First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast

In Episode 756 of the First Chair Podcast, George Thomas continues the conversation with Dr. Josh Pighetti to explore the remaining three of the Five Elements of Inspirational Instruction: Masterful Teaching, Personal and Professional Character, and the Student-Centered Approach. These principles—rooted in Josh's doctoral research—offer actionable strategies to create meaningful, engaging lessons that put students at the heart of the learning experience. This conversation is part of PSIA-AASI's ongoing partnership with Penn State University, which supports instructors through access to online snowsports courses, certification-aligned academic programs, and advanced degrees. Leaders like Josh are helping shape a more inspired and research-driven future for snowsports education. Catch up on Part 1 if you missed it, and visit thesnowpros.org to learn more about this exciting collaboration.

In Episode 755 of the First Chair Podcast, George Thomas talks with Dr. Josh Pighetti about the first two of the Five Elements of Inspirational Instruction: Technical Expertise and Instructional Communication. These insights come from Josh's doctoral research and offer practical tools for creating more impactful, student-centered lessons have powerful implications for instructors at all levels. This work is part of a growing collaboration between PSIA-AASI and Penn State University, aimed at expanding access to online snowsports courses, certification pathways, and academic programs — from undergraduate degrees to master's and Ph.D. studies. Researchers like Josh and emerging leaders like Sierra are helping shape the future of snowsports education. Listen to the next episode to continue the dive into Inspirational Instruction. To learn more about this collaboration, head to thesnowpros.org.

In this episode of First Chair, PSIA-AASI National Team member Lyndsey Stevens joins host George Thomas to discuss her recent achievement of earning her Adaptive Snowboard Level III certification — the first in over a decade in the Rocky Mountain Region. Lyndsey shares how her path into adaptive snowsports began at Vail, and how that experience reshaped her approach to teaching and riding. She talks about the preparation process, the value of teamwork and mentorship, and the pressure of pursuing high-level certification as a team member. This conversation offers insights into the commitment behind certification success and reinforces the importance of staying curious and adaptable — no matter where you are in your snowsports career. Learn more at thesnowpros.org.

In this episode, George Thomas talks with Brian Pate and Derek Mikulski from Gibbon Slacklines about how balance training can elevate your performance on snow. They dive into the science behind balance, stability, and body awareness—and how the Gibbon Giboard offers a fun and effective way to build those skills. For instructors, the Giboard is more than just a balance toy—it's a versatile training tool that reinforces key fundamentals like foot-to-core connection, coordination, and proprioception. It's compact, easy to set up, and ideal for both personal use and student progressions off the hill. PSIA-AASI members get a special discounts on Giboards through their pro offers. Learn more about membership and Gibbon by heading to thesnowpros.org.

Episode 752: Inside National Academy: A Conversation with Jeff Lifgren by PSIA-AASI First Chair Podcast

In this episode, George Thomas catches up with PSIA-AASI Snowboard Team member Lyndsey Stevens. They chat about the shift into spring riding, exam season, and what it's like to go through National Team tryouts—not once, but twice. Lyndsey shares her perspective on coaching at Rider Rally, prepping for an adaptive exam, and her excitement about Interski 2027 coming to her home mountain, Vail. A great listen for anyone passionate about snowsports and professional growth.

On this episode, we chat with Josh Pighetti who just earned his doctorate degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management. This has taken over two years to complete and has a direct relation to snowsports instruction. Learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org. Over the last few years, I'd been researching how snowsports instructors can inspire their students to continue learning and participating. Through observations of PSIA-AASI National Team members in action, combined with in-depth interviews with them and their students, I found that inspirational instruction consists of five major elements: Technical Expertise, Instructional Communication, Masterful Teaching, Personal and Professional Character, and Student-Centered Approach. These elements form the framework of inspirational instruction, shaping how we can inspire lifelong engagement and passion in snowsports. Tune in for more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, we chat with Jen Lockwood, training coordinator at Mount Hood Meadows Ski and Ride School, about building a strong instructor culture. Jen shares insights on developing training programs, balancing staff education with guest experience, and fostering career growth within PSIA-AASI. We also discuss the importance of adaptive instruction, how training structures vary across regions, and innovative approaches like night training and virtual education. Tune in for a deep dive into what it takes to develop great instructors and a thriving snowsports school.

