Transferring Teaching Skills with Cameron Lantz: Skiing and the Value of Persistence

Cameron Lantz is a second-year Security & Risk Analysis student at Pennsylvania State University who has been instructing for four years at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania. She is a certified Level I alpine instructor and is working toward a Professional Snowsports Education Program Certificate at Penn State.

Q: Please share an overview of your life in skiing, and what do snowsports mean to you?

A: Skiing has been an integral part of my life since I was 2 years old. Growing up, I skied competitively for the Western Pennsylvania Race Club (WPRC) until an injury in 2022, when I tore my ACL and lateral and medial meniscus, which led me to take a step back from competition.

That experience pushed me to explore a new side of the sport, ski instructing, which has been an incredibly rewarding journey. Snowsports is more than just a hobby for me; it’s a core part of my identity. The skiing community has introduced me to some of my closest friends, and the sport continues to shape who I am today.

Q: Are there any specific life lessons you’ve learned from skiing or just ways that the sport informs how you see the rest of the world?

A: Through my injury, I learned the true value of persistence. When you’re faced with setbacks, it’s easy to feel like your world has stopped, but skiing taught me that life goes on – and so must you. The sport also highlighted the importance of building strong connections with fellow instructors and snowsports athletes. These relationships have been crucial not only in my recovery but also in enriching my experience within the skiing community.

Q: As an instructor, you recently earned Level I certification, what is it about that process that stands out to you?

A: One aspect that really stands out is the realization that being a great ski instructor isn’t just about having top-notch skiing abilities – it’s equally about having strong social skills. While technical proficiency on the slopes is crucial, the ability to communicate effectively, connect with students of all ages, and create a positive learning environment is just as important.

This balance between technical skills and interpersonal interactions is what truly defines a successful instructor. It’s about making each lesson enjoyable and accessible, ensuring that students not only improve their skills but also leave with a love of the sport.

Q: You’re also a student at Penn State. Does your work as an instructor have any crossover or impact on the work you do at school?

A: There’s definitely a lot of crossover. I took RPTM 215 (Snowsports Education I) with PSIA Instructor Pete Allison [Penn State associate professor of values and experiential learning in the Health and Human Development] last semester, and the course content closely aligned with my experiences as a ski instructor. We delved into what it takes to be a snowsports instructor, focusing on the role of an instructor in managing both the physical and emotional risks in a beginner or novice learning environment.

The course also covered the Learning Connection^SM Model and how to apply current teaching materials and resources effectively in snowsports instruction. Additionally, we explored the architecture of the National Certification Standards and their relationship to Performance Guides, Assessment Forms, and Assessment Criteria, which directly relates to my work on the slopes. This academic background has enhanced my practical understanding and application in my instructing role.

Q: Are there any areas in particular, such as public speaking or goal-setting, that you find are similar in your work on snow and in school?

A: During my senior year of high school, I took a dual enrollment college class called Honors Speech and Composition, which focused heavily on public speaking. I discovered that I had a natural talent for it, and I credit this to my years of ski instructing. Engaging in conversations with people older than me and speaking confidently in front of larger groups on the slopes really honed my public speaking skills. This has been incredibly valuable, both in the classroom and on the mountain.

Q: Any other highlights to share from the past year?

A: I’m proud to be a student-athlete on the Penn State Ski Team, where I compete for their Division II race team. One of the biggest achievements was making the national team and finishing first in our division – a huge accomplishment for both me and the team. Additionally, I obtained my PSIA Level I certification at my home mountain, Seven Springs. Both milestones have been incredibly rewarding and have fueled my passion for skiing even further.

Q: Goals for the new school and ski year?

A: My main goals are to qualify for the Penn State National Team again and to continue taking the Snowsports Education classes at Penn State. On the instructing side, I’m aiming to obtain my Children Specialist I (CSI) certificate and work toward earning my Level II certification. These goals will not only push me to improve, but also allow me to deepen my expertise and versatility in both ski racing and instructing.

You can read other Transferring Teaching Skills stories here:

• Transferring Teaching Skills with Nick Nagey: Everything I Do Is Informed by Ski Instruction
• How Do You Use Your Snowsports Teaching Skills in Your Daily Life?

