Professional Ski Instructors Association

During the summer of 1998, the Colorado 10^th Mountain Hut system graciously hosted a conference on the future of PSIA backcountry certification and education programs. Representatives from PSIA and AMGA attended. A major topic of the meeting was the distinction between a Backcountry Ski Guide and a Backcountry Ski Instructor or Day Tour Leader. As a result of the meeting PSIA developed the following working definition of the difference between Backcountry Ski Guiding and Backcountry Ski Instruction.

Backcountry Ski Guide: Takes clients safely beyond their skiing and mountaineering skill levels so that they can experience a place or have an adventure that they couldn’t safely enjoy on their own.

Backcountry Ski Instructor: Works with their clients so that the clients develop the necessary ski skills to ski in the backcountry terrain of their choice.

With these distinctions and definitions in mind, it was decided that a backcountry ski instructor needed the following skills, knowledge and experience:

Þ Off-Piste Skiing Skills (all sliding disciplines)

Þ Ability to Enhance Personal Skills of Clients through the proper Teaching Methods applied to Backcountry Situations

Þ Navigation Skills and Experience: Route Selection, Map & Compass, and Trip Planning

Þ Time Management Skills and Experience

Þ Avalanche Awareness, Recognition and Experience with Skiing and Traveling in Avalanche Terrain with Others

Þ Backcountry Awareness

Þ Backcountry Ski Experience

With these distinctions and definitions in mind, PSIA will offer two Backcountry Ski Instructor Certifications:

These certifications will be dependent upon skills, knowledge and experience acquired through many means. A successful candidate needs personal experience and professional experience, and will need to attend and participate in a variety of educational courses and clinics, as well as PSIA educational offerings. The certification process will consist of documenting the attendance and successful completion of the required educational courses and clinics as well as time spent in the field being evaluated by peers. This documentation will be referred to as a portfolio.

The expectations of the field evaluations for skiing are presented in the form of outcomes and are detailed in the PSIA-NW Nordic Manual available from the PSIA-NW office. Outcome-based training and validation starts by describing the desired behaviors of instructors at each certification level. Once an outcome behavior is described, training and validation processes can be flexible. Since behaviors can be measured, outcomes can also be measured. In this way, more objective evaluation standards are possible when they are expressed as outcomes. The remainders of the expectations for each certification have not been defined as outcomes and appear as training topics or applications.

Day Tour Ski Instructor (DTSI): A DTSI is able to teach ski skills to clients away from ski areas or touring centers. Instructor Certification as a DTSI is dependent on completion of the portfolio requirements and the ability to demonstrate the desired ski outcomes. The examiners will also determine if the candidate possesses the skills, knowledge and experience defined under the training topics. Candidates will also be required to demonstrate that they have acquired the avalanche, search and rescue and first aid knowledge they have documented in their portfolios.

- Resume detailing backcountry ski experience

- Written pre-test and study guide review

- Completion of Avalanche Training (Level 1 Course)

- Completion of First Aid Course (40+ hours)

- Completion of PSIA sanctioned off-piste skiing/teaching skills clinic (or other clinic approved for PSIA credit)

- Successful completion of PSIA Level 1 clinic/exam or AMGA sanctioned equivalent course

Applicants should be able to demonstrate all of the outcomes currently outlined by the PSIA National Standard Outcomes for Level 1 certified instructors in both Nordic Downhill and Cross Country Track Skiing and Teaching. In addition, applicants should be able to display the above skiing competence while carrying a day tour appropriate pack in off-piste snow conditions. They should be familiar with up hill travel, and be able to safely guide and teach others using various techniques. These include proper skiing techniques, use of skins and grip wax, trail breaking and group management.

