by Ed Kane
Senior education training opportunities continued to mature in 2009 with the help of a new Senior Education working committee consisting of Ed Kane, Dave Lucas, Nick McDonald, Larry Murdoch, Kim Petram, Ed Younglove, Juris Vagners, and Russ Peterson. Four Foundations accreditation sessions and two Senior Specialist 1 accreditation sessions were delivered in 2009 and the interest in these educational events continues from our 2007/2008 pilot year.
Experience from the pilot Senior Accreditation program in 2008 and early 2009 led to some changes. The indoor sessions were integrated into the on snow, one day Foundations and the two day Senior Specialist 1. Some of our members with experience in this field and divisional clinic leaders have offered to help to continue to expand and refine the curriculum.
The Senior Education Working Committee working jointly with the Education-Technical-Certification Committee (known as the ETC) who are comprised of Molly Fitch, the Education Vice President, Lane McLaughlin, the Technical Vice President, Chris Thompson, the Certification Vice President and Kirsten Huotte, the Education and Programs Director will be reviewing and discussing the senior events over the next few months, and will incorporate the clinics into the 2009/2010 Season Guide which will be published in the next Snowsports Instructor Newsletter due out in late November.
Legends. Continuing Symposium tradition, this will be an opportunity to ski with your friends and pick up a tip or two on your skiing or teaching. (Tour the mountain with some legends for a fun day of skiing designed for experienced skiers of all ages. Let them show you a thing or two!)
Adventure Skiing for Seniors. This would be a replacement for the Senior/Masters Tour that offers a chance to refine skill blending at a pace more in line with the Senior attributes. Challenge yourself on the mountain in the conditions de jour. Learn at a relaxed pace designed to provide you with peak performance experience and maximize your accomplishments in the conditions of your choice. Learn tactics and techniques for comfortably and confidently skiing steeps, off piste, bumps or ice.
Senior Specialist Foundations. Introduction and orientation to the Senior Specialist program. This clinic will lay out the foundation of information for working with Senior clients. Learn about their unique attributes and the tips and tricks that you can use to be successful with these students. Open the door for your continued learning and development of your teaching skills in this demographic specialty.
Senior Specialist 1. This next level in the Senior Specialist program provides information to help Senior teachers be more effective in meeting the needs of their students. With our increasing Boomer generation, many older people are learning to ski in their later years when they have more free time. This is a two day program that works to help equip you with the understanding, tools and tactics that address the needs of this generation of skiers. Workbook section and compilation of your teaching portfolio must be completed before attending. Pre-requisite is completion of Senior Specialist Foundations.
Stay tuned for more information and be sure to review the Season Guide so you don’t miss out on all these great offerings.
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