Fall 2003

VOLUME 25

NUMBER 1

Lou Lorenz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3An Intermountain legend passes on.

Getting the Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Starting the season on the right foot.

Movement 101 . . . . . . . . . . . 10Part two in a series.

Expand and Explore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Are you a boring instructor?

PROFESSIONAL SNOWSPORT INSTRUCTION IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST

Snowbasin, asviewed from thegondola base, isscheduled as the siteof the 2003PSIA-I/AASI-IEducation College.The event is slatedfor Dec. 13-14.

Education College

at Snowbasin

By Kent Lundell

Early Winter Premier Event is BackHas it been a while since you have

attended this event? Maybe you neverhave attended this event. In either case,you need to make plans to attend thisyear and get your skiing and riding legsunder you. The Education Collegeoffers the snowsports pro a fantasticway to get the season started on apositive note.

This event, scheduled for Dec.13-14 at Snowbasin, is a multi-disci-pline event and offers skiing, riding,and telemark clinics. If you are goingfor certification we have some earlycertification clinics. If you are certifiedand looking for some new informationto get the spark back in your skiing orriding we have the clinic for that. Wewill have PSIA/AASI DemonstrationTeam skiing and boarding members.We will also have the IntermountainDivision’s best clinic leaders scheduledfor this event.

continued on 2

President Elected Amid BOD ConfusionThe PSIA-I/AASI-I Board of Director’selected Mike Thurgood Division presi-dent during a confusing meeting June13-14 that required a special meeting toaddress procedural concerns.

The Board annually selects theDivision president at its spring meet-ing. Traditionally, the Division hasreelected the standing president if thatperson is willing to serve a secondterm. However, last spring’s abruptresignation of former Division Execu-tive Nancy Perkins upset several peo-ple who believe former President StewMarsh and former Administrative V.P.Dave Boucher were responsible for

contributing to Perkin’s resignation.That belief led to Marsh’s failure to bereelected and the subsequent replace-ment of Boucher.

After admitting newly elected mem-bers Steve Bills, Tony Fantis, MikeyFranco, Mary Flinn, and NancyKronthaler during the second morningof its spring meeting, the Board contin-ued with the business of electing apresident. Surprisingly to several Boardmembers, Allen Titensor nominatedThurgood for president. Thurgood wassubsequently elected by an 8-6 vote,

continued on 6

Ric

hard

Cal

dwel

l

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

2

The Instructors EDGE

The Instructors EDGE, official publication ofthe Professional Ski Instructors of AmericaIntermountain Division and the AmericanAssociation of Snowboard InstructorsIntermountain Division, is scheduled to bepublished four times a year at anonmember subscription rate of $15.

Opinions presented in the EDGE are thoseof the individual authors and do notnecessarily represent the opinions orpolicies of the Professional Ski Instructorsof America, Intermountain or the AmericanAssociation of Snowboard Instructors,Intermountain. Submission of articles andphotos is encouraged. Contact the editor.

Editorial/Advertising OfficeRodger Renstrom, Editor4664 Clearview Street; Holladay, UT 84117,(v) 801 272-0854(e) editor@agegroupsports.com

PSIA-I Division, AASI-I Division OfficeSusan Oakden, Division Executive7105 Highland Dr., Suite 201Salt Lake City, UT 84121(v) 801 942-2066, (f) 801 942-7837(e) admin@psia-i.org

PSIA-I, AASI-I Officers and ChairsPresident, Mike ThurgoodAdministrative V. P.: Allen TitensorCommunications V.P.: Carl BoyerPSIA Board Representative: Jerry WarrenCertification Chair: Kent LundellEducation Chair: “Ole” OlsenDECL Team Manager: Randy HartwigAdaptive Committee: Chuck TorreyChildren’s Committee: John MusserNordic Committee: Christopher UlmSenior’s Committee: Junior BounousSki School Management Committee:

David “Hoopa” RobinsonSnowboard Committee:

Lane Clegg, Allen Titensor

Current Board Members2001-2004: Danny Edwards, David Boucher,

Mike Thurgood

2002-2005: Carl Boyer, Carolyn Fushimi,John Pohl, Scott Rockwood

2003-2006: Steve Bills, Tony Fantis,Mary Flinn, Mikey Franco,Nancy Kronthaler, Stew Marsh,Allen Titensor, Jerry Warren.

PSIA-I ◆ AASI-I

ED COLLEGE continued from 1

Saturday, Dec. 13 educational clinics◆ Ski or Ride or Telemark with a AASI Snowboard Team member or Intermoun-

tain DECL.Learn how to Ski or Ride with Modern movements — to go with modern skiand board designs.

◆ Teaching levels 1-4 on 130 cm skis, exploring direct parallel tactics, inconjunction with terrain selection.

◆ Learn to ride — for instructors who would like to teach entry-level snowboard-ing and learn how to master the sport themselves, beginning with an indoorsession for an overview of the sport.

◆ ACE I — get up to speed with one of Intermountain’s most popular events.Check with the office for last-minute children’s clinic additions.

Sunday, Dec. 14 educational clinics◆ Ski or Ride with a PSIA Snowboard Team member or Intermountain DECL.

Learn how to Ski or Ride with Modern movements – to go with modern ski andboard designs.

◆ Video — how to use it, how to analyze it, watching your own skiing to enhanceyour own performance.

◆ Learn to Telemark — with one of the top telemark instructors in the countryand learn how to bring your telemark skiing to the next level. We will show youhow to work with the alpine transition to telemark and how to give your skiingthe edge that all the top telemark skiers have and that you want to possess.This clinic in turn can help your other disciplines because telemark is the truedefinition of balance. This will help you find that balance.

Saturday, Dec. 13 Certification clinics◆ Level II skiing movements

So you’ve never been called “eagle eyes?” Fret no more! This comprehensivesix-hour course will help you develop your skills at identifying effective andineffective movements, sharpen your observational skills, and improve yourdiagnostic skills. The skill level is focused on the intermediate zone in prepa-ration for an exam. There will be indoor use of video, on-snow development ofvisual cues, and enhanced recognition of personal skiing movements. Comeout and lay the foundation for enhanced analysis and teaching. Your eyes willthank you!

◆ Level III SkiingAdvanced skiers exhibit both precise and energetic skiing that flows on all ter-rain and in all conditions. This six-hour ski improvement course is designed toprovide direction in your own personal skiing, with an emphasis on refiningmaneuvers and the skill application necessary to exhibit PSIA Level III Certifi-cation. You will increase your understanding of personal skiing strengths,areas upon which to improve, and the strategies necessary to take your skiingperformance to the next level. Prepare to become a better skier with anincreased versatility through exploration of movement options! Whether pre-paring for an exam or striving to reach new levels of personal skiing in theadvanced zone, this course will leave you with innovative tools from which toexpand your skiing abilities and enjoyment!

continued on 4

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

3PSIA-I ◆ AASI-I

Lou Lorenz

Ski Pioneer Dies at 79Lou Lorenz, a founding member of theIntermountain Ski Instructors Associa-tion, passed away September 14, 2003.Lou was a long time Board member ofthe Intermountain Division, past presi-dent, lifetime member of PSIA-I andwas inducted into the IntermountainSki Instructors Hall of Fame in 1996.

