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Spring 2005 The Official Publication of the Professional Ski Instructors of America Eastern/Education Foundation Marty Harrison Receives PSIA Educational Excellence Award by Bill Hetrick, SnowPro Editor Marty Harrison, Director of PSIA-E Re- organized the annual children’s symposium. gion 2, and member of the PSIA-E Board of Marty became the first Chairperson of Directors, has been honored with the PSIA the new PSIA National Children’s Committee National “Award for Educational Excellence”, in 1988. That committee started the National recognizing her leadership role in bringing Children’s Symposium, developed a number children’s issues to the forefront, both divi- of educational materials for teaching children, sionally and nationally. This is a prestigious and created the JETs (National Children’s award that recognizes exceptional members Educational Team). The development of the who, over the years, have authored AASI/PSIA CAP model was one of the contributions of educational materials, and/or have contributed that group. significantly to, and possibly even changed, She then served additional terms on the the educational direction of AASI/PSIA. They PSIA-E Board beginning in 2000, and continu- have exhibited dedication, devotion, and ing to the end of the present term in 2006. self-sacrifice as they have contributed to the She was appointed Treasurer during this pe- Marty Harrison AASI/PSIA educational system. Marty’s name riod, and serves on the Executive Committee. will be inscribed on a permanent Educational Marty has served on four special task forces Excellence plaque in the national office. The for PSIA-E, including the 15 Below club, the award was presented to Marty during this Organizational Task Force, and chairing the year’s National Academy at Snowbird. Children’s Task Force. She participated in the on the inside Marty started her teaching career at last three Strategic Planning Sessions for the Round Top, VT, part time in 1968. She moved organization. Editor’s Desk 2 to Okemo in 1970, and went full time in 1971. Marty is, indeed, a star among the PSIA-E She earned her PSIA-E Certification in 1976, and PSIA volunteer staff, and we all take great President's Message 3 and became Ski School Director at Okemo in pride in the fact that she has been recognized Around the Regions 8 1982, a position she held until retiring as the by the PSIA national organization with the Learning Center Director at Okemo in 2002. prestigious Educational Excellence Award. "15 Below" Club 14 She served one term on the PSIA-E Board Congratulations, Marty, for your many stellar New Certification Passes 16 of Directors in the mid-eighties, and started accomplishments in the snowsports industry, the PSIA-E Children’s Committee in1986. Over especially in promoting and supporting the the next two years the committee published teaching of children. And, thank you for your the first children’s teaching manual, produced many years of loyal and dedicated service to the first video about teaching children, and PSIA and PSIA-E. ◆◆ PSIA-E/AASI 2005 Election Results Region Board of Directors Operational Committees Director Representative Alpine Education & Snow Sports Certification Management 5 Mickey Sullivan Ron Kubicki Roger Zilliox To be appointed 6 Sue Moses Scott Allard Larry Dean Doug Holl The above chart lists the results of the winter 2005 elections for the PSIA-E Board of Directors and operational Committees. Appointments to open spots will be made at the June 3-5 Board of Directors meeting. Region 1 and 2 will hold elections in 2006. SnowPro ◆ Spring 2005 ◆ Page 1 to teach stopping, gliding, turning in both directions, and staying on the Editor’s Desk trail. Learning areas could have simple maps showing numbered contoured Guest Editorial paths that teach skills and enhance success. Features like plateaus, banked Volume 31, Number 5 tracks and diagonal paths would gently Bill Hetrick, Editor guide our first-time guests. The official publication of the Professional Intermediate-zone skiers and rid- Ski Instructors of America-Eastern Education Enhanced ers could play and learn in subdued boarder/ Foundation. skier- cross courses. Trails could be sculpted 1-A Lincoln Avenue with a series of gentle concave paths running Albany, NY 12205-4907 Guest Surface down the length of the trail. Each concavity Phone 518-452-6095 would be separated by a small berm. Carving Fax 518-452-6099 could be learned in the concave paths, and www.psia-e.org by Peter Howard absorption practiced on the berms. Patches of General Information PSIA-E Education-Certification moguls could alternate between patches of flat Submission of articles, photos or other Chairman trail, allowing skiers and riders to take short items for publication is invited. Computer practice mogul runs followed by opportunities generated documents MUST be in IBM- No, this is not an end-of-season pep rally to