Rob Salisbury, SRI Motivating your Mind - Inspiring your Spirit 2015 e-book
Ski Pro Winter 2015
1. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 1
W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 || c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m
ARE YOU A
“PRO OF THE
WEEK”?
FUN DAY MOVES
TO BEAVER
VALLEY
BETTER FOOD
FOR BETTER
PERFORMANCE
TIPS FROM OUR PROS || EVENTS || MEET THE 2015 INTERSKI TEAM
O N T A R I O
CONGRATULATIONS
STEVE YOUNG
ON MAKING THE 2015
INTERSKI TEAM!
3. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 3
DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE
Tom Dovey
Communication/
Outreach
Matt Cuccaro
Ottawa Liaison
Allison Sharpe
Magazine/
Sponsorship
Andrew Hansen
IT/Website
Ed Young
Treasurer
Anik Gaumond
Secretary &
Member Events
Simon Holden
Level 1 Program
AJ Leeming
Technical Liaison
Miranda Sorensen
Chair
Kevin McMillan
Vice Chair
CelebratingGreatness
A
s a new 15 year old instructor I
remember being so impressed
with my session leaders and course
conductors. They were knowledgeable and
they were experts in their abilities to impart
the information needed to improve. Most
of all I was impressed with how comfortable
and confident they led and entertained
their groups.
For a while I tried to imitate some of their
approaches. I tried to re-tell the jokes I had
heard and adapt some of their stories of
ski adventures. I tried to be an entertainer.
What a failure that was. Tip: You need to
remember the punch line of a joke to make
it funny.
I eventually found my own groove, my
own approach with my students, my own
personal stamp that matched who I was.
And I found that my students preferred the
real me, which was a relief because I was
topping the list of failed joke telling.
Each of us, as an instructor, has our
own style. We offer our students a unique
experience when we take them out on the
slopes and try to help them to reach their
skiing goals. We all have our tricks to help
create a memorable lesson and convert our
students into lifelong skiers.
CSIA Ontario wants to help recognize and
celebrate all instructors this winter. We have
initiated a program called “Be the Pro of the
Week” with our sponsor Big White Resort.
Each week your Snow School Director
will submit the name of an outstanding pro
to the CSIA Ontario office. (I know this will
be a challenge to choose among so many
excellent pros).
At the end of the season, one lucky pro
will win a ski trip to beautiful Big White, BC,
including ski sessions with Josh Foster, a
truly great instructor!
I look forward to seeing you on March
29th
at Beaver Valley for this year’s Fun
Day, James Bond 007 style, when we
announce the winner. Until then follow
us on Facebook to see all the great pros
nominated for “Be the Pro of the Week”. ◆
Miranda Sorensen, Chair, CSIA Ontario
PHOTO:KRISTENMADSEN
MIRANDA
SORENSEN AND A
MANSFIELD PRO OF
THE WEEK - KELLY
REYNOLDS.
CHAIR’Sletter
4. 4 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
WINTER2015
EDITORIAL TEAM
Allison Sharpe
Editor
Shelagh Mulveney
Administration
Tom Dovey, Kevin McMillan
and Stuart Teather
Proof Reading
CSIA ONTARIO OFFICE
3 Concorde Gate, Suite 209
Toronto Ontario
T: 416-426-7261 F: 416-426-7261
info@csiaontario.com
DESIGN & PUBLISHING
Laura Weatherston
K9 strategy+design
k9-sd.com
PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS
Andrew Elsdon and John Evely
CONTRIBUTORS
Todd Arthur, Warren Jobbitt, AJ Leeming,
Jim Peever, Kathy Prophet, Jeff Sinclair,
Mike Weiss and Steve Young
PRINTING
Ted Southam
Cober Evolving Solutions
csiaontario.com
facebook.com/csiaontario
Publication Mail Agreement 41057019
Printed using a sustainable resource
COVER PHOTO
Andrew Elsdon, CLLiK.com
Skier: Steve Young
O N T A R I O CONTENTS
Editorial ........................................... 5
Ontario Events .............................. 6
Bursary Winner .............................. 7
Interski Team ............................. 8-9
A Personal Journey ..................... 10
Teaching Tip ................................ 11
Food for Performance ............... 14
Our History .................................. 15
Feedback Tip .............................. 16
Training Women Pros ................. 18
Jeff’s Tip ....................................... 19
Equipment Tip ............................ 20
National Update ......................... 21
A Member’s Question ............... 22
5. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 5
100 ft vertical
no whip please
W
here did you learn to ski? My first
alpine descent was the front hill
of my family home in Violet Hill
near Shelburne Ontario. Christmas morning
in my pajamas, sliding down fresh snow on my
new Fischer skis and achieving my first snow
plow stop. The rest of that winter was spent at
Mansfield on school day trips taking lessons
and developing a snow plow turn.
