PSIA-E Course Conductors will do their best to deliver events as described. The demographics and diversity of the group may require the conductor to alter delivery to some extent in an effort to provide participants with the most educational benefit. Please check the current schedule of events for availability as not all courses are scheduled every season.
Certification Exams
Complete eligibility and prerequisite requirements are listed for each level in
previous sections in the Alpine Exam Guide.
A description of the exam process and all formats are listed as well.
Development Series Skiing
Eligibility: Open to Registered and
Certified Level I members only.
Development Series Skiing focuses on developing personal skiing
skills. It will help participants develop strong fundamental skills and
versatility, and will help them understand and use proper tactics for varying
conditions and terrain. This course will count as a prerequisite for the
Level II Exam and specific training for the Level II Part 1.
Dev / DCL Team Prep
Eligibility: Open to any Level III member.
Dev / DCL Team Prep events are optional
clinics that will assist members who seek to develop beyond Level III. It is
not necessary to be registered for the DEV Team Exam or the DCL
Exam in order to attend these events. The primary focus of the clinic will be on
high level skiing performance and the ability to see, understand, and describe the
skiing movements of other participants. Clinic/teaching skills will be integrated
into the primary event activities.
Level II Practice Exam, Skiing – Part 1
Eligibility: Open to Certified Level I members and Trainers. This course is a prerequisite for the Level II exam.
The chosen course will be conducted as a series of mock exam situations. You will be skiing (Part 1) in exam conditions while being evaluated by your trainer/examiner. The trainer/examiner can then review with you your performance and your skiing skills. A plan for exam strategies and training activities will be developed for you. This 2-day course is an excellent way to prepare for the exam especially if you are uncomfortable in exam situations.
Feature Events
- 15 Below Events
- Master's Academy & Snow Pro Jam
- Alpine Resort Trainers (ART) Workshop
- AASI Rider's Rally & Alpine Mini Academy
- Alpine Race Week
- AASI Rider's Rally Pre 3
- Children's Academy
- Mini Kids Academy
- National Academy
- National Adaptive Academy
- Spring Academy & Spring Rally
- Snow Sports Management Seminar
- Southern Snow Sports Management Seminar
- Women's Seminar
Level II Teaching Seminar
Eligibility: Open to all current Level I certified
instructors.
Level II Teaching Seminar is designed to help instructors become
more adept at creating learning activities based on the needs of the student. This
course will count as a prerequisite for the Level II exam and will focus on
familiarizing the participant with the Level II, Part 2 module format. There is NO
personal skiing improvement addressed. Each instructor will be able to select and
effectively present an appropriate focus for a given situation, and to verbalize why
the focus is applicable.
Other Level II exam prerequisite options include: Foundations of Teaching (MTC) and Movement Analysis (MTC) as preparation for Part 2. Moguls Series or Development Series Skiing may be used as prerequisite for Part 1. An exam candidate is required to take ONE prerequisite course in order to complete the exam process.
Level III Exam Clinics
Eligibility: Open to Level II instructors who plan
to take either part of a Level III exam.
Level III Exam Clinics are optional clinics
that cover material relative to either Parts 1 or Part 2 of the Level III exam.
- Part One of the event is a Skiing Development Workshop. The workshop will focus on refinement and mastery of skills and tactics needed for high level skiing situations and accurate performance of demos and tasks. Bump skiing will be included in Part One, but will not comprise a major part of the workshop. Movement analysis skills will be practiced and coached during skiing improvement activities.
- Part Two of the event is a Teaching Development Workshop. Primary workshop content will include skill development for coaching upper level skiing, movement analysis, prescriptive exercises, teaching methods and learning preferences. It will also focus on the creative use and mastery of practices outlined in the PSIA Core Concepts Manual.