On this episode, we chat with Ying Liu about the 2025 PSIA-AASI Women's Summit at Solitude, an event dedicated to skill development, inclusivity, and connection. Ying dives into this year's theme, “Connecting Through Power and Grace,” and how it applies to both skiing and teaching. We explore key takeaways from the event, including technical coaching insights, the role of telemark skiing in building a beginner's mindset, and how proper boot fitting can dramatically impact performance. Ying also shares her experience skiing with PSIA-AASI national team members, testing the latest ski technology like CARV sensors, and how a unique coaching analogy involving a rodeo clown helped improve lateral movement on snow. Plus, we discuss what's ahead for the 2026 Women's Summit in Steamboat and how the event continues to evolve to support and inspire female snowsports professionals. Don't miss this conversation packed with insights, inspiration, and a few unexpected surprises! Learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org.

In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down with Jeff Lifgren, the newly appointed CEO of PSIA-AASI. Jeff shares his journey from working at top destination resorts like Breckenridge and Park City to leading ski schools across the country, including smaller Mid-Atlantic resorts. He discusses the value of diverse teaching experiences, his commitment to professional development, and his vision for PSIA-AASI's future. Tune in to hear Jeff's thoughts on leadership, innovation in snowsports education, and how PSIA-AASI can better support its members—whether they're full-time instructors, weekend warriors, or lifelong enthusiasts. Plus, get a sneak peek at upcoming events like National Academy and Interski! Learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org.

Tune in and learn more about our newest Cross Country team member, Justin Arndt. Justin got his first certification in the Rocky Mountain region at the age of 16 and climbed the ranks all the way to a National Team member at the age of 21. At 21, Justin is the youngest member to ever join the team. He talks about his journey and some of the challenges and successes he's faced along the way. Justin's parents are also well intertwined in the snowsports industry as current and previous instructors in Colorado. Justin earned his Alpine, Telemark and Cross Country Level 1 certification alongside his mom! Learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org.

Join us for an interesting chat with Pete Allison who just got back from Bulgaria where he attended the first International Symposium on Snow Sports Education, an event organized by the National Sports Academy "Vassil Levski" in Bulgaria. The symposium brought together experts, educators, and industry professionals to discuss the development and improvement of snow sports education in the region. The symposium aims to facilitate discussions on best practices, methodologies, and innovations in snow sports education. The event explored teaching techniques, safety measures, technological advancements, and ways to enhance participation in snow sports. Hosted by the National Sports Academy (NSA) "Vassil Levski", a leading institution in Bulgaria specializing in sports education and training. This symposium represents an important opportunity for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to strengthen the future of snow sports instruction in the region. Learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org.

Join us on this fun episode with Angelo Ross and Pete Allison as they discuss the benefits of traveling to a new region to take clinics or assessments in other regions across the country. To Angelo, the benefits are endless. From navigating a new parking lot to meeting new people to experiencing the way other people teach, traveling to another region can open your mind. Pete dives into how academia works this way too. People study abroad, they go to lectures, and they absorb as much as they can from different sources to make themselves a more well-rounded individual. What's your point of view on this topic?

National Team members Matt Larson and Peter Novom join us this week for a deep dive into the benefits of trying and joining freestyle events. Freestyle is an exploration of skiing and snowboarding. Freestyle is an exploration of your own skills and a way to expand your horizons. Hear about the ins and outs of park rules, apprehensions, and excitement that can all stem from freestyle. Register for Freestyle Academy and learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org.

Join us for this introductory chat with Nicole LaVoi, Ph. D., creator of CoachingHER, a digital education platform designed to help coaches and instructors better support female athletes. Developed by the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota, it provides evidence-based resources to address gender bias, foster inclusivity, and enhance coaching effectiveness. The program includes self-paced modules, expert insights, and tools to create a more empowering sports environment for girls and women. PSIA-AASI members have free access to Coaching HER to improve their instruction. Learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org under the Professional Development tab.

Pete Allison and Angelo Ross join us again talking this time about the words we use and why they matter. Angelo discusses defining the real-life experiences of learning the language of the craft of snowsports instructing and why it matters to not only educate your guests but also educate yourself so you can more appropriately deliver teaching and technical concepts. Pete goes on to talk about how much information people can take in and why because of that, instructors need to keep it simple. Learn more by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org under the events tab.

