing (teaching exercises for kids)

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This 2-day event includes a teaching assessment, feedback, and coaching from clinician to meet the Level II National Standards. Candidates will be evaluated on their use of the Teaching model, ability to communicate, actual demonstrations by the candidate, use of methodology "tools", tasks, drills, exercises, and overall instructor presence. Candidates will be asked to teach adults and children ATS levels 1-7. Scoring for this event is pass or fail. Essential elements of all teaching demonstrations must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass.

Please refer to the Alpine Certification Guide.

Prerequisites

• Must have passed the Level II Skiing Module.
• Participants must read the Level II Study Guide.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase education materials for their discipline

• PSIA Alpine Technical Manual
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
• PSIA Alpine Handbook (teaching exercises for adults)
• Children's Instruction Handbook: Alpine Skiing (teaching exercises for kids)

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This 3-day event includes a skiing assessment, feedback, and coaching from clinician to meet the Level III National Standards. Level III certified instructors have the skills to make short, medium, and long radius turns with the appropriate blending of the skills. Demonstrations should illustrate accurate movement patterns. Certified level III instructors can ski any slope, with any snow condition commonly skied by the public and can do so skillfully and dynamically. Candidates must demonstrate strong leg action, a quiet and stable upper body and powerful use of the ski as it has been designed. Scoring for this event is pass or fail. Essential elements of all skiing maneuvers must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass.

Please refer to the Alpine Certification Guide.

Prerequisites

• Must be a certified level II instructor, current with membership dues and education credits.
• Must be actively working at a snowsport school.
• Participants must read the Level III Study Guide.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase education materials for their discipline

• PSIA Alpine Technical Manual
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
• PSIA Alpine Handbook (teaching exercises for adults)
• Children's Instruction Handbook: Alpine Skiing (teaching exercises for kids)

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This 2-day event includes a teaching assessment, feedback, and coaching from clinician to meet the Level III National Standards. Candidates will be evaluated on their use of the Teaching model, ability to communicate, actual demonstrations by the candidate, use of methodology "tools", tasks, drills, exercises, and overall instructor presence. Candidates will be asked to teach adults and children ATS levels 1-9. Scoring for this event is pass or fail. Essential elements of all teaching demonstrations must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass.

Please refer to the Alpine Certification Guide.

Prerequisites

• Must have passed the Level III Skiing Module.
• Participants must read the Level III Study Guide.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase education materials for their discipline

• PSIA Alpine Technical Manual
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
• PSIA Alpine Handbook (teaching exercises for adults)
• Children's Instruction Handbook: Alpine Skiing (teaching exercises for kids)

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This is a 2-day event explores the CAP model (how kids think, move, and feel) and teaching progressions for children in different age zones. We will also explore children's movement patterns "kids moveology", and work on your own skiing skills and improvement. On day 2 we cover building kid friendly teaching progressions with the Play Drill Adventure Summary method as well as focus on your own skiing development. We'll finish the day with informal group teaching presentations. This is a pass/fail event.

See the Children's Certification Guide for further details.

Prerequisites

• Must be a registered or active member of PSIA-W, currently working at a snowsport school.
• Must complete the CS 1 Workbook

Recommended Reading

• Children's Instruction Handbook
• Alpine Entry Level Guide for Children's Instruction

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This is a 3 day event that assists instructors at designing and implementing creative, appropriate and movement oriented lesson plans for children 4-14. These lesson plans are focused at the high intermediate through expert level of the selected discipline. The idea is for the participants to demonstrate their ability to understand and use teaching principles provided in the Children's Manual and other materials to develop polished and creative lesson plans. Each participant gives a full presentation lasting 45 minutes, with follow up feedback from the group on the last day of the course.

Participants should have an in depth understanding of the CAP Model utilizing previous lesson experiences. Real vs. Ideal movement patterns at higher skill levels will be reviewed. Creative and experimental lesson planning will be emphasized. This course is very interactive. Everyone supports each other and shares ideas. You also get great feedback for other experienced instructors.

The workbook is to be completed prior to the event. The purpose of the workbook is to help the participants obtain the majority of the theoretical information prior to attending the course.

Due to upper level teaching content covered in the CS2 program, a Level 2 Certification is required. The CS2 course involves a lot of skiing/riding, much of it off-piste. Be ready to ski the whole mountain.

Nordic instructors are welcome to join the CS2 Alpine events where material will be adapted to their needs.

Occasionally, a participant is unable to demonstrate the ability to develop an appropriate and or creative lesson plan. In this case, the participant is unable to successfully complete the course. Successful participants will receive a Children's Specialist Pin with the PSIA or AASI logo.

Prerequisites

• Must be a active member of PSIA-W.
• Must be a certified level II Instructor
• Must complete the CS2 Workbook

Recommended Reading

• Children's Instruction Handbook
• Alpine Entry Level Guide for Children's Instruction

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This 2-day event is for current level 1 instructors wishing to teach guests freestyle maneuvers on terrain park features. This event will focus on assessing the skills needed to teach and demonstrate freestyle movements (including 360s, Grabs, Rail Slides and Pipe Riding). This is not an exam. The function of the event is to accredit an instructor for showing competency of ability and understanding in the freestyle environment. Pass/Fail format, with the candidates being required to accomplish all aspects of the minimum course requirements, teaching and demonstrating, before an accreditation can be given.