Certification Secrets: 2021 Education Excellence Award Recipient Stacey Gerrish on the REAL Job of Teaching Skiing

The “Certification Secrets” series features top instructors, examiners, and PSIA-AASI National Team members sharing their personal advice, experience, and insight on how you can start planning and practicing to reach your professional goals.

In the second installment of the series, PSIA-AASI Education Leader and Tea Talks Host Stacey Gerrish talks about having a sound strategy, utilizing the resources around you, and taking ownership of your own training to help you reach your goals.

Read the first “Certification Secrets” post with PSIA-AASI Eastern Examiner Bonnie Kolber.

Q: Why would you recommend to other professional instructors that they aspire to gain advanced certification or specialist credentials?

A: Going through advanced certification and specialist programs made me feel part of a larger, more professional group of like-minded people. It gave me street cred and definitely made me feel confident in saying, “teaching skiing is a REAL job!”

Q: How would you set up a strategy for members to achieve advanced certification or specialist credentials this season?

A: I recommend starting a study group of peers going for the same certification or credential. This can be both an on-snow group and an indoor or online group. It’s like having a workout partner. When you know you’re meeting someone at the gym, you show up. When you have a dedicated study group, you show up! And showing up and putting in the time to prepare yourself is key. Don’t rely on your trainers to do the work for you or to give you all the answers.

Q: What are some of the key resources – both personal and professional – that you would recommend to help guide them?

A: Seek out peers and trainers who are familiar with the current processes for whichever certification or credential you’re training for. Utilize the current materials, books, and videos found on the snow pros website, and definitely visit your regional PSIA-AASI website to be sure you know exactly what will be expected of you when you show up to your event. Study the assessment forms in advance.

Q: What are some of the key takeaways from your own certification/specialist story – both good and bad – and what did you learn from them?

A: I learned that some levels may seem easier to attain than others, and ultimately, it’s up to me to be as well prepared as possible. During the assessment event, be mentally focused and prepared to tune out any distractions.

Q: How do you build on your experiences if you don’t achieve advanced certification or a specialist credential the first time?

A: Study your feedback. And if you don’t understand your feedback, ask your examiner for more of an explanation. It’s easy to be upset, it’s understandable to be disappointed, and it’s humbling to forge ahead and learn from errors to be successful the next time.

Q: How do you build on your successes?

A: Humility and gratitude! Share successful tactics and training plans with your peers.

Q: What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started this journey?

A: I wish I knew it was going to lead to a lifelong career!

***

Check in on the Tea Talks library to listen to free recorded interviews with Stacey and her guests from the world of snowsports.

Certification Secrets: PSIA-AASI Eastern Examiner Bonnie Kolber Shares Her Insight on the ‘Learning Journey’

The new “Certification Secrets” series features top instructors, examiners, and PSIA-AASI National Team members sharing their personal advice, experience, and insight on how you can start planning and practicing to reach your professional goals.

In this first installment, PSIA-AASI Eastern Examiner Bonnie Kolber, who was featured in the Fall 2023 32 Degrees Member Profile, shares the rewards of always aiming to improve and learn.

Q: Why would you recommend to other snowsports instructors that they aspire to gain advanced certification or specialist credentials?

A: It’s a learning journey – working toward advanced certification or a specialist credential gives the opportunity to continue to hone the craft of teaching and riding/skiing – it’s not just about the certification. You will become a better instructor and rider/skier if you pursue the next level. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Q: How would you set up a strategy for members to achieve advanced certification or specialist credentials this season?

A: First, look at the Standards and Assessment Criteria and identify your strengths and your weaknesses. Then, plan to attend events where you can work on your areas of weakness and attend clinics at your or a neighboring mountain with a trainer who can help you develop your skills. Read the books. Ask questions of people who have been through it. Take notes and apply what you learn in the lessons you teach to continually advance and refine your skills and prepare for the assessment.

Q: What are some of the key resources – both personal and professional – that you would recommend to help guide them?

A: Key resources include trainers, mentors, PSIA-AASI events, the PSIA-AASI website, e-learning, and manuals, and whatever practice or company keeps you grounded and healthy.

