• Alpine Technical Manual (2014)
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors (2008)
• Teaching Snowsports Manual (2018)
• Adult Alpine Teaching Handbook, 2nd edition (2015)

Alpine Library

Event Calendar & Registration

The Alpine Level 2 Certification Exam is geared to teaching student levels from beginner through the intermediate zone.

The instructor is expected to be able to teach on green terrain, blue terrain including bumps and off-piste, and moderate groomed black terrain.

The exam consists of multiple parts. The candidate must pass all portions in order to become Level 2 certified.

The 2-day, Level 2 Ski Exam includes a skiing assessment & feedback from the examiner on how your performance stands in comparison to the National Standards.

The 2-day, Level 2 Teach Exam includes a teaching assessment, feedback, and coaching from the examiner to meet the National Standards.

Candidates will be evaluated on their use of the Teaching model, ability to communicate, demonstrations, use of methodology “tools”, tasks, drills, exercises, and overall instructor presence.

Candidates will be asked to teach adults and children ATS levels 1-9. Scoring for this event is pass or fail. Essential elements of all teaching demonstrations must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass.

Note: The level 2 exam consists of 3-parts. Please view the “Prerequisites & Pathway” above for the requirements to become Level 2 Certified.

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location (a confirmation email noting the location will be emailed to you the day prior)

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

Alpine: Level II Teaching

Alpine: Level II Skiing

• Alpine Technical Manual (2014)
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors (2008)
• Teaching Snowsports Manual (2018)
• Adult Alpine Teaching Handbook, 2nd edition (2015)

Alpine Library

Event Calendar & Registration

The Alpine Level 3 Certification Exam is geared to teaching student levels from beginner through the advance zone.

The instructor is expected to be able to teach on all terrain under all conditions. The exam consists of multiple parts.

The candidate must pass all three parts in order to become Level 3 certified. A level 3 prep course is strongly recommended before beginning the level 3 exam process.

The 2-day, Level 3 Ski Exam includes a skiing assessment & feedback from the examiner on how your performance stands in comparison to the National Standards. (12-CEU’s)

The 2-day, Level 3 Teach Exam includes a teaching assessment, feedback, and coaching from the examiner to meet the National Standards.

Candidates will be evaluated on their use of the Teaching model, ability to communicate, demonstrations, use of methodology “tools”, tasks, drills, exercises, and overall instructor presence.

Candidates will be asked to teach adults and children ATS levels 1-9. Scoring for this event is pass or fail. Essential elements of all teaching demonstrations must appear regularly at a satisfactory level to pass. (12-CEU’s)

Course Schedules are subject to change due to terrain, weather, crowds, group size, snow conditions, etc. Please use this information as a rough guideline.

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location (a confirmation email noting the location will be emailed to you the day prior)

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

L3 Ski Exam Assessment Form

L3 Teach Exam Assessment Form

• Alpine Technical Manual (2014)
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors (2008)
• Teaching Snowsports Manual (2018)
• Adult Alpine Teaching Handbook, 2nd edition (2015)

Resort Trainer Library

Alpine Library

Event Calendar & Registration

The Resort Trainer course is offered across the Division to help support and develop Resort Trainers.

Open to all Certified level 2 and level 3 Instructors interested in becoming a Resort Trainer at their Snowsports School.

This course is where trainers will develop the skills needed to run clinics at their home resort and stay current with professional education.

The course offerings are catered to meet the training needs of the member schools, including updates on certification standards and ski/riding techniques.

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location (a confirmation email noting the location will be emailed to you the day prior)

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

• Develop skills as a Trainer
• Work alongside the Division’s leading Trainers
• Receive updates on Programs and Certification
• Information needed to effectively train Instructors at Member Schools
• Current techniques and training methodology
• Forum for In-House Programs and Resorts Training Curriculum

• Alpine Technical Manual (2014)
• Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors (2008)
• Teaching Snowsports Manual (2018)
• Adult Alpine Teaching Handbook, 2nd edition (2015)

Resort Trainer Library

Alpine Library

Event Calendar & Registration

The PSIA-­AASI West Advanced Trainer course is a training and evaluation process that introduces a competent Level 3 instructor to the theories and practices of becoming a successful trainer of instructors in the Western Division.

Becoming a trainer is not simply a case of sitting one more exam after passing the Level III Certification. While training has many components of teaching and relies on strong teaching abilities, there are significant differences between teaching students and training instructors which this course highlights.

Candidates working through this program must have a strong teaching background and experience in teaching at all levels. Candidates must also have the opportunity to present clinics to instructors at their home resorts in order to practice the skills necessary to develop into successful trainers and pass the certification exam.

This course is for any fully certified instructor who has extensive experience training and wants to be recognized as a competent trainer in the Western Region.

This course will help guide participants in understanding and applying the difference between skill sets for teaching a lesson as an instructor versus leading a clinic as a trainer.

This course can also act as a stepping stone for people who want to grow their clinician and presentation skills for their career development pathway.

The four-day course consists of a Training Day, an Assessment Day, and a two-day Evaluation.

Participants must attend all days and meet all aspects of the Regional Trainer Standards to successfully complete the course and be acknowledged as a Western Advanced Trainer.

However, no matter the results of the evaluation, participants are considered to be active and integral parts of the organization's Trainers network.

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location (a confirmation email noting the location will be emailed to you the day prior)

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

Break group into pairs. Have everybody watch ski/ride performance and body performance first on the landing of hop turns. Share observations with group. Then on the takeoff maneuver in leapers, share observations with group. Then the shaping phase only of extension retraction turns, share observations with group.

Next have everybody give a 10 to 15 minute clinic to the rest of the group on their weakness, and how to improve upon it. At the end of each clinic a quick discussion about areas needing improvement (pretty consistently this was make sure you chose the drill or movement patterns that best highlights your topic, i.e. to work on precision on blocking pole plants use short swing turns rather than short radius turns) and areas addressed well.

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

Assign a topic to them the morning of based off a large picture weakness in their skiing and have them present a 30-minute clinic to the group. Discuss the differences between a clinic and a lesson, for example how you talk with the group, how you lay out your drills and how you check for understanding. At the end of each clinic discuss how they performed and what they did well and where to improve.

End of day: give everybody goals for clinics and personal skiing to work on before next training days.

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location (a confirmation email noting the location will be emailed to you the day prior)

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

Have everybody present a 30-minute clinic off the prepared clinic list on DTA handout. Feedback at end of clinic.

8:30am – Meet your clinician leader at the designated meeting location

9:00am – 4:00pm – Plan to be on snow (lunch break will be provided)

Have everybody present a 30-minute clinic off the prepared clinic list on DTA handout. Feedback at end of clinic.

End of day:

Sit down with each person individually and discuss pathway towards ed staff for them. The four areas everybody needs to complete are: CS2, 500 word article of our choosing (designed to make them explore an area of weakness), shadow a level 1 exam, and continue to improve and meet skiing and clinic feedback. If seeking employment, upon completion of all said requirements, request an interview with Alpine VP by emailing PSIA-W office.