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Fundamentals of a great snow sports instructor Danny Foster

There are many qualities that contribute to a great snow sports instructor. Many of these attributes are obvious, some less so. A large proportion of these qualities I believe can be encompassed by three overarching fundamentals; knowledge, communication and enjoyment. Although they are not all encompassing (for example technical skills and ability are significant aspects not covered), the three aforementioned fundamentals contribute significantly to a successful instructor.

Knowledge is paramount in what we do as it enables us to present methods to our guests that will deliver the best result. Without familiarity with content material and associated domains, an instructor can end up stumbling through a lesson with no real objective as well as present incorrect information in an inappropriate manner. Technical knowledge of our discipline is of course a key aspect of this fundamental, however to deliver an exemplary lesson an instructor requires a much broader knowledge base. Being aware of learning styles, class management, local terrain and snow conditions, learning phases, teaching tactics and progressions, physiology and psychology all contribute to an improved outcome for our guests. The greater an instructor’s knowledge base, the more tools they’ll have to reach their guests desired objectives.

Communication is perhaps even more significant to our profession than knowledge, for without

effective communication how would we successfully deliver our hard-earned information to our guests? Succinct and simple communication is key to our guests effective learning in the majority of scenarios we are presented with. It allows for greater comprehension of often unfamiliar topics, rather than overcomplication and confusion. We should also not merely think of communication as a one-way street in which we impart our knowledge, but a bi-directional flow between us and our guests. In this manner we will be able to establish an accurate picture of our guest. This may encompass their learning styles, fears, past experiences and prominently their objective(s). In addition to creating and following goals, bi-directional communication also enables a greater adherence to rules and boundaries (of greater importance when teaching children) as it provides greater feelings of involvement which transfers into increased motivation to adhere to the proposed goals, rules or boundaries.

Finally among the three key fundamentals, we have the incorporation of enjoyment. Ultimately, we and our guests all take part in snow sports as we derive some form on enjoyment from it. If we no longer find something enjoyable, chances are very high we will no longer partake in that activity. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule. Take for example an athlete in training (who has a focus on performance) or a partner forced to ski/board by their significant other (who has a focus on impressing their partner, or simply making it through the day). However, one could successfully argue that though their motivation may differ, the athlete derives enjoyment through better results and higher performance whilst the partner finds enjoyment from impressing their partner or from (hopefully) mastering a new skill. Essentially, enjoyment is at the core of what we do and without it, we would find ourselves in a dwindling industry. The onus is therefore on us as instructors to help facilitate enjoyment in our guests, both through meeting guest objectives and providing an entertaining and welcoming atmosphere.

As mentioned earlier the three proposed fundamentals are not all encompassing and there is a significant subset of values within the three core fundamentals that also have significant contributions to shaping a great instructor. The aforementioned technical skills and abilities contribute to the success of an excellent instructor, particularly for visual learners requiring demonstrations. Furthermore, professionalism (communication), preparedness (knowledge), flexibility, adaptability and an emphasis on safety (knowledge and communication) as well as professional development (across all three core fundamentals) are all integral values contributing to a great instructor. Nonetheless, I believe they all (with the exception of technical skills and abilities) fall within the suggested three core fundamentals of a great instructor; knowledge, communication and enjoyment.