10 Ways to Improve Your Teaching in the Summer
BY TERRY MCLEOD PSIA – NW TECHNICAL TEAM MEMBER DIRECTOR OF SKIING
SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN TRAINING DIRECTOR, MT. HOOD SUMMER SKI CAMP

By the time you read this, the ski season of ’05-’06 will have wound down to a much better conclusion than what we experienced last year. Even though we’ve had plenty of stellar snow days this season, it’s always wise to start planning off-season activities that will prepare you to excel next winter. I’m not talking about reading new PSIA or AASI manuals or scheduling tech talks at the beach. I mean fun stuff that can transfer physically, mentally or socially to better ski and snowboard teaching next December. The following list is neither exhaustive nor ranked in any particular order, but it may give you some ideas.

Summer ski and snowboard camp. Perhaps the most obvious way to help your future riding/teaching; there are a variety of options to choose from. PSIA/ AASI-NW offers camps and Professional Development Series in both May and July. There are also at least six other main ski and snowboard camps that offer a wide range of session lengths, cost, disciplines and focuses (race, freeride, etc.) My personal favorite is Mt. Hood Summer Ski Camp (www.mthood.com) but Sarah Richardson would prefer you choose Timberline Summer Ski Camps.

Rollerblading. Use this for both fitness and skill training. If you’ve ever taught hockey players how to ski, you know that almost every movement they make is a positive transfer to skiing skills.

Watch ski/snowboard flicks. Pick anything that you enjoy watching, i.e.World Cup racing, Warren Miller movies, Matchstick Productions new school stuff or PSIA/AASI videos. As you repeatedly watch images of great athletes, the daydreams of yourself will gradually grow to match them. This can do everything from building your confidence to sparking your muscles to make better movements next fall.

Go wakeboarding. Mimics carving more than skidding, is bound to improve your switch riding and the falls are generally softer when learning to jump or go bigger with new tricks.

Go to a street dance. Think I’m stretching it when I say this will improve your teaching? No way! This covers all the bases. Physically, dancing encourages (demands) constant movement, smooth transitions and at times complex balancing moves. Mentally, it takes confidence and security to walk into a group of strange people and demonstrate the above moves. Socially, don’t just go meet people; learn and remember all of their names, test out open and closed questions and practice asking people to dance (ski) with you again.

Learn how to golf, water ski, shoot skeet, horseback ride or any other new sport. The issue isn’t what you choose to do. It’s about going through the whole process of learning something from the beginning. In addition to any new physical skills that may crossover, you can gain valuable insights on teaching styles, your personal learning style, group management methods, progression building ideas, etc.

Go mountain biking. Anticipating terrain, rapid balance adjustments, route finding and tactical decisions, rapid balance adjustments, overcoming fears, building strength and endurance, pacing, tuning and maintaining equipment, etc. etc. etc. This sport should be mandatory for professional skiers.

Attend a company picnic with a spouse, friend, or parent. Okay, it’s not as fun as the street dance, but think of the opportunities you’ll have to start and maintain conversations, learn names and interesting facts about people, assess their motivations for being there, build camaraderie and rapport.

Take a hike in the woods. And I don’t mean on the trail. Go cross-country and be aware of all the small balancing moves you make on uneven terrain. For added challenge and fitness, try running, and if that’s still too easy, do it at night with a full moon. Late summer usually means plenty of dry streambeds that provide great rock-hopping or bounding environments.

Write an article for this Newsletter, your ski or snowboard school, The Professional Skier or Pro Rider magazines. It’s amazing how much harder it is to write something rather than just telling it to someone. Taking the time to write will make you much more aware of what point you’re trying to get across, what the technical highlights and distractions are, how you can say something concisely and whether it’s even a subject worth putting effort into. Answer these same questions before you meet your classes next winter and you’ll be the most requested instructor on the mountain.