Training Topics - Day Tour Ski Instructor – knowledge and skills to be acquired through PSIA and many other sources

Navigation:

· Route selection, route finding, trip planning

· Map Reading

· Map and compass use (and application)

· Time management

Environment:

· Impact - “leave no trace”

· Environmental awareness

· Environmental aesthetics

· Weather

Winter Skills:

· Energy management – food, fluid, and clothing

· Site Selection/Bivy Prep – short term/long term

· Shelters –normal, emergency, temporary, overnight

Rescue & Evacuation

· Communication with rescue agencies/evacuation plan

· Appropriate group handling skills

· Appropriate evacuation procedures/techniques

Group Management/Client Care

· Communication/people skills

· Leadership/Backcountry sense

· Group Dynamics/styles/psychology

· Goal Setting/organization

· Teaching knowledge/abilities

· Quality of experience

Equipment

· Tour Leader’s Pack - 1^st Aid, repair, clothing, bivy, avalanche, evacuation, food, fluid

· Ski/riding equipment - assess and advise clients

The following applications of use test the participant’s ability to utilize experiences and knowledge acquired as they build their portfolio. As such, PSIA is NOT certifying the participants in these areas. During the exam, candidates will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and abilities acquired from other places and experiences that are documented in their portfolio.

Medical

· 1^st Aid Preparation – e.g. completion of recognized/applicable course

(see above portfolio requirements)

· 1^st Aid practical

Avalanche/Hazard Recognition and Avoidance

· Snowpack evaluation/stability

· Site evaluation/topography

· Weather

Search and Rescue Techniques

· Transceiver use

· Search technique without transceivers

Backcountry Ski Instructor (BSI): A BSI teaches skiing, riding and backcountry travel skills to clients, including the skills required for overnight and multi-day trips. Instructor Certification as a BSI is dependent on completion of the portfolio requirements and the ability to demonstrate the desired ski outcomes. The examiners will also determine if the candidate possesses the skills, knowledge and experience defined under the training topics. Candidates will also be required to demonstrate that they have acquired the avalanche, search and rescue and first aid knowledge they have documented in their portfolios.

- Resume detailing backcountry ski experience

- Written pre-test and study guide review

- Completion of Avalanche Training (Level 2 Course)

- Completion of First Aid Course (80 hours), Wilderness First Responder, or OEC

- Completion of PSIA off-piste skiing/teaching skills clinic (or other clinics approved for PSIA credit)

- PSIA – DTSI status or AMGA Ski Guide Course completion or certification

Applicants should be able to demonstrate all of the outcomes currently outlined by the PSIA National Standards for Level 2 instructors in both Nordic Downhill and Cross Country Track for Teaching, as well as those outlined for Level 2 instructors in Nordic Downhill for Technical and Skiing. In addition, applicants should be able to display the above skiing competence while carrying an overnight tour appropriate pack in off-piste snow conditions. They should be familiar with up hill travel, and be able to safely guide and teach others useful and necessary backcountry ski travel techniques. These include proper skiing techniques, use of skins and grip wax, trail breaking and group management.

Training Topics - Backcountry Ski Instructor – knowledge and skills to be acquired through PSIA and many other sources

Navigation:

· Route selection, finding, trip planning

· Map Reading

· Map and compass use (and application)

· Time management

Environment:

· Impact - “leave no trace”

· Environmental awareness

· Environmental Aesthetics

· Weather

Winter Skills:

· Energy management – food, fluid, and clothing

· Site Selection/Bivy Prep – short term/long term

· Shelters - emergency, temporary, overnight

Rescue & Evacuation

· Communication with rescue agencies/evacuation plan

· Appropriate group handling skills

· Appropriate evacuation procedures/techniques

Group Management/Client Care

· Communication/people skills

· Leadership/Backcountry sense

· Group Dynamics/styles/psychology

· Goal Setting/organization

· Teaching knowledge/abilities

· Quality of experience

Equipment

· Tour Leader’s Pack - 1^st Aid, repair, clothing, bivy, avalanche, evacuation, food, fluid

· Ski/riding equipment - assess and advise clients

Medical

· 1^st Aid Preparation – e.g. completion of recognized/applicable course

(see above portfolio requirements)

· 1^st Aid practical

Avalanche/Hazard Recognition and Avoidance

· Snowpack evaluation/stability

· Site evaluation/topography

· Weather

Search and Rescue Techniques

· Transceiver use

· Search technique without transceivers