Working my way through the certification levels reminded me of my younger days learning how to play the cello, and more recent memories of performing concertos in concert halls. Cognitively there have been times when I have felt like a child in primary school but also a college student studying at the University of the APSI. When I first became a ski instructor, I had no idea how multi-layered the profession would be. I did not realise that our role as an “instructor” entails so much more than just providing instructions. I recently gave a presentation to instructors from the Beaver Creek Ski & Snowboard School in Colorado, and asked them what other words they could use to describe their roles as an “instructor”. The most common responses were “coach,” “concierge,” “guide,” “friend” and “leader”. More interesting responses included “psychologist,” “mood setter,”
December 2020
“facilitator,” “motivator,” “cheerleader” and “vacation coordinator”. Ski instructing in the U.S has its differences, but I have also been hiking, pulled thorns out of my leg, searched for wombats, and hugged trees while working as an instructor Down Under. Overall, instructing has taught me so much more than just skiing, so I thought I would share some of the lessons I have learnt on my journey so far.
1. Learn and Relearn The learning process never stops, and even if you have learnt something before, there is a good chance you will need to learn it again. When I was performing, I thought that for every day I did not practice my cello, I would be set back two days in ability. It is similar with skiing. At the start of every winter, I always feel like I do not know how to ski. Even though I can end a previous season smashing double black runs, having been off snow for a few weeks or months makes me feel completely out of practice and lose confidence in ability. Additionally, time off snow is not the only reason why we relearn. Overtime, I have learnt more about how I learn. I used to think that I learnt visually, but now I am more interested in the feeling of a movement, making me more of a kinaesthetic learner. Learning is a neverending process and the more you embrace it, the easier everything gets.
apsi snowpro
Before skiing became the centre of my life, I played the cello for a living and worked as a performing musician in the classical music industry. Therefore, when I became a ski instructor in June 2018, it felt like I was moving from planEt Mars to Jupiter.
By Jo Dee Yeoh
Seven Lessons I’ve Learnt From Ski Instructing
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