Lou began his ski teaching career atAlta in 1953. As a member of the AlfEngen Ski School he taught skiing atAlta for 10 years and during this sameperiod served as Ski School Director atLittle Mountain in Emigration Canyon.He was cofounder and part owner ofthe Greater Salt Lake Ski School, whichcontracted Ski teaching at Solitude,and Gorges ski areas. Lou became amember of the Park City Ski School line1970. He was Director of the mass skischool weekend programs and alsoserved as a weekend supervisor. Heretired from ski teaching in 1998.

Lou owned and operated L LorenzGrinding in downtown Salt Lake Cityfor 50 years. His company was knownthroughout the United States for itsunique scissors and knife grindingservices and quality.

continued on 5

President’s MessageBy Mike Thurgood, PSIA-I/AASI-I President

It’s that time of year again; brisk mornings warm days andthe hopes of an early start to a record snow year. The ex-citement of some early snow on the upper peaks starts talkof one of those years that single handily pulls us out of thedrought. I hope this issue of the EDGE finds everyone

healthy and enthusiastic as we approach the season.Every spring your Board of Directors meets to conduct the business of the

Division. We welcome all the new Board members, vote on the budget for theupcoming year, and vote on or discuss any other business for the Division. Weelect a president for the year, and I would like to thank the Board memberswho elected me as your president for the year. I will do my best to live up tothe expectations of the Board and You the members.

One responsibility of the presidency is to recommend to the Board, fortheir ratification, people to fill roles within the structure of the Division. Thesepeople are your workhorses and deserve a big Thank You for all of their efforts.The following people have been ratified by the Board to fill these positions.

Administrative Vice President, Allen TitensorCommunications Vice President, Carl BoyerAASI Committee, Lane Clegg & Allen TitensorPast Presidents Chair, Craig “Roper” PearsonSnow Sports School Management Chair, David “Hoopa” RobinsonAdaptive Committee Chair, Chuck TorreyNordic Committee Chair, Chris UlmChildren’s Committee Chair, John MusserEducation Chair, Ole OlsenCertification Chair, Kent LundellAlong with the Education and Certification chair positions, there are five

“managers” under each one. These people are selected by the chairs and rati-fied by a majority of the Executive Committee of the Board. The following arethe managers under the Education and Certification chairs.

Alpine: Education, Ole Olsen; Certification, Kent LundellSnowboard: Education Lane, Clegg; Certification, John PohlNordic: Education and Certification, Chris UlmAdaptive: Education and Certification, Chuck TorreyChildren’s: Education and Certification, John MusserOur PSIA national representative is a Board elected position and is held by

Jerry Warren.I would encourage anyone with any questions or concerns to contact any

of these people and/or any of your Board members for help. Any one of thesepeople can be contacted through the Division office via phone or e-mail atadmin@psia-i.org Another valuable resource that often goes unmentioned,but works very hard for everyone, is Susan Oakden in the office. She probablyknows more about the Division than any other single individual, and does agreat job keeping us on our toes and things running smoothly for the Division.

Here’s to a fantastic upcoming season.

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

4PSIA-I ◆ AASI-I

Administrative ReportBy Allen Titensor, PSIA-I/AASI-I Administrative V.P.

This spring the Board of Directors restructured the Education and Certifica-tion organization. In the past, the Alpine Education and Certification chairswere responsible for all other disciplines. Initially this just involved Nordic.This has grown to involve Snowboarding, Adaptive, and Children’s. If currenttrends continue, it will also include freestyle, both Snowboarding and Skiing.

Two new positions have been created under the new structure. They areEducation Chairperson and Certification Chairperson. They are to coordinatethe efforts of all the disciplines. The preexisting Certification Chair is now theAlpine Certification manager and the preexisting Education Chair is now theAlpine Education manager. Snowboarding now has its own Education Man-ager and Certification Manager, as does Adaptive, Children’s, and Nordic.

The chair positions may be filled by a Division member who is a DECL ingood standing and can come from any of the disciplines. To help this transi-tion to go smoothly Kent Lundell and Ole Olsen have agreed to take these twochairs as well as cover the Alpine Education and Certification manager posi-tions. This will give them the chance to mentor Alpine DECLs into the Alpinemanager positions as well as mentoring managers from the other disciplines(including Alpine skiing) to take over the chairperson positions.

EDUCATION COLLEGE from 2

Sunday, Dec. 14 Certification clinics◆ Level II Teaching fundamentalsPave the road to a new level of teaching mastery! From teaching cues and on-snowdrills to developing trust and discovering your students, you’ll discover several in-novative methods to improve your own effectiveness on the slopes. This six-hourclinic will focus on effective instruction through the intermediate zone. You’ll geton-snow practice time giving feedback, generating creative practice, and devel-oping a strong coaching cycle. Whether preparing for an exam or seeking outmore effective teaching ideas, this is the clinic for you. Head down the road toteaching success!◆ Level III TeachingDeveloped to reflect the latest innovations in the Core Concepts manual releasedby the Professional Ski Instructors of America, this six-hour event will provide youwith tools to enhance your advanced zone coaching skills. Consisting of both in-door and on-snow time, you will explore high-level teaching skills including howto assess movements, working the learning environment, developing trust, andeven building your own teaching model. Terrain selection may include all but themost extreme of area options. Take what you learn here and begin to transformyour high-level instruction!

If you haven’t been to Snowbasin in the last few years you’ll be amazed atwhat’s there. The resort has world-class facilities, state of the art snowmaking andgrooming, gondolas to keep out the cold, and world-class lodges. You have to expe-rience the facilities yourself to see how nice they are. Sign up early; don’t miss thisevent. Thanks to Snowbasin for hosting this special event! ◆

Archives Honors

Division Members

The University of Utah Marriott LibrarySki Archives honored eight Intermoun-tain Division members at its annual SkiAffair fund-raiser banquet October 23.The ski instructor “History Makers” in-cluded: Woody Anderson, Bill Briggs,Norm Burton, Lou Lorenz, KeithLange, Gene Palmer, Clark Parkinsonand Dean Roberts.

Previous Ski Affair honorees havebeen medal winners from the 1998Olympic and Paralympic WinterGames and World Cup Circuit; theDesert News Ski School; the 10thMountain Division of World War 11;snow safety and ski patrol pioneers;U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Serv-ice employees; ski area developers andfounders; and ski competitors SuzyHarris Rating, Dick Movitz, CoreyEngen, Dev Jennings, Jack Reddish,and Spence Eccles.

Brighton Ski Area founder and leg-end Zane Doyle received the S. J. Quin-ney Award for his contributions toskiing.

The Utah Ski Archives was foundedin 1989 by Dr. Gregory Thompson,assistant director for special collec-tions, J. Willard Marriott Library, andthe late Sue Reamer, former develop-ment officer for the Marriott Libraryand member of PSIA-I.

The Utah Ski Archives is an eclecticcollection of film and video footage,photographs, manuscripts collections,oral history interviews, scrapbooks,posters, button, and insignia.

Several members of PSIA-I are char-ter members of the Ski Archives Advi-sory Board. They include: ClarkParkinson, John Reamer, Junior andMaxine Bounous, Alan Engen, Jim Gad-dis, Keith Lange, Phil Jones, Jan Peter-son and Bob Smith. Lou Lorenz was alsoa member prior to his death. ◆

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

5Finance

Budget ReportThe following is the approved fiscalyear 2004 revenue and expense budgetfor PSIA/AASI Intermountain Division.