Q: What are some of the key takeaways from your own certification/specialist story – both good and bad – and what did you learn from them?

A: No one person has all the answers. I was extremely lucky to have had trainers and mentors who were on ed staff and was able to get multiple perspectives, so if something someone said didn’t make sense to me, I could take it to someone else to parse through it. Or if I was given riding feedback, I could explore and get several takes on it. One key takeaway is that not everything someone says is going to resonate with everyone, so if something isn’t working for you, find another person who can explain or demonstrate it in a way you can understand. Take what works and leave the rest.

Q: What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started this journey?

A: That I didn’t know what I didn’t know, but it’s all part of the process of putting the puzzle pieces together! When I got my Level I, I thought I had the whole picture, but I was only looking at the box. When I got my Level II, I had the frame and a few corners and could see how much more there was to know to be able to connect all the pieces. When I got my level III, I was starting to see how everything we do is based on movement patterns with variations in timing, intensity, and duration, and I wanted a bigger puzzle.

Now, I feel that each piece of the puzzle could be its own puzzle; that I could dive in deeply to any number of the pieces that go into all we do with guests on snow. What I know now that I wish I knew when I started is that there are so many potential areas to specialize in, and the learning is never done!

Our Winter Home – Counting Down the Days to Snowsports Season

A childhood friend recently pulled me aside at a party. “Can I tell you something?” he asked.

“Of course,” I said.

“I wish I had something in my life that matters as much to me as skiing matters to you,” he confessed.

It was a bit of a shock. He’s always been a particularly positive person, successful in business, with three happy children and an equally outgoing and successful spouse. For weeks I’ve been thinking, “What else could you want?”

Then the weather started to change, if only so slightly, with the still blue sky that feels like a fresh canvas. The trees waiting to turn in a festival of foliage. And in the last glimpse of dawn I could see the constellation Orion, “The Hunter,” my first and most reliable harbinger of winter glimmering to the east.

***

It’s enough to make your heart start to race. The anticipation of speed, the possibility of powder, and all those new jokes you get to share with old friends on the chairlift. That once-a-year reunion of coming back home to the snowsports community is what my buddy doesn’t get.

He doesn’t get to have the late August flying dreams, where you’re back on snow in your sleep, rocketing through powder and soaring one or two hundred feet between every turn you make.

Or the Christmas catalog joy of researching the perfect pair of skis or one special snowboard that will help make this season the very best yet.

And more than anything, that collective sense of coming back to a place – to a time on the calendar – where you can just be your best self with other people being their best selves and celebrating and appreciating each other for that.

As we all know, there’s that certain set of friends, colleagues, and maybe even heroes who you think about all year, but don’t actually see in person again until the chairlifts start.

***

What’s funny is that the season itself is relatively short and will become a nonstop marathon the second it kicks off. Every day will be filled with lessons and clinics and new snow forecasts. Student breakthroughs and personal insight.

As much anticipation as we put into each winter, it’s this literal calm before the storm that every snowsports instructor remembers the most. This time when we all get to play at being amateur meteorologists, predicting snowfall totals by the size of the woolly bear caterpillars, The Farmer’s Almanac, and the fat on the elk while waiting for the first white dusting on the slopes.

It’s the time to make plans for training and certification goals and schedule picnics. As PSIA-AASI Education Development Manager Angelo Ross said, “I love getting the band back together in the fall to talk about what breakthrough we’ll be chasing and learning about what others were thinking about and practicing over the summer.”

“I think the snowsports lifestyle has such a cool cadence,” he said. “It’s a pretty heavy crew that focuses year-round on something that’s only accessible for a few short months. These are the people who keep me motivated, and every year the pattern repeats.”

This is when we get to decide what a great season looks like. And plan to make it exactly that, with every resource you need available on this website. Here’s to this being a great winter. Welcome back!

PC: krblokhin

Chasing Winter: National Team Members Ride the SkyTechSport Simulator

In this final chapter of the PSIA-AASI “Chasing Winter” series, we talk to AASI Snowboard Team member Chris Rogers and PSIA Alpine Team member Kevin Jordan as they prepare to head to Los Angeles to work with SkyTechSport, manufacturers of interactive ski and snowboard simulators.

