| If you've ever stood in a lift line on a busy weekend | | | | can ski free at those areas as well. Members of PSIA |
| day, you've undoubtedly drooled as the tanned ski | | | | also get reciprocity to ski nearly every other resort in |
| instructor cruised by you to the head of the line with | | | | the country just by presenting their season passes |
| his attractive client in tow. Can any job really be that | | | | at the ticket window. Full time ski instructors can |
| good? | | | | easily rack up over 120 days on the mountain, while |
| Every winter more than 29,000 members of the | | | | part time instructors can ski more than 50 days a |
| Professional Ski Instructors of America return to their | | | | season. Even members of the instructor's family |
| "office" to teach skiing to guests from all over the | | | | make out - at many resorts, all of the instructor's |
| world. While many ski instructors teach skiing strictly | | | | dependents also get free season passes, regardless |
| for the money, there are many more who choose to | | | | of the number of children in the family. |
| teach for the free ski pass, discounts on equipment | | | | $aving Money through Professional Discounts |
| and to become better skiers, themselves. | | | | Have you ever noticed that ski instructors always |
| Why Teach Skiing? | | | | seem to have the coolest and most expensive |
| Professional ski instructors are members of an elite | | | | equipment? Ever wonder how they can afford to |
| fraternity of skiers who have chosen to raise their | | | | buy a new pair of skis and boots every year? Well, |
| competency in the sport by teaching it to others. By | | | | professional ski instructors take advantage of "Pro |
| learning "how" to teach other people to ski, they | | | | Deals" when buying ski equipment. While discounts |
| become better skiers themselves through an | | | | vary, instructors usually enjoy a 30-50% discount on |
| understanding of the mechanics of skiing, physics and | | | | skis, boots, poles, apparel and other ski-related items. |
| other issues that factor into good skiing technique. | | | | With ski and binding packages costing as much as |
| During any given winter, PSIA conducts thousands of | | | | $1,300 that's a significant saving! And the discounts |
| clinics for its members, taught by some of the most | | | | don't stop there. |
| knowledgeable skiers in the world. These clinics | | | | At many mountains, employees of the resort can |
| address everything from deep powder and bump | | | | get as much as 50% off of food and beverages in |
| skiing to how to get through to an uncooperative | | | | on-mountain restaurants. And, often times, if |
| child student. | | | | instructors bring a minimum size party to participating |
| The Certification Process | | | | restaurants, they eat for free. |
| Instructors can also elevate their own level of skiing | | | | First Chair |
| by participating in rigorous certification processes | | | | On powder days, Ski instructors are often allowed on |
| designed to enhance the instructor's knowledge of | | | | the mountain early to "get ready for work," generally |
| things like the biomechanics of skiing, how people | | | | know where all of the best stashes are and are privy |
| learn, boot fitting and skiing in difficult terrain. As | | | | to more information about the mountain than the |
| instructors move up the certification ladder, they | | | | average skier. As an employee of the resort, ski |
| earn more money and the respect of their peers. | | | | instructors receive special privileges such a free |
| 120 Days on the Hill | | | | locker to store their skis and clothing and a warm, |
| At most ski areas, professional ski instructors are | | | | dry place to get dressed in the morning. |
| awarded a free, unrestricted season ski pass as part | | | | But, probably the reason why most instructors |
| of their employment package. And, if the parent | | | | choose to teach skiing is because of the lasting |
| company owns more than one ski area, instructors | | | | impact they can make on visitors to their resort. |