Looking Back, Looking Forward

by John Eisenhauer, Communications VP

Spring is the time of year when we look back on the past season. And what a season it was! Record (or near record) snowfalls, amazing conditions, busy resorts and some of the busiest (and now richest) Department of Transportation workers you’d ever hope to see who made it possible for us to get there from here. Skiing at Alpental Memorial Day weekend. Say what?

That being said, we’re also the type of people who start looking forward to next season almost immediately. Let’s face it, we really can’t get enough of what we do and as good as summer is, it sometimes seems like an interruption. That is unless you take advantage of some of our local summer season at Mt. Hood. Check out our July events in this issue.

In this issue we also take a look way back to the origin of PSIA with a reprint of a contemporary report on the meeting that took place in May of 1961 at Big Mountain when it was decided to break away from the regional amateur racing associations and form an organization just for professional ski instructors. I found the cover graphic to be amazingly modern, especially if we open up that stance a bit. Of the 20 Montana Ski "Courses" or areas, only three had Chair lifts. One each at Big Mountain, Grizzly Peak (Red Lodge) and Lionhead near West Yellowstone. My how times have changed except that proofing mistakes, despite our best efforts, still happen. Take another look at the "Ski" and "Boot" brands in the ad for Ski and Binding packages. Oops.

From this past season, we look back on our Service Award winners and the passing of three long time members who each in their own way made major contributions to PSIA-NW. This was a year of tryouts. Lots of them. We have results from the NW DCL tryouts as well as the National Team tryouts. Congratulations to everyone who tried out and congratulations to all of our new Level II’s and III’s! Exam results are in this issue. We also note the resignation of long time Certification VP Chris Kastner who will still remain active as a member of the National Education Advisory Council and Director of Skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Looking forward, the Certification program will continue to be in good hands with new Cert VP Chris Thompson. We report on progress with the new Association Management Software that will allow the office to continue to maintain our records. The board continues to work on a plan for the office to ensure we maintain the customer service that has been so important through the years. The Alpental Leadership Program is an exciting approach to meeting current client needs while developing new members and our Rookie of the Year is really about our future.

Finally, two articles, one by Dane Frisbie and one by David Lawrence sum up what Looking Back, Looking Forward are all about. All the hard work and preparation are directed to a goal. Whether we’re reaching for a new level or end up achieving that goal, our noses poke up over a new horizon. Every end is really a new beginning and it really is all about the journey.

Enjoy your summer. Next season will be here before you know it.