“Better choices today create better outcomes tomorrow.”
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These communications are voluntary and provided for informational purposes only.
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In this section you will find...
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- Teaching Progressions and Fun at the same time!
- Upcoming Training Clinics
- How to Boost Your Lesson Business
- High Altitude Achievers
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Teaching Progressions and Fun — At the Same Time |
One of the most common questions in teaching is:
How do we keep lessons playful without losing learning outcomes?
Or just as often: How do we build clear progressions without draining energy or creativity?
The answer isn’t choosing one over the other. It’s intentional lesson design.
Strong lessons balance engagement and effectiveness. Fun isn’t something added after learning happens—it’s a vehicle for learning when it’s thoughtfully connected to the goal. Games, imagination, and movement-based challenges work best when they are layered onto sound teaching progressions, not used as distractions from them.
When fun supports learning, every activity has a purpose. A game reinforces balance, timing, or control. A storyline keeps students emotionally engaged while guiding specific movements. A playful challenge increases repetition without students feeling like they’re “doing drills.”
Clear progressions also protect fun. When lessons have a logical flow—simple to complex, familiar to new—students experience success more often. Success builds confidence, confidence fuels motivation, and motivation keeps energy high.
The most effective instructors don’t ask, “Is this fun?” or “Is this technical?”
They ask, “What do I want my students to learn—and how can I make that experience engaging?”
When progressions are purposeful and fun is intentional, learning accelerates. Students stay present, instructors stay creative, and lessons feel both productive and joyful.
Because the best lessons don’t choose between progression or fun—
they deliver both.
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If you plan to take a PSIA-AASI Certification Exam this winter, we highly recommend you attend prep training beforehand. To access the 2025-26 PSIA-AASI-RM event calendar Click Here.
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When attending Elective Training Clinics (non-paid training), do not punch in. And please do not wear your uniform. The clinic list below is not final, be sure to check instructor.snow.com for the most up to date clinic list.
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8 am training run
- New Hire The Next Chapter – indoor at 4 pm
- Tuning Clinic at 4 pm
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Alpine Level 3 prep – online
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8 am training run
- Tuning Clinic at 4 pm
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Children’s Specialist Prep on snow all day for alpine and snowboard
- Alpine Level 2 prep – online
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Snowboard – you call it!
- Alpine RMT training
- Alpine bumps from the ground up
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8 am Training Runs are on the schedule!
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A few things you need to know: Please sign up for this training clinic before attending, so we know how many people to expect. Please wear your uniform, jacket, and pants. (This is the only time you are allowed to be in full uniform when you’re not being paid!) You should not be punched in for the 8 am run; you are voluntarily participating in a non-work activity. You must stay with the group leader for the entire run on Gold Dust. In the event of a powder morning, the group leader might delay or cancel the 8 am run. Thank you!!
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Please note: More clinics may be attended after this email is launched. Check instructor.snow.com for the most up to date clinic schedule.
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Clinic need a minimum of 4 participants
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How to Boost Your Lesson Business |
📍 Lower Level, Group Lesson Center
🕓 4:15 PM
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Join us for a dynamic panel discussion focused on building and sustaining a successful lesson business. Learn practical strategies, best practices, and real-world insights directly from your peers.
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Moderated by: Stacey Gerrish, Manager of Training
Panelists:
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- Travis Achen
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Coker Baldwin
- Tutti Polanco
- Andy Rae
- Kat Laney
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Whether you’re looking to grow repeat business, strengthen guest relationships, or refine how you market yourself on snow, this session offers actionable takeaways you can apply immediately.
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“Up to now I’ve worn the blue jacket. Today, I feel like I earned it!”
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Congratulations to all instructors who have been through our training and passed their PSIA-AASI assessments. We are so proud of you!
Here's our growing list of high-altitude achievers:
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Kristen Davey
Noelle Edelmann
Jolene Edelmann
Cianna Olson
Patrick Ottley
Fred Lutz
Sara Page
Michael Kerr
Maya Silver-Lewis
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| Lillian Xistris
Gary Avischious
Mike Cordaro
Nicholas Osborn
Zoe Starkey
Emma Heutmaker
Noah Wagner
Alexander Setuain
Eleanor Potter
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| Sabrina Raydon
Tomas Bartha
Beth Maerz
Josh Thomas Anabelle Poore
Elizabeth Zack
Samuel Landreth
Dylan Varga
Jacqueline Law
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Yizhi Huang
Jonathan Winter
Matthew Jaffe
Lauren McDonald
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Peter Woitas
Logan Field
Quinn O’Hara
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Jolen Anya Minetz
Andrea Wilson
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Children's Specialist Level 1 |
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William Downing
Matthew Favia
Carrie Raben
Lauren McDonald
Debbie Yoon
Adam Rajterowski
Katelyn Inman
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| Sarah Evans
Rebecca Hite
Matthew Fletcher
Nick Preister
Fanni Sari
Brian Lux
Lorne Wyne
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| Cianna Olson
Erin Janklow
Erin Andreason
Heather Blackmon
Diane Wagener
Frederick Lichtenfels
Ashton Fichtl
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Children's Specialist Level 2 |
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Did you recently earn a PSIA-AASI achievement? |
If you recently earned a PSIA-AASI achievement and are missing from this list, please submit your credentials using the certificate reimbursement instructions above! |
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In this section you will find...