People, experiences and places play an
important role in how we develop and who
we become. According to Dr. Phil you can
trace this through 10 defining moments,
7 critical choices and 5 pivotal people. I’m
not a regular viewer of Dr. Phil, but this idea
has stuck with me and I often consider how
external factors shape us.
But does it matter where we learn to ski?
Are expectations lowered because we start
on small inclines?
What I think is important is that the
location is accessible so that you can
increase your frequency of practice. People
make a difference because their attitudes
will shape the atmosphere that will entice
you back. Training is important too if you
hope to stick out the learning curve. And of
course snow is critical whether it is natural
or man-made. Can you get to it and can you
get there often and do you want to get to it
because of the people and atmosphere are
the important factors.
What is less important for where you start
is variety, difficulty, vertical and prestige.
Through this issue of Ski Pro Ontario, we
asked our 2015 Interski Team where they
learned to ski and you’ll proudly see that
many began here in Ontario or at small
humble hills. We take another historical look
at a local hill in Scarborough that provided
first-exposure to skiers in the Toronto area
during the 60’s and 70’s. And we have more
tips to help you develop lifelong skiers.
We invite you to consider your first des-
cent and think about how you support the
development resorts around us. If you live
in a city with a municipal ski hill, encourage
your elected official to support its exist-
ence. Maybe go back and visit your first
hill if it still exists and support that area by
telling others about it as a place to learn.
Why are the big resorts busy? They have
huge marketing budgets; smaller hills will rely
on word of mouth and
recommendations.
It doesn’t matter that
a ski hill has a Starbucks
at the bottom when
you make your first
stop. Mom’s hot
chocolate at the end
of a busy afternoon
climbing up and down
my front hill was better
than any Grande,
skinny, Mocha Latte,
no whip – any day. ◆
Allison Sharpe, Editor
EDITOR'Sthoughts
6. 6 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
LICENSE TO SKI
FUN DAY 007
Sunday March 29
BEAVER VALLEY
Join us for a fun James Bond themed day of skiing, on-hill
activities including the Synchro Competition for the
Golden Ski and a fantastic après with great prizes.
ONTARIOevents
ANNUAL AWARDS
DINNER & GENERAL
MEETING
for more information and to register for ontario events please visit csiaontario.com
Thursday May 28 at 6 pm
DELTA MARKHAM
Join us to celebrate the end of another
successful season and our award
winners of 2015.
*Hall of Fame Ring
7. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 7
BURSARYwinner
385 West St S, Orillia
Call Mike Davenport direct to qualify for the CSIA discount
1-888-719-9994
www.davenportsubaru.com
FEAR NO
WEATHER
the ski slopes are in
Subaru country!
CSIA SKI PRO EXCLUSIVE OFFER
Save $1,500 off the purchase of a new Subaru at Davenport Subaru Orillia
($750 CSIA rebate from Subaru and $750 additional rebate from Davenport Subaru)
Davenport_Subaru_Winter2014.indd 1 2014-09-25 1:04 PM
CONGRATULATIONS
MELANIE
GUNSCH
2014 CSIA
ONTARIO
BURSARY
RECIPIENT
Melanie Gunsch is this year’s winner of the CSIA Ontario Bursary with Georgian
College’s Snow Resort Operations Program. Mel is in her second year of the
program where she has been demonstrating academic merit, leadership skills
and a strong commitment to the ski industry.
Mel continues to work at developing her capabilities as a Level 1 CSIA and Level
2 CASI instructor as well as advancing her Level 1 Avalanche Safety Certification.
Originally an Ontario skier from the great Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort she
is now gaining great knowledge and experience while enjoying her full-time
co-op placement at Sunshine Village Ski Resort in Banff Alberta.
8. 8 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
T
he High Performance program initiated 3 years ago to promote skiing and ski teaching
excellence at all levels has been a huge success. This January, 50 High Performance Team
members took to the slopes to showcase their teaching and skiing. Ten members were
then selected to represent our CSIA membership at Interski in Argentina.
Researching and developing our education model is an on-going, ever evolving process.
Attending Interski forces our organization to prove theories and not simply speculate on their merit.
Our team will not only gather information from 35 other ski nations, but will also share our tech-
nical approach, methodology and education/professional development system.
The audience of 1,200 of the world’s top ski instructors and educators will, to say the least, serve
as a critical eye. Here, our team members will have an opportunity to validate what we do with the
best of the best.
Watch for training highlights this season as our team prepares for the event. Full reports on the
event and the other countries’ performances and presentations will be published and showcased
next fall in the national Ski Pro magazine and at CSIA Members’ Conventions.
MEET OUR 2015 INTERSKI TEAM:
STEVE YOUNG
CSIA 4, Level 4
Course Conductor,
CSCF 2
Technical Director,
Craigleith Ski Club,
Collingwood, ON
Learned to ski at Talisman in Kimberley, ON
“It has been my long time goal to represent
the CSIA and Ontario at Interski. I am very
excited to be a part of Interski to share what
we do and to learn from others.”