SkyTechSport’s variety of simulators can be used for personal or commercial use for teaching or training. Here’s what Chris and Kevin had to say about their late summer project.

Q: What are you guys working on with Skytech?

A: Chris: In 2016, SkyTech partnered with PSIA-AASI, and National Team members Jonathan Ballou, Eric Lipton, and Josh Spoelstra, and I spent a few days out in LA working with the simulator and figuring out how to teach using the equipment. We wrote a manual and shot a video series to help SkyTech instructors teach skiing and snowboarding on their simulator. They’re still using those materials to train new SkyTech instructors. We’ll be filming videos with drills and tips for using the simulators to drive interest in the machines.

Q: Where and how does this work take place?

A: Chris: We’ll be at their main showroom in LA. Kevin and I have been working with SkyTech on a list of drills to shoot while we’re there, and we’ll also be shooting some interviews and voice-overs for the series. They’re also doing similar work on the fitness side of using the simulator.

Q: How will this benefit other instructors as well as other riders?

A: Kevin: You can ski the simulator 365 days a year. What I’m hoping to do is create some benefits for other instructors to show them a drill or tip on the simulator that they can either try on a simulator or take to the snow right away.

Q: For those of us who have not used the technology, how does it feel to actually ride on it, and how does it simulate the mechanics and motion of riding on snow?

A: Chris: Unlike moving-carpet style simulators that create vertical movement, the SkyTech simulator uses a side-to-side motorized band with resistance. When you tip the skis/board to the right, the platform moves to the right. When you tip to the left, you then lean into the turn and fight g-forces until the platform begins moving to the left. Within a few turns you’re using a combination of inclination and angulation to control your edging, and it feels just like ripping carves on snow.

Q: What would you tell other instructors who are curious about using this technology to keep themselves in ski and ride shape?

A: Kevin: I’d tell them to try it. One question I’m going to ask is how much these simulators cost. I think there could be a great application to having one of these in a boot and ski shop. You could have your boots worked on, and then try it right away on the simulator without waiting to go to the closest ski area.

A: Chris: Using a SkyTech simulator is a full-on workout, like riding a stationary bike or running on a treadmill. Unlike riding on a mountain where you’ll have traffic, lift rides, or waiting for buddies, you can go full tilt for as long as your body will let you. How long do you get to ride at 100 percent at your mountain – maybe two to three minutes if you’re lucky? A 30-minute session is $80 and includes 1:1 private instruction. If you’re in LA, you owe it to yourself to check it out!

Here’s a sample of SkyTech Sport’s snowboarding simulator lessons: AASI Snowboard Instruction playlist.

Back to Snowsports School – The Resources You Need to Succeed

Want to make this your best winter ever as a professional ski and snowboard instructor? PSIA-AASI has all the resources you need to take charge of your professional development and achieve your goals.

As you prepare for the next step in your on-snow journey, here are a few of the online avenues to utilize as you build a road map for successful teaching and learning this winter.

Certification Resources

Use these resources to help you prepare for your PSIA-AASI certification or specialist assessment.

• Region Certification Pathways and Resources
• Education Materials
• Fundamentals
• The Matrix Video Library
• Online Workbooks

Certification Standards

PSIA-AASI’s Certification Standards help you learn how to apply the fundamentals of great skiing or snowboarding AND effective teaching so you can become a great instructor.

I want to learn about . . .

• Certification Standards
• Specialist Standards
• Performance Guides
• Assessment Forms
• Terminology Used in Certification Standards 

Digital Manuals for Every Discipline

All current PSIA-AASI members have access, for free, to a digital edition of the Teaching Snowsports manual, the Teaching Children Snowsports manual, AND the technical manual of your primary discipline. All manuals include videos.

Here’s how to access these manuals:

1. Find the technical manual below. (Look for “Teaching Snowsports manual” or the words “Technical Manual” for your discipline of choice.)
2. Select “Digital.”
3. Sign in:
   • Username = your Member Portal username (most people use their email address)
   • Password = your Member Portal password
4. Bookmark this page for future reference.
5. To access the digital manuals on your smartphone or tablet, read these instructions.