Revenue

DuesAlpine Dues 45,000.00Nordic Dues 2,300.00Snowboard Dues 7,000.00Adaptive Dues 968.00Ski School Dues 700.00Retired Member Dues 60.00AlpineAlpine Assessment 19,000.00Alpine DECL Hiring Assessment 2,750.00Alpine DECL Training 0.00Alpine Clinics 48,500.00Alpine Train the Trainer 0.00ACEACE Program 7,000.00NordicNordic Assessment 3,900.00Nordic DECL Hiring Assessment 0.00MSR Training 0.00Nordic Clinics 2,700.00SnowboardSnowboard Assessment 7,500.00Snowboard DECL Hiring Assessment 0.00Snowboard DECL Training 0.00Snowboard Clinics 10,000.00AdaptiveAdaptive Assessments 418.00Adaptive Clinics 315.00OtherEdge Advertising Income 200.00Interest Income 2,000.00Inventory Sales (manuals) 10,500.00Out of State Inventory Income 500.00Misc. Sales 0.00Late Fees 2,500.00Past Dues Fees 3,000.00Transfer Fees 450.00Returned Check Fees 100.00

Total Revenues $177,361.00

Expenses

Personnel/PayrollSecretary 15,582.50Office Assistant 12,162.00Office Assistance Overtime 0.00Accountant 3,600.00Other Payroll Expenses 0.00Social Security Expense (FICA) 1,720.16Medicare Expense 552.12Fed. Unemployment Exp. 274.67State Unemployment Exp. 160.92Workman’s Comp. Office/DECL 4,200.00

CommitteesBoard of Directors 675.00Certification Committee 1,500.00Education Committee 1,200.00Team Manager 1,035.00Ski School Director’s Committee 100.00Children’s Committee 350.00Nordic Committee 200.00Snowboard Committee 450.00SIRC Committee 0.00Adaptive Committee 100.00OfficeProfessional Fees 8,680.00Advertising 0.00Awards 150.00Bad Debt Expense 100.00Books/Manuals Expense 7,000.00Copy/Printing 2,250.00Depreciation 2,500.00Edge Publication 10,000.00Insurance 6,381.00Bank Charges 25.00Miscellaneous 100.00Misc. Sales (Accessories) 0.00Office Rent 6,648.00Office Storage Locker 540.00Office Supplies 2,500.00Pins 750.00Postage & Freight 5,000.00Repairs & Maintenance 2,500.00Telephone Expense 2,650.00Credit Card Fees 2,000.00Internet-E-mail 204.00Travel - President 300.00Travel - Secretary 100.00Travel - Certification Chair 0.00

Travel - Education Chair 0.00Travel - Board of Directors 500.00Travel - Misc. 0.00EquipmentNon-inventory Equipment (250.00) 400.00Equipment ($250.00 to $1,000) 550.00Capital Equipment ($1000.00) 0.00AlpineAlpine Assessment 14,000.00Alpine DECL Hiring Assessment 2,160.00Alpine DECL Training 2,610.00Alpine Clinics 30,360.00DECL Outreach Program 0.00NordicNordic Assessment 3,370.00Nordic DECL Hiring Assessment 555.00Nordic DECL Training 0.00Nordic Clinics 2,140.00Nordic Train the Trainer 0.00SnowboardSnowboard Assessment 4,000.00Snowboard DECL Hiring Assessment 0.00Snowboard DECL Training 800.00Snowboard Clinics 7,000.00Snowboard Train the Trainer 150.00AdaptiveAdaptive Assessments 135.00Adaptive Clinics 125.00Adaptive DECL Training 125.00ACEAce Program 4,000.00Children’s Train the Trainer 0.00

Total Expenses 177,220.37

Revenue Expenses

LORENZ continued from 3

Lou was a charter member of theUniversity of Utah Marriott Library SkiArchives Advisory Board and the AlfEngen Ski Museum Foundation Boardof Directors.

The Ski Archives at its annual SkiAffair October 23 is scheduled to honorLou along with nine other instructorsfor his contribution to the sport of ski-ing and the ski teaching profession. ◆

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

6Education

BOD continued from 1

which included three proxy votes by ab-sent Board members Danny Edwards,Franco, and Bills. (Other Board mem-bers in attendance included Carl Boyer,Carolyn Fushimi, Scott Rockwood, JohnPohl, Jerry Warren, Boucher, Thurgood,Titensor, and Marsh — who as presi-dent could not vote unless there was atie.) The validity of the election, and theresults of the day’s other actions, cameinto question when it was discoveredthat the Board may have violated Utahlaw and the Division’s own policies.

According to the Utah Departmentof Commerce and Corporations andthe Utah Revised Nonprofit Corpora-tion Act, which regulates the actions ofnonprofit corporations in Utah, Boardmembers are not permitted to vote byproxy. The Board has accepted proxyvotes in the past and apparently no onewas aware of this possible violation ofstate law. The results of the president’selection would likely have differed hadproxy votes not been accepted at theBoard’s June meeting.

In addition, new members shouldnot have assumed Board responsibili-ties at the meeting. The Board, at aNovember 2002 meeting, passed a pol-icy stating that new Board memberswould take their positions beginningwith the Division’s fiscal year, whichbegins July 1, after the spring meeting.It is probable that the results of thepresident’s election would have beendifferent if the prior Board membershad participated in the vote.

The confusion resulting from theJune meeting’s errors led Thurgood,acting as Division president, to call aspecial July 29 meeting of the Board.Thurgood announced at that meetingthat the Board would conduct a revotefor president. Once again, severalmembers were not in attendance; how-ever, this time no proxies were submit-ted and Thurgood was elected by a 7-3margin. (Thurgood, Titensor, Edwards,Rockwood, Pohl, Bills, Franco, Boyer,

Fantis, and Fushimi were in atten-dance at the July special meeting.)

Although questions remain as tohow both the spring Board meetingand the special meeting technicallycomplied with state law and Divisionpolicy, all Board members have agreed,through their participation in the Julymeeting or their compliance with theactions of the meeting, to honor themeeting’s results and move forward.

Thurgood has chosen Titensor as hisadministrative V.P., Chuck Torrey as

Adaptive Committee chairperson, andretained the following in their posi-tions: Boyer as communication V.P.,Warren as PSIA national board repre-sentative, John Musser as Children’sCommittee chairperson, ChristopherUlm as Nordic Committee chairper-son, Junior Bounous as Senior’s Com-mittee chairperson, David Robinson asSki School Management Committeechairperson, and Lane Clegg and Tit-ensor as Snowboard Committeechairpersons. ◆

Education CornerBy “Ole” Olsen, PSIA-I/AASI-I Education Chairperson

Welcome to the new season! I’m sure everyone had agreat summer and is looking forward to winter. TheBoard modified the position of Education chair this fall.The Ed chair now oversees the discipline managers: Al-pine, Snowboard, Nordic, Children and Adaptive. The Ed

chair may also serve as a discipline manager. So here I am, back again, in aslightly different position than I left last spring.

The education side of the discipline managers consists of: Lane Clegg,Snowboard; John Musser, Children; Chris Ulm, Nordic; Chuck Torrey, Adap-tive, and I will handle Alpine for the time being. If anybody has any questions,suggestions, praises or complaints, get in touch with the discipline managersor me. The best way to communicate is in writing to the PSIA-I/AASI-I office.Messages will be forwarded to the appropriate people.

