4 ways to keep your mind and body ready for next ski/snowboard season

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 1. Mountain bike
Applying to both skiing and snowboarding, controlling your downhill momentum is an important skill
to practice in and off season. Cue mountain biking.

Even if you’re not into going fast downhill, or you just like the idea of having all your bones unbroken, cross country mountain biking or road biking are also great ways to keep up your fitness and feed your love of being outdoors.

Check out our mountain bike skills clinic in September here!

2. Surf

Surfing is pretty cool. Here at Western Division, we have access to some great surfing right in our state (or maybe the state next door).

Ready do learn to surf or improve your already-awesome surf skill? Check out our Surf camp at San Onfore Beach.

 

3. Study up!

Not only do you need to be physically prepared for your next exam or season of teaching, you also need to know the technical knowledge necessary to move up the PSIA ranks.

Whether you’re looking to spend money or not, read books or watch videos, we have options for you to learn all the skills and teaching techniques you need to know to be a successful instructor.

Get your manuals and books here

View videos for every discipline and skill on our new matrix feature

Or plan on going to our Professional Development Day in October

4. Make sure all your gear is up-to-date and ready to go!

Who wants to start next ski reason running around, trying to get all the gear you need at the last minute, paying full price? I sure don’t.

PSIA-AASI works with outdoorprolink.com and our national site thesnowpros.org to get you the best deals on all outdoor gear. Check out all out benefits and discounts here.

Here are some of the brands we work with that will get you the hookup on some sweet discounts through National:

 

The Realities and Responsibilities of Reaching the next level, Robin Barnes

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You help others succeed on snow, but what about investing in your own development? Three-term Alpine Team member Robin Barnes offers insight on achieving your professional goals – which sometimes requires a gut-check on your objectives and taking responsibility for your own progress.

Inline Update: Skate to Ski Camps, Freestyle Fun + Pro Offers

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Other than catching a plane to Australia or Chile this summer, inline skating is one of the best ways to work on your skiing skills while you wait for the snow to return.

With inline skates on dry land you can successfully mimic on-snow movement. The dynamic balance, body posture, weight shifting, and rhythm needed to control skis in the snow (moving downhill, changing direction) are strikingly similar to those needed to navigate inline skate wheels.

The fact that you can do it with other professional ski and snowboard instructors also means you can talk technique while you’re working the wheels. To that end, PSIA Alpine Team member Heidi Ettlinger said the PSIA-AASI Western Division is planning to build on last year’s successful PSIA-W Skate to Ski Camp with two camps – one in Southern California and another in the Tahoe region – this year.

Ettlinger said the fun, educational, interactive events are so rewarding that, “I’m encouraging other divisions to consider these clinics in their home regions by forwarding out the event summary we circulated last year.”

Last year’s camp was made possible by PSIA-AASI Official Supplier Rollerblade, and Myles Cotter-Sparrow, the brand’s marketing coordinator, said he is committed to helping professional instructors launch similar events of their own.

“Our goal is to have PSIA-AASI examiners and skaters be the point people in their region for these kinds of events, but we need to start building that right now,” he said. “Whether it’s making sure a demo fleet is available for participants, helping people know which size skates they need, or even identifying a good location for an event, I’m happy to be a resource for anyone who wants to take advantage of this opportunity this summer and fall.”

Cotter-Sparrow also added that while inline skating has proven to build the skills and fitness of traditional alpine skiers, the sport is seeing significant buy-in from the freestyle market as well.

If you want more information on how to build a Skate to Ski event in your region, please e-mail Myles at myles.rollerblade@gmail.com

A recent article on NewSchoolers.com with several embedded videos, takes a closer look at how Olympic freestyle athletes are gaining a competitive edge by cross training on inline skates.

You can also check out more videos on the Rollerblade homepage right here, and shop for your own personal pair of Rollerblade inline skates – all at member-specific pricing – on the Pro Offers page.

-Peter Kray

 

You Can Still Play On The Snow!