The PSIA-AASI Job Board

When you’re ready to search for new opportunities to continue to showcase your skills, the PSIA-AASI Job Board features open positions across the country. New jobs are being added every week.

Developing a Love and Passion for the Craft of Ski Instructing with Maxwell Sleeper

Maxwell Sleeper, an Alpine Level II instructor, with Children’s Specialist 1 and Freestyle Specialist 1 credentials, has been honing his skills this summer at The Remarkables, in Queenstown, New Zealand. As he gets ready to head back to the States in September, he’s gearing up to pursue Alpine Level III certification, a CS2 certificate, and perhaps even an FS2 certificate. Here, he shares what he’s learned and how he’s improved as a skier and instructor in New Zealand.

Q: Where’s your home mountain and what do you teach?

A: For the past three seasons, I’ve been a ski instructor at Jay Peak, Vermont. I’ve been teaching everything from kids and adult first-time groups to 16-week freeride team programs. Jay Peak gets an average of 350 inches or 889 centimeters (you’ll want to brush up on your metric conversions if you’re gonna come down to New Zealand) of snow each season, and we have an amazing network of tree skiing. So I’ve had the luxury of teaching some advanced lessons on powder days. Not only is that incredibly fun, but it’s been huge for facilitating growth in my movement analysis and high-end coaching skills.

Q: How’d you get started teaching in the summer? And where are you teaching in New Zealand?

A: My first season at Jay Peak, I skied 117 days; my second, I skied 159; and this last season, I skied 186. I earned a reputation for being pretty tenacious and tireless. My friend, coworker, and AASI Examiner Ian [Boyle] told me about his time teaching in New Zealand. He inspired me to make it happen. I studied hard and trained even harder for my Level II exam. So when I attained my Level II, I promptly updated my resume to reflect my new certification and experience, and shortly thereafter received an offer letter from The Remarkables. So, here’s to instructors who can’t get enough to satiate their hunger for snowsports. Dream big and make it happen. What starts as a story you hear or read could easily become a life you lead.

Q: What have you learned while instructing in New Zealand?

A: I’ve learned so much in the short time I’ve been here. The snowsports staff are from all over the world: Swiss, German, Austrian, French, Spanish, Japanese, British, Australian, American, Canadian, and yes, of course, there are the Kiwis. Every country and certification organization has a different approach and focus. Each comes with strengths that contrast with one another. Keeping an open mind, you begin to grow your understanding of what we do as snowsports professionals. You find where you can really make improvements, and you learn what you’re really doing well.

Q: How have you improved as a skier and instructor?

A: My technical skiing has grown tons. Many of the European certification pathways have their roots in racing. Subsequently, these organizations produce very skilled technical skiers. It doesn’t take much to encourage a couple of passionate colleagues to talk shop. Spin a few laps, carve some turns with these skiers, and if you’ve got the humility to ask for some MA, you’ll get some amazing insight from keen eyes. I’ve been able to participate in some great drills to isolate fundamentals and illuminate unfavorable movement patterns, the kind of stuff you really need prepping for your Level III.

Q: What are you excited to bring back to the States that will inform your instructing here?

A: Aside from a new set of FIS giant slalom skis, I’m bringing back tons of good drills and high-performance movement analysis skills. The first prerequisite to teaching back-to-back seasons is a real love and passion for the craft of instructing. Eating lunch, spinning laps before group lesson lineup, or on the bus down the mountain, you will find tons of time to bounce ideas and observations back and forth. Not only am I bringing home a larger set of tools for teaching, but my passion has been tempered and validated by peer review.

Q: Why should other instructors consider teaching in the Southern Hemisphere?

A: Teaching in the Southern Hemisphere will help you push your progression and keep you in your boots on the snow. This experience will certainly affect your perspective beyond your profession. Similar to what we do day in and day out for our guests, conquering new experiences fosters unforeseen growth. Being surrounded by colleagues from different backgrounds will at the least change the way you see your own skiing and teaching. It will likely illuminate strengths as well as weaknesses. Personally, I’ve learned so much from my peers. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of adopting new tactics and seeing how things play out on snow.

Photo: Maxwell Sleeper with a school group from Brisbane, Australia.

