First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast

First Chair will spotlight education leaders working to create new National Standards, education resources, and communication strategies that will benefit all members. In this first highlight, meet PSIA-AASI Northwest Technical Team Head Coach Rick Lyons.

First Chair catches up with The North Face’s Global VP of Mountain Sports, Scott Mellin, about The North Face’s new monthly podcast series with PSIA-AASI that will update listeners about new product innovations, their new Official Supplier partnership with PSIA-AASI that will provide members with the industry’s most innovative performance apparel and gear, and the surprising silver lining impact t...

PSIA-AASI members, Aleks and Brian Smith (who are also parents), share their strategies for success for family group private lessons. Receive some ideas on how you can help parents become partners in the learning environment during your lesson. Helping to educate a family is an art and a science and Aleks and Brian give you some suggestions for skill development success for all.

First Chair catches up with SNO-GO colleagues, Rob Aseltine and Shaun Cattanach, about SNO-GO, which looks like a snow bike and is leading a new era of technology for winter sports. Rob and Shaun talk about how SNO-GO’s mechanics work and why it’s the perfect device for ripping groomers, parks, and pow. Take this free SNO-GO webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 5 – 6 p.m. MDT to get the scoop on ho...

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI CEO Nick Herrin about how the ski and snowboard industry is working together about reopening this winter. Nick also talks about how instructors can offer educational programming in a low-risk environment this season and “Navigating the 2020-21 Snowsports Season”, a new resource created with input from PSIA-AASI’s education leaders and snowsports managers. This...

Trauma has been identified as an epidemic in our society. Studies indicate that a significant portion of the population have experienced harmful or life-threatening events which have impacted their everyday functioning or well-being. Certified Trauma Professional Christine Cowart talks about the PSIA-AASI webinar that she’ll lead on this topic on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 at 6 p.m. EDT. And why this...

PSIA-AASI Eastern Division member, Brian Donovan, chats about how instructors can work to build their client base for ski and snowboard lessons this season. For example, it might seem counter intuitive to narrow your focus when you want to broaden your client base, but finding your instructor niche is often the key to expanding your clients!

In this 3-part podcast series, PSIA Alpine Team member, Brian Smith, chats about how to manage a family group lesson. Take a listen to get some ideas for this upcoming season for your group lessons. For example, learn what to do when your best-laid plans for managing your family group lesson plan goes awry. Listen to Part 1 of the series: http://tiny.cc/gmrrsz

First Chair catches up with Paul Howard, who serves as the President, Technical Director for the Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (PMBIA). PSIA-AASI recently partnered with PMBIA to bring year-round educational opportunities to ski, snowboard, and mountain bike instructors. This partnership means ski and snowboard instructors can pursue education and training opportunities in the...

PSIA Alpine Team member, Brian Smith, chats about how to manage a family group lesson. Take a listen to get some ideas for this upcoming season for your group lessons. For example, consider group size and accommodating all family members to set up your students for success.

First Chair catches up with pro skier, Julian Carr, who has been featured in seven Warren Miller films, developing a reputation not only for capturing the biggest airs, but for all around skiing. Listen to how his background in gymnastics and his fascination for deep powder, has helped him to hone his craft.

First Chair catches up with PSIA Cross Country Coach Emily Lovett about how learning to cross country ski this winter will be a perfect half-day family and friend activity for this upcoming winter season. Listen to her recommendations on how instructors can approach teaching groups that may include students with different skill levels. To learn more about cross country skiing, check out your local...

First Chair catches up with Tanya Milelli about how instructors can stay positive this season while facing a return to something new for this winter season. Listen for some suggestions on how to look at the bigger picture, while applying some different and complex thinking to help roll out the red carpet for a return to winter. This season will be a great opportunity for you to really hone your pe...