We have a lot going on this season. We’ll keep offering many of our tradi-tional clinic topics and start to add some more “new school/ freeride” topicsto stay current with terrain parks, pipes and the freeride movement in gen-eral. The education calendar is set up to help the membership get throughcertification, maintain clinic hours, and most of all… have some fun andlearn something! The ACE program really took off last year and we expect it tobe big again this season. We need some more alpine DECLs. We’ll have a hir-ing session in January. Details are in a separate article in this issue of TheEdge. We are also working with all the DECLs to emphasize clinic contentconsistency and accurate feedback to participants.

Running the educational side of the Division is like running a one hun-dred person traveling snowsports school. It takes a lot of coordination anddedication from a lot of people. The alpine DECL body is large enough to war-rant a dedicated team manager, a job currently being done by Randy Hartwig.Each of you can help us by planning ahead, making the deadlines and show-ing up on time with a great attitude. We’ll make every effort to do the same.

Good luck in the upcoming season. Let it snow!

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

7Equipment

Ski Boot TimeBy Sean Bold

The air is crisp and cool. Fall colors areout and we’ve caught the first glimpsesof snow in the mountains. The ski sea-son hasn’t started yet but the ski gearseason has. It is time to evaluate theold gear and see if it will survive an-other year of loving abuse.

Ski boots are the hardest piece ofequipment to replace. Your old dogsare broken in to every nuance of yourfeet. But 150+ days of skiing will takeaway the elasticity of any shell and turnmost liners to a moldy mess. The fol-lowing guide will get you started onfinding a functional, well performingski boot. Once this goal is achieved wecan continue our search for balanced,smooth powerful skiing.

Ski boots are a fickle consumeritem. They don’t fit properly without abreak-in period and a modest amountof boot fitting. How many other prod-ucts do we purchase in America thatrequire so much work? Not many. Thetwo biggest problems I see with new skiboot purchases fall into the category“Ski Instructor Syndrome.”

Problem one: purchasing the wrongboot on pro deal or getting the wrongpair for free.

Problem two: purchasing a bootbased on brand preference or arep/buddie’s recommendation.

These two problems are great waysto save money and to support themanufacturers who support us. Unfor-tunately, they are misguided. I can tellyou I have spent hundreds of hourspunching, grinding and padding thewrong boot for the wrong foot. Get theright boot for you, not the right deal. Ifyou don’t, you’ll end up with a bootthat doesn’t fit or perform well. Thiswill cause much discomfort and, Godforbid, bad ski turns, yuck! The solutionto these problems is finding the rightboot for your foot, leg, and perform-

ance needs. Here are some guidelinesto find the right boot for you.

First off spend the time. Go to dif-ferent ski shops and try on as many dif-ferent brands and models as you can.Be courteous, introduce yourself as aski pro and ask the employees if youcan try on some boots. (Remember,these folks make their money on Joeand Jose skier so, where their custom-ers are concerned, keep your opinionsto yourself and stay out of the way.)

Shell FitShell fit is your first concern.

Remove the liner and place your footinside the bare shell. Slide your toesforward until they touch the front; flexyour shin until it touches the plasticcuff. Have an experienced boot fittermeasure the distance between yourheel and the back of the shell. Two fin-gers should fit snugly in this space.(The space in inches: 3/4-inch race fitto 1 1/4-inch comfort fit.) Be sure torepeat this process on your other footas one foot may be longer and nar-rower, and the other shorter and wider.

Reassemble the boots and try themon. The toes should feel too tight. Takefive minutes to flex the boots aggres-sively. This will allow the liner to loosenand the foot to seat properly in theboot. You’re toes should be tight to thefront of the liner while standing uprightin the boot. Flexing forward into yourskiing stance should relieve most of thetoe pressure.

Handshake FitNow evaluate the boot’s fit in these

zones: the cuff, heel and ankle area,instep, sides of the foot, toe joints, andtoes. You are looking for a snug, firmhandshake feel. Keep in mind theboots you now have on are going tostretch, compress, and grow 10 to 20percent over the first couple of weeksyou ski in them. Proper fitting bootsshould feel 80 to 90 percent right, theother 10 to 20 percent is going to comefrom custom fitting. This consists ofcustom foot beds, liner break-in, andliner and shell modifications.

StanceStance is the next consideration

when purchasing a new boot. Strongskiers stack their skeletal system on topof itself for optimal balance over theskis. Make sure the new boots accom-modate your body’s ability to balanceeffectively. Too much or too little rampangle of the lower boot or forward leanof the upper cuff can greatly affect yourfore aft balance. The cant angle of thelower boot and upper cuff can greatlyaffect your side-to-side balance. Besure you find boots that allow you tobalance effectively fore and aft over thecenter of the ski, and side to side overthe inside edge of the downhill ski.

Not all ski boots are created equal.Some newer boots on the market havea trend towards too much forward leanand some towards too much outwardcant. Have the boots measured by aqualified boot fitter. Some high-endrace boots have no cuff adjustmentfeatures. This can be a key to good skiboot alignment. Make sure you’vefound the boots for all your needs.

Avoiding the two major instructorsyndrome pitfalls will allow you to finda boot that optimizes your skiing abili-ties while being warm and comfort-able. Now that you have found the rightboots, install a custom foot bed, havethe cuffs adjusted, your alignment

continued on 9

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

8

Certification CornerBy Kent Lundell, Certification Chairperson

Planning for Certification is the Key for SuccessGet out your markers, get set, and GO! Use the calen-

dar enclosed in this issue to plan your year. There aresome early certification and education events on the cal-endar this year. The Snowbasin Education College hastwo days of certification clinics that will get your year

started right. The clinics will help you get the prerequisite clinics out of theway. It will also get you primed for the Christmas season. This will give youmore time to get ready for your assessment. Remember what happened incollege if you tried to cram! If you studied from the beginning of the term youhad more success. This is the same for the PSIA-I certification process

Here are some bullets to help you.◆ Get the Core Concepts and Alpine Technical manuals. (Study them so you

will be able to take the written test. You can purchase these at the office, oryour snowsports school may have these for purchase.)

◆ Download the certification study guide and portfolio for the specific disci-pline and certification you are going for. (You can download all of the cer-tification information you need from the PSIA-I web site www.psia-i.orgTake advantage of this service, it is free. The information is in pdf formatand takes a few minutes to download.)

◆ Get yourself a study group with a mentor that knows the current certifica-tion process. (It is important to get a mentor with whom you can ask ques-tions. Get a mentor whose answers are current. This should be a currentDECL or your area trainer who is up to date with any changes.)

◆ Attend your PSIA-I prerequisite clinics early. ( This will give you more timeto get ready for your assessment.)

◆ Implement your game plan, don’t procrastinate. (Attend all of the certifi-cation and educational clinics offered at your area. By doing this you willset yourself up for success.)

◆ Share this information with someone new to the Division or new to yourSnowsports school that is going for certification. (When we share accurateinformation we expand our own knowledge base.)Now you know the keys to success in becoming coming a certified Snow-

sports Pro. Don’t delay, now is the time to plan!

New DECLs for 2004

The Division plans to hire several newalpine DECLs to fill spaces recently va-cated. This is a hiring process and not a“try out.” We want to interview and hirethose who we believe are the most ca-pable, just like other businesses do. Wewant to hire the best all-around clini-cians that exist in the Division.

We will require qualified candi-dates to begin the process by submit-ting necessary paperwork no later thanDecember 31, 2003. Those who suc-cessfully complete this requirementwill then participate in a one-day skiingobservation in early to mid January.