Chasing Winter at Mt. Hood with Chris Rogers

Oregon’s Mt. Hood Timberline ski area has been a summer ski and snowboard destination for decades. With lift-served race, mogul, and freestyle clinics – as well as free-riding options – along with the opportunity to watch top athletes working on ways to improve their game, it’s easy to see why it’s a favorite.

AASI Snowboard Team member Chris Rogers has made regular trips to Hood to work as an instructor and coach on the sunswept slopes of Timberline’s Palmer Glacier. Here, he shares why the area offers such a great opportunity for instructors who want to keep chasing winter.

Q: Why is Mt. Hood such a great place to hit for clinics and training in the summer?

A: Mt. Hood is one of the few places where instructors can get on snow in the United States in the summer. Whether it’s through a PSIA-Northwest event, attending or coaching at a camp, or just heading up for some riding, Hood offers numerous opportunities for slushy fun turns, progression in the terrain park, and the camaraderie of fellow snow enthusiasts rounding out their season. Mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, wake surfing, and all of our various summer activities and cross-training programs are great, but nothing beats putting your snowboard or ski boots on and getting to slide on snow.

Q: Please give a little overview of the scene – both on and off snow – and what kind of levels of athletes you can expect to see there.

A: The area is an outdoors-lovers’ paradise, with a plethora of options for dirt and water recreation in near proximity. You’ll find everyone from beginners to top-level athletes putting in summer training hours.

Q: What kind of different camps do you see on the mountain, and what kind of groups have you traditionally led there?

A: The bulk of the snowboard camps are freestyle focused, as Timberline offers the biggest terrain park available during the northern hemisphere summer. This spring I was out there to work with PSIA-Northwest ed staff on elements of the PSIA-AASI alignment project, and to test out some of the process ideas that came out of Spring Conference. We’re very hopeful to have an AASI Rider Rally summer session at Timberline sometime soon.

Q: How does getting back on snow in the offseason help you stay engaged both as an instructor and lifelong learner?

A: I remember as a new member of the Rocky Mountain Ed Staff being envious of Tony Macri and Scott Anfang as they got back from New Zealand and came to our fall training already tuned up. When most of us were making our first turns of the season while working through examiner training, those who had been on snow all summer – and were still sporting goggle tans – were still dialed.

Cross-training is great, and there are so many sports and activities that help with fitness and readiness for the season. However, if you haven’t strapped in and spun a 360 over a small jump in six months, it’s going to feel a little rusty when you do. I feel like most instructors training for certification experience the situation of two steps forward during the winter season, and one step back in the summer. When the season starts up again, there’s a re-breaking in period where you’re just getting back to where you were in the spring. Any time I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the summer on snow, I feel like the progression never stops and, I’ve been able to continue pushing forward.

Q: At Hood, there really is a sense that everyone is actively working on improving. What’s it like to be around that vibe and how does it inspire you?

A: This is something I’ve experienced in many places where the runs are shorter. Whether it’s Midwest resorts, snow domes, or summer camps, as the acreage shrinks, the focus goes up. I remember my first trip to run clinics in the Midwest, at Highland Hills, there was a park setup where you would only get one or two features before heading back up the rope tow. Something about that setup leads to more focused practice. I’ve seen that at Big Snow [in New Jersey] and snow domes in China, at several different summer camps, and at many smaller resorts.

As a trainer and coach, it’s always incredibly inspiring to see people dedicating themselves to focused practice time. Being around others who are training always makes me want to push myself more, and that’s inevitably the vibe at Hood!

Q: What would you say to anyone who might still be thinking of making a quick trip there?

A: Do it! Portland is an easy airport to get in and out of, and especially with the heat all over the United States this summer, you won’t regret a trip to the snow!

PSIA-AASI Announces Leadership Change

[ Aug. 9, 2024 ] — The Board of Directors of PSIA-AASI, the Professional Ski Instructors of America – American Association of Snowboard Instructors, has announced that Peggy Hiller will no longer serve as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

This decision follows a comprehensive review of PSIA-AASI’s strategic direction and operational priorities. The Board of Directors has taken this action in support of the organization’s commitment to its members, regions, suppliers, partners, and the snowsports industry.

