PSIA/AASI-NI Introducing Our New Board Members! and dad how to be a survivor, snowboard instructing. She work hard to be the best, and celebrates the enjoy life. Most winters she accomplishments made by enjoyed numerous days on her students sometimes even the slopes. Soldier Mountain more then they do. Being Ski Area was her weekend elected to the PSIA-AASI NI backyard. Board gives Beth new opportunities. Beyond the As an NCAA DII athlete and large amount of learning she kinesiology major at gets to do, Beth hopes to see Northwest Nazarene members realizing and Beth McLam grew up in University, Beth knew that enjoying the value of their Fairfield, Idaho. She spent following graduation she membership. She thinks this the majority of every would enjoy working in the first happens through former USAF/ANG summer helping out on the sports/recreation members staying informed instructor / evaluator pilot, as family farm. From industry. Being an athlete and being encouraged to well as an airline instructor / handling different and involved in sports is a connect with others in our evaluator pilot. irrigation systems, to highly prioritized thing she professional snowsports driving heavy equipment, strives for in life. Beth spent community. Beth looks He looks forward to serving to making inventive portions of her late/post- forward to this service with on the NI board and "farmer" repairs, Beth college winters and a summer gusto. representing the entire learned from her grandpa coaching high school membership. He would like basketball. Most of her other Gary Baarson was raised in to meet as many of his fellow jobs have been exploring Montana and has had a life instructors as possible, and Inside this issue: positions within the winter long love of skiing encourages the membership's mountain resort and sharing his love of the inputs and ideas to promote setting. Beth's winter sport with his students. His our division, our sport, and The Ski Season Does Not 2 position now is on the Sun parents were part of a group our profession. Comet to and End Valley Ski and Snowboard that started and built a ski Another Perspective on 4 instructors team. area in Montana. As a result, He can be contacted at: the Western Division he grew up on skis. 208-938-0472 Symposium in Mammoth Beth has a fascination with [email protected] PSIA-NI Education Staff 6 the differences in how people He has a passion for teaching Training 2014 learn, which contributes to and has been an instructor why she is passionate about for over 30 years. He is a Submit Articles for our 8 next Newsletter It’s not all childs play! Way to go, newly certified Childrens Specialit 1 instructors! Timothy Ball Allen Benner Wick Warrick Weylin Barrett Alex Simpson Liz Keppinger Susan Crist John Straka Anthony Ortiz PSIA/AASI-NI PSIA/AASI-NI P.O. Box 2587 The Ski Season Did Not Come to an Ketchum, ID 83340 End! By Bonnie Wetmore Officers Tom Koto, President Being on the road with my dog ‘Sammy’ (208)866-5461 was a unique experience. Every pit stop [email protected] demanded time for exploration. Once we crossed the Nevada boarder the dessert Seth Jacobsen, Vice President (208)634-6531 was behind and the spectacular Ritter [email protected] and Cathedral mountain ranges loomed in front. Yosemite was not far. Just off to Walt Coiner, Exec. Sec. the northwest. WOW! We stopped at P.O. Box 2587 Ketchum, ID 83340 Mono Lake to enjoy the moment and (208)539-2253 cell wishing we had more time to explore. [email protected] June Mountain ski area faced us on our journey south. It took 9 ¼ hours from Monika Duran Photography Ketchum to arrive in Mammoth Lakes. Directors Gary Baarson Spontaneity can sometimes offer beneficial Motel 6 on main street Mammoth Lakes is (member at large) rewards. When the ski season came to an dog friendly, very close to an outstanding (208) 908-3144 end at Sun Valley, I was not ready to end it. bakery, within walking distance to [email protected] Our spring skiing was outstanding right up restaurants, and a bus stop conveniently Beth McLam to the last run down Greyhawk! It was too located down the driveway to catch a 4- (208) 421-0410 late at that point to sign up for the National mile ride to the mountain. Due to my dear [email protected] Academy at Snowbird, so I opted to look Sammy, I chose to stay in this location Casey Jeffus further west. Thanks to a conversation I rather then get accommodations right at (208) 634-6893 happen to have with two experienced Mammoth. This was perfect for our [email protected] Mammoth skiers, Tony & Maria Parkhill, my needs, plus the daily fees were Mike Young mission became the Western Spring discounted as part of the convention. Like (208) 895-6711 Convention at Mammoth – April 25 to 27. I all resorts going through seasonal [email protected] gave the area a call anticipating it may be too