32 Degrees: Member Profile – Lyndsay Ward
This excerpted “Member Profile” Q&A, written by PSIA-AASI Lead Writer Peter Kray, appears in the Winter 2025 issue of 32 Degrees. You can read the entire article here.
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PSIA-AASI Central Region Education and Certification Manager Lyndsay Ward was honored last summer by Ski Area Management magazine as one of its “10 Under 30” up-and-coming snowsports industry leaders. Here, she talks about the honor, her goals for the season, and how she continues to work for the benefit of all instructors.
LYNDSAY, YOU’VE BEEN SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING SINCE YOU WERE 3, WHAT ARE YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES OF THE SPORT AND WHY WAS IT SOMETHING THAT IMMEDIATELY APPEALED TO YOU?
I grew up in an “action sports” family, spending most of my summers on the lake or at the motocross track, and winters on the ski hill. Skiing was something I was brought up with and immediately took to very well. One of my earliest memories was skiing down my first black diamond with my dad at Whitecap Mountains, at the age of 5, experiencing “Midwest Powder” for the first time.
I started snowboarding in elementary school. I got my first snowboard for Christmas and remember staying out way past dark learning how to slide, building jumps, and teaching myself how to spin. I was always a confident kid when it came to sports and never had any fear. I loved the adrenaline and freedom that came from sliding down a hill. Being on snow has always been where I feel most free.
YOU STARTED TEACHING WHILE A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT IN WISCONSIN AND ARE NOW EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION MANAGER FOR PSIA-AASI CENTRAL REGION. WHY IS TEACHING SO IMPORTANT, AND HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SHARE SNOWSPORTS – AND LEARNING – WITH OTHER PEOPLE?
Teaching is the challenge I find most rewarding. It requires you to be constantly absorbing, engaging, and evolving. Having the ability to influence someone’s confidence in themselves – their own beliefs, knowledge, skill set, and physical abilities – is something I consider to be an incredible, yet fragile opportunity. If done correctly, you can engage them in the sport for life, and that is always my goal.
IN THE SKI AREA MANAGEMENT 10 UNDER 30 HIGHLIGHT YOU’RE DESCRIBED AS “A GIFTED CLINIC LEADER.” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU, AND HOW DO YOU TRY TO MAKE EACH CLINIC SPECIAL FOR ALL YOUR PARTICIPANTS?
I’m honored to represent PSIA-AASI in this way and to share recognition with some incredible mentors who have trained me, on and off snow, and opened a lot of doors for me over the years. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some truly brilliant leaders who instilled the confidence in me that I needed to excel in my role.
My mindset going into each event that I facilitate – whether an educational clinic or an examination – is that I can learn just as much from those members as they can learn from me. I believe humility and approachability is so important as a leader. Leaders will inspire most when they create partnership and a sense of belonging amongst their group, and that is the culture I strive to create within every group I work with. It’s a culture that promotes free play and experimentation, without fear or judgment and where ideas will prosper.