PSIA-AASI remains financially stable and poised for continued success. Membership hit a record high during the 2023-24 season with more than 34,000 members. The organization is on pace to grow that number in the upcoming season.

During Mrs. Hiller’s tenure, PSIA-AASI achieved significant milestones, including arranging to bring Interski — an international gathering of snowsports instructors — back to the United States in 2027, for the first time since 1968.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Peggy for her contributions and dedication to PSIA-AASI,” said Eliza Kuntz, Board Chair. “As we embark on this transition, the Board is focused on ensuring continuity and maintaining our unwavering dedication to providing the premier member experience.”

Michael Mendrick will serve as Interim CEO. Michael has 39 years of executive experience, including 20 years as the CEO of the PSIA-AASI Eastern Region from 2001 to 2021. Michael’s in-depth knowledge of PSIA-AASI and its members will be instrumental in supporting the organization through this transition phase.

The Board of Directors has formed a search committee and will initiate the search for a new CEO in the very near future.

Transferring Teaching Skills with Nick Nagey: “Everything I Do Is Informed by Ski Instruction”

Aspen-based ski instructor Nick Nagey was honored with PSIA-AASI’s Angus Graham Rising Star Award at PSIA-AASI National Academy in Big Sky, Montana, in April, recognizing his career path in the industry and ability to connect with his students and fellow instructors.

Craving Connection and Being Curious

In a post here on TheSnowPros.org, PSIA-AASI Executive Editor Christian Green wrote, “Nagey’s eagerness to connect goes a long way in helping students feel welcome. At the beginning of each lesson, his goal is to uncover something he can be genuinely curious about with his students, which is easy for him because he’s a people person. ‘I really crave connection and connecting my personal experience to theirs,’” he explained.

“Nagey uses what he’s learned to connect with students by applying analogies during lessons. For example, if one of his students enjoys wakeboarding, he might connect their experience on water to their experience on snow: ‘We’re going to start progressing our edges very much like you’re cutting into the wake,’ he might say. Or if a student plays tennis, he’ll focus on upper body and lower body separation.”

Reached this week to discuss how his ski instruction skills transfer to the rest of his professional life, Nagey, who has a property management business, provides legal consulting, and works as a general handyman, said, “I honestly think everything is a crossover. From a job I had working in a wine store to the work I do now, what I’ve learned and practiced as a ski instructor has touched every part of my career.”

He said the key to the core of every professional relationship is that when you’re dealing with a consumer, you have to create a connection and recognize what they’re nervous about or what they might fear – that includes a new tenant moving into a property or someone who is nervous about skiing steeper slopes.

“You have to be genuinely curious about where someone is coming from and what nerves they may be feeling about beginning a new experience,” Nagey said. “The goal is to give them the room to explain what they’re feeling or take it a little further so you can really recognize what it is they’re worried about.”

Nagey said he is a big fan of the Howard Gardner Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which focuses on the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic aspects of learning, and which way any given individual might learn best. “I think a lot of that can be answered just by being curious,” he said.

Feeling Part of a Community

In snowsports, it’s also important to help students and anyone who may have recently moved to a ski town feel part of the community – even if that’s in the offseason, before those people have experienced what it’s like to share chairlift rides, the changing weather, and the open slopes.

“My wife and I went for a hike yesterday, and afterwards went to a restaurant where a new guy was our waiter, and I was thinking about how in ski culture there is an instantaneous community, but you don’t get to experience it until the snow falls,” Nagey said. “I remember what it felt like before and after I got to work for the ski company, and how good it felt once I was in it and we were all sharing teaching tips, building community, and being a part of the community. Skiing in general has done a world of good for me and everyone around me, and there is that idea everyone can get behind, like the saying about how a rising tide lifts all boats.”

One of the most interesting aspects of living in a ski town, Nagey said, is how even though ski season makes up such a set time of year, “It’s a constant focus.”

“That’s how I can see the extent of ski teaching’s influence on my life,” Nagey said. “Because I’m always utilizing what I’ve learned, and it’s really about how you interact with others. In that regard, I don’t think there’s anything in teaching that isn’t part of my daily life.”