transitions, the town was pleasantly Dan Rowe late to sign up. Fortunately, they couldn’t quiet. (208) 221-0731 have been more accommodating and were [email protected] pleased to have me come. A few of the many highlights of my experience at Mammoth: Signing up on-line for 3 days of clinics, 2 topics each day, had a challenge all its own. *The weather. The first day we joined our Topics like: Tricks for skiing harder not groups in what was to be 40” of new smarter, Skiing strong when the body no snow in 20 hours. What joy being gifted longer wants to be abused, Monkey see- with a “winter” sorely missed! monkey do, Skiing not talking, Teaching and Movement Analysis Thoughts, Tactics and *Topic: Video and MA. Our leaders were techniques to ski faster, 23 laps on chair 23 two coaches from Western Division- (steeper than steep). The choices were vast, Mammoth and Squaw. Unfortunately, due plus all disciplines had categories. Present the fact that it was snowing and blowing and former members of the National Demo sideways, the visibility was poor and Team and clinicians from the Western filming just did not work. However, we Division were destined to lead the groups. looked at a number of other skiers from Attendance was from as far away as RM, NI, previous videos spanning many years and NRM, not to mention all the Western showing all ages of equipment, styles of Division ski areas of California! skiing, and quality skiing in varying Page 2 PSIA/AASI-NI P.O. Box 2587 Ketchum, ID 83340 Committee Chairs National Board of Directors: Walt Coiner Professional Development: Weylin Barrett (208)720-7060 [email protected] Alpine Certification: Jamie Zolber (208)859-6807 [email protected] Alpine Education: Eric Zimmerman (208)830-3557 [email protected] Snowboard: TJ Kauth The 2nd AM after 40" of snow and high winds. A spectacular day that will not be forgotten. (208)861-4699 [email protected] keep observations and explanations brief, functional Stance, starting at the boot/foot our primary focus was on the basic on the ski. Change weight from outside ski Nordic: fundamentals of good skiing. It became to outside ski as the turn is made. Turn feet Lew Peterson (208) 890-3490 apparent and increasingly obvious that these and legs more than the upper body. The [email protected] fundamentals defy time and are a common use of inclination and angulation to control denominator in all skiing. Along with the edge angle. The ability to regulate Children’s Education: evolution has come clarity (understanding pressure along the length of the ski. Our Jani Sutherland movements, skills, bio mechanics), simplified focus was to ski a lot and watch for these (208)788-0089 [email protected] further by the “what”, “how”, and “why”. things happening. Questions were Video, no matter what the guidelines are to sometimes raised and group participation Freestyle: view and interpret, is such a useful tool. As became apparent. At times, specific Jake Bolin professionals we must continue to keep up movement focuses (such as the ankle use) (406)529-3323 with and learn to utilize this technology regarding the “how”, “when”, “where” [email protected] creating easier access to viewing. Good were discovered and further defined. Newsletter: interaction and meaningful conversation Without a doubt Jonathan had us easily Jennifer Whiteman came out of this session. captivated, learning and enjoying (208)315-3110 ourselves. Group interaction was key and [email protected] *Topic: Teaching and Movement Analysis helped to draw out the positive. NI Microsite: Thoughts. Jonathan Ballou (D-Team TJ Kauth member). I really enjoyed Jonathan. His *The last highlight (and there were knowledge of the basic movements that others) was skiing Mammoth steeps. The Adaptive: Vacant apply to good skiing he shows so well and day presented itself! Runs such as Climax, consistently no matter how fast, steep or Cornice Bowl, Wipeout Chutes, Paranoid Membership: Vacant gnarly the conditions. His demonstrations Flats, and more all drop off Mammoth’s were solid, precise and appeared effortless highest ridge. It’s awesome to look at to watch. The MA process was watching him while riding the Panorama Gondola or and watching each other for improvements. Chair 23. After getting 40”of snow, the His teaching and feedback was simple, clear patrol did their avalanche safety duties. and to the point regarding the basic Blasts were heard down in Mammoth fundamentals: Specific definition of Lakes. Just about everything off the ridge Page 3 PSIA/AASI-NI Alpine Exam Passes Matthew Percuocco A3 Another perspective on the NI Division Christian Pravda A3 Lance Cole A2 Convention in Mammoth By Tom Williams Christian Luening A2 Craig Meyers A2 Stephen Riley A2 Most, if not all, divisions of PSIA-AASI roads in Mammoth Village were still clear, Connor Bogert A2 organize conventions.