March 10th, 2026 

"Your presence teaches as much as your words."

– anonymous

These communications are voluntary and provided for informational purposes only. 

In this section you will find...

By Stacey Gerrish

Resort guests are far more likely to return after experiencing a great lesson with you. Every lesson is an opportunity to create a meaningful connection and build long-term relationships with our guests. Let’s make the most of that opportunity.

1. Provide Exceptional Guest Service

Contact Your Guests Before the Lesson

Reach out to your private lesson guests prior to the lesson. A short text message introducing yourself can help put them at ease and clarify where you will meet.

Example first contact text:

“Hi GUEST NAME, this is YOUR NAME. I’m scheduled to be your private instructor tomorrow. I’d be happy to text or talk to determine the most convenient place for us to meet. If you’d like to share your goals or expectations for the lesson, I can begin planning our time together. I look forward to meeting you.”

Build a Personal Connection

Take a moment to learn something about where your guests are from. This can provide natural conversation starters and help create a welcoming atmosphere.

Example:

“Hi! I see you’re from Tennessee. I read that Tennessee has over 9,000 documented caves. Have you ever visited any of them?”

Small efforts like this help guests feel seen and valued.

Consider Their Equipment Needs

Ask whether your guests are renting equipment. If they are renting in Beaver Creek, consider meeting them at the rental shop to help them get properly set up before heading to the snow.

2. Set the Lesson Up for Success

Before loading the lift, check in with your guests to confirm:

· Do they have the correct equipment?

· What are their goals for the lesson?

· What previous experience do they have?

Clarify their experience level carefully. When a guest says they’ve “skied once,” determine whether that means one day or one week, as this can make a significant difference in their ability level.

Taking a few minutes to establish this understanding helps you tailor the lesson appropriately and set realistic expectations.

3. Deliver a Strong Lesson Summary

The lesson summary is just as important as the introduction.

At the end of the lesson:

· Review the skills they developed.

· Highlight the terrain or runs they successfully skied.

· Recall fun moments you shared during the lesson.

This reinforces their sense of accomplishment and helps guests recognize their progress.

Invite Them Back

Preview the next steps in their development and encourage them to continue learning.

For example:

· “Next time we can work on…”

· “The next step in your progression would be…”

· “I’d love to continue building on what we accomplished today.”

Inviting guests to return for another lesson helps create continuity in their learning and strengthens their connection to the resort.

Final Thought

Great lessons create great memories. Great guest service creates returning guests.

When we combine strong teaching with meaningful connection, we help our guests build a lasting relationship with both snowsports and our resort.

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.

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. 

Check instructor.snow.com for updates.

Wednesday, March 11th

Friday, March 13

Sunday, March 15

Monday, March 16

Tuesday, March 17

8 am Training Runs are on the schedule!

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!!

Please note: More clinics may be attended after this email is launched. Check instructor.snow.com for the most up to date clinic schedule. 

Clinics need a minimum of 4 participants

“Up to now I’ve worn the blue jacket. Today, I feel like I earned it!”

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:

Simon Marsh

Kristen Davey

Noelle Edelmann

Jolene Edelmann

Cianna Olson

Patrick Ottley

Fred Lutz

Sara Page

Michael Kerr

Maya Silver-Lewis

Lillian Xistris

Gary Avischious

Mike Cordaro

Nicholas Osborn

Zoe Starkey

Emma Heutmaker

Noah Wagner

Alexander Setuain

Eleanor Potter

Sabrina Raydon

Tomas Bartha

Beth Maerz

Josh Thomas Anabelle Poore

Elizabeth Zack

Samuel Landreth

Dylan Varga

Jacqueline Law

Christopher Kehoe

Rachel Shamblott

Yizhi Huang

Jonathan Winter

Matthew Jaffe

Lauren McDonald 

Peter Woitas

Logan Field

Quinn O’Hara

James Frantz

Richelle Wagner

Jolen Anya Minetz

Andrea Wilson

William Downing

William Downing

Matthew Favia

Carrie Raben

Lauren McDonald

Debbie Yoon

Adam Rajterowski

Katelyn Inman

Sarah Evans

Rebecca Hite

Matthew Fletcher

Nick Preister

Fanni Sari

Brian Lux

Lorne Wyne

Cianna Olson

Erin Janklow

Erin Andreason

Heather Blackmon

Diane Wagener

Frederick Lichtenfels

Ashton Fichtl

Bella Auricchio

Michael Kerr

Ouida Brown

Joshua George

Join Erin with Aprés Wellness Hour for a free treatment of AcuWellness to enhance rest and recovery during our busy season. AcuWellness, also known as AcuDetox, is an acupuncture treatment that involves stimulating 5 points on the outer ear using hair thin needles. Evidence suggests that this treatment enhances the body’s ability to enter the parasympathetic nervous system by innervating the vagus nerve allowing the body to rest, recover, and shift out states of stress. Individuals who engage in AcuWellness often report feeling calmer, more clear-headed, more motivation, and improved sleep. 

Treatments are 30-45 minutes long. Feel free to allow yourself to fully discharge from a busy day in relative silence, or connect with others to talk skiing, riding and teaching. Take this moment to come back to yourself, set intentions and recover.

Erin Rupert, LPC, AAT

In this section you will find...

By Stacey Gerrish

Shift your mindset from, “I hope I pass” to “Today is an opportunity to demonstrate the professional I already am”

1.  Understand What’s Actually Being Assessed. Review all provided materials on the PSIA-RM website. Most candidates over-focus on:

2. Assessments typically evaluate:

3. Before the event, write down the answers to these questions:

4. Prioritize Consistency over Flash Examiners look for:

5. Slow down your thinking. Under pressure people tend to:

6. Pause before answering questions, and speak in clear, simple structure. Clarity beats complexity!

7. Demonstrate Decision-Making, not memorization. Especially in teaching or M/A segments:

8. Take care of yourself, manage your energy. Assessments are like marathons.

9. Take a mental reset in between tasks

10. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

11. Final Reminder: You are not being evaluated for perfection. You are being evaluated for:

By Stacey Gerrish

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.

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:

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.

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.

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. 

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

Updates and Information

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.

For the direct link Click here

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.

In this section you will find...

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.

If you're interested in becoming a trainer, please reach out via email to sgerrish@vailresorts.com

These communications are voluntary and provided for informational purposes only. 

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