Based on the results of this first“interview”, if you will, the Ed and Certchairs will determine who will beinvited for a second interview. Thoseinvited for the second interview in lateJanuary will participate in one or twodays of being observed as a clinician.The finalists will then be required to vol-untarily attend clinics with a veteranDECL as a final check of organizational,technical, teaching, skiing, and rela-tionship building skills in real life situa-tions. The Ed/Cert chairs will officiallyannounce new hire names in April.

What is a DECL ?A DECL is passionate about the

sport of skiing and art of teaching, veryorganized, conscientious, and detailoriented. A DECL must possess the ski-ing, teaching, and relationship buildingskills needed to interact with the mem-bership’s wide variety of personalitiesand skiing styles. Our Division purposeis to educate and certify the member-ship. It is the DECL’s job to do this.

How to apply for the job1. Be a certified Level 3 member of

PSIA-I in good standing.2. The following must be received by

the divisional office no later than4:00 p.m. Wednesday, December31, 2003: (Note: received, not

postmarked, received! )A. A letter from your director/man-

ager stating that they will allowyou the time needed to performthe duties of a DECL (minimum8-10 days of the season).

B. A letter from your director/man-ager stating that you have on hillexperience as a clinician.

C. A high quality photo of your face

suitable for publishing and a biog-raphy. We want to know who youare and what you’re all aboutbefore meeting on snow. If you’reselected, the photo and the biowill be printed in The Edge as anintroduction to the membership.

E. The event registration form whichcan be found in The Edge and a feeof $150 ($50/day). ◆

Certification

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

9

BOOTS continued from 7

checked, and allow the liner a 5-10-daybreak-in period before any major shellor liner modifications.

Good luck and think snow, it will behere before you know it. In the nextinstallment of the EDGE, I’ll coverequipment modifications for optimalbalance with the boots, bindings, andskis. — Sean Bold is a DECL, Deer ValleySki School staff trainer and instructorand co-proprietor of PerformanceEssentials custom equipment fitting andmassage/ body work specialists.

Communication CornerBy Carl Boyer, Communication V.P.

The mountains have already received the first dose ofsnow as I write this issue’s column. Here is hoping that itis not merely a tease, but portends a snowy and prosper-ous season. I am getting fired up to get on the snow towork on my skiing and riding early this season.

If you did not last spring, drop by to check out thenew division office at 7105 Highland Drive (2000 E). It is at the rear of theBrighton Bank building, south and east of the intersection with Fort Union. Itis very convenient to I-215. Familiarize yourself with the location and layoutin case you have to send a friend to attend to some pressing deadline you for-got to meet! Remember, now that we are ensconced in a professional build-ing, there are specific business hours. Susan and staff have been busily tuningup the computer system to better serve the members this season.

Division websiteBe sure to check out our division website at www.psia-i.org. Our able web-

master, Chris Ulm, has updated and streamlined the look and function. It iseasy to link to National’s website where you can avail yourself of informationfrom last season’s Interski presentations, access member services, or checkthe status of your own profile. There is an archive of past issues of TheInstructors Edge. You can use the website to facilitate communication withyour Board of Directors, the Education and Certification Chairpersons, orcommittees specific to your discipline. Of course all of your educational sup-port materials (apart from manuals) are available as pdfs so you can beginyour preparations for certification at your convenience.

Calendar and early season eventsThis issue includes the 2003/4 Calendar of Events. The website also has dis-

cipline specific calendars if you wish to refer to a simpler format, or to printyour own page(s). Those involved in setting up the calendar strived to combineseveral events at one time in one location where possible. This should helpindividual member’s ability to share driving and lodging costs with otherattendees, while building enthusiasm and camaraderie among different levelsand disciplines. This will require forethought and planning on your part to besure you attend the required prerequisites for an assessment or accreditation.

Two of the best events of the season come early, and are often overlookeduntil they are passed. I am speaking about the Ed College, and the lectureseries. Both provide access to presenters who may come from outside ourdivision, or outside our profession. Often they bring notable national recog-nition in their field. These are great opportunities to join with others outsideyour home resort in clinics encompassing a variety of topics. Start your sea-son off right with some fresh ideas to spark your mind and body. Use theinformation gained to work on your own skiing and riding. Add value to yourlessons, and share your discoveries with your clients, and your friends.

— Carl Boyer

BOD Meeting Set

The fall meeting of the PSIA/AASI Boardof Directors is scheduled for November8 at 9:00 a.m. at the Olympic WinterPark Engen Museum. Board meetingsare open to the membership. ◆

PSIA/AASI HiresTeams Manager

PSIA/AASI Executive Director StephenOver announced September 12 the ap-pointment of Katie Fry of Aspen Colo-rado as new teams manager of the PSIAand AASI Demonstration Teams.

“Katie has all the tools for develop-ing a cohesive approach to contempo-rary snowsports teaching among ourteams,” Over said.

Fry, an eight-year team veteran andthe first woman teams manager, will beresponsible for all aspects of managingthe PSIA Alpine, PSIA Nordic, and AASISnowboard Teams.

Fry replaces Dave Merriam, who isretiring after eight years as head coachof the PSIA-AASI Demo Teams. “Katiewill do a fantastic job,” said Merriam.

Fry‘s position as teams managertakes effect May 2004, as the new demoteams are being chosen. ◆

Communication

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

10

Movement

Analysis 101By Jo Garuccio

Part 2, Observation StrategiesIn the first installment of Movement

Analysis 101 (Instructor’s EDGE,Spring/Summer 2003), we discussed thetopic of preparation. What does theobserver need to know prior to begin-ning the assessment process? What arethe critical features — elements of move-ment — that are essential to optimal per-formance? In their book QualitativeAnalysis of Human Movement, Morrisonand Knudsen offer an interesting quotefrom a man named Edgar Dale. It sumsup the importance of prerequisiteknowledge. Dale states, “We can only seein a picture what our experience permitsus to see.” In other words, if you are to begood at movement analysis, you have tobe smart enough to know what to lookfor. Hopefully, everyone has completedtheir summer studies and is ready tomove on!

Once the knowledge base is ade-quate and critical features have beenidentified, the observer is ready for thephysical process of observation. In orderto ensure accuracy of observation, somesort of systematic strategy is generallyfollowed. Since observers differ percep-tually, experts have suggested severaleffective observational strategies. Withexperience, each observer will modify,cut and paste to eventually adopt aworkable personal SOS (systematicobservational strategy).

Developing an SOSObservers should plan to focus

attention on the critical features. Dothis by looking at cues that indicateoptimal performance of the elementsof good skiing (this list can be found inthe PSIA-I Master Plan on our website).

Observers should also exercise asmuch control over the observational

Rarely does everyone agree on a

particular plan of action. The good

news, it probably doesn’t matter...

situation as possible. Ask the skier toperform a designated task. It doesn’thave to be difficult, but a specific turnshape or size or speed will make obser-vation easier by eliminating variables.

Observers then need to decide onthe angle for viewing, the number ofobservations, and possibly look at pro-visions for extended viewing.

I asked Franklin Williams, one ofour top instructors at The Canyonswho has an M.S. in exercise and sportscience, along with a great understand-ing of biomechanics, for his view onobservational vantage points. Hemaintains that his preferred position isabout 45 degrees off a shoulder to therear if moving with the student. If he’sstationary and safety is not an issue, he

Movement

likes to watch skiers move towards himand then away. His least favorite view-ing angle is from the side; but, he notes,it can work. That’s probably becausethe side view only offers a fleetingglimpse of the skier unless you arewatching Grandma Moses. Side viewscan, however, provide some insightinto flexion and extension movements.