Join us for a chat with George Thomas and Eric Sheckleton, an original member of the AASI Snowboard team from 1996-2000 and current President of Interski. Erik was a key player in the formation of the original Rider Rally back in 1999 which was held at Whitefish, Montana. Eric worked with Randy Price, another AASI Team member, to bring the first national Rider Rally to Big Sky, Montana in 2000. They spent a week exploring and finding ways to build the snowboard community with fun and comradery to much avail. Erik looks back at the history of Rider Rally from 1999 to now and shares excitement that the 25th Rider Rally is happening this year as a stand-alone event at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Learn more about the PSU certification program by tuning in and going to thesnowpros.org under the events tab.

Join us for a chat with George, Pete and Mark about the Penn State instructor training program. Mark works as an instructor in the Eastern Region and learned about the PSU program in 2023. Since then, he has successfully completed the course and shared his thoughts on the process. TL;DR, the program was easy,and efficient, provided many “ah-ha" moments and connected the dots between instruction and leisure seamlessly. The program is completely online done through the PSU World Campus making access to the course very easy. Mark goes on to explain his drive to complete this course and what he plans on doing next. Learn more about the PSU certification program by tuning in and at thesnowpros.org under the events tab.

Eric Rolls, the Technical Coach for the AASI Snowboard Team joins us this week to talk about the 25th anniversary of Rider Rally – one of the largest snowboarders-only events in the country! Rider Rally 2025 will be held April 21-25 at Copper Mountain in Colorado. The first Rider Rally event happened in the winter of 1999/2000 and 25 years later, we're bringing back the independence and radness of Rider Rally. There is a lot of history about this event and how it came to be. Listen in to hear Eric talk about this history and what to expect from the upcoming event. Interested in registering? Do it soon, prices go up on February 1. Learn more about Rider Rally by tuning in and going to thesnowpros.org under the events tab.

Geoff Krill, the PSIA Adaptive Team coach, joins us from Breckenridge, Colorado where the Hartford Ski Spectacular Adaptive event just wrapped up. Geoff talks about the ski instructor academy where National Team members and Education Staff from regions around the country came to learn, explore and connect with others. The point that was hit home much of the week, is that good adaptive teaching is just good teaching. You don't need to teach to the equipment, teach to the person. Learn more about Move United and teaching adaptive winter sports. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

One of the biggest opportunities that stems from the PSIA-AASI resources is the professional development opportunity. Join podcast host George Thomas and guest Pete Allison chat through ways to organize your goals. Between local, regional and national events, on top of trainings and lessons – there are plenty of options around to help you professionally develop. Pro development doesn't have to be just one thing, it could be as simple as taking care of yourself and allowing yourself the time to decompress. It could be just reading an article a week on a special topic or hanging with friends. The difference comes into play when you make the decision to choose yourself. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

Penn State University and PSIA-AASI have had a solid relationship for years. One of the big results of this partnership is a new course designed to allow you to easily earn college credit online while working towards your level 1 certification in any discipline. This course (RPTM 215) is truly revolutionary as it provides a breadth of education outside of snowsports instruction as well as material directly correlated to PSIA-AASI standards. Sign up for this course before the holidays to ensure you get a spot! On this episode, you'll learn about the course and what it takes to complete it. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

Sometimes stories come across your feed that just hit you right in the feels. That's what happened with Ben Nilsson when we asked “How do you use your snowsports education training in other areas of your life.” Ben responded and mentioned he had been in a horrific accident on the mountain leaving him with a long road to recovery. Ben mentioned how the training he got from PSIA-AASI and the way he learned to teach students was exactly what he used to get himself better and to a point where he is back on the mountain and planning on attending clinics this season. We're so thankful for members who are constantly working to better themselves by employing resources found through PSIA-AASI. Listen to this pod to hear a heartfelt story on recovery and inspiration. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

Tune into this bonus episode where we chat with the Director of Operations from the Rocky Mountain region as their Season Kickoff event happening. There's a big group of instructors in the background having a good time so apologies for the sound quality but listen in to hear more about the event and why there are so many members there from other regions. Enjoy the bonus content!

