A Parent Guide for Getting Your Kid to Ski TL;DR If your child acts bored, refuses to listen, or seems like they couldn’t care less about skiing… you’re not alone. In ski school, we see this all the time. And here’s the truth: “I don’t care” usually means something else. Your kid might be cold,…
I was leading a clinic yesterday at Cascade Mountain, and at night we went into certification training. Doing that has helped me remember that there are changes happening, so this post is about those changes, as I understand them. Of course, go to the Central Division website for the latest information. PSIA Alpine Level 1…
How to Teach a Child to Turn on Skis The Bedtime Story That Gets Kids Turning on Skis If your child points their skis downhill and refuses to turn, you’re not alone. Most kids can stop… but turning feels scary, confusing, or just not worth it. And the more parents say “turn left… now turn…
There’s more to a ski trip than just skiing. Here are some fun, low-stress games you can play in the condo, at the lodge, or in the car on the way up the mountain – including one I created called On Your Mark that’s become a go-to background game on trips. Table of Contents Why…
The PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) Center Line Model serves as a framework for developing and evaluating skiing skills. It focuses on a balanced approach to skill development, emphasizing how the core movements of skiing—pressure control, edging, and rotary skills—integrate with balance and stance to create versatile and effective skiing. Here’s a concise breakdown:…
Why Choosing the Right Ski Width Matters for Your Knees I found this video and it’s pretty interesting. Skis now are getting wider, and they’re great for powder skiing, but I’ve heard about knee problems with wider skis. For myself, if a ski is too heavy, it hurts my knees on the chairlift with my…
So far, it’s been a very warm year in the Midwest. We didn’t get all runs open until mid January, there was a 21″ dump of snow, and then it got cold for about a week. Since then, there has only been small bouts of snow falling. Cascade closed last Sunday (one week early), and…
Here’s a YouTube playlist you may find useful. It’s from Nordica and they discuss fundamentals needed to help pass the PSIA Levels 1, 2, 3 exams: How To Pass Your Level I, II, or III Certification – Nordica | PSIA-AASI Be sure to choose the video for your particular level and then look at the…
We’ve been working the last, few weeks in the Level 1 training group we do on Wednesday nights to put together a good hockey stop progression. The reason we’re working on this is because one way an Examiner would be able to kill 2 birds with one stone is to have someone teach hockey stops…
As we near starting another, great ski season, it’s good to review some safety so that we all get home in our own vehicles, not in an ambulance. Skiing and snowboarding is an extreme sport. Because of that, we need to know the rules. Here’s a video I saw on Instagram. Who do you think…