Masters Series Skiing II/III
Eligibility: Open to Certified Level II or Certified Level
III members only
Master Series Skiing is a personal skiing improvement workshop. It
focuses on refinement of fundamental skills and skill blending, and
on developing some higher-level skills and a broader range of versatility. Participants
will experience challenging situations and tasks and will work on skills and tactics to
manage those challenges.
Master Teacher Certification Events*
Eligibility:
Open to all Level I, Level II or Level III certified members. *All Master
Teacher Certifcation events are listed under the Education page, and can be reviewed through
this link.
Mogul Series
Eligibility: Open to all Level I, Level II or Level III
certified members. Any level member may choose any of the three bump courses,
based on ability and goals rather than membership level. Registered members may attend the Introduction to Bumps or Specialty
Bumps events only.
Understand that the course conductors and host area are not able to control the weather and its affect on quality of the moguls on any given day. A bumps event is a very terrain specific event and our hosts do their best to provide us with the best possible conditions, but sometimes Mother Nature just doesn't cooperate. In such a case, the course conductors will help participants develop skills and tactics outside the bumps and in whatever appropriate terrain is available.
- Introduction to Bumps - This course will help the participant develop the basic skills and tactics necessary to link turns in bumps on blue terrain. The Intro to Bumps course assumes no previous experience skiing moguls, however part of the experience of the course will be skiing in the bumps. The ability to make a proficient short turn will significantly benefit the participant's experience in this clinic.
- Intermediate Bumps - This course will focus on refining basic skills and tactics and developing additional skills necessary to hold a line and short turn rhythm at moderate speed on blue terrain. Participants should be comfortable in blue terrain bumps.
- Advanced Bumps - This course will focus on developing and refining essential skills and tactics necessary to ski bumps on black terrain. It will help participants who already ski black terrain bumps to handle more difficult lines, more speed, and more challenging conditions.
Park & Pipe
Eligibility - Open to all PSIA-E members. This course offers
an introduction to the skills required to enjoy the terrain parks and half pipe
(or quarter pipe) at the chosen ski area. Basic skills will be taught and basic
maneuvers will be attempted and performed. This course will also cover basic
teaching skills for instructing students in the park & pipe. A careful and
considerable emphasis will be placed on safety awareness, park and pipe etiquette
and class handling skills. Helmets are recommended.
Race Series
Eligibility: Open to all current members and non-members who are
active snowsports instructors. Non-members must provide their snowsports school
director's signature.
The Race Series is designed for everyone, even those who have
never had experience in gates. Participants will be grouped with members whose
skill, pace and goals are similar. Race events will focus on developing
participant's skiing skills toward greater precision and accuracy. Correct
biomechanics and fundamental skills will be stressed. Focus on Slalom and Giant
Slalom with an emphasis on developing technical skills and racing tactics.
Reinstatement Event
Eligibility: If you have been previously certified and wish to
resume your certification and membership you must call the office for your
specific requirements. This 3-day event will cover personal skiing skills and
improvement along with contemporary teaching techniques. If you have been out of
skiing and/or teaching for a while it is suggested that you check with your local
or associated ski school for information on contemporary equipment and training
guides. Additional valuable
information can be found here.
Senior Tour (Senior Only events)
Eligibility: The Senior Tour is recommended to PSIA-E Members age 55 or older.
NOTE: While the pacing of activities and use of terrain will be tailored for
the senior skier, participants should expect a challenging and well-rounded
educational event.
- Seniors Only Workshop Clinic - are educational events that provide participants with up-to-date, comprehensive information about ATS, ski instruction, and the ski industry. The course offers personal skiing improvement, teaching progressions and methodology, movement analysis, mechanics, equipment knowledge, and other information that is relevant to participant goals. Pacing and terrain selection may be determined by the group's ability and goals.
- In Search of Corduroy - Participants will ski all available groomed terrain with particular attention to developing the movements required to use contemporary ski designs.
- Senior Bumps - focuses on the development of skills and tactics to link turns in blue and easy black bumps. The pace and intensity will accommodate "older legs." Please note: the number of participants signed up will determine the ability to split into groups of varying ability.