Prerequisites

• Complete Free Ride Accreditation Written Test
• Read the Park & Pipe Instructors Guide - Available for purchase through the Accessories Catalog
• Advanced skiing skills on groomed terrain.
• Ability to demonstrate Parallel skiing, switch stance on blue groomed terrain
• Ability to demonstrate 180 spins, natural & unnatural
• Ability to demonstrate 360 spins or greater
• Ability to demonstrate straight airs NO safety grab
• Ability to demonstrate a variety of grabs
• Ability to demonstrate appropriate Rail Siding technique on various solid features
• Ability to demonstrate functional Pipe Riding, where the boots are above the coping
• Ability to demonstrate basic rotations & grabs in the Pipe
• Ability to teach and have progressions for all the above

Course Recommendations:

• Helmets Required
• Ability to explore unconventional yet effective movement patterns
• Twin Tip skis are required (Safety Issue)
• Sense of humor, we are all here to have fun.

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This clinic is geared for new members who are either new to teaching or have never been an instructor. The clinic covers basic teaching progressions (over view of the American Teaching System), and an introduction the Skills Concept (the skills we use for skiing) as well as focusing on personal ski improvement. Equipment and the benefits of good boot alignment will also be covered. Participants will gain information on the process for achieving Level I Certification and learn about the benefits of membership and employment in the snowsport industry.

Prerequisites

• Must be at least 16yrs old and an Apprentice or Registered Member of PSIA/AASI -W.

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This event is designed for candidates planning on taking the level II certification module. Skiing tasks, turn mechanics, and specific exercises to develop skills will be covered. This is NOT a pre-requisite to the Level II Ski Module.

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This event is designed for candidates planning on taking the level II certification module. Sample teaching progressions, the teaching model & methodology (tasks, exercises, drills) and movement analysis will be covered. This is NOT a pre-requisite to the Level II Ski Module.

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This event is designed for candidates planning on taking the level III certification module. Skiing tasks, turn mechanics, and specific exercises to develop skills will be covered. This is NOT a pre-requisite to the Level III Ski Module.

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This event is designed for candidates planning on taking the level III certification module. Sample teaching progressions, the teaching model & methodology (tasks, exercises, drills) and movement analysis will be covered. This is NOT a pre-requisite to the Level III Ski Module.

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This self improvement clinic will sharpen your skills in a challenging and fun environment with a clinician from the National Demonstration Team.

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This clinic will focus on teaching tactics for ATAC (all terrain all conditions) will taking advantage of Squaw's bumps, steeps, chutes, and challenging terrain with a clinician from the National Demonstration Team.

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This event will be led by the North American Ski Training Center and begins at Sugarbowl but will explore some of the backcountry options outside of the resort. Participant should plan on coming prepared with randonee gear - including skins, beacon, probe, and shovel, (which can be rented locally), and carrying a day pack with lunch & water. If interested, please contact the NASTC office at (530)582-4772. Space is limited so sign up early.

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This self improvement clinic will sharpen your skills in a challenging and fun environment with a clinician from the Western Demonstration Team.

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Turn it up a notch by improving your technical free skiing and racing skills. This GS clinic will focus on self improvement in the gates with the skill and techniques to be competitive. All levels of race experience welcome. Helmets and goggles are required. Video weather permitting.

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Turn it up a notch by improving your technical free skiing and racing skills. This GS clinic will focus on self improvement in the gates with the skill and techniques to be competitive. All levels of race experience welcome. Helmets and goggles are required. Video weather permitting.

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This clinic will help you learn the fundamental movements and tactics in easy bumps. Participants will explore skill developing tasks, progressions, and receive feedback to improve their bump skiing.

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This 1-day event integrates demonstration skills, all mountain technical skiing, and on-snow clinic leading skills. Candidates will be assigned a topic with which they will state a training objective to use while they lead the group, solicit participation, and give feedback to effect changes in understanding or movement patterns in the group.

Prerequisites

• Candidates must be Level III Certified and active members of PSIA-W.
• Candidates should provide a technical article with topic of their choice

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This 2-day event will be held mini-academy style with different clinics offered morning and afternoon. Clinics will be held on a variety of terrain to offer all ability levels options for challenge, knowledge, insight, and inspiration. Some additional topics covered will be: biomechanics/women's physiological make-up and solutions to enhance women's skiing performance. We will also provide program development suggestions for implementing or improving your own current women's programs. Demo equipment will be available so plan to arrive early or swap at lunch time on the first day. Guest speakers will kick-off each morning. Group dinner on the first evening optional. Stay tuned as more details on this event become available.

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Looking for an opportunity to expand your bag o' tricks? This event will be participant driven and include plenty of skiing to demonstrate effective exercises, drills and tasks, while improving your technical knowledge. You'll also learn how to accurately match cause and effect observations to your progressions for success.

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This clinic is designed to hone in your park skills in both teaching and riding. This clinic will show you how to integrate ATML (approach, take off, maneuver, and landing) and ERL (easy does it, respect gets respect, and look before you leap) into your lessons. You will also get feedback on your personal riding on the rails, in the pipe and in the air. Helmets are mandatory for this event! This clinic is highly recommended for those considering the Freeride Accreditation.

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