Generally, most sport movementsrequire several vantage points. For thisreason, I often think of one observationas a “set” of turns rather than one turn.I change my viewing angle for each setof turns.

After taking into account observa-tional concerns, the observer mustdecide how to go about “looking at” theskier. He/she needs a scanning strategy.

Choose a scanning strategyThe stage is now set and the

observer must choose a scanning strat-egy. This step is really the most difficult;it is where ski instructor “bar roombrawls” originated. Rarely does every-one agree on a particular plan of action.

The good news, it probably doesn’tmatter as long as the observer doessomething systematically. A randomapproach lacks focus and the observeroften attends to unimportant stimuli orextraneous movements that do notoffer pertinent information. Strategiescan keep observation on course.

Strategy: movement cues, phasesOne of the more common strategies

in qualitative analysis is to observemovement cues that are indicators ofoptimal elements of performancewithin the phases of movement. In ourcase, that’s the initiation, shaping(control), and finishing phases of aturn. Focus is directed towards thevarious body parts as they execute eachindividual phase. Knowledge of results,i.e. what the skis do on the snow, canoffer relevant information for improv-ing performance as well. Here’s anexample where the observer chooses tolook at the center of mass, lower body,upper body, and ski action during theinitiation phase:

”Hub” or CM: is the CM in front,behind or over the base of support asthe turn begins? Are joints flexingevenly or is there knee bend withoutankle bend? Is the outside leg stiff? Isthe CM moving in a forward and lateraldirection or just up? Look at elevationchange of the head for a cue.

Feet and legs: are the feet and legsmoving diagonally? Are they tipping aswell as turning under the body at initia-tion, or are the hips being thrownaround to initiate the turn? Is release andengagement one smooth movement ordo you see stepping or stemming? Doankles, knees and hips flex and extendevenly (a cue for multiple elements)?

Upper body: does the upper bodycontribute to stabilization or is it beingused as a turning force? Look at thepath of the outside shoulder. Does poleaction complement the desired turn?

Ski action: do the ski tips follow thetails or do the tails swing dramaticallyuphill? Is ski action rushed or harsh?

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

11

Although there are certainly othercues that can be observed at turn initia-tion, these present a good start. Theobserver can then repeat the processwith the other two phases of the turn,although not necessarily in this par-ticular observational session.

Strategy: focus on balanceA second scanning strategy is based

on the philosophy that “you can’t builda cathedral on the foundation of ahouse” (Morrison and Knudsen, p.88).If the base of support is inadequate, orbalance somehow compromised, thenwhy bother going any farther? Manycoaches believe balance and legactions strongly affect subsequentmovements. Therefore, observationsshould focus on the base of supportand the movements of the lowerextremities. Skiing movement analysishas a strong following devoted to thisstrategy. Here’s what it might look like:

Stance and balance: where is theCM in relation to the feet; are hips cen-tered over feet and do they move withthe base of support? What is the widthof the stance? How are the feet, legs andhips aligned fore and aft? Are flexionand extension movements relativelyeven throughout the joints?

Lower body: do feet, legs, and hipsmove forward and laterally? Do the skistip on edge early? Late? Not at all? Areedges released and engaged in onesmooth movement? Do shins make for-ward and lateral contact with the bootcuff or does the skier appear to be“stuck” or hang on the front of the boots?

Ski action: do the skis leave a “C”shape in the snow? Do they bend pro-gressively? What sounds do they make?

A coach who looks for cues thatdescribe a performer’s stance and bal-ance as well as cues that indicate howthe lower body moves will generally beable to be of some help to most skiers.

Strategy: rank performance featuresA third type of organization of

observational strategies is based on

Office Assistant

Stacey Mikesell is PSIA/AASI Inter-mountain’s new executive assistant.Stacey will help Susan keep the officerunning smoothly and the member-ship served. Stacy has an accountingdegree and brought the Division’s fi-nancial books up to date in preparationfor a routine audit that is in process. ◆

Movement

ranking the importance of the criticalfeatures identified as being necessaryfor performance. If the bar room brawldidn’t start with the first strategy, it willcertainly surface here.

Professionals who have studied amovement and reflected on the criticalfeatures will have definite opinions onwhat aspect of the movement is mostdeserving of attention. Usually, thevariables selected for analysis arerelated to the goal or primary purposeof the movement. For example, if theskier is concerned with the fact that heseems to accelerate on every turn, theobserver might initially look at whatthe lower body and skis are doing in theshaping and completion phases of theturn. This is based on the premise thatthese two phases of the turn play heav-ily in a skier’s ability to move with con-sistent speed. Most experts wouldn’targue with this approach, but mightchoose to focus on a different turnphase. Eventually, both would mostlikely help the guy reach his goal.

Strategy: move general to specificThe last approach moves the

observer from general to specific. Inthis case the observer formulates anoverall impression or feeling for thequality of the performance. Since weoften get to watch several repetitions ofa skill performance, we can go back andlook for specific skill components.Usually something “stands out” andthe observer can then examine thecritical features in conjunction with aphase of movement, a body part, or acombination of the two. However, it’simperative that observers possess akeen sense for core movements — thatthey are not distracted by stimuli thatdo not offer relevant information.

This approach may be the fastesttrack to helping students, but it mayalso require the most experience. Inorder to formulate a “big picture,” theobserver most likely groups stimuli byorganizing them into meaningful pat-terns. Research indicates that experi-

enced analysts have systematic searchpatterns that are repeated over andover, as evidenced by examining theireye-tracking patterns. Novice observ-ers tend to search wildly over the body.

Although I do not know of any stud-ies that have looked at eye movementsin experts like Olympic alpine coaches,my own experience tells me that I gen-erally tend to notice the overall rhythm,timing, and direction of movementswithin the hub, body, and skis on thesnow. Those cues instantly create a pic-ture related to several critical featuresnecessary for accurate skiing. Then Igenerally move towards the turn phaseor body part that invoked the strongestfeelings about performance and thatalso meshes with the student’s desires.

Ask a master teacher in your schoolhow they formulate an overall picture. Iwould bet that each has a slightly dif-ferent outlook, but if we tracked theireye movements during several differ-ent skier analyses, you would see aseparate pattern in each of them thatrepeats itself and reflects their personalperceptual biases.

If you are a novice observer, myadvice is to try several strategies andsee which one works best for you.Eventually, you will develop a personalSOS that works for you.

Stay tuned for evaluation and diag-nosis. What do those cues actually tellyou about the essential elements nec-essary for optimal skiing? — Jo Garuccioheads The Canyons’ instructor training,is a PSIA-I DECL, and is a former Divisioneducation chair.

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

12

Children’s CornerBy John Musser, Children’s Committee Chairperson

Well, another season is fast approaching and I’m sure everyone is excitedabout getting back on snow. I am looking forward to another great season ofIntermountain children’s clinics and ACE. Once again this season, I am verypleased to announce that ACE is proving to be a successful program in our Di-vision. ACE has evolved and grown over the years to become a valuable andfun educational experience for all our members. We have seen a steady in-crease in the number of people participating in the program over the yearsand last season we saw the best year ever for ACE. I’d like to say thanks to eve-ryone involved. Keep up the good work. And, I’d like to invite any memberswho haven’t participated in any children’s clinics or ACE to please feel wel-come to come and join us.

