7 Lessons I’ve learned from Ski Instructing

Seven Lessons I’ve Learnt From Ski Instructing

By Jo Dee Yeoh

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.

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,” “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.

…try to have three laugh attacks before lunch…

2. Give it Time

The learning curve is not linear, and some things just take time. I find myself saying this more and more to myself and my guests. There are so many variables that come into play when learning to ski or ride that we simply cannot expect progress to always be immediate. Worse still, when we lose patience, frustration kicks in and halts the learning process completely. Thus, I have learnt to be kind to myself. Those training days when you felt like you made no progress were not a waste of time. Be patient!

3. Have Goals and Celebrate Them

This sounds cheesy, but setting goals allows you to see your successes, and when you achieve them, they should be celebrated no matter how big or small. I find that setting goals that are not ski-specific with guests can turn out to be the most productive and fun days. Once I told a young guest that our goal was to “try to have three laugh attacks before lunch”. She was so relaxed and skied the best she had ever skied. Celebrating goals reinforces to yourself that you were successful, and this can give you confidence for other things in the future.

4. Anticipate and Predict

The more I work, the more I rely on my experience to make decisions. I have found that learning how to anticipate ad predict outcomes can help mitigate risk and increase future success. For example, the more you work with kids, the better you get at reading their faces/body language and interpreting their cries. Being able to read the face of anguish because a child does not want to ski, or the face of anguish because they urgently need to go to the toilet, is the difference between experiencing a “code brown” and dealing with a grumpy child. Skiing in Australia also means that snow conditions can change overnight an during the day, so being able to predict whether a run will be icy or bumpy is a worthwhile skill to develop. 5. Don’t Take Things For Granted

I was one of the more fortunate ones this year and I am grateful that I was able to ski and work at Mt Buller this season. It gave me a new level of appreciation for ski instructing as a profession and skiing when the lifts are running. I will never take chairlifts for granted again!

6. Remember to Have Fun and Enjoy Yourself

This sounds obvious, but it is important. I have already experienced what it is like to lose the joy in doing something with playing the cello. I am conscious not to do it with skiing, but I still have days, particularly when I am working towards a ski exam, when I forget that we slide on snow for fun. Taking technique too seriously can kill the passion.

7. Trust the Process

This has been the most novel and important lesson for me so far. When I was first told to “trust the process”, I struggled to make sense of the expression because I could not see “the process”. I have now realised that it is everything you do and don’t do. It is unique to the individual so there is no point comparing yourself to others. Trust your technique, trust your knowledge, and most importantly, trust yourself.

Overall, becoming an instructor turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I am thankful for all the lessons I have learnt so far and have applied them not only to my instructing career, but also to my life in general.