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It May feel like Summer….but some of our Member Schools are still feeling the winter vibe.  Don’t put those skis away yet, below is a list of our Member School Resorts that are still open.

Squaw Valley Spring

Open daily thru June 4, operating hours: 9am-4pm
Open Saturdays & Sundays thru June 25, operating hours are to be determined based on conditions
Open July 1-4, operating hours are to be determined based on conditions
Open Saturdays starting July 8 into summer as conditions allow

Alpine Meadows is closed for the season

Mt Rose

OPEN Thursday – Sunday plus Memorial Day, May
May 29 is Closing Day

Mammoth Mountain

Open Daily
Mammoth will remain open for skiing and riding until July 4th and beyond.
Daily Lifts: 7:30AM–3:00PM

Don’t forget about the back country too;-)

Thanks for a great season!

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The Western Division PSIA-AASI want to thank all of you for another amazing season.  We all had a fullfilling season putting up with all the shoveling, crazy driving, endless powder days and everything else that comes with an epic winter.

Message from our president
“Our Western membership numbers were record setting this past winter! Thank you to all of our long standing and newest members and our snowsports schools, “The 2017 California snowpack is close to the largest on the record,” according to a NASA news release. The snowfall, combined with your energy has made the 2016-17 a wonderful year!”

 

California’s Current Snowpack Is Larger Than the Previous 4 Years Combined, NASA Says

The Matrix

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If you scroll down to the very bottom of our home page, you may come across something new…

The Matrix.

Now you might be curious about what the Matrix is. In one sentence, It is a database of educational videos on everything from specific moves to varying terrain in all disciplines.

This is what the makers say: “The Matrix is your one-stop shop for all ski and snowboard educational video content. You’ll find related videos, plus supporting drills and content, that helps you maximize your learning time. The content constantly changes and brings to life skiing and riding from all sliding genres, including adaptive, cross country, and telemark too.

Years ago we built an app using Adobe Air technology and since that time there have been substantial improvements in web and mobile based technologies that have allowed us to create a web-based, responsive website that pulls in videos from our Youtube channel and allows us to categorize and tag these in a user friendly manner.

It also allows us to continuously add more video content on the fly and there is no need to install an app on your mobile device or desktop computer, making access to The Matrix that much easier.”

If you go in, you will have to login using your national ID you use on thesnowpros.org. Once you’re in, you’re free to explore. They have content on Movement analysis, teaching, dealing with varying conditions, and more. This is perfect for if you have that one thing you need to study for your exam that you just don’t understand when you read it from a book. If you’re new to PSIA, it will also give you a bit more understanding about what we do. Creating a thesnowpros.org account is free.

So go ahead, click on it. I Guarantee you won’t be asked to take a blue or red pill, nor will you be able to dodge bullets.

New Events coming April 3-15

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If you still want to get your level 1 or your Snowboard Level 2 this season, we have some new events coming up!

You can go see them all and register at https://psia-w.org/new/calendar/

April 3 – Snowboard Level 1 Validation at Boreal

April 3-5 – Alpine level 1 exam at Mount Shasta Snow Park

April 4-5 – Snowboard Level 2 teach exam at Heavenly

April 9 – Snowboard and Alpine level 1 Validations at Bear Valley

April 9 – Snowboard Level 1 Validation at Mount Rose

April 15 – Alpine Level 1 Validation at Mount Rose

Be a Kid Again – go to camp!

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Lets face it – kids these days have so many options when it comes to snowboarding camps. From Woodward camps to High Cascade to developmental
groms teams, there is definitely no shortage of opportunities for kids to go to a camp and get quality coaching on the hill and fun times at camp. Don’t you wish you had the opportunity as a kid – or even better, now as an adult who can appreciate the experience?

 

Cue Snowboard camp 2017.

AASI West and Mammoth Mountain are hosting one of the premier snowboarding events of the 2016/2017 season. Connect with like-minded, driven riders from around the country on Mammoth’s legendary freeride and freesytle terrain for a three day, camp style experience. Up your game in the park, push your freeriding to new levels, and shred with your fellow riders!