The ACE III that was held at Snowbird in April 2003 was a great experiencefor everyone involved. I am excited for the new ACE III members who will bestarting to audit and lead some of the children’s clinics and accreditations forthe Division this season. The calendar for this season is similar to last season.Please take a look at the calendar and plan ahead to complete your indoortraining and your workbooks in advance of attending your on-snow ACEday(s). Intermountain ACE educational materials can be found on the web-site www.psia-i.com (just click on ACE). The ACE Study Guide, “GettingStarted With ACE,”ACE-I Workbook, and ACE-II Workbook are all there foreasy download. ACE is for anyone in the Division. Snowboard, Nordic,Alpine, and Adaptive members are all welcome. If you have any additionalquestions about the program or how to get started contact a children’s super-visor at your home area or the Intermountain office.

Finally, I’d just like to remind everyone that we are offering children’sclinics at the fall Education College. This is a great event to attend in the earlypart of the season so please get your applications in early to attend.

Think Powder Snow! John Musser

Expand, Explore

Before You Bore

By Jerry Warren

Have you ever heard that we, as mem-bers of PSIA, are a bit too technical inour teaching? We might have evenbeen called “techno weenies.” Ouch!However, I’m sure that on any givenday, it might just be true.

At times we begin coaching some-one with a great key skiing or snow-boarding movement and just when weare ready to try it out — and when eve-ryone is almost learning to take off —another idea pops into our head and ofcourse we just have to share it. And sothe technical cycle goes — we havebecome that “techno weenie.”

When it comes to the perceivedcomplexity of skiing and snowboard-ing movement patterns, we underesti-mate the power of a single idea. Let methrow out a challenge for all of us. Nexttime you’re teaching anything, particu-larly skiing and snowboarding, strive tostay with the one most powerful pointyou can make. Guide the learningprocess by exploring and experiencingmore of the other teaching tools avail-able to us in our winter wonderland,rather than adding more technicalpoints.

1. Enhance learning by changingspeed. The learning may come from anincrease in speed, but movement pat-terns may even come to life by goingvery slow.

2. Play with turn shape variations.Many new movement patterns actuallyrequire new turn shapes to supportthem. Many of us have experienced try-ing to make old straight ski arcs withour new shaped skis. It’s the same withnew movement patterns. Make newmovement patterns to change turnshape and change your turn shape tochange and inspire new movement

Children

patterns — long, short, whippy, orstraighter turns, for example.

3. Terrain is a great teacher. Explorethe application of your one powerfulidea with the vastness of your outdoorclassroom. You will have little troublehaving enough material to share in anon-technical way as you teach to theterrain use rather than by just trying tocome up with more technical stuff.

4. Snow conditions. Ah, that’s a funone isn’t it? The variations of your onepowerful idea are reapplied and modi-fied in many ways as the snow getssofter, harder, lumpy, and bumpy.

5. Pacing. Intense movements, easygoing moments, partner skiing, demoformations, heavy pressure, light pres-sure, etc. Anything that makes theenergy participation graph fluctuatecan have great value in improving per-formance, controlling energy levels,and stimulating great fun.

Technical movements are only oneof the six coaching and learning toolslisted here. Enjoy the new experiencesof our vast mountain playground.Expand and Explore, before you Bore.— Jerry Warren is a former coach of thePSIA Demonstration Team.

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

13

National Snowboard Team Tryouts

By Lane Clegg

Tryouts are once again upon us and it’stime to prepare! We would like to sendas many qualified people as possible tothis year’s tryouts as it gives the Divi-sion a better chance of ending up withsomeone on the team. While the teamis truly a national team, it is always niceto have divisional representation onthe national level as it makes the flow ofinformation to and from the team thatmuch easier. Therefore, we will bemaking an extra effort to identify thosepeople who might be interested in try-ing out and helping them to prepareover the coming season.

Wondering if it’s for you?Being part of the team will jump

you into the spotlight of snowboardinstruction in this country. It gives you

an opportunity to make changes to thestatus quo and see things imple-mented. It also gives you an opportu-nity to travel, meet people, and get toknow people in the industry. And, itjust might open doors for you for spon-sorships, jobs, and other opportunitieswithin the snowboard world.

Wondering if you have what it takes?January 26 and 27 you can find out by

taking part in the Division tryouts. Thiswill give you an opportunity to get yourfeet wet and experience a tryout. Our jobis to try to duplicate the environment ofthe national tryout as much as possibleso you can see how you perform underthose conditions. Your job is to do yourbest and learn from your mistakes mov-ing forward to the national tryouts. Wehave a unique chance in this division totrain and test ourselves at the same

resort that the national tryouts areheld, Snowbird. The more familiar youare with the terrain the more preparedand at ease you will be.

Where do I go from here?The first step in the process will be to

identify yourself to the snowboard com-mittee as having an interest in tryingout. This way we can help you to pre-pare. The easiest way to reach us is toe-mail me at: zlane@direcway.com andlet me know you are interested. If youhappen to be one of the few withoutaccess to e-mail, contact the office andthey can contact me. Once we have allinterested parties identified, we willwork out the best plan to help everyoneprepare. To qualify, you will need to becertified Level 3 in good standing (thatmeans you are current with your dues).It will also be helpful if you have experi-ence in giving clinics, either through theDivision (or any division) as well as atyour home resort. ◆

Snowboard

Stewart Marsh, A True ProfessionalMany of us are members of an organization named the

Professional Ski Instructors of America, but how many peo-ple, both divisionally and nationally, fit the word “profes-sional”? I am writing this to honor and acknowledge one ofthe true professionals in the ski industry – Stewart Marsh.

I have watched Stew’s involvement both divisionally andnationally for 25 years and would like to share with you what Isee as a true professional. In the real world (business world),the term professional is well defined and encompasses edu-cation, commitment, years of service, financial rewards, and adesire to make a difference, to make a contribution.

Stew’s educational background and current experienceas a school teacher and guidance counselor could not bemore appropriate for his involvement in PSIA as an educa-tion and certifying body. His commitment cannot be ques-tioned – for 25 years he has served PSIA in a variety of roles:as President, DECL, membership on the Board of Directors,PSIA national board representative, newsletter editor, andeducation and certification involvement.

Most professionals are financially rewarded for their serv-ices. But, apart from the hours he served as examiner and

clinic leader, Stew donated his time to the Division. In theprofessional world, a few people donate their time becauseof their love and commitment to their field. Stew is one ofthose people who put his heart and soul into PSIA-I for theright reason – for the good of the membership and the sport.There are not many people who can say that. We see a lot ofinvolvement for the wrong reasons – political, ego, gettingahead, resume material, travel and even a new set of clothes.

In the last six months we have had some dramaticchanges in the Division with Nancy Perkins deciding toresign before the end of the season. This put Stew and theDivision in a very difficult situation since the Division was infull swing with clinics, exams and Spring Clinic all going on.The office had to be moved and Susan and her assistant hadto step to the plate and take care of all the office duties. Stewhad to oversee the whole change, which included securingan office, moving the office and its entire inventory, figuringout all the computer records, and filling in to help update theoffice staff to the new system.