SUNNY VERREAULT
CSIA 4, Level 4
Course Conductor,
CSCF Performance
Coach
Interski Team mem-
ber 2003 and 2007
Head Coach, Le Valinouët Ski Club, QC
Learned to ski at Do-Mi-Ski, QC
“I am excited to build team spirit with all these
great and experienced skiers and ski teachers.
I look forward to bringing back different
approaches and methods of training to keep
improving our Canadian skier development
tools.”
KYLE ARMSTRONG
CSIA 4, CSCF 2,
Level 3 Course
Conductor, Snow
Park Cert Conductor
Instructor/Trainer
and Bow Valley Kids
Supervisor, Lake Louise, AB
Learned to ski at Snow Valley and Horseshoe
Valley, in Barrie, ON
“I am looking forward to learning how other
countries are staying current with our ever
evolving sport and to show them how we are
leaders in skiing and teaching through all of
our diverse experiences on snow.”
INTERSKI 2015
Ushuaia,
Argentina
FRÉDÉRIK
LÉPINE
CSIA 4, Level 4
Course Conductor,
CSCF 2
Technical Director
and Ski Instructor at
Ski Bromont, QC
Learned to ski at Mont Shefford in Eastern
Township, PQ
“It’s an opportunity and an honour to
represent the CSIA. I’m working to develop
our sport and my objective at Interski is to
learn and observe new aspects of our sport.
After Interski I hope to share this information
with our members. My motto is ‘be better
together’.”
CASEY BOUIUS
CSIA 4, Level
4 Course
Conductor, CSCF
Performance Coach,
Development
Course Facilitator,
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1,
Interski Team member 2011
Technical Director Ski & Snowboard School,
Sunshine Village, Banff, AB
Learned to ski at Snow Valley in Barrie, ON
“Over the last few Interski’s, Canada has
been on the front of everyone’s interest with
our new-age approach and methods. Last
Interski I believe we really showed them our
talent with our skiing ability and our open
approach to teaching. This time around I feel
our presentation and method of Experiential
Learning will bring everything together.”
9. INTERSKIteam
JEFF MARKS
CSIA 4, Level 4
Course Conductor,
CSCF 2, CASI 1
CSIA Educational
Development
Coordinator (West), Instructor and Trainer,
Lake Louise, AB
Learned to ski at Marmot Basin, Jasper, AB
“The thought of going to an amazing part of
the world and representing a vast group of
people who love this sport as much as I do
gives me a huge sense of pride.”
MAGGIE GRAHAM
CSIA 4, Level 4
Course Conductor,
CSCF Performance
Coach, Development
Level Facilitator,
Alpine Canada Level 2, NCCP Level 3,
Interski Team member 2011
Instructor and Trainer, Mont Tremblant, QC
Learned to ski at Camp Fortune, QC
“Given the individual nature of alpine skiing, I
am looking forward to being a team mem-
ber and having the opportunity to exchange
information with my colleagues and learn from
them. It’s an opportunity to showcase why
Canada is a leader on the world stage and how
the CSIA is moving forward into the future.”
NATALIE MOREL
CSIA 4, Level 4
Course Conductor,
CSCF 2, Interski
Team member 2007
Snow School
Supervisor, Whistler Blackcomb, BC
Learned to ski at Mont Ste-Anne, QC
“This will be an amazing opportunity to
exchange our ways of skiing and teaching with
other countries. I also look forward to bringing
back information for our members.”
SIMON CHAPLEAU
CSIA 4, Level 4
Course Conductor,
CSCF 2,
Ski School Director
Hotel du Lac, Club
Tremblant
Learned to ski at local hills north of Montréal
“Excited to learn and share different visions of
skiing from all around the world!”
OLIVIER GODBOUT
CSIA 4, CSCF
3, Snowpark
Certification,
Avalanche
Operations Level 1
Private Instructor/Staff Trainer, Whistler
Blackcomb, BC
LearnedtoskiatMassifduSud,QC
“I can’t wait to ski with the Interski Team and to
collectively push our limits on skis as far as we can
as a team! This meeting will also provide us with
a wider understanding of today’s ski industry and
where, as Canadians, we are situated in this field
of competence and how proud we can be!”
INTERSKI
COACHING STAFF:
HEAD COACH: WARREN JOBBITT
CSIA 4, Level 4 Course Conductor, CSCF 2
Interski Team member 2007, Assistant
Coach 2011, Manager of Educational
Development West
Learned to ski at Candy Mountain in Thunder
Bay, ON
“It is a great honor to be the Head Coach of the
Interski team. It is an amazing team that repre-
sents every single member of the CSIA. In the
end, it’s all about the organization as a whole.”
