National Academy (Alpine)

PSIA National Academy is an annual gathering of the country’s best ski instructors from across the United States. Founded more than 50 years ago, it is PSIA-AASI’s longest-running event and is an opportunity to ski big terrain in a supportive environment, learn from and network with your peers both on- and off-mountain, stay up on innovations shaping our industry, grow your community, demo new equipment, and get inspired.

Dates: April 12-18, 2026
Location: Copper Mountain, Colorado

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WHY ATTEND?

Five days of focused coaching from the world’s best instructors.

National Academy is a full week of intensive, on-snow workshops where you get one-on-one coaching from members of the PSIA-AASI National Team in small group settings. You will leave the week stoked, inspired, tired (in the best way), and vastly improved in your performance. Want to work on your terrain park skills? High speed carving on steeps? Need an introduction to bumps? The National Team is here for you. Academy is attended by all ages and all certification levels. There is a reason this event sells out almost immediately!

Join us April 13-17, 2026 at Copper Mountain in Colorado. Earn 30 CEUs.

  

Event is only open current to PSIA-AASI members. Must have a Level I certification, at minimum.

Price: $1,699

Includes welcome reception on April 12, closing dinner, and breakfast and lunch during the on-snow days. Event price does not include lift tickets, lodging, travel, or transportation. Closer to the event date, PSIA-AASI will provide discount lift ticket and lodging info to registrants, but individuals are responsible for booking these on their own. PSIA-AASI does not provide or handle tickets, lodging, or travel for this event.

Deadlines: Registration ends Monday, March 24, 2026, or when the event is at capacity. Rates increase by $200 on Feb. 1, 2026.

Cancellation Policy:
Cancel before Jan. 31 – Full refund
Cancel Feb. 1-Feb. 29 – $250 penalty
Cancel March 1 and later – No refund 

Event Schedule

Here’s a sample of a daily schedule from last year’s event. The 2026 schedule will be released closer to the event.

  • Breakfast. Pick up ski, board, and boot demos.
  • Choose your on-snow elective for the morning and break into small groups for personalized, focused coaching from a National Team member.
  • Lunch. Indoor educational sessions and/or boot fitting. Or, choose an afternoon on-snow elective.
  • Official supplier après party with drinks, snacks, giveaways, and a DJ!

Elective Options (2025)

  • 🎿 🤸‍♂️ Advanced Freestyle – Play in the park with a multi-discipline crew and get feedback on your tricks in a fun & safe environment! (Thursday PM)
  • ⛰️ 🎿 Advanced Steeps & Bumps – Take your skills to the next level in steeps and bumps! Designed for corners 3 & 4. (Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM, Thursday PM)
  • 📚 🎤 Building an Effective Teaching Segment for Your Exam – For Level 2 & 3 candidates or trainers! Learn to create engaging teaching segments and coach effectively. (Tuesday PM – INDOORS, Thursday PM – ON-SNOW)
  • 🎯 📊 Carv – Learn to maximise Carv 2 as a tool for professional development, or compete for top scores! (Tuesday PM)
  • 🏫 🎨 Creating Structured Learning Environments – Hands-on session on building purposeful, playful learning spaces to enhance on-snow teaching. (Wednesday PM, Limit 40)
  • 🛷 🌄 Cruising Groomers – Stay on groomed runs at a relaxed pace on moderate terrain. Groups by speed & ability. Designed for corners 1 & 2. (Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM, Thursday PM)
  • 🎯 📖 Explore Different Strategies for Teaching, with Ellen Post Foster – Work together to develop multiple ways to engage students—no more one-size-fits-all lessons! (Thursday, 2-4 PM, Amphitheater)
  • 🏂 ✨ Introduction to Freestyle – New to the park? Get an intro to freestyle skiing and try basic maneuvers in a supportive setting! (Tuesday PM)
  • ⛰️ ✨ Introduction to Steeps & Bumps – Start building skills in steeps and bumps! Designed for corners 1 & 2. (Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM, Thursday PM)
  • ⛷️ 🎶 Introduction to Synchronized Skiing – Learn the tactics & benefits of synchronized skiing while refining short turns! (Tuesday PM)
  • 🔄 ⏳ Mileage and Reflection – Experiment with new movements & concepts from the week while refining your skills with coaches. (Wednesday AM, Thursday PM)
  • 📊 👀 Movement Assessment INDOORS – Improve your movement assessment skills for certification or staff training. (Wednesday AM, Amphitheater)
  • 🎿 🏆 Old School Tasks – Revisit classic skiing tasks from the past to understand movement habits & refine technique. (Thursday PM)
  • 🔄 🎭 Pattern Breakers – Challenge your habits with this fun, movement-changing session—break patterns & explore new skills! (Tuesday PM)
  • ⛷️ 💥 Performance Synchronized Skiing – For advanced skiers looking to refine synchro skills—great for National Team hopefuls! (Thursday PM)
  • 💪 🎽 Props to Torso Stability – Use Therabands & batons to develop core stability for better lower-body mobility. (Max 20, Wednesday AM)
  • 🚀 🎿 Ripping Groomers – For those who want speed & steeper runs! Groups by speed & ability. Designed for corners 3 & 4. (Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM, Thursday PM)
  • ⛰️ 🔥 Ripping Steeps and Bumps – Refine tactics & technique in Big Sky’s steepest terrain. Designed for corners 3 & 4. (Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM, Thursday PM)
  • 👩‍🎿 🌄 Women Cruising Groomers – Cruise Big Sky with like-minded women at a relaxed pace! Designed for corners 1 & 2. (Wednesday AM)
  • 👩‍🚀 🎿 Women Ripping Groomers – Ski Big Sky with other adventurous women at higher speeds & steeper terrain! Designed for corners 3 & 4. (Wednesday AM)