Nancy Perkins is a person that has a customer service per-sonality that everyone loved and enjoyed; she will be greatlymissed for the special way she treated everyone in the Divi-sion. There is much speculation as to why Nancy decided

continued on 14

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

14Viewpoints

Alpine L1Tod Frohnen Park CityT. Jimmy Anderson Jackson

Snowboard L3Jeff Dance Park City

ND/BC L1Read Carlan White PineMorgan Decker Beaver Mtn.Neil Decker Beaver MtnKaren Dodge White PineJoan Guetschow White PineRebecca Hanson JacksonCalvin Hebert White PineKathryn Jones Beaver MtnJames Kennedy Snow KingRobert S. Laing III JacksonScott Loomis White PineDeb Lovci White PineChristopher Newlin JacksonNathan Page Jackson

John Porcher BrightonLaura Schmonsees JacksonMichael Sharp Deer ValleyAaron Sheedy JacksonBenjamin Wilson Jackson

Nordic Track L1Brandon M. AdamsSoldier HollowMarcy Allen Soldier HollowConnie Carlson Park CitySusan Geerdes Soldier HollowLayna Hale SundanceDave Hill White PineLeslie Howa White PineEllen Lowell Deer ValleyJ.C. Norling Pocatello Rec. Dept.Kristi Weight Soldier Hollow

Nordic Downhill L3J.C. Norling Pocatello Rec. Dept.Michael Sharp Deer Valley

2002/2003 AssessmentsThe following members were not recognized in the lastEDGE for their last season’s achievements last.

VIEWPOINTS continued from 13

to leave but, as time goes on, things change, from differentBoard members and officers to family and lifestyle changes.Nancy made the decision for her reasons and what’s best forher. The important thing for the Division is to move forward,wish Nancy the best, and focus on the future, not the past.

Some of the Board members, and maybe some of themembership, blame Stew for Nancy leaving. At the lastBoard meeting there was a coalition of Board members thatvoted Stew out as president, which brings us to the test of atrue professional. The election was held first thing in themorning with a full business agenda scheduled for the entireday. To the shock of Stew, his officers, and some of theBoard, Stew was voted out of office. Since the new admini-stration was not prepared to run the meeting, the Board fol-lowed Stew’s agenda for the day, which included one of thebest-prepared and sound budgets that the Division has everhad (thanks in large part to Dave Boucher). With his daugh-ter Kira taking minutes due to Susan’s absence, Stew contin-ued to participate in the meeting. Most people, put in asituation like this, would have gotten up and walked out –but not Stew. His love for the Division and the membership(and maybe his background as a school counselor) kept himmoving straight ahead.

I talked to Stew after his removal as president and askedwhy he would still want to be involved. He said, “I just want itto be right and good for the membership. I want to finish upwhat I started and not let it turn into a mess.” This is what Icall a true professional. – Tom Kronthaler. Tom Kronthaler isa former Board member and current DECL.

Looking for ChangeEarlier this year, I sent a letter to the PSIA-I Board of

Directors concerning assessment and training issues.Since the following issues directly affect the membership, Ithought that the members should review these ideas andhave a chance to comment as well. Please send all feedbackto Jo Garuccio at jo@agegroupsports.com or your Board ofDirector’s representative.

Assess movement analysis and skiing on two separatedays. Testing both on the same day tends to create a stress-ful experience no matter what the examiners do. If we limitthe assessment to one area of competency each day, wecould create an exam situation with less time constraints.Plus candidates would simply retake the assessment in theproficiency area where they failed to qualify.

Change the Level II movement analysis process to reflecta more realistic situation. Most of the guests that currentLevel I instructors coach tend to make more obvious errorsthan their fellow instructors. Evaluating their peers is a skill

that instructors at this level may not have developed yet,although they should easily be capable of accurate move-ment analysis in the blue zone. Possibly we should look at acombination teaching/movement analysis day where we setup idea sharing sessions to determine knowledge base.

Limit the teaching assessment at Level III to five candi-dates and charge slightly more for this portion of the exam.Now you have time to assess competency in two to three dif-ferent activities without rushing through the process.

We are so concerned about cost to our membership thatwe hesitate to add a day to our assessment process and thequality of our certification and education process suffers. Itcost me $1000 to become a Level II USA Triathlon Coach andanother $200-300 every two years to keep it. Yet we worryabout adding to a process that costs a little over $400 toattain all three levels of certification and a mere $70 everycouple of years to retain it. I am not advocating hugeincreases, but another day won’t break the bank.

I have had instructors return from assessment prep clin-ics and tell me that the DECL who conducted the teachingclinic and the movement analysis clinic did the same thingboth days. This is just one example of the issues that need tobe addressed. Let’s hear from the membership. Tell us whatyou think about our cert prep curriculum. — Jo Garuccio. JoGaruccio heads instructor training at The Canyons, is a PSIA-IDECL, and a former education chair.

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

15

INSTRUCTORS EDGE FALL 2003

16

PRSRT-STDUS. POSTAGE

PAIDSLC, UTAH

PERMIT NO. 4383

The Instructors EDGE

A publication of:PSIA Intermountain Division,AASI Intermountain Division7105 Highland Dr., Suite 201Salt Lake City, Utah 84121

™

It’s Classified

LOWEST INTEREST RATES IN 25 YEARS! Call JanePattee (PSIA-I) at Remax Brokers to be a 1st timebuyer, to sell your home, to move into your dreamhome or to invest in income property! I’ve been sellingin Salt Lake for over 20 years. Let’s talk! 801-706-2048.

HELMET CAMERAS - pro form deals http://www.ex-tremeskills.com/cometcam or call 801-201-5942, askfor coMetcam

ROSSIGNOL PRO PURCHASE Alpine, Race Stock,Snowboard, Nordic. See your mtn. representative orcall Jeremy Jolley 801-898-3282 (UT) or Steve Shea307-733-4460 (WY, ID).

EARN $50 FOR REFERRALS when your lead results ina rental for Skiers Accommodations of Utah. We offer2,3,4 and 5 bedroom Townhouses at the mouths of Bigand Little Cottonwood Canyons. Contact Tom andNancy Kronthaler, information (801) 943-2426.

SKI AND WATCH LE TOUR DE FRANCE LIVE thisspring. Les 2 Alpes, site of the premier 2002 Tourmountain stage, is home to the Les 2 Alpes SummerSki Camp. Visit www.summerskicamp.com for moreinformation, e-mail sc_huve@yahoo.com, or call Ger-ard Huve at 202 338-0079. Gerard is a PSIA-I memberand a university French professor.

E-mail Express

By Tony Fantis

Are you using the Internet to receiveuseful information? If so, you will wantto log on to www.psia-i.org this seasonand register your e-mail address withthe Division.

This year our Division will be ableto send you e-mail reminders aboutupcoming events and other items ofinterest. Your e-mail address will notbe sold or shared with anyone. Thisservice is being offered as an addedbenefit of your membership!

Anyone who has already logged onto the national site at www.psia.org hasalready begun to see the benefits ofreceiving new and exciting informationthrough e-mail. We have now madethis service available to you right herein Intermountain! Isn’t it cool to be amember of one of the leading snowsports divisions of PSIA/AASI?

This is how you do it:1) Log on to www.psia-i.org in any

web browser2) Click on “Member E-mail”3) Enter your name, membership

number, and e-mail address4) Click “Submit”

That is all there is to it. We are veryexcited about the new possibilities andbenefits this will bring to all membersof each discipline in PSIA/AASI-Intermountain. Log on today beforeyou forget. We look forward to hearingfrom you! ◆

EDGE Deadline

The next EDGE deadline is November15 for December 15 publication. ◆