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH: JOHN GILLIES
CSIA 4, Level 4 Course Conductor, CSCF
2, Interski Head Coach 2003, 2007, 2011,
Manager of Educational Development
(East)
Learned to ski at Twin Oaks in Annapolis
Valley, Nova Scotia
“I look forward to helping where I can, but also
spending more time attending workshops and
presentations. We have an exciting, youthful
team and I am excited to share this experience
with them.”
HEAD OF DELEGATION: MARTIN JEAN
CSIA 4, CSCF 3 Performance Coach, Interski
involvements since 1983 in different cap-
acities as a demonstrator, manager, coach
and head of delegation, CSIA Director of
Education and Member Services
Learned to ski behind my house in my hometown
“All the Interski Congresses have been different
and the CSIA has always managed to present a
meaningful presentation.”
10. 10 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
M
illions of turns. Thousands of
lessons taught. Countless hours
perfecting technique and the art
of teaching. All for specific goals such as
certification, course conducting, Interski
and coaching the Interski team. All are part
of my journey to date.
Thinking back, the most satisfying
moments are the ones where smiles were
created; the smiles on the faces of beginner
skiers, my children, loved ones and CSIA
members.
Take a moment and think back to the
start of the journey that has taken you
where you are today. Was it the cool wind
on your face, the sound of your boots as you
walked across cold, crisp snow, the antici-
pation as you stepped into your bindings,
the first gliding sensation, the exhilaration
of accelerating down the mountain or the
power of your first carved turn?
Skiing and ski teaching are all about pas-
sion. Time takes an entirely different course
if you are doing what you love. Time can
stand still in those moments when it’s just
you and the mountain.
Skiing feeds your spirit, your energy, your
passion. It’s when skiing becomes your
heart and soul that ski teaching becomes
who you are. Why do you teach skiing?
Because you are a leader, you inspire great-
ness in others. Teaching is an art form, it’s
not enough to just know your stuff, because
you need to excite people, engage them,
peak imagination and fuel their creativity.
Get out there and ski, ski your butt off, try
something new every day.
† Fuel your spirit and feed your creativity
† Engage your mind, your body and your
soul
† Challenge yourself and energize your
skiing
Make every turn count, make every day
the best day ever. It doesn’t matter what
colour pin you wear or the marks you got
on your last ski off. You need to teach every
lesson to share your passion, because it’s
the next smile that you create that will start
a special journey of another lifelong skier
just like you. ◆
Warren Jobbitt, CSIA Level 4, CSCF 2,
Manager of Educational Development
(West), Head Coach Interski 2015
A
Personal Journey
11. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 11
TEACHINGtip
EXPERIENCE:
Create the learning experience based on the snow conditions that
you have on the day. Powder, ice, groomed or slush. It is important to
teach people how to ski on what they have in front of them.
The role of the instructor is to choose a focus and assign a task,
asking a question so that the learner is engaged in the process
of reflecting on how they are skiing will help you to assess their
understanding.
For example you might say, “feel your weight on the heel of
the foot as you finish the turn, tell me if you feel the edge of the ski
grips the snow or not”. The answer will tell you if more instruction is
required or if you can challenge them.
REFLECTION:
As the student skis reflecting on the task and answering the question,
you should watch assessing whether the student is able to do the
assigned task.
CONCEPTUALIZATION:
As the student puts into words what they felt, you need to listen
to what the student has to say so that you can see if what they say
matches what you saw. This is one of the most important things we
can do as teachers.
Matching the observation of the student and the instructor creates
clarity and helps the student know when they have it and when they
don’t. This is important because it makes it easier for the student to
continue to practice on their own.
EXPERIMENTATION:
Your role is to assess the student by watching and listening so that
you will know when it is time to experiment. To experiment, you can
change the speed, move to different terrain, or simply change up the
turn shape. Knowing when to challenge the student is key, watch for
them to start doing the task with confidence. Listen to their explana-
tions. Challenge them when they have a clearer understanding.
Give this method a try and see if it helps you get results with your
students! ◆
Steve Young, CSIA 4, CSCF 2, High Performance Team Member,
Interski Team 2015
Experiential
Education
PHOTO:ANDREWELSDON,CLLik.COM
12. 12 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
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13. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 13
PHOTO: ANDREW ELSDON, CLLiK PHOTOGRAPHY
SKIER: KAYLA DOERING
SKIpro
14. 14 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
HEALTHYeating
A
s life seems to be getting busier by the minute, finding time to prepare healthy
meals can be challenging. Healthy eating is an integral part of preparation for
performing well on the slopes both mentally and physically.
LUNCH
It is all to easy to grab lunch on the go when
the best choices aren’t always available.
Fortunately there are plenty of great options
on the market like the bento box container
for packing your own lunch. Make sure
you have protein along with fresh fruit and
vegetables. Here is a great Quinoa Stew
recipe for the thermos that gives you plenty
of protein and veggies for lots of energy as
well as tumeric, a natural anti-inflammatory.
