Fall Seminar Clinic Topics

What is Adaptive?

An adaptive overview. Explore adaptive techniques and methodology. Time for hands on practice and Q and A.

Presenter: Kathleen Priest, John Stevenson

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: Gresham and Seattle Only

This will be an introductory session focused on techniques and tactics in using video technology for effective movement analysis and snow sports instruction. Topics covered will include on-hill strategies, equipment usage and indoor review strategies.

Presenter: Rick Lyons

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: All Locations

Advanced Use of Video Technology for Movement Analysis and Snow Sports Instruction

This session will be an advanced session focused on techniques and tactics for using video technology for effective movement analysis and snow sports instruction. Topics covered will include on-hill strategies, equipment usage, media options and indoor review strategies.

Presenter: Rick Lyons

AM/PM: PM Only

Location: All Locations

Constructivism and the Snow Sports Educator

Pre-Requisite: Instructors with at least four (4) seasons of teaching experience, or Level II or III certification.

Do you teach intermediate and/or advanced students? Have you ever asked the question: “Should I be teaching experienced students differently than new learners?” Constructivism is an educational theory about how people learn and focuses primarily on the needs of experienced learners. Constructivism believes in gradually releasing the responsibility of information, thus, ultimately passing the ownership of information to our students. In this class we will cover what Constructivism is, how and when we can apply this important educational theory when out teaching students on the hill.

Presenter: Linda Cowan

AM/PM: AM/PM

Location: All Locations

Legal Issues Facing the Snow Sports Educator

This session will go over legal updates for ski/snowboard schools with focus on lift incidents, training materials, and student/parent information. Great for any director or staff trainers.

Presenter: Ruth Nielsen

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: Seattle Only

Do These Boots Come in Black?

The right fit works (and looks) best. Structural considerations for ‘women specific’ gear; focus on the female structure and how the ski and boot companies address their needs. What you would want to know before deciding or helping your clientele decide about choosing the best fitting gear?

Presenter: Heather Roberts

AM/PM: AM/PM

Location: All Locations

Connection: Ski Design, Tuning and Modern Movements

In today’s evolving ski industry, instructors are responsible to stay educated in ski design and ski tuning. This has always been important, but because of a greater diversity of product available and more confusion among the public this subject is even more critical to good teaching. Some instructors may know something about tuning or ski design, but there often is a disconnect between this knowledge and what is being taught on the slopes. This session is designed to draw connections between how a ski is meant to work on the snow, how the tune can affect this and then how to then tie these concepts into a more effective lesson on the hill.

Presenter: Jim Stevens

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: All Locations

Hands On: Life After a Stone Grind

The start of any “tune cycle” is the process of Stone Grinding. When there’s a desire to learn how to tune your skis, the process starts at Stone Grinding. Simply put, this can be broken down into 2 phases:

(1). Full tune – setting base bevels, side bevels, edges, polish and finish, and wax.

(2). Maintenance – keeping the edge clean and smooth, sharpening side edge, and wax.

This is a hands on explanation of how to tune, covering both phases.

Presenter: Jim Stevens

AM/PM: PM Only

Location: All Locations

Boot Design and Fit: What’s the Effect?

Gain a greater understanding of boot design and which product may provide you with the best fit for your feet. Learn the tips from one of the top fitters for setting up your boots and feet for maximum performance this winter. Learn ways to recognize and assist your guests in fit and stance needs.

Presenter: Jim Mates

AM/PM: AM/PM

Location: All Locations

Core Strength for Better Performance

Start preparing for next ski season now! A strong core is key to good skiing. Learn techniques to develop your personal core strength. Focus on movements specific to good skiing and riding, while exploring the anatomy and biomechanics of the snow sport athlete. This class will involve exercise, please dress appropriately.

Presenter: Betsy Baker

Location: AM/PM Gresham and Seattle

Location: AM Only Spokane

APPLIED Core Strength for Better Performance

Pre-Requisite: Completion of course Core Strength for Better Performance

This course is part 2 of “Core Strength For Better Performance”. We will briefly review the components of part 1 (specific core strength) and then spend significant time performing exercises, specific to skiing and snowboarding, to improve muscular strength, agility, and balance. The class is for skiers and rides of all abilities weather you have injuries or not. In addition to applying core strength to specific conditioning exercises we will apply the Level 2 and Level 3 PSIA National Standards to each exercise. This will help you determine the correct exercises to specifically improve your own skiing or riding. This class will involve exercise, please dress appropriately.

Presenter: Robert Graham

Location: AM/PM Gresham and Seattle

Location: PM Only Spokane

Skate to Ski 101

For the adventurous enthusiast who has never been on skates to the person who has skated a little. The object is to focus on the similarity of movement patterns in in-line skating and skiing and how we can skate to improve our skiing. We’ll start by utilizing some easily transferable skiing tasks (skating) and work with the group’s ability as we progress.

Please bring your own gear (skates, helmet, wrist guards, etc.) and wear appropriate clothing for skating in. K2 will also have demo skates available at both venues.

Presenter: Dave Beckwith

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: Gresham and Seattle Only

Skate to Ski 301

You can accelerate and stop comfortably through ex-hockey player. The object is to focus on the similarity of movement patterns in in-line skating and skiing and how we can skate to improve our skiing. We’ll start by utilizing some transferable skiing tasks (skating) and work towards an advanced progression that will emphasize inside leg steering while skating.

