32 Degrees: Meet the 2024-28 National Team Members
The Fall 2024 issue of 32 Degrees magazine is out, featuring the annual Gear Preview and season-welcoming articles, tips, and timely insight for professional instructors in every discipline to start honing their skills for the upcoming winter.
There is also a special feature on how PSIA-AASI announced its 2024-28 National Team at Big Sky, Montana, last April, concluding a rigorous, winterlong process to select 30 professional instructors across all disciplines to set the standard for U.S. ski and snowboard instruction.
Composed of some of the best skiers and riders in the world, the team is selected every four years, and is responsible for promoting, supporting, and assisting with the development of PSIA-AASI education materials, programs, and activities at all levels, from local clinics to international events.
“The team represents PSIA-AASI at the highest level to deliver on the values of the association based on adventures in education and lifelong learning,” said PSIA-AASI Director of Education and Credentialing Dave Schuiling. “The team also represents the ideals of the profession of snowsports instruction, including the skill sets represented in the Learning Connection framework to inspire professional development and the infectious joy of sharing snowsports with everyone.”
The team includes a well-rounded mix of new and returning members, representing big and small snowsports areas from across the country, and was chosen from a final pool of more than 100 extremely well-qualified candidates.
“Great care and effort went into selecting the team, through the questions that were asked and criteria put in place for selection,” Schuiling said. “Unlike a certification standard, the selection process was focused on picking a team that could very rapidly come together and function at the highest level.”
“No one makes the team by accident, and those who do are quite often outspoken in the ways we can improve,” said National Team Coach Jeb Boyd. “But this is also a group that will work quickly to get everyone on the same page, trust one another, and have conversations that benefit the snowsports instruction profession and the snowsports business.”
The ability to work as an individual leader and in a give-and-take group setting were keys to the selection of the new team according to AASI Snowboard Team Technical Coach Eric Rolls.
“This team consists of people who when they are on the road working solo can absolutely lead a high-level clinic on their own. They can also function as a cohesive team and complement all our strengths when we are together to accomplish the objectives and initiatives we’ve planned for the next four years,” said Rolls.
Equally important is the combination of returning members and new teammates to ensure a blend of well-earned wisdom and fresh ideas.
“Every good team needs a blend of experience and new perspective,” said PSIA Alpine Team Technical Coach Michael Rogan, “And we certainly have that here. All the great instructors in our association had to start somewhere, and it will be exciting to see the newer folks . . . as they continue to develop within the team environment.”