LENTIL QUINOA STEW
† 1 diced onion
† 1 clove minced garlic
† 2 tbsp olive oil
† 1 cup red lentils
† 6 cups chopped vegetables (hard ones
like carrots, beets, squash, sweet potato)
† 2 cups quinoa
† 2 cups cauliflower
† 3 cups baby kale or baby spinach
† 8 cups water
† 2 tsp herbamere seasoning salt
† 1 ½ tsp tumeric
† 1 tbsp dried thyme
† 1 tbsp cumin
Sauté onions and garlic for 5 minutes. Stir
in lentils, sauté 1 minute. Add 6 cups of
chopped hard vegetables and sauté 10
minutes. Pour in 4 cups of water, bring to a
boil then reduce and simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in quinoa, cauliflower, tumeric, thyme,
cumin and 4 remaining cups of water; bring to
a boil then reduce and simmer for 15 minutes.
Turn down to low and add baby kale stirring
until wilted. Season with salt and pepper.
Serves 6.
HIGH PERFORMANCE TIP: Hydration
is key. Drinking plenty of water to replace
fluids lost through perspiration is very im-
portant. Water helps keep our joints lubri-
cated and reduces muscle fatigue. Adding
an EnerC packet to your water provides
vitamins and minerals to aid in muscle re-
covery. Remember that tea, coffee and soft
drinks dehydrate the body. If you like sports
drinks try 100% coconut water to obtain
electrolytes.
DINNER
Have dinner ready before you get home.
Prepare Chocolate Lovers Chili which gets
its rich flavour and colour from antioxidant
rich cocoa powder. All you will have to do
is prepare a salad and warm some artisan
style bread so there will not be any time for
snacking.
CHOCOLATE LOVERS CHILI
† 2 tbsp olive oil
† 1 diced onion
† 2 cloves minced garlic
† 1 cup mushrooms quartered
† 1 cup frozen corn
† 1 498 ml can black beans
† 1 498 ml can kidney beans
† 2 796 ml cans dices tomatoes
† ¼ cup cocoa powder
† 2 tbsp maple syrup or packed brown
sugar
† 2 tbsp chili powder
† 2 tsp dried oregano
† 2 tsp cumin
† pinch to taste chipotle powder
*for non-vegetarian add 2 cups diced cooked
chicken or browned lean ground beef
Sauté onions, garlic in olive oil over medium
heat for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and
diced carrots. Cook for 5 minutes. Once
onions, carrots and mushrooms are cooked,
transfer to the crock pot with all remaining
ingredients. Stir well, place lid on securely
and cook on low for 8 hours. To serve, top
with your favourites like sour cream, avocado
or shredded cheese. Serves 6.
HIGH PERFORMANCE TIP: Chili powder
is thermogenic, which aids in boosting your
metabolism for extra energy on the hill and
increases your body heat for warmth.
Just like it’s never too late to learn how to
ski, it’s never too late to develop healthy
eating habits! We won’t tell if you sneak the
odd poutine pint! ◆
Todd Arthur, CSIA Level 2, High
Performance Team Member
Meanwhile back at the Chalet …
GOOD FOOD
ON THE GO
15. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 15
OURhistory
T
he Rouge Valley Ski Center was
picturesquely nestled in the forested
valley in the east end of Scarborough
where Sheppard Avenue takes a sharp bend
to the south near the Eagle Nest Pub. Hugo
Gambin manager and owner of Olympic Inn
and Restaurant was inspired by Peter Pelta
and others to develop the 90 foot vertical
incline as a Learn-To-Ski center in 1966.
New-to-skiing patrons were equipped
with rentals provided by ‘Happy Howard’
Ski Shop and crossed the wooden walkway
over the swimming reservoir of the Rouge
River to awaiting instructors for their free
1-hour lesson.
The area was equipped with a
snowmaking system, bright towered lights, a
beginner rope tow, a high-speed, glove-
destroying row tope that took you to the top
of the advanced blue runs and a T-bar lift on
the other side of the hill. There was also a
back side with a truck wide winding trail that
dared only expert skiers to venture, bringing
you back to the T-bar base station.
The charm of the hotel and cozy
restaurant afforded parents and non-skiers
the atmosphere to enjoy après ski.
This was more than just a ski playground
for novices. It was quite a development
environment for ski instructors to train for
Level 1, 2 and 3 certifications and for alpine
racers to refine their competitive skills. As
a result of the passionate energy of Ricki
Peters, Caper Valley was also the home
training ground for freestyle skiers and
hosted many freestyle championships.
For many, this was the site of their first
skiing experience. Others, like me, were
introduced to the CSIA and lifelong careers
as dedicated ski professionals.
After only two seasons of operation, a fire
leveled the hotel, restaurant and rental shop.
This unfortunate event led to the sale of this
area to new owners, REPAC Construction
Company, and the artful reverse naming of
the ski center to ‘Caper’ Valley.