Use this guide to gauge pace and terrain for alpine electives:
Corner 1 – Leisurely pace, on-pisté terrain
Corner 2 – Moderate pace, on-pisté / light off-pisté terrain
Corner 3 – Faster pace, on and off-pisté terrain
Corner 4 – Fastest pace, on and off-pisté terrain

At Copper Mountain in Colorado, you’ll find a snowy playground with:

  • Summit elevation: 12,313 feet
  • Vertical drop: 2,738 feet
  • Skiable terrain: 2,507 acres
  • Terrain parks: 3 award-winning parks plus a 22-foot superpipe

Copper sits right along I-70, just 75 miles west of Denver, making it one of the most accessible big-mountain destinations in Colorado. Regular shuttle service is available from Denver International Airport, so getting here is simple whether you’re flying in or driving up.

And if you’re a passholder, Copper is part of the Ikon Pass.

Event is Full for 2026

After registration fills, you may join the waitlist.

JOIN WAITLIST

Registration ends Monday, March 23, 2026, or when the event is at capacity. Rates increase by $200 on Feb. 1, 2026.

Cancel before Jan. 31 = Full refund.
Cancel Feb. 1-Feb. 29 = $250 penalty.
Cancel March 1 and later = No refund

If National Academy reaches capacity, an online waitlist will be available to allow further registrations in case any participants cancel. Follow the link on the calendar’s event page to join the waitlist. A credit card on file is required in order to join the waitlist. Note that you will be automatically registered and charged for the event if a spot opens up. Your cost for the event will be locked in at the rate of the event the moment you join the waitlist.

If you add yourself to a waitlist, please remember that you are committing to attending that event should you get a spot. If a spot opens up in the event at least 1 month before the start date, you will automatically be enrolled, and your credit card will be charged for the event. You will receive two notification emails, one confirming the event and one confirming the credit card charge.

You will NOT automatically be cancelled from the waitlist if you are registered for another event on the same day.

You can cancel yourself from the waitlist at any time. If you need assistance removing yourself from the waitlist you can email or call us to be removed from the waitlist. Members on the waitlist are subject to following the cancellation policy if they get moved into the event. Generally, this means that it is risky to put yourself on multiple waitlists for the same day, or the same event type within two weeks of each other.

Apply for a National Academy Scholarship

For the 2026 event, there are three (3) scholarships available for alpine skiers to attend National Academy. The scholarship covers the event registration fee (a $1699 value) plus lift tickets for the week, and is intended for current PSIA-AASI members with at least a Level I certification. Deadline to apply is November 1, 2025.

Applications closed