rest and control speed. compatible format, and accompanied by about the virtues and necessity of guest ser- Extreme gardens could simulate surfaces hard copy. Send all materials directly to: vice, with a misspelled title. This is about what and pitches of higher or steeper mountains for Bill Hetrick, Editor could be a new philosophy of premeditated guests who like to play in the advanced zone. 110 Hubler Rd. surface shaping for the education and enjoy- A trail could be left ungroomed, and the cover State College, PA 16801 ment of skiers and riders. When fully imple- “dusted” as needed throughout the season. Phone 814-466-7309 mented, guests could have as much choice Strips of ice could be purposely placed so [email protected] and enjoyment as they now experience with learning to ski on ice takes place by choice, and Pro Shop header and Your Turn header photos modern ski designs. in a predictable environment. Moguls could be left throughout the season in selected spots, by Scott Markewitz. Courtesy of PSIA. Many winters in the East begin with a pro- All submitted material is subject to editing. groomed for desired size and lines, and dusted longed period of cold with minimal snowfall. Its use, whether solicited or not, is at the Thankfully, snowmaking allows us to ski and periodically to maintain desired conditions. discretion of the editorial staff. All published ride, albeit on a flat firm surface. This year in The possibilities for enhanced guest surfaces material becomes the property of PSIA-E/EF. the Northeast, February brought abundant are many, limited only by the imagination of Articles are accepted on the condition that snow, and abundant smiles. I once heard an management and the skills of the grooming they may be released for publication in all Austrian race coach say, “If you don’t like jumps department. National and Divisional publications. and bumps, take up basketball - the playing And, speaking of grooming, none of this is field is flat”. His point was that skiing and meant to belittle the difficult job our groom- SnowPro is published five times per year by the Professional Ski Instructors of America- riding are about terrain, texture and surface. ers and snow makers perform. They are the reason we really are not playing basketball Eastern Education Foundation. Permission When it snows we learn, smile, and glory in is hereby given to all National and Divisional in January. Most groomers and snowmakers the variety. publications to copy original material from this Ski areas already know that shaped terrain are craftsmen, and their creativity goes well newsletter providing credit is given to PSIA- can entertain and capture customers. Terrain beyond mowing things flat. E/EF and the author, and the material is not parks are the prime example. Areas also take From a risk management perspective, altered. Articles that contain specific copyright the time to prepare slopes for things like speed trails with noticeable surface features tend to notices may not be reprinted without written events, skier/boarder-cross courses, mogul slow down skiers and riders. Certain surfaces permission from the author. competitions, and tubing. and features are likely to attract a certain It is only a small intuitive leap to start style or ability of skier or rider. This has the Subscriptions: Non-members can purchase a subscription to SnowPro by becoming an Af- providing enhanced surfaces for everyone. In potential to improve area traffic patterns and lessen both physical and “cultural” collisions. filiate at the rate of $20 per year. Contact the a sense, the surface is already being shaped. Albany, NY office at the address above. It is likely that trails would have a posted It’s being shaped flat. Certainly, ripping some Note: Material published in SnowPro which arcs in the corduroy or enjoying family cruising notice announcing that the surface has been has been provided by persons not writing in on the groomers will have its rightful place in shaped in a certain way, with suggestions for an official capacity, and for official purposes, the foreseeable future at most areas. Still, after its use. If the surface is well designed, guests is the responsibility of the author, and is not months on blue–black boulevards of feature- would learn behaviors conducive to selecting necessarily endorsed by the Association. less frozen carpet, you begin to wonder: Does the right tactics for terrain they are likely to PSIA-E/EF reserves the right to refuse or edit it matter which trail is chosen? Does it matter encounter in the future. Snowsports schools all advertising. much how people ski and ride? Is anybody could provide guidance to fully utilizing the learning much of anything? Where am I? Is shaped surfaces. there a reason why the beginners who have As snowsports educators, we know how the toughest time learning seem be able to much difference the learning environment select the same alder patch to run into.