A new round-house lodge was built at
the base of the hill that allowed for better
visual displays of on-hill activities and also
sometimes served as an immovable end-
stop for out-of-control skiers. Construction
trailers were used for the rental shop, ticket
sales and staff changing room facilities.
Under the leadership of Verne Brandt and
FIRE and ICEROUGE/CAPER VALLEY – FORMER
SCARBOROUGH AREA SKI CENTRE
his “rouge” swiss uniformed staff, the public
continued to develop their skills that would
be utilized through-out the regions of North
American ski resorts.
A natural event that occurred in 1972 led
to the extinction of this area. The break-away
of an ice dam and rising water flooded the
basin of the hill. A meter high level of water
and ice created costly damage to the base
chalet and lift loading areas.
At the same time Toronto amalgamated
with Scarborough and this area of land was
designated as parkland under new zoning.
Evaluating the costs and the risk associ-
ated in continuing to operate Caper Valley
Ski Center, REPAC was forced to dissolve
its operation and sell its property rights to
the municipality. Public pressure persuaded
Metro Parks to at least operate the area until
1980 when the lifts stopped for good. ◆
Michael Weiss, CSIA Level 4, CSCF Level 3
16. 16 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
FEEDBACKtip
W
e all know one, have taught
one, or been one – the
Feedback Junkie.
“HOW WERE
THOSE TURNS?”
“DID YOU SEE
THAT RUN?”
“HOW ABOUT
NOW… IS IT
FIXED?”
We tend to fuel this trait in our students
by using instruction like, “you wait here, I will
wave you down when I am ready; I want to
watch your skiing”. This sets the expectation
that we will TELL them how they are skiing.
Breaking the feedback cycle can help you
build (and become) a stronger skier, a more
self-sufficient skier, a more aware skier.
So how do we accomplish this? The trick
is building an experience and getting your
skiers to self-assess. This can be a difficult
task if your lesson is related to ‘proper form’;
but is incredibly effective and easy if you
build your session around functional skiing
and outcomes.
Challenge your students to ski faster or
slower, make more turns or fewer turns, spray
snow at a certain point in the arc or maybe
to move inside and try to touch their hip or
Cracking the
‘FEEDBACK
JUNKIE’
hand to the snow. Set up the experience so
that they know if they were successful. Then
all you need to do is ask them to assess their
completion of the task.
The question could be a yes/no or maybe
ask if they got it 25%, 50%, or 75% of the
time or where they managed to spray some
snow. Then you can follow up with building
their understanding. Suddenly a comment
like “can you spray snow and get grip when
you are on the inside ski?” starts to mean a
lot more to your students because they are
able to link the experience to their outcome
or feeling.
Cracking the Feedback Junkie will do a
few things for your teaching. You will spend
less time dissecting every second of a turn
and spend that time looking at outcomes
like balance. You will not need to talk with
each student about their run, instead you will
engage them by thinking about what they
accomplished. You will find yourself skiing
more and talking less. Best of all, you will
create a skier who is aware of what they are
doing. A skier who knows when something
works and understands how they can create
the outcome they want.
Does this mean assessment is dead?
No, not at all. It simply means your assess-
ment focuses on the challenge at hand.
Rather than saying what YOU SEE, you help
them understand what THEY FEEL. Your
assessment will guide you towards picking
the challenge that will build new feelings and
select terrain that is best for the experience.
Does this mean development is all
about questions? No, absolutely not. Your
development strategies will become more
impactful because you will select tactics that
link to sensations and understanding. Your
skiers will make changes they NEED in order
to generate the outcomes of the challenge.
Cracking the Feedback Junkie is tough.
People want to know how they did. The trick
is giving them an experience where they
know how they did and then provide that
thumbs up or high five that we all crave. Give
them an experience with some outcomes
and sensations that they can remember and
re-create on their own time. ◆
AJ Leeming, CSIA 4, CSCF 2,
High Performance Team Member
17. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 17
PHOTO: ANDREW ELSDON, CLLiK PHOTOGRAPHY
SKIER: BEN BORIS
18. 18 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
FORwomen
W
ithin the CSIA, 36% of our mem-
bership is female. As the level
of certification increases there is
a drastic decline of active female members.
Seven percent of all Level 3s are female and
only 0.01% of Level 4s are female.
The Women in Skiing initiative (a sub
group of the Education Committee) is
currently working with experts to identify
and share methodologies specific to the
development of female skiers. The hope
is that these methodologies will become
national program modules in 2016.
Until then, creating awareness of the
differences between females and males
will help instructors make small lesson plan
adjustments that may greatly improve the
lesson experience for many female skiers.
There are a number of physical differ-
ences starting with the “Q” angle (the an-
gle the femur comes out of the hip socket).
This affects balance, the base of support,
TRAINING
WOMENPROS
alignment, maximum force and finesse.
Muscular volume is also less in women
than in men which generally results in less
strength.
