Professional Ski Instructors of America

Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA)

Founded in 1961, the PSIA has developed a standardised system for ski instruction methods, and represent ski instructors through nine regional locations across the USA.   There are 3 levels of PSIA certification and our courses give people the opportunity to gain their PSIA Level 1.  Alpine Certification standards are referenced to PSIA/AASI's Core Concepts Manual and PSIA Alpine Technical Manual.  These manuals provide a training focus, and represent a minimum competency for each level of certification.

PSIA Certified Level 1

Certified Level 1 members demonstrate a solid foundation of information and experience necessary to be an effective ski teacher.  The Certified Level 1 instructor possesses an understanding of basic skiing skills, teaching skills, and professional knowledge.  It is not expected that Level 1 candidates will have in-depth knowledge and experience in each of the areas of competence listed in these standards.  It is expected, however, that candidates will be able to show basic competence and knowledge in all these areas.  In addition, it is expected that candidates will be able to demonstrate a significant level of competency with the skiing and teaching tasks listed specifically for assessment at a Level 1 event.

Category A: Skiing

Level 1 certified teachers must be able to ski all green and groomed blue terrain demonstrating consistent balance and control of speed through turn shape.  Demonstrations must display an “understandable picture” of the technical elements of Beginner/Novice zone skiing.  The turn dynamics are limited by the speeds and terrain appropriate for Beginner/Novice zone skiing and tasks.

The instructor is able to:

1. General Characteristics

• Consistently link turns with sustained rhythm

• Maintain consistent speed by controlling the shape of a turn

• Maintain a balanced stance throughout a series of turns

• Demonstrate an appropriate blend of skills (with consideration for the snow conditions, equipment, terrain etc)

• Ski a variety of turn sizes within a series of turns while maintaining speed control

2. Balance (Level 1 Beginner/Novice zone terrain, speed, and dynamics)

• Maintain lateral and fore-aft balance through common tasks and demonstrations

• Demonstrate the visual cues to effective skiing relative to balance in demonstrations and tasks common to Beginner/Novice zone skiers

3. Rotary Movements (Level 1 Beginner / Novice zone terrain, speed, and dynamics)

• Demonstrate a gradual steering of the skis to assist turn shaping

• Demonstrate the visual cues to effective skiing relative to terrain, speed and dynamics

4. Edge Control Movements (Level 1 Beginner/Novice zone terrain, speed, and dynamics)

• Demonstrate a gradual increasing and decreasing of edge angle throughout a series of turns

• Demonstrate use of ski design in Beginner/Novice zone level skiing tasks

• Demonstrate the visual cues to effective skiing relative to edge control movements in demonstrations and tasks common to Beginner/Novice zone skiers

5. Pressure Control Movements (Level 1 Beginner/Novice zone terrain, speed, and dynamics)

• Maintain ski snow contact with both skis

• Demonstrate a shift of pressure to the outside ski throughout a series of turns

• Demonstrate the visual cues to effective skiing relative to pressure control movements in demonstrations and tasks common to Beginner / Novice zone skiers

Category B: Teaching

Level 1 Certified teachers demonstrate a solid foundation of information, and experience necessary to be an effective teacher of Beginner/Novice zone skiers.  A basic understanding of how to manage the learning environment for different age and gender situations is required.

The instructor is able to:

1. Awareness, Understanding and Knowledge

• Understand the coach/student relationship and how to develop trust between them

• Recall the components of the learning environment and discuss how to incorporate them into lessons that will create memorable experiences

• Identify the components of good teaching

• Categorise teaching, skiing and guest service principles of ATS (American Teaching System), relative to Beginner/Novice zone students

• Understand student needs of specific groups (i.e. adults, children, women, seniors, beginners etc)

• List considerations for managing the learning environment for children at different stages of development

2. Application

• Teach the public through the Beginner/Novice zone

• Demonstrate an ability to develop a relationship of trust between teacher and students

• Identify learning styles and preferences and cite examples of how to use them in a lesson

• Recognise the stepping stones concept and identify a pathway to learning based on the needs of students specific to the instructors home area

• Handle a class based on group energy level, conditions, safety and lesson content

• Predict and meet the needs of specific groups (i.e. children, seniors, men)

Category C: Professional Knowledge

Professional knowledge requirements for Level 1 Certified teachers reflect a practical awareness of general terms and concepts, and an ability to use these concepts in basic lesson situations for Beginner/Novice zone students.  Decision making and lesson content will most likely follow pre-planned options, with consideration for different skill development emphasis.

The instructor is able to:

1. Terminology

• Define and explain basic skiing terminology as described in the Alpine Technical Manual

• Define and explain basic terminology as described in the Core Concepts Manual

2. Equipment

• Identify equipment needs for skiers through the Beginner/Novice zone

• Categorise the basic options and benefits of modern ski designs

• Identify common equipment safety issues

3. Skills Concept

• Discuss the role of balance relative to the other skill categories and movements

• Identify effective movements and skill development through the Beginner/Novice zone

• Understand the concept of skill blending, and identify how different skill blends create different outcomes regarding ski performance for a Beginner/Novice zone skier

• Teach a raditional skill blend for Beginner/Novice zone skiers (wedge stepping stones)

• Develop Beginner/Novice zone skiers along a track to parallel skiing that is not based fon the foundation of a wedge (parallel stepping stones)

• Create an activity list for each skill category

4. Movement Analysis

• Recognise general movement patterns relative to skill categories in Beginner/Novice zone skiers

• Identify desired skill and movement outcomes in various types of Beginner/Novice zone skiing including beginner parallel and wedge turn progressions

• List exercise and tasks which address a student’s needs, the equipment being used, terrain options etc.

5. Personal Mastery

• Identify and develop a vision for personal growth as a snowsports teacher

• Understand the pathways for personal and professional growth by identifying the resources available both inside and outside PSIA/AASI

• Plan short and long range schedules for training and certification goals

American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI)

The AASI is committed to snowboard teaching, training and certification, concentrating its efforts on developing programmes and materials that cover a broad range of snowboarding disciplines.

There are 3 levels of AASI certification and our courses give you the opportunity to gain your AASI Level 1.  AASI standards are based on knowledge and application of information gained from the AASI manual, books of the further reading section and more importantly, riding and experience teaching snowboarding.

AASI Level 1

Certified members:
Perform and demonstrate comprehension of AASI concepts. Explain, illustrate, describe and expand on using his/her own words. Grasp meaning and intent, measure, interpret and summarise.

The American Teaching System follows a similar pattern to the Canadian Teaching System, both of which are constantly appraised.  The American Teaching System, however, does not permit people to attain two consecutive levels of certification in the same season.