PSIA-AASI National Team Says, ‘Meet the Student Where They Are’

As the PSIA-AASI National Team wrapped up its annual team training session on the slopes of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and in the town of Breckenridge, Colorado, last week, it was with a strong sense of refining a message that will help all PSIA-AASI members teach more successful lessons, have a clear path to what it takes to achieve advanced certification, and a better time skiing and snowboarding.

Simply put, that message is, “Meet the student where they are,” whether that student is a beginner, a fledgling freestyler, or another instructor working toward their professional goals. It means working to understand what each individual needs at any given time, including more coaching, a chance to reflect on recent tasks, or just to go inside and get warm.

“It’s a simple message that’s easy to grasp and very much what we see on a daily basis, which is that you need to be continually gathering information from your students throughout the lesson – and not just at the beginning,” said Alpine Development Coach Matt Boyd. “It’s easy to make a lesson plan, but once you hit the implementation phase, you need to observe and react and observe and react to what you are seeing in front of you because the situation – and the experience your students are having – is changing all the time.”

Boyd said a lot of that focus on open communication and being in the “now” of each moment led to the team coming together to work for a common cause – constantly improving and clarifying the snow pro and snow student experience – even faster than the 2008-12 National Team that PSIA-AASI sent to Interski 2011 in St. Anton, Austria.

“I had not seen that comfort level in agreement and disagreement since 2008,” Boyd said. “That’s the result of us all seeking to simplify our message and be clearer and more translucent, and not complicated or vague.”

That team was the first to really start working across disciplines, teach anyone no matter what equipment they showed up on, and set the stage for the introduction of the Learning Connection^SM model at Ushuaia, Argentina, in 2015.

AASI Snowboard Team member Brian Donovan said making sure everyone felt heard and respected was one of his main goals when he started planning for team training.

“Heading into the start of my second term on the team, I’m trying to make sure I remember what it felt like when I was a rookie, and I want to make sure I do everything in my power to create an environment where the new team members are welcomed into the fold, feel like part of the team, and are set up for success heading into their first winter on the team,” Donovan said.

“Being on the team and being a teammate is all about service,” said PSIA Alpine Team member Stephen Helfenbein. “My first goal is to be of service to my teammates. This is a new team with a new mission. I want us to help each other stay focused on our opportunities and obligations.

“My second goal is to put some renewed energy into sharing my voice with the membership,” he said. “I would like to connect with the membership in different ways so they can achieve their goals and get the most out of their snow experiences.”

With Interski at Vail on the horizon in 2027, there’s a strong sense of anticipation at sharing the highlights of team training with members across the country and including everyone in the conversation.

“I’m super proud of our association for taking on the challenge of hosting Interski,” said Helfenbein. “I think we will create some really cool and innovative programing that will allow all countries to showcase their values and enjoy the finest in American ski culture.”