A lower center of mass and a greater
distribution of weight towards the hips may
also impact a women’s ability to maintain a
centered mobile stance.
Just as important are some psycho-
logical differences. Sometimes a lack of
self-confidence and self-doubting can be a
key barrier to a female skier’s performance.
Even if female skiers are competent in their
skills, a lack of confidence will affect their
ability to perform these skills.
Sadly there is a sense of the “Imposter
Syndrome”, i.e., a feeling of whether one
deserves to be where they are. A female
skier will often question if she is good
enough or worry others will find out she is
not as good as they think she is.
There is a real fear of failure and being
judged. In a mixed ski group you might
observe your female skiers hanging back
and/or waiting at the back of the group.
It is important to remember that a female
skier may ruminate for a long time over
a negative comment or perceived poor
performance while her male counterpart
will tend to let it go and move on.
There will be more information to come
as we delve into the training needs of female
skiers. Until then watch for ways you can
make all of your students feel part of your
group and encourage all improvements. ◆
Kathy Prophet, CSIA Level 4, CSCF Level 2
19. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 19
JEFF’Stip
HOW DID
THAT FEEL?
“PEOPLE
WILL FORGET
WHAT YOU SAID,
PEOPLE WILL FORGET
WHAT YOU DID, BUT
PEOPLE WILL NEVER
FORGET HOW YOU
MADE THEM FEEL.”
– MAYA ANGELOU
Ok
, so here it is … turn your
femurs in the pelvic girdle,
maintain the separation
so you can edge well, make sure you have
access to all the joints so you can bend
to balance and control pressures and co-
ordinate your movements for good flow.
HOW DID YOU “FEEL”
AFTER THAT RUN?
The above information is great, accurate,
effective and what we as pros and
coaches need to know and understand.
Using questions to involve your students
however, is better and trying to relate a
feeling with perception and observation is
excellent!
As a skier have you ever been asked
the question, “how did that feel?” As an
instructor or coach have you ever asked
that question?
Good learning or good teaching
happens when your student answers, “I felt
back at the start of my turn” or “I felt better
balance at the beginning” or “I skidded at
the end” or “I had better grip”.
But what if the answer to the question
is completely differently? What if you hear
“I felt wonderful, I felt free, that made
me happy”. Are you getting poor results
because there is not a technical response?
If you get this kind of response then I
believe you are on to something great.
As working ski pros we have the best
office in the world, it inspires joy, pleasure,
thrills, wonder, fun and more. Help your
students and athletes feel wonderful. ◆
Jeff Sinclair, CSIA Level 4, CSCF Level 2
20. 20 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
SOME OTHER TIPS:
† Keep your boot buckles
a little loose to allow for
better circulation.
† Change your socks at lunch
to a clean, dry pair.
† Ski bumps or short turns to keep
your heartrate going.
† And take warm-up breaks. You
don’t need to be a hero!
EQUIPMENTtip
Do you have your own helpful tips? Please
follow us on Facebook and share your
tip with a photo. We’d love to have more
ideas for making a ski day fun even in -30C
temperatures! ◆
Keeping Warm
O
n a recent CSIA course taking place in below 30 temperatures we started sharing
tips for keeping fingers and toes warm. Here are just a few of the tried and true
ideas that you might find helpful the next cold day you are out on the slopes.
ANDREW’S TIP:
Double up with a combo of boot heaters
and Boot Gloves. This pair will keep
your feet happy all day long. The
Boot Gloves increase your
boot temperature by 7C and
will ensure you don’t lose
all the nice heat from your
heaters or chemical packs.
ANNE’S TIP:
Layer up. Consider what you own
and plan to wear layers under your ski suit.
Don’t forget your legs need layers too and
you can likely fit 2-3 pairs of base layers
under our bulky ski pants.
DINA’S TIP:
Instead of placing a chemical pack in the
palm of your hand where it makes gripping
your ski pole nearly impossible, place it on
your wrist inside your glove where blood
flows to your hand and fingers.
ALLISON’S TIP:
Carry a handy and fashionable roll of Duct
Tape with you to cover up the toe seams of
your boots so that snow and cold air is kept
out. At lunch make sure to take off your
boots so that your feet warm up. And take
your liners out of your boots at the end of
each day to completely dry so that
your next day of skiing
starts out right.
CATHY’S TIP:
Choose a neck warmer that isn’t too bulky but can easily
cover your nose and cheeks. The Buff works well because it
dries quickly and the material is breathable and SPF proof.
21. • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 • O N T A R I O || 21
NATIONALupdate
W
ith a great ski season already
underway in Ontario I thought
it appropriate to provide an
update of CSIA initiatives and tasks that
have been occupying the time and effort
of your national staff. To do this justice I
would need a full magazine to elaborate
on the exhaustive list of items that are on
our radar; so instead I will provide you
with a “high level fly-by” consisting of
points of interest that have the greatest
effect on our membership and services.