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Fitts & Posner’s Stages of Learning – what stage are your lesson guests in?
- Technical Skills
- People Skills Fundamentals
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Teaching Fundamentals
- Snowboard Fundamentals
- Alpine Fundamentals
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Fitts & Posner’s Stages of Learning – what stage are your lesson guests in ? |
The Fitts and Posner model provides a framework for understanding how individuals acquire motor skills. It describes the learning process as progressing through three distinct stages:
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Cognitive Stage: learners focus on understanding the task requirements and developing a basic strategy. They rely on verbal instructions and feedback. This stage is characterized by frequent errors as learners grapple with the complexities of the skill.
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Associative Stage: With practice, learners begin to refine their skills and reduce errors. They start to associate specific movements with outcomes, leading to more consistent performance. In this stage, the focus shifts from understanding the task to improving the execution of the skill, and learners become less reliant on conscious thought.
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Autonomous Stage: Performance becomes automatic, allowing skilled individuals to execute the skill with little conscious effort. Learners can multitask and respond to changing conditions, demonstrating a high level of proficiency.
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Feedback is a key ingredient to every lesson. Learners in the cognitive stage benefit from explicit feedback to understand the task. In the associative stage, feedback helps refine skills, while in the autonomous stage, feedback can be used to maintain performance levels and address emerging challenges.
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Technical skills bring teaching concepts to life with practical applications adapted to the student’s ability level or desired outcome. These skills relate to the instructor’s understanding of fundamental snowboarding and skiing mechanics and applying that understanding in lessons. Technical skills represent the ability to perform, understand, and explain the sport. In sharing technical skills, the instructor communicates certain discipline-specific aspects of movement and gives accurate demonstrations.
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People Skills Fundamentals |
1. Develop relationships based on trust: Creating rapport and confidence is key for students to feel safe taking risks and learning.
2. Engage in meaningful, two-way communication: This involves both verbal and non-verbal exchange, ensuring understanding and connection.
3. Identify, understand, and manage your own emotions and actions: Self-awareness of your impact on the learning environment is crucial.
4. Recognize and influence the behaviors, motivations, and emotions of others: Adapting to students' needs and emotional states to support their learning.
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1. Collaborate on short and long term goals
2. Promote exploration, experimentation, and play
3. Facilitate a learner's ability to reflect upon experiences and sensations
4. Manage information, activities, terrain selection, and pacing
5. Adapt to the changing needs of the learner
6. Manage emotional and physical risk
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AASI Snowboarding Fundamentals: |
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Control the relationship of the center of mass (CM) to the base of support to direct pressure along the length of the board.
- Control the relationship of the center of mass (CM) to the base of support to direct pressure across the width of the board.
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Control the magnitude of pressure created through the board/surface interaction.
- Control the board’s pivot through flexion/extension and rotation of the body.
- Control the board’s tilt through a combination of inclination and angulation.
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Control the twist (torsional flex) of the board using flexion/extension and rotation of the body.
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PSIA Alpine Fundamentals: |
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Control the relationship of the center of mass to the base of support to direct pressure along the length of the skis.
- Control pressure from ski to ski and direct pressure toward the outside ski.
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Control edge angles through a combination of inclination and angulation.
- Control the skis’ rotation with leg rotation, separate from the upper body.
- Regulate the magnitude of pressure created through ski/snow interaction.
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In this section you will find...
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Training Clinic Protocols
- PSIA-AASI Updates and Information
- New Hire Instructor Group Lesson Audit Sheet
- Certificate Reimbursement
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Training Clinic Protocols |
Before you sign up, please review the following instructions: |
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- Read carefully—some clinics are specific to alpine or snowboard disciplines.
- Please sign up for clinics at least 48 hours in advance.
- Remove yourself from work if you sign up for a clinic. Contact your Family Leader for support!
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If you sign up, you must show up!
- If you’re unable to attend, you must remove yourself from the clinic a day in advance.
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If a clinic is full, please email Stacey Gerrish to be placed on a waitlist.
- Our trainers are the best in the industry! This also means they are in high demand with our guests. Please understand clinics are scheduled based on trainer availability.
- Equipment Check sticker required on skis or board to participate in training.
- Completion of 2025-26 Snow Pro Need to Know on the LIFT required to participate in training.
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Has your PSIA-AASI Membership Expired? Don't forget to renew and update your profile to reflect your School Affiliation with Beaver Creek!
Interski is coming back to the USA! Every four years, Interski brings instructors together from around the world, offering a valuable education opportunity to share innovations and core beliefs. Learn more.
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New Hire Instructor Group Lesson Audit Sheet — when you complete a lesson audit you must complete this form. |
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Certificate Reimbursement |
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We will reimburse you for success at most PSIA-AASI assessments AND you'll receive a pay increase! Please click below to submit your achievement.
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In this section you will find...
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Meet Our Training Staff
- BC Quick Links
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Stacey Gerrish - Training Manager |
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Stacey grew up in Woodstock, Vermont a few miles from the first ski tow in America. In addition to leading the training team at Beaver Creek, Stacey is an examiner with PSIA-AASI-RM and an educator with USSS (US Ski & Snowboard).
In 2021, she was the recipient of the PSIA-AASI Educational Excellence Award. Stacey believes we have the most talented team of trainers of any school.
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| - EMERGENCY: 970-754-6911
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NON-EMERGENCY: 970-754-6610
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Thank you for reading another issue of Training News! |
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