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Coach Lea Logal flies over a jump

We are keeping it simple and have a package that includes; off hill events, parties, expert coaching, personal feedback, swag and awards for doing what we love. With on hill and off hill events lead by members of the AASI Team, our featured coaches include SethJohns, Chris Hargrave and Lea Logal. You will get top level coaching and training from some of the best snowboarding has to offer. Space is limited for this one of a kind experience! For additional information please contact Lea Logal by phone or email (530)318-8733, leakathleen2017@gmail.com.
Lodging-Book early to guarantee a spot at one of the Mammoth lodging options. Call 1(800) Mammoth (800) 626-6684. Use Booking ID # 22280, PSIA-AASI Spring Convention. Great deals on rooms at the Mammoth Mountain Inn and Lodge.
Meet the coaches:

Seth Johns

I have been on the Western Tech Team, AASI National Demo Team and competed on various Freeride tours. I am working as the Overall Snowboard Lead Trainer in Aspen/Snowmass and examining in the Western Division.  My active sponsors are Burton Snowboards, Anon Optics, Hestra Gloves, Wend Wax, Species Nutrition, Snow Just Because.  Follow me on Instagram @sethsnowboards or Seth Johns on Facebook

 

 

 

Lea Logal

Lea Logal

AASI-W Education Staff,
Snowboard Coach Northstar Teams Program
Snowboard Level 3 Certified, Alpine Level 1 Certified
USASA 200 Coach
Children’s Specialist
Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice

 

Chris Hargrave

President, Windell’s Academy, Mt. Bachelor, OR

AASI National Team member

 

Ramp Up Your Park Game

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Alex Baker at the Northstar Freestyle session in March 2017

Did you Know PSIA-AASI West holds Freestyle Session Events?  This is a 3 day focused freestyle training, you will have the opportunity to ride one of the best parks in North America with some of our best PSIA-AASI freestyle staff.

One of Mammoth’s parks. Photo by Mammoth Mounatin

Chris Ball Winds up for a 360

What is a Freestyle session?

A Freestyle Session is an education event and an exam all at once. While less structured than regular exams, attendees still have the opportunity to prove they meet the standards for PSIA-AASI Freestyle level 1, 2, or 3. It’s like an exam, but more “freestyle”, so to speak. When you sign up, you do not sign up for one specific level, but you attend and are given the level you deserve at the end. This way, if you do not have a level 1 but are  riding and teaching in the park at an advanced level, you may receive your level 2 or even 3. Likewise, if you are going with a level 2 as your end goal but do not meet all the standards, you can still walk away with a level 1.

Who can attend?

The group at Northstar Freestyle Sessison, March 2017

If you have at least your Alpine or Snowboard level 1 and are a current member, you can attend. These events are for skiers and snowboarders of all park abilities. You are split into groups based on ability after the first day, so you will be able to ride with people who will push you within limits. So if you are working on your 720s and hit 50 footers with ease, no need to worry about being stuck in the first-timers park. If it is your first time in the park, don’t worry about having to hit the biggest features or being left behind. There’s something for everyone.

Brian Norman, showing that the halfpipe is for skiers too

What can I expect each day going into a freestyle session?

Ronnie hitting a jump with style at Northstar

All three days are technically part of the exam, but each day builds up to the final day when you will receive the results of what level you achieved. Not only will you work on teaching in the park, but you will have the opportunity to work on your own ability and pushing your own limits. The first day is more freeform, and you can expect to receive coaching on your own riding. Expect to explore all the parks and see what the resort has to offer and become comfortable with the parks there. Day 2 focuses a little more on coaching, and you can expect to receive and give a few pointers with your fellow attendees. Although you will still have some coaching from the PSIA-AASI tech team, day 3 is almost all coaching from your peers. You will be observed not only on your riding, but your ability to teach the group a certain skill in the park. What you teach depends on the level you are going for.

Doug Fagel, one of the trainers, boosting out of the pipe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos and writing by Hanalei Edbrooke