On this feature episode, we're chatting with Interski President and former AASI Snowboard Team member Eric Sheckleton. You'll also hear from Pete Allison, a regular guest on First Chair Podcast and Pete Kray, the Lead Writer for PSIA-AASI. This group is chatting about Interski, what it is, what it means and how we're preparing for the return of Interski to the US! Interski has not been in the US since it came to Aspen in 1968. Similar to the PSIA-AASI National Team, other countries have skiers and riders who represent the best instructors and coaches from their country. Every four years, Interski travels to a new country where members from 32-36 separate countries come together to share, network and grow the sport and the education around snowsports. The last Interski in 2023 was in Levi, Finland. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

PSIA Alpine Team Member Kevin Jordan sits down with our podcast host, George Thomas at Team Training to chat about what the week of Training entailed. Kevin goes into detail talking about what the week holds and what the larger goals were to come from this event. There was more of a mechanical focus to this Training that involved some pre-work relating to the basic parallel turn. Kevin talks about what it's like to be a two-term member and how this term is already a bit different than the last. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

CARV is a PSIA-AASI Official Supplier which provides data on your skiing. Dozens of pressure and motion sensors work to provide you with data that can help you improve your skiing. CARV used to be a insertable footbed product but due to its popularity and use, they've updated it to be a clip on attachment. CARV tracks your ski IQ, which is similar to Strava, where you can track your skiing metrics and get tips on how you can improve. This tool can provide you with extra help for your instruction needs or for your own benefit. PSIA-AASI members get pro offers on CARV products. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

AASI Snowboard Team member Brian Donovan joins us again for Part 2 of The Good, The Great and the Let's Maybe Not Try That Again. In this episode, George and Brian chat about things that are going to help make your lessons more fun, more engaging and help you further your certifications. Brian talks about how instructors are very good at describing the “what” in a lesson. Do this to fix that. Sometimes the student needs the “how” and the “when” to be thoroughly described as well. They then go into assessment and certification tricks and how you can work towards bettering yourself during assessments. Treating and exam you may be conquering the same way you'd conquer teaching a lesson, is a good way to ease your mind. Tune in for much more and learn more at thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Andy Stein who is the Digital Marketing Manager for PSIA-AASI. You may have seen Andy on the recent social series “American Snow: The History of US Snowsports Instruction" where he discussed the history of PSIA-AASI. On this episode, Andy and George chat about putting tiny habits into motion and relevant areas where you can apply this outside of snowsports. George explains SMART goals and relates that to any goal you're working on. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Pete Allison, Associate Professor at Penn State University and Josh Pighetti, Ph.D candidate researching how to be inspirational in your teaching regarding snowsports instruction and PSIA-AASI. Pete talks about where this research topic came from – the 2021 PSIA-AASI National Team tryouts – and how PSIA-AASI can work towards every instructor being inspirational. Josh goes on to explain the 5 main themes of his research and how they relate to the Learning Connection Model (LCM). This is an extraordinary episode with a lot of great information and ideas – take the time to listen to it in its entirety. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Pete Allison, Associate Professor at Penn State University. Pete has been working with PSIA-AASI for nearly a decade and is working to prove the value and worth of a PSIA-AASI certification. The (Learning Connection Model) LCM is PSIA-AASI's main educational tool. It identifies the student as the center of three pillars of great instruction. People, Teaching and Technical Skills. George and Pete chat about how to make the technicalities in teaching on snow more fun and engaging. This discussion dives into some of the intricacies of being good at teaching and people skills, but not being as good at delivering technical ideas in a fun way. Pete goes on to talk about how giving students 1-2 things to work on at a time is more efficient than calling everything out at once. “Drip feed” your students and make them aware that what they're doing will feel different and new and reassure them that this is a good thing. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Angelo Ross who's the Education Development Manager for PSIA-AASI. In this episode, George and Angelo talk about being honest about what's going on in your life. This is a great episode on finding ways to start identifying and producing solutions to tough teaching situations you may face. Angelo talks about how important it is to dive into and immerse yourself in snowsports culture. What do you think about this topic? Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Ben Potts – a PSIA National Alpine Team member. On this episode, George and Ben talk about what life's like in New Zealand. Ben and George chatted back on pod 712 while Ben was teaching at the Woodward camp at Copper Mountain in Colorado. After New Zealand, Ben may stop in South America before heading back to the States for a few weeks break ahead of the PSIA-AASI National Team Training in early November in Colorado. So, needless to say he's been busy this summer (winter?). Ben is in New Zealand for Rookies Academy which offers camps and instructor training in New Zealand, Italy, Japan, USA, Canada and China - bringing together passionate skiers from around the world. Ben walks us through a week in the life of an instructor in New Zealand and talks about his highlight of the year so far. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas (LIII Alpine) catches up with Angelo Ross who's the Education Development Manager for PSIA-AASI. On this episode, George and Angelo talk about purposeful warmups. A purposeful warmup is an exercise that you are very mindful about. It can be a physical warmup or a mental warmup. Angelo gives several examples of what this looks like and how to apply it to whichever student you are teaching. There are plenty of purposeful warmups that you can do that work for you personally and will provide benefit to you and the student. What do you think about this topic? Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas catches up with Pete Allison, Penn State Associate Professor of Values and Experiential Learning, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. This episode is part 2 of where you'll learn about the PSU certificate program that is offered through the PSU Global Campus. Today, George and Pete discuss the making of the PSU mascot and motto, syllabus week and how to better engage students at the beginning of a lesson. They chat about teaching in general and connecting with your students no matter the topic. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas catches up with Maggie Loring who is the chair of the Women's Council for Equity and Inclusion (WCEI). Maggie talks about the history of the women's council and what their goals and objectives are. Maggie talks about one of the main focal points is finding and they are working to improve the pipeline for women in snowsports to achieve career goals within the industry. George and Maggie talk about how the WCEI is a member resource that anyone can tap into to help progress their own initiatives within the industry. Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas catches up with Pete Allison, Penn State Associate Professor of Values and Experiential Learning, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. Since 2016, the Penn State Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management in the College of Health and Human Development has been working closely with PSIA-AASI to evolve the association's National Standards, Performance Guides, Assessment Forms, and to transform practices to be consistent across the country based on What Makes a Great Snowsports Instructor. The partnership has been key to aligning PSIA-AASI's educational framework and structure, while unifying the professional experience for snow pros across the nation. The certificate program has just launched for this semester and is going well! Tune in to hear more or head to thesnowpros.org.

