Education Taskforce Highlight: Dustin Cooper

The Education Task Force Highlight Series spotlights education leaders working to create new Certification Standards, education resources, and communication strategies that will benefit all members.

In this highlight, we sit down with PSIA Intermountain Alpine Certification Manager and Alpine Taskforce member Dustin Cooper.

What task force are you on?

The Alpine Task Force.

What’s your current snowsports job title?

PSIA Intermountain Alpine Certification Manager and Instructor Trainer Snowbasin Resort in Utah.

Share a brief bio of your professional snowsports instruction history.

I am an instructor and trainer at Deer Valley Resort and Snowbasin Resort in Utah as well as a PSIA-AASI Intermountain Division Education Clinic Leader. In the past, I worked as the PSIA-AASI Intermountain Logistics and Scheduling Manager and volunteered on the PSIA-AASI Intermountain Board of Directors. I’ve also represented Intermountain at Fall Conference as we worked towards the new Alpine Certification Standards as part of the Strategic Alignment Initiative. I also led the first PSIA Alpine Level II training and exam in China.

What is your current role on the task force?

Representing PSIA-AASI Intermountain on the PSIA Alpine Task Force as we work on Strategic Alignment and alpine technical projects.

What are the task force’s main goals and how are you working to accomplish them?

The Alpine Task Force is working to on the Strategic Alignment Initiative to bring greater transparency and consistency to PSIA-AASI’s education and certification processes.

How will this benefit members?

Greater transparency and consistency of PSIA-AASI education and certification will help members and member schools bring more value to their guests’ skiing and riding experience.

Why is it important to you to work for the benefit of other members?

Because delivering quality education and certification to our members helps them improve the guest experience.

What’s the fun factor?

Creating relationships through skiing and riding.

Favorite part of being an instructor?

Helping people have more fun by accomplishing their skiing goals.