By Dave Schuiling, PSIA-AASI Director of Education & Credentialing

In March, I had the privilege of attending the 2026 SPE Balkan Ski Conference in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia—an international gathering of researchers, educators, and snowsports professionals committed to advancing the science and practice of snowsports education.

Events like this remind me that our profession is both deeply local and profoundly global. While we each work within our own schools, resorts, and national organizations, the challenges we face—and the opportunities ahead—are shared across borders. The Balkan Ski Conference brings together instructors, researchers, coaches, and academic leaders from around the world to exchange ideas, present research, and explore the future of snowsports education. The spirit of the conference is rooted in the integration of science, practice, and education, a model that resonates strongly with the work we are doing at PSIA-AASI.

SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL SNOWSPORTS INDUSTRY

As a member of the IAESS (International Association of Education in Science and Snowsport) board since 2019, it was especially meaningful to collaborate with colleagues who are deeply committed to strengthening the professional and academic foundations of our field. IAESS plays an important role in supporting the global snowsports industry by connecting research, education, and practice. Through its efforts, the association helps elevate snowsports instruction as a profession grounded in evidence, collaboration, and continuous learning.

IAESS was also a proud endorser and supporter of the Balkan Ski Conference, reinforcing its commitment to fostering international dialogue and knowledge exchange. Beyond in-person events like this, IAESS continues to serve the global snowsports community through its ongoing webinar/online seminar series. These sessions—offered freely to the community—create access to leading ideas, research, and conversations regardless of geography. Many of these presentations are available through the Interski International YouTube channel, providing an accessible and growing library of professional development resources for instructors, educators, and leaders around the world.

At the conference, I had the opportunity to present on “Making People Skills Visible,” exploring how we can better define, observe, and develop the interpersonal competencies that great instructors demonstrate every day. One of the rewarding aspects of the conference was how closely this work connected with other presentations. In particular, former British Alpine Skiing Demonstration Team member Paul Garner’s session on trust reinforced the central role that relationships play in learning environments. Trust is the foundation that allows instructors and students to connect, communicate, and grow together on snow.

Many other presentations highlighted timely and important areas of research and professional practice. Secretary General of IAESS Vanessa Mann shared compelling work on aging and teaching, providing insight into how instructors and educators can adapt to support lifelong participation in snowsports. Other sessions addressed diversity and the growing role of women’s leadership within the snowsports industry—conversations that are essential as we work to ensure our profession is welcoming, inclusive, and sustainable.

Another highlight for me was Penn State University Associate Professor of Values and Experiential Learning Pete Allison’s presentation on professionalism in snowsports. His exploration of the relationships between professionalism, professional learning, professional development, and the broader profession echoed themes I wrote about in my article, “The Consummate Professional.” His work reminds us that teaching snowsports is not simply a seasonal job—it is a profession that requires ongoing learning, reflection, and a commitment to excellence.

SUSTAINING EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

What makes gatherings like the Balkan Ski Conference so valuable is the collective energy of people who care deeply about the future of our profession. Researchers bring new knowledge. Practitioners bring real-world experience. And together we refine the ideas that shape how we teach, how we train instructors, and how we develop the next generation of snowsports professionals.

For PSIA-AASI, staying connected to this international dialogue is essential. Our involvement with global organizations and conferences allows us to share the innovative work happening in the United States while also learning from colleagues around the world. These exchanges help ensure that our educational frameworks, credentialing systems, and professional development pathways continue to evolve in ways that keep our association relevant and forward-looking.

In many ways, the conversations at the conference reinforced the direction we have taken with the Learning Connection^SM. By defining the fundamentals of technical skills, teaching skills, and people skills, the Learning Connection provides a framework that helps make great instruction more visible, more teachable, and more measurable. The research shared at the conference—from trust and professionalism to aging, leadership, and inclusion—underscored how central these human elements are to effective learning environments.

For me, this gathering affirmed that the work we are doing to define and develop people skills within PSIA-AASI is not happening in isolation. It is part of a broader international movement to better understand the human side of teaching and learning in sport—one that organizations like IAESS continue to support through collaboration, research, and accessible education.

Most of all, the conference was a reminder that our profession is built on a shared passion—not just for skiing and snowboarding, but for helping people learn, grow, and thrive in the mountains. When we connect research, practice, and professional development through frameworks like the Learning Connection—and through collaboration with colleagues around the world—we continue to elevate the craft and the profession of snowsports instruction.

I returned home inspired by the ideas, the research, and most importantly, the people who are committed to pushing our profession forward.