First Chair catches up with Kevin Jordan and PSIA Alpine Team member Jonathan Ballou, to learn about the history of Snowmass Bike Park and the Snowmass Bike School. They also share some insight about how the school is providing mountain bike lessons this summer to teach students foundational skills. You’ll also get some insight about how Snowmass has worked with local and state guidelines to make...

First Chair catches up with pro skier Julian Carr and Nabil Rahman, vice president for Spot, which is a company that has reimagined the insurance ecosystem for the outdoor industry and its enthusiasts. PSIA-AASI recently partnered with Spot to offer all members injury insurance specifically designed for ski and snowboard instructors. For an affordable, one-time payment of $50, you can purchase Spo...

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI National Team Alpine Assistant and Development Coach Matt Boyd and Snowboard Assistant and Development Coach Tony Macri about PSIA-AASI’s education staff and team coaches announcement on their decision for a positive path forward for the PSIA-AASI National Team Selection that will continue to build on the current team’s successes and also provide valuable bene...

First Chair catches up with PSIA Alpine Team Coach Michael Rogan, PSIA Alpine Team member Dave Lyon, and PSIA-AASI Northwest member Melody Buell about their participation in Dave Lyon's race camps at Timberline Ski Area, Mt. Hood in Oregon this summer. Get the scoop on how the camps are operating during this unusual time.

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI National Team Head Coach, Jeb Boyd, and PSIA-AASI Director of Education, Dave Schuiling, about the Learning Connection model and talks about how two of the three tenets, teaching and people skills, are the same across all disciplines. The Learning Connection emphasizes that great lessons rely on the instructor’s ability to offer a blend of people skills, teach...

First Chair catches up with Dave Horne, a Level III alpine instructor, who hails from the Rocky Mountain Division. Dave shares his story about why he decided to pursue his passion to work in the snowsports industry and teach skiing and work at Vail Mountain. He also talks about what it’s like working in the snowsports industry as a Black ski instructor and shares ideas about how the industry can w...

First Chair catches up with PSIA-AASI National Team Head Coach, Jeb Boyd, and PSIA-AASI Director of Education, Dave Schuiling, about PSIA-AASI's certification standards and the work that’s being done with PSIA-AASI’s education leaders, including the Education Leadership Council and the National Team, to update PSIA-AASI these standards. Learn about the journey PSIA-AASI’s education leaders have ta...

First Chair catches up with Zoe Mavis of Big Sky, Montana, and Pete Allison, from Penn State University about how to make a living as a full-time ski or snowboard instructor. Zoe and Pete share tips on how you can achieve success. Also, learn how you can advance from becoming a good to a great instructor through education and boosting your people skills.

First Chair catches up with Scott Mellin, global VP of mountain sports at The North Face and Nick Herrin, CEO of PSIA-AASI, about the new partnership between PSIA-AASI and The North Face. Learn how this partnership will give you access to the best gear to explore the mountain environment while you’re training the next generation of skiers and snowboarders. Scott and Nick also chat about how instru...

There’s a saying that nothing gets you in better shape for skiing than actually skiing. But what if there’s no snow, like in the summer? Then you go inline skating! First Chair catches up with Rollerblade and chats with Andy Hare, director of partnership marketing, and Myles Cotter-Sparrow, product marketing coordinator. PSIA-AASI members receive special member pricing at https://members.thesnowpr...

First Chair catches up with Ed Younglove and Eliza Kuntz, who discuss their role as the outgoing and incoming chair of PSIA-AASI’s Board of Directors. Hear Ed and Eliza’s stories about their journey and adventures with PSIA-AASI and how their love of teaching other people to ski and snowboard and the education they’ve received from PSIA-AASI has helped them both on and off the hill.

Greg Dixon serves as the new PSIA Telemark Coach for the PSIA-AASI National Team and he shares his story about his role and how over the last two years, he’s grown as a leader within the telemark discipline as PSIA transitioned from one single Nordic Coach, to two separate coaches, telemark and cross country. Greg’s leadership, combined with his passion the sport and PSIA-AASI, will help him provi...