LAKEWOOD, Colo. (April 23, 2021) – The grueling competition is over – and the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) is excited to announce its 2021-24 National Team. The new PSIA-AASI National Team will set the standard for snowsports instruction and embody the ski and snowboard experience. PSIA-AASI hand-selected the 37 team members – 8 coaches chosen last season and 29 team members named today – for their range of skills that allow them to serve as inspirational leaders and build enthusiasm for learning and having fun skiing and riding.
The rigorous PSIA-AASI National Team application process culminated this week, April 18 – April 22, in Breckenridge, Colorado, as 76 of the top snowsports instructors from around the country vied for one of 29 spots on the team.
“I’d like to congratulate all of our members who participated in Team Selection, and to the 2021-24 National Team that will lead PSIA-AASI into the future,” said PSIA-AASI Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Herrin. “Our association is constantly evolving to support our members’ educational goals, and best serve guests by delivering exceptional learning experiences. I am thrilled to work with these team members as they grow enthusiasm for our profession and inspire all skiers and riders to take their skills to the next level.”
Nick Herrin
Seventy-six snowsports instructors converged upon the slopes of Breckenridge for the four-day, on-snow portion of the selection process, contending with variable and challenging conditions, including compact hard snow, deep powder, slush, and frozen “coral” in the off-piste terrain.
Before showing of their on-snow skills, the candidates underwent extensive interviews and gave online video presentations. Candidates were scored on their online presentations and on-snow performance – all under the watchful eye of examiners and selectors assigned to separate the very best from the best.
“Being a great teacher takes more than being the best rider, or skier, on the hill,” said AASI Snowboard Team Coach Eric Rolls. “Team Selection measures a variety of skills. We want to know who can relate to their students to help them feel comfortable in a lesson while also helping their students understand the movements that will advance their skiing or riding – so they can learn faster and have more fun. People skills, like empathy and communication, are just as important as technical skills, how good someone is at riding or skiing, when teaching a lesson.”
“It is thrilling to watch these instructors; they display such a high level of expertise. Not only are they proficient skiers and riders, they’re also talented educators with a knack for reading and relating to their audience,” said Eliza Kuntz, chair of the PSIA-AASI Board of Directors. “They are truly top-notch athletes and passionate teachers, who represent our organization here at home, and internationally.”
The new PSIA-AASI National Team comprises 37 men and women selected from among the best instructors in the country. Each team member specializes in one of five disciplines – adaptive, alpine, cross country, snowboard, or telemark. Team members represent the association at the highest level, including traveling to international snowsports education events like Interski.
“The discipline-specific teams work together to support the association’s vision of ‘creating lifelong adventures through education’ and act as role models for other instructors,” said PSIA-AASI Director of Education Dave Schuiling. “As role models, they create resources for, and support instructors’ learning.”
The Role of the PSIA-AASI National Team
Under the direction of Team Coach Jeb Boyd and discipline coaches, Geoff Krill (adaptive), Michael Rogan (alpine), Matt Boyd (alpine assistant coach), Emily Lovett (cross country), Eric Rolls (snowboard), Tony Macri (snowboard assistant coach), and Gregory Dixon (telemark), the PSIA-AASI National Team members will be instrumental in charting the course of snowsports instruction in the United States. Chief among their duties will be working with ski and ride schools throughout the country, conducting clinics, and representing PSIA-AASI as the public face of the organization.
“The PSIA-AASI National Team represents our association at the highest level,” said Team Coach Jeb Boyd. “The job of the team member is to bring people together and meet the needs of our membership and resort partners. Team members work together to assist PSIA-AASI in developing and promoting educational material, programs, and activities as well as work to provide consistency for our certification standards across all eight divisions.”
Team members have many responsibilities and even more opportunities. Based on the needs of the association, team member responsibilities are to provide education support to PSIA-AASI divisions, support PSIA-AASI marketing and public awareness activities, participate in PSIA-AASI member communications, participate in national events (i.e., PSIA-AASI National Academy), support PSIA-AASI Official Suppliers, and represent PSIA-AASI at select international events.
The 2021-24 team will serve a three-year term.
ALPINE 2021-24
A total of 48 of the nation’s most talented alpine ski instructors vied for 16 positions. Led by Alpine Team Coach Michael Rogan and Assistant and Development Coach Matthew Boyd, the following alpine ski instructors will represent PSIA and its members for the next three years:
Jonathan Ballou*
Robin Barnes*
Ryan Christofferson*
Dustin Dyar*
Bart Flynn
George Flynn
Joshua Fogg*
Mike Hafer
Stephen Helfenbein*
Kevin Jordan
Brenna Kelleher*
Zoe Mavis
Ben Potts
Ann Schorling*
Brian Smith*
Troy Walsh
* Returning team members
SNOWBOARD 2021-24
Sixteen of the nation’s best snowboard instructors jockeyed for seven slots. Along with Snowboard Team Coach Eric Rolls and Assistant and Development Coach Tony Macri, the following riders will represent the association and its members for the next three years:
Amy Bailey*
Brian Donovan
Chuck Hewitt
Matt Larson
Chris Rogers*
Lyndsey Stevens
Stephanie Wilkerson
* Returning team members
CROSS COUNTRY 2021-24
From the cross country world, five instructors competed for two spots. The following skiers will join Cross Country Team Coach Emily Lovett to represent the association and its members for the next three years:
Tulie Budiselich
Zeke Fashingbauer
TELEMARK 2021-24
Four of the nation’s best telemark ski instructors competed for two spots. Along with Telemark Team Coach Gregory Dixon, the following free-heelers have been tapped to represent the association and its members for the next three years:
Keith Rodney
Jim Shaw
ADAPTIVE 2021-24
From across the country, three adaptive ski and snowboard instructors competed for two spots. The following members will work alongside Adaptive Team Coach Geoff Krill to represent the association for the next three years:
Christina Bruno
Mike Ma
PSIA-AASI Adaptive Team
“The 2021-24 team has a great blend of strengths and now it’s time to get to work serving our membership with educational offerings and inspirational clinics,” said PSIA Alpine Team coach Michael Rogan. “We can’t wait to get on-snow again next season help others learn, improve, and have fun.”
See the full story and a video of Team Selection on thesnowpros.org.
Editor’s Note
For photos of the PSIA-AASI National Team, or interviews with PSIA-AASI CEO Nicholas Herrin or team members, contact Katrina Brinkerhoff at 720.963.4825 or [email protected].
About PSIA-AASI
The Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) is a nonprofit education association – and close-knit community – of more than 32,000 snowsports professionals dedicated to creating life-changing experiences for others through snowsports instruction. PSIA-AASI members give people the gift of freedom, health, and the ability to enjoy sports that will reward them for life. Members of PSIA-AASI are busy creating the future of skiing and snowboarding – the association is there to help make that job easier, providing the platform and support to ensure their success.
