When I first started to think about specific "Turning Points" in my skiing career, I was overwhelmed with a number of memories. All of the people and all of the exercises that helped me to continue growing as a ski instructor kept flashing through my mind. Of course, there were a few clinicians that made their mark. However, it was the consistent feedback and constant practice that kept coming back to me. I believe that the day I committed myself to the sport of skiing and the profession of ski instruction is the day my life and my ability to improve my skills as a ski instructor changed forever.

As an 18 year-old high school senior, I started teaching skiing as a part-time instructor in order to get a free pass and to ski a little more than I had in the past few years. At the beginning of the season, I remember being very naïve to what was really expected of me as a ski instructor. Trying to get out of teaching or training in order to go play with friends was common. If I had to teach or go in a clinic, I was usually kind of bummed. However, once the season started to get going, I realized how fun the ski school experience was. During the spring of that season, I found myself wanting to teach or to train. The improvement in my skiing and the ability to teach a lesson began to dramatically improve as well.

In the spring, I graduated high school and decided to attend college. That fall, as a freshman, I remember having no clue of what I wanted to do with my life. When the snow began to fall, I remembered how much fun teaching skiing had been the past winter. At that point, I decided to teach skiing full-time while trying to go to school. That season became my turning point.

The season began with me diving right into the available training. The extra days that I had committed began to provide me with many more opportunities to practice and to teach. At this point, I was starting to consider taking the Level 2 (Associate Exam at the time) in the spring. The trainers emphasized that they could guide me through the training, but it would be my job to commit to the studying and the practice. I thought no problem. But the more I practiced and the more I studied, I realized there was that much more to learn. I spent all of my time at the mountain either teaching or training. Of course, some clinic days were more fun than others, but I realized that you could train even when you’re out playing. All that is needed is the discipline to focus even while having the greatest time of your life. The more time I committed to practicing and giving focus to my skiing, the better and more confident I became. As my exam date neared, I became extremely nervous. Through all the indoor studying and on snow training I had done, I realized how little I knew. In the spring of 1988, I passed my Level 2 exam. My commitment to learning the sport of skiing and the profession of ski instruction had been rewarded by successful completion of the exam. From that point on, I knew that I could do what ever I wanted as long as I committed myself to it. Of course there have been set backs, but I continue to grow and learn everyday. I think this is what I enjoy about the sport of skiing and ski instruction so much.