PROGRAMS
Last season’s launch of the Level 2
modular program was received well by
our membership and with this season’s
enrollment surpassing previous years we
can verify that this was a success. This sea-
son we have launched a similar program
for the Level 3. We believe the results will
indicate that this contemporary approach
will be a benefit to our membership and
incent continued development through
additional training opportunities.
INDUSTRY
PARTNERSHIPS
We are working on future relationships
with CADS (Canadian Association for
Disabled Skiing) and CANSI (Canadian
Association of Nordic Ski Instructors).
We see diversity to be a strength and
working strategically with these strong
organizations can add benefits for all
involved.
NATIONAL
UPDATE
INTERSKI
Our Interski team of delegates has been
finalized. This accomplished and well de-
serving team should inspire many members
to become better instructors. In September
2015 at Cerro Castor, Ushuaia, Argentina,
the team will demonstrate and describe our
technique and teaching methodology to
other teams from around the world.
Here are a few more initiatives that have our
attention:
† CSCF/ACA integration and the
understanding and development of our
relationship with ACA
† Launching a new Snow School Directors
Club to better communicate with other
ski industry leaders
† Piloting a coaching fundamentals
module
† Initiating a project to review our
education content and delivery system
You can head out on your next ski day
knowing you have dedicated and high
functioning teams of staff at the regional
and national levels that work tirelessly for
our incredible organization.
Please enjoy the rest of your 2015 season. ◆
Jim Peever, Vice Chair, CSIA National Board
22. 22 || O N T A R I O
• c s i a o n t a r i o . c o m •
What happened
to keeping
things simple?
HAS IT REALLY BECOME
THIS COMPLICATED?”
The answer is no. Over time, the CSIA has
dedicated countless hours of research and
development involving some of the great-
est minds in skiing from around the globe,
external experts in physics, biomechanics
and education. To be leaders and in-
novators in our profession, it takes a pro-
gressive attempt at evolving and changing.
There are many reasons why our technical
approach has evolved to what it is today.
Every step along the way has allowed us to
grow and simplify what you see today.
The current CSIA Technical Reference
is an evolution of all (and even more) of the
list above.
1. Turning is lead by the lower body and the
ski design
2. Managing upper and lower body
separation allows for angulation to
provide grip
3. Use of all joints helps maintain a cen-
tered stance and provides the ability to
manage forces acting on the ski and skier
4. Coordinated movement patterns direct
the forces acting on the skis and the
momentum of the skier from turn to turn
Remember, the Technical Reference is
a set of guiding principles in efficient and
effective skiing. We teach skiers how to
move in order to achieve this goal. These
movements are described by skiing skills.
Skiing and teaching skiing should be
fun and simple. The CSIA will continue to
research and develop to assist ski pros
around the country. So throw out that
list and focus on the current Technical
Reference to help develop the skiing skills
in your students. ◆
W
e recently received an an-
onymous article from one of
our members and thought
this would be a great opportunity to help
everyone understand the evolution of
our technical understanding to today’s
Technical Reference for skill development.
“I am a CSIA instructor who took my
Level 1 and Level 2 courses back in the late
1980’s. I have been a good member – at-
tending my PDP every other season, partici-
pating in PTS training days, attending a
Amember’sQUESTION
few CSIA Fall Conventions and even one
CSIA “Spring Fling” and I faithfully teach
on weekends at a small resort in Barrie.
The CSIA has been a big part of my life for
almost half my life.
When I took my Level 1 all those
years ago, I remember the five skills that
summarized our CSIA Technique:
† Stance Balance
† Pivoting
† Edging
† Pressure Control
† Timing Coordination
Pretty simple, but after a few years of
using the 5 skiing skills, the subsequent
CSIA manuals started evolving with new
technical information and teaching meth-
odologies and my list seems to be getting
really long. Some of the innovations added
since the early 80’s:
TECHNICAL
REFERENCE
TEACHING
METHODOLOGY
FIVE SKIING
SKILLS
FAST TRACK TO PARALLEL
THREE TURN
PHASES
SKIER DEVELOPMENT
MODEL
FOUR PLANES
OF BALANCE
SIX STEPS TO A GOOD
LESSON
BASIC
COMPETENCIES
FOUR LEARNING STYLES
ADVANCED
COMPETENCIES
THE CANADIAN
APPROACH
23. As a ski instructor, you strongly influence the positive conduct of those hitting the slopes.
This guidance is especially critical for beginners to ensure they learn safe skiing behaviour
right from day one.
In partnership with CSIA, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)
produced a training video that focuses on the safety role that ski instructors
play and highlights the RideSmart Ski Lift Safety program.
To view the video, visit csiaontario.com/tssa.
As an organization whose goal is to enhance public safety, TSSA
appreciates your efforts to help us reach this goal. Collectively,
let’s continue to work together to improve our record and stress
the importance of hill and lift safety for all.
tssa.org | safetyinfo.ca
