As a Snow School Director I am always trying to come up with ways to develop and improve the teaching skills of my instructors. Even though I provide training on guest service and student-centered teaching methods every season, I do see quite a few very technical and sometimes confusing ski and snowboard lessons being taught out on the hill.
I think we are all a bit guilty of teaching everything we know about technique and bio-mechanics to our students and we forget the little things that really count.
I was thinking…….”how can I make this better for my instructors and myself this season and still somehow maintain my cool Snow School Director image to my 15 year old instructors”? So, here is goes: “ALWAYS TEACH A SICK LESSON” (“sick” means “cool” by the way)!
Here’s what it stands for:
S - SHAKE your student’s hand!
I - INTRODUCE yourself!
C - CARE for your students (check their equipment, have a warm-up run, are they dressed appropriately? remember their names, recognize their parents, know the policies and procedures of the resort)
K - KNOWLEDGE you will share about your sport to improve their skills!
If my instructors and I can remember this little slogan every time we teach a lesson, I think better lessons will be taught. Take your time when teaching your students this season! Shake their hands, make them feel comfortable, understand the skills they need to improve and progress them in a simple, fun, situational and “sick” way.
Meredith Youmans
CSIA Level 4
Snow School Director, Dagmar Resort
