APSI SNOWPRO 2020 EDITION

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A great snowsports instructor would be a role model to other instructors. Their professionalism would be kept to the highest standard, around guests and other instructors alike. A great instructor would also have a thorough knowledge of teaching and the mechanics of the skills they are teaching, and be able to present this information confidently and accurately. They will also need strong interpersonal skills to achieve easy rapport to create a relationship with their guests. Lastly, a great instructor would be constantly improving upon their own professional development, as there is always more to learn to stay at your peak. To be seen as a role model in the snowsports instructing industry, how you are perceived and your level of professionalism is key. This refers to the way

A great instructor should also deliver a great experience with their lessons. An instructor’s ability to achieve an easy rapport with their guest is a quick way to interact on a more friendly and personable basis. These strong interpersonal skills help to lessen the extent of the instructor being the boss and telling their guest what to do. In other words, less ‘instructing’ and more ‘conversation’. Understanding, showing empathy, and genuinely caring about your client will go a long way. Doing so will help allow the instructor to better read the guest on things such as their comfort levels, type of learner, and goals etc, and then act accordingly. The last fundamental I’ll write about is how a great instructor responds to their own professional development. Continually developing yourself through training to maintain your current standard and to grow with any changes is a must. A great instructor is also versatile and is open to learning, both in their own main discipline and in others. As primarily a snowboarder myself I thoroughly enjoy training and improving my skiing ability. This is with the goal of improving my overall instructing versatility and ability to transfer knowledge between disciplines. To conclude, a great instructor needs to possess many different qualities. A combination of professionalism, knowledge, people skills, and professional development allows this kind of instructor to go above and beyond, and deliver a great experience to their guest.

December 2020

The difference between a ‘good’ snowsports instructor and a ‘great’ snowsports instructor relies on a few key things.

Knowledge of your product is a second key fundamental. It is near impossible to convey a coherent explanation if you don’t fully understand the movement or mechanic yourself. As a ‘great’ instructor you are considered an expert in the field, and your knowledge should reflect that. This is not only in terms of technical knowledge, but also in the instructor’s ability to handle different ages, learning styles, weather conditions, class handling and a thorough knowledge of the alpine responsibility code.

apsi snowpro

Erik Flekander

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you portray yourself both in and out of work, and to guests and instructors alike. As a guest meeting their instructor for the first time, their expectation is of a refined professional product. First impressions count. Common courtesy, appropriate language and a professional attentive demeanour all add up.

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