- Senior Seminar - Not quite ready for the “relaxed” pace? Still want to get out there and rip it up – then the Senior Seminar is for you! These two day events are by no means boring and will keep you moving both physically and mentally. Designed for the “young at heart” adult, age 59 and older. The Senior Seminar will help you stretch to your full potential on the mountain and also allow for some challenging ideas and theories during some indoor roundtable discussions. We may be getting older but that only means we are getting better!
Stance & Alignment
Eligibility: Open to Certified Level I, II, III members only.
This course will explore the affects of proper and improper alignment due to
equipment styles and modifications to that equipment. Proper boot fitting including
canting, heel and toe lifting, shims and more will be experienced and explored.
Experts in the field will help you experience what is beneficial to good skiing
and what is not. This course provides a great way to fully appreciate and understand
how important properly adjusted equipment is to effective skiing.
Synchro Skiing
Eligibility: Open to current Registered, Level I, Level II and
Level III and non-members who are actively teaching. This event will focus on
helping skiers develop both the skills and tactics for skiing moderately steep
terrain in synch with a partner. Participants can either come with a partner or
can join one at the clinic. An informal competition will be held as part of the
clinic. Terrain choices will include groomed runs, varied terrain and powder snow
if available.
Teaching Seniors
Eligibility: Open to Registered, Level I, Level II, Level III
and non-members actively teaching. This event focuses on information for instructors
of all ages who teach senior skiers and riders. Course content addresses the
physiological and psychological needs of senior skiers/riders and how an instructor
might best tailor a lesson to promote the most success for the seniors in the group.
Trees and Steeps
Eligibility: Open to all current members. Participants must possess
strong skiing skills as well as a good level of fitness. All participants should feel
comfortable skiing ungroomed and varying snow conditions. The focus will be on
developing and enhancing skills for skiing steep terrain and trees. Participants will
be skiing on steep terrain and in trees according to the experience and ability level
of the group.
- Intro To Trees and Steeps - will focus on developing the skills for skiing steep terrain and trees. Participants will be skiing on steep terrain and in any available easy trees. Participants must feel comfortable skiing ungroomed and varying snow conditions.
- Intermediate Trees and Steeps - will focus on helping skiers develop a tactical plan for skiing steep, ungroomed terrain in varying conditions. Moderate to difficult tree skiing will be explored according to the conditions and the ability of the group.
- Advanced Trees and Steeps - will focus on helping skiers develop a tactical plan for skiing steep, ungroomed terrain in varying conditions. This event is NOT a skill development workshop. Terrain choices will include the steepest and most difficult slopes available. Helmets are recommended.
- Trees and Steeps - will include all of the above depending on the groups ability and goals.
Women Only Bumps
Eligibility: Open to Registered, Level I, Level II and Level III
female members. Course content will be determined by the group's
goals and objectives as well as ability. Group may begin with basic skills and
tactics and progress from there. Participants are expected to ski on mogul terrain.
The ability to make proficient short turn will significantly benefit the participant's
experience. This is ideal for female members who want to be free to explore their skiing
boundaries without the distraction of competitive men and will allow them to develop
their skills in a supportive environment
Women Only Workshop Clinic
Eligibility: Open to current Level I, Level II and Level III
female members. Will provide participants with up-to-date,
comprehensive information about ATS, ski instruction and the ski industry. Course
content will be determined by the groups goals and objectives. This is ideal for
female members who want to be free to explore their skiing boundaries without the
distraction of competitive men and will allow them to develop their skills in a
supportive environment.
Workshop Clinics
Eligibility: Open to all levels of current members.
Workshop Clinics are educational events that provide participants
with up-to-date, comprehensive information about ATS, ski instruction, and the ski
industry. The course offers personal skiing improvement, teaching progressions and
methodology, movement analysis, mechanics, equipment knowledge, and other information
that is relevant to participant goals.
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