Please bring your own gear (skates, helmet, wrist guards, etc.) and wear appropriate clothing for skating in. K2 will also have demo skates available at both venues.

Presenter: Dave Beckwith

AM/PM: PM Only

Location: Gresham and Seattle Only

Safe Group Mechanics in Terrain Parks

We will cover several common challenges experienced when teaching freestyle both in and out of terrain parks. How to move and manage a group in the terrain park. How to breakdown and sell learning pathways that enable your guests to be successful with less chance of injury. All disciplines welcome.

Presenter: Chris Hargrave

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: All Locations

Freestyle Doesn’t Have to be Complicated

Freestyle and terrain parks do not have to be complicated. They would compare these days very much to a computer; something with infinite potential that can be mastered by small children, yet perplex well educated adults. Once you start to figure it out, you can really get hooked; and with our rapid advances in technology these foreign things some thought would never last just keep getting easier an easier to use. Let the AASI NW staff give you a tutorial on uncomplicating your freestyle. Snowboard specific.

Presenter: Ryan Enfield

AM/PM: PM Only

Location: All Locations

Senior Specialist I Accreditation

Pre-Requisites: Level I Certification, obtain and read the Senior Education Handbook (click here) and the completed Senior Educator Handbook (bring completed workbook to class)

The Senior Specialist I is a new accreditation this year. With our graying, yet physically fit Boomer generation, more older people are skiing longer and even learning to ski in their later years. The Senior Specialist I Accreditation will equip the skiing professional with tools and techniques to better address the needs of the “older” skiers and those not quite so old, “older” skiers. Information and guidance on developing programs at your local ski area will also be covered. (All ages are welcome to earn this accreditation.) On snow sessions will follow to complete the accreditation.

Presenter: PJ Jones/Ed Kane

AM/PM: AM and PM (must attend both)

Location: All Locations

Generating Effective Feedback: How to Connect What You Say With What You See

The feedback model developed by the NW Tech Team will help answer all those hard questions you have regarding what to teach any student at any level. Based on the history of ski instruction it ties together how to provide the most applicable feedback to the student in a positive way. The feedback model will take what you know as an instructor at any level and help you apply it in your every day teaching on and off the snow.

Presenter: Karin Harjo

AM/PM: AM/PM

Location: All Locations

Ultimate Kids Topic

Seasoned instructor needing a quick boost, new to teaching and want to excel with kids, or maybe you need to put together the best staff training ever for your kids program! The JET-NW team has put together a program to cover all these basis. A great program to either refresh your skills with kids on snow or use it to structure your training for staff. It will be an information packed 2 hours!!!

Presenter: JET-NW

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: All Locations

The Unofficial Guide to Effective and Ineffective Teaching

Identify the skills, qualities and traits of effective teachers. Determine skills, drills and assessments of an effective master teacher. Lane is a member of the national teaching task force that’s developing skills and concepts for teaching best practices.

Presenter: Lane McLaughlin

AM/PM: AM/PM

Location: All Locations

Games Kids Play

There are lots of resources out there for games to play with kids on the snow. This clinic will build your skills to use these games effectively and be able to alter them at a moments notice to suit the situation at hand.

Presenter: JET-NW

AM/PM: PM Only

Location: All Locations

Teaching with a Focus: Teaching Fundamentals and Beyond

Assess learning styles, teaching styles, the CAP model, etc. to lay a foundation to then be able to develop accurate exercises and progressions based on the framework of evaluation by reviewing the teaching and skiing models. This is a great way to evaluate how your season went and to build on strategies for improvement for next season.

Presenter: Kim Petram

AM/PM: AM/PM

Location: All Locations

Movement Analysis I with Video (Alpine)

This Movement Analysis session is designed to help recognize some basic movement patterns, and explore the cause and effect relationships as they relate to skiing. With the help of video footage of a variety of skiers, we’ll identify some key patterns, agree on the cause and effects related to those patterns, and openly share some different tips and tricks to facilitate desired changes. We will begin to integrate the Feedback Model as a basis for effective communication in our discussions.

Presenter: Tyler Barnes (Gresham and Seattle) Josquin Poirot (Spokane)

AM/PM: PM Only

Location: All Locations

Movement Analysis II with Video (Alpine)

With a focus on higher level skiing, this workshop is designed to improve your observational skills in situational skiing including off-piste, bumps and racing scenarios. We’ll use patterns and movements described in Skiing Concepts (PSIA National 2005)and The Efficient and Inefficient Movements in Skiing (PSIA-NW, rev.2006), and apply their validity to video footage of a wide range of skiers. Remember, once you have identified a movement that may need refinement, that’s when the coaching starts, so we’ll openly share some different tips and tricks to make changes. We will begin to integrate the Feedback Model as a basis for effective communication in our discussions.

Presenter: Tyler Barnes (Gresham and Seattle) Josquin Poirot (Spokane)

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: All Locations

Movement Analysis Telemark

Movement Analysis for both Telemark movement patterns and how they relate to alpine and track-based Nordic movements. Open to all disciplines.

Presenter: TBD

AM/PM: AM Only

Location: All Locations

Tele and Alpine - The Differences and Similarities

Come see what tele is all about and how closely it mirrors its alpine cousin.

Presenter: TBA

AM/PM: PM Only

Location: All Locations