We're diving into the teaching situations, national standards, teaching with guests and much more with AASI Team member Brian Donovan. Brian and George discuss the full gamut of how to create great experiences with our students and guests. The first topic discussed is how important good communication is, which devolves to new hire training, figuring out the goals of the instructor and your student, and how to help them achieve them. Tune in to hear more about some of the intricacies of teaching snowsports and how you can improve at assessments and certifications, for more, head to thesnowpros.org.

Geek out with some pro snowboarders and hear about how snowboards are made, how to choose the right board for you and how to help your students find the right board for them. AASI Snowboard Team member Lyndsey Stevens and AASI Snowboard Team alum Chuck Hewitt sit down with Tony Sasgen from Never Summer to discuss all things snowboarding. Listen to this fun bonus episode and get some useful insights on how to manage your board and learn more about why a snowboard is made the way it is. Learn more at thesnowpros.org

What's up, Snow Pros? Check out this pod with Rob Berlin. An instructor at Copper Mountain with his Snowboard Level III and Freestyle III certifications. First Char Podcast host George Thomas talks with Rob about all things Freestyle like the exam process, how to work towards getting certified, and his pathway to success in the industry. Coming from the Midwest, Rob moved to the Rockie Mountains after college and tuned into becoming an instructor. Rob is now on the Intermountain Development Team hoping to get on the Education Staff in the future. Learn more about Freestyle skiing and riding by heading to thesnowpros.org.

On this episode, podcast host George Thomas catches up with Kevin Jordan, a skier on the PSIA Alpine Team. Kevin and George talk about summers in Colorado and what is happening in Kevin's neck of the woods as a Mountain Bike Instructor at the mountain bike school in Aspen, CO. They chat all things mountain biking and instruction from Colorado. Listen in to hear the insights of going from a ski instructor to a mountain bike instructor. Learn more: thesnowpros.org.

On this special episode, we sit down with National Team member Kevin Jordan, National Team Alumna Brenna Kelleher, and Alex Jackson from CARV. Alex talks about what CARV does and how it can help you get better on snow. Brenna discusses how CARV is your "accountability partner" when your physical snowsports instructor can't be there. Kevin discusses why he uses CARV and what they're doing in Portillo. Listen in to learn how CARV can help you ski and improve how you teach. PSIA-AASI members can get great discounts on CARV products by using their pro offers. Learn more by heading to thesnowpros.org.

Listen to this podcast to hear how setting attainable goals and managing those goals can help propel you further into a professional snowsports career. You'll also hear how this applies to other areas of your life. Angelo Ross, the Education and Development Manager for PSIA-AASI chats with podcast host George Thomas about the importance of setting attainable goals. Check out Episode 714 to hear from Angelo on why experimentation and exploration when giving lessons is important. Then, head to Episode 710 and hear about The Expert Trap and how to avoid trapping your students in one. For more, head to thesnowpros.org.

