SNOWBOARD
Certification is a Journey
As you develop your knowledge skills and abilities as a snow sports instructor you become more valuable to your clients and your school. No one person, document, or resource can prepare an individual for their certification process. Rather a combination of individuals, information and resources will provide the best blend of expertise for a well-rounded training pathway.
Please take responsibility to familiarize yourself with the policies, procedures, formats, and testing criteria before embarking on your certification pathway. If at anytime in your training program or testing process you need clarification, it is your responsibility to ask qualified individuals for clarity. If you choose not to question and research the information, you will probably end up with a less than accurate perspective on the certification process. This perspective is bound to influence the outcome. Be accountable for your success!
Did You Know…
In 1985, the first World Cup was held in Zürs, Austria. The International Snowboard Association (ISA) was founded in 1994 to provide universal contest regulations. In addition, the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) provides instructing guidelines and runs snowboard competitions in the U.S. Today, high-profile snowboarding events like the Olympic Games, Winter X-Games, US Open, and other events are broadcast worldwide.
The American Association of Snowboard Instructors was founded in 1997 in response to the growing demand of snowboard instructors and resort operators around the United States and beyond. The goal was to create a consistent experience for guests regardless of where they were traveling and at what area they planned to visit.
You’re here because you love to ride and teach people how to do the same. Snowboarding has been around since the late 1960’s and began to gain mainstream popularity by the early 90’s, and became a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, surfing and skiing.
Joining & Level I Process
Becoming a Certified Instructor
Snowboard Certification Guide
The purpose of this guide is to provide exam candidates, training directors, divisional clinic leaders and examiners with an established outline to reference while preparing for, participating in, and administering the Certification Level I, II, and III exams. ***Please note, for successful completion of a certification, all components of the exam must be completed in the Northwest, partial module passes in other divisions do not transfer.
Download the Snowboard Certification Guide 2022-23 (PDF)
Activity List (riding activities you will do during your exam)
Activity List Descriptions
View Snowboard Assessment Forms
Level I Prerequisites
- Become a Member
- Level I Online Professional Knowledge Exam
- Snowboard Level I E-Learning Course
- Level I On-Snow Registration
Level I Indoor Guide
This guide was created as a resource to be used for both trainers and new instructors in preparation for the Level I exam and also for more knowledge as an instructor. Its intent is to provide some bigger content ideas for further research and conversation.
Download the Snowboard Level I Indoor Guide (PDF)
Snowboard Technical Fundamentals
Listed below are the six Snowboarding Fundamentals. The Snowboarding Fundamentals remain consistent through all levels of certification; they are listed in no order or priority.
- Manage the board’s pivot through flexion/extension/rotation of lower body, together with, separate from, or in opposition to the upper body
- Manage edge angles through a combination of inclination and angulation
- Manage torsional flex of the board using independent or simultaneous flexion/extension of lower body joints
- Manage the relationship of the center of mass (CM) to the base of support (BOS) to direct pressure along the length of the board
- Manage the relationship of the center of mass (CM) to the base of support (BOS) laterally to direct pressure across the width of the board
- Regulate magnitude of pressure created through board/surface interaction
National Standards
These standards are the same across the country – transferable from division to division. Level III is the highest certification and meets International Snowsports Instructors Alliance (ISIA) standards. You can take your certification to a global level and teach all over the world.
