Max_501 wrote:
What level PSIA instructor are you? Do you look like an ex-racer when you ski?
Race parents often want to know the following: What's your direct racing experience? What certifications do you have for instruction? What camps have you attended?
Those are all reasonable questions for a race parent to ask because racing is expensive in terms of time and dollars. If I was in your shoes I'd be working on a mission statement of sorts, something that explains to the kids and parents why you are the right person to help them become better racers. If you don't have previous race coaching experience expect resistance from the parents and kids. Put yourself in their shoes, would you spend your time and money on a "coach" that wasn't certified in the system they are teaching?
Yup. Definitely agree with all of this, and have been preparing myself for introductions, first impressions, and "mission statements."
I'm a former Level 3 PSIA, Current Level 100 USSA, (will be taking Level 200 for next season) Former Ski School Director, ski instructor trainer, etc. Just recently passed the Referee Certification test.
Yes, I look much more like a racer than a ski instructor when I ski, certainly compared to most of the other coaches in this program. It's a small family-owned area in southern NY state, and I believe about 1/3 of the coaches have any USSA or even PSIA certification. Some are "good skiing" parents with kids in the program, some are college age or young adults who are former racers in the program and are there to earn some extra money.
I'm also a Doctor of Chiropractic, so I have more knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and neuromusculophysiology than most coaches and instructors. I'm in my late 40's.
I realize that here in the PMTS realm, those credentials aren't all that impressive... and they wouldn't be considered very impressive at a larger Race program in any of the bigger ski states. So I don't mention any of this to brag, I know that many skiers here in this forum are better racers than I am. But my coaching/teaching experience, and my skiing ability (based on what I've seen at the area, and certainly in the USSA courses I've taken -- the A framing and inclination, holy s@#!) puts me in the upper part of the staff in this particular program. So, putting myself in the shoes of the Race Director, I would also want to use the most experienced and credentialed coaches for my better, older racers as well, since some of them probably ski better than their coaches, and their parents are spending the most money. He kept bringing up my Level 100 in deciding where to put me, probably because he only has a handful on staff, and I imagine parents are asking him all those questions too.
Yesterday he introduced me to a few people at the area by saying "New coach... he used to run the ski school at XYZ mountain." The way I feel about ski instructors and PSIA, I don't even think that's worth mentioning... but I imagine it gives an impression of leadership to a layperson.