In this episode, podcast host George Thomas catches up with the Education and Development Manager Angelo Ross at PSIA-AASI. Put faces to the names and find our podcasts on YouTube! George and Angel chat about Experimentation and Exploration in on-snow lessons. In a previous episode, George and Angelo talk about playfulness in lessons. This is the second part of episode 706. Angelo talks about the differences and comparisons between exploration and experimentation. Angelo dives into details about how this applies to lessons of all lessons and he relates instruction to science. Giving a snowsports lesson is like experimenting. Angelo talks about ways to use experimentation and exploration in lessons and how not to overwhelm students. Head to thesnowpros.org.

In this episode, George Thomas switches sides and is the guest this week. George has a plethora of education in snowsports and in health and body sciences. Currently, George is working on a Nicotine Sensation program at the hospital where he works and one of the topics is tiny habits and how a small changes in your routine can help make bigger tasks more attainable. He goes on to say that the communication styles he learned from PSIA-AASI helped him create this program. Learn more about Tiny Habits and the story behind the series and hear some real-life examples of how this works. Stay tuned for more on Tiny Habits and insights from instructors across the PSIA-AASI community.

George Thomas catches up with a few instructors (Rob Berlin, Aleah Martinez, and Ben Potts) from Woodward-Copper. Woodward hosts on-snow summer camps by saving snow from the previous season and placing it in a particular location on the mountain. Kids get bussed up to the pile of snow and lap the close-to 900-foot magic carpet. The instructors and kids lap that carpet for the entire day. Aliyah talks about how she googled "where can you ski in the summertime" and that's what led her to find Woodward-Copper. Ben teaches snowboarding at Woodward and talks about how he enjoys the variety of kids that come and what interests they bring. The four talk about some challenges and successes that come from teaching kids at a summer camp and what makes this a rewarding and super fun experience. Learn more about snowsports instruction by heading to thesnowpros.org.

PSIA-AASI First Chair Podcast host George Thomas catches up with multi-term National Team member Chris Rogers. Chris is on the snowboard team and spends most of his year on snow. George and Chris chat about what the offseason looks like for a snowsports instructor or at least what his and his friend's experiences are. Burnout is real and having ways to combat fatigue is important to making yourself the best instructor you can be. Listen in for real-life experiences on how to prepare your mind and body in the offseason for another winter ahead. Chris mentions stand-up paddle boarding, wake surfing, and wake foiling are great activities to do to maintain some of those stability muscles used in the winter. What are you doing to stay prepared for winter?

PSIA-AASI First Chair Podcast host George Thomas catches up with Angelo Ross again. Angelo is the Education Development Manager at PSIA-AASI and is a wealth of knowledge on many topics. George and Thomas talk about the "Expert Trap" and how it impacts lessons and how you can be more aware that you're doing it. The Expert Trap is when students get or feel trapped by their expert instructors as they share all the knowledge they know. As explained, instructors sometimes feel they should give all the information at once rather than in more bite-sized pieces. George and Angelo discuss some examples of this, some reasons why this happens, and some practical ways to avoid being too overwhelming as a teacher. As it often does, it comes down to student-centered teaching and adapting to the needs of the learner. The tools to learn this and apply it can all be found in PSIA-AASI education materials. Head to shop.thesnowpros.org to find the right tools for your lessons.

PSIA-AASI First Chair Podcast host George Thomas catches up with Ben Potts. Ben has made the National Team for another term and reflects on what this experience was like compared to other selections. George and Ben talk about what the planning looked like leading up to the 2024-28 team selection and what's ahead as this next term begins. Ben is working at Woodward Copper in Colorado on snow with summer camps and students. Later this summer he'll be heading to New Zealand to focus on instructor training before he comes back to the states for next winter!

Ever thought about going for a certification in another discipline? Listen in on this episode with First Chair host George Thomas and PSIA-AASI Education Development Manager, Angelo Ross, about why you might consider this approach. "I've quit thinking of everything I do as separate disciplines ... I have reframed them all into trying to figure out how my body works. When I started taking that approach to skateboarding, telemarking ... that was the thing that tied all these disciplines together in my mind."

Meet Stacy Garcia, a college student who went from never skiing to taking her first lesson to becoming a certified PSIA-AASI Level 1 Alpine instructor in just 14 months. Listen in on her conversation with First Chair host George Thomas as she tells the story of her rapid rise after falling completely in love with skiing as an adult.