Important Dates

Ski/ Snowboard Instruction 101 Course

• Free to anyone interested in becoming a ski or snowboard instructor.
  

  Day 1: Lost Valley Lodge

  Sunday, Nov 16 | 9:00am – 10:00am

  Focus: Mission, Professionalism, and Employment Policies

  • Mission & Philosophy: Introduction to the three-pillar priority system: Safety, Fun, and Learning.

  • The Backyard Code: Reviewing “Total Ownership” and inter-departmental respect (Patrol, Lifties, and Rental Shop).

  • Professionalism Standards:

    • No Earbuds Policy: Strict prohibition while in uniform.

    • Goggles Up: Maintaining eye contact when not skiing to build trust.

  • Employment Policies: Overview of the 5-Lesson Rule for season pass maintenance and the Reserve Clause for mandatory assignments.

  Day 2: On-Snow at Sugarloaf

  Saturday, Dec 6 | 8:00am – 2:00pm

  Focus: Technical Assessment & The Responsibility Code

  • 8:00–8:45: Orientation and gear check.

  • 8:45–11:30: Skills Assessment (Levels 1–3): Instructors must demonstrate technical proficiency in fundamental movements, including gliding, wedge turns (ski), and side-slipping (board).

  • 11:30–12:00: Lunch.

  • 12:00–2:00: Safety Protocols: Review and demonstration of Your Responsibility Code (1–10) while free-riding.

  Day 3: On-Snow at Sugarloaf

  Sunday, Dec 7 | 8:00am – 2:00pm

  Focus: Advanced Technical Assessment & Movement Analysis

  • 8:45–11:30: Skills Assessment (Levels 4–6): Proficiency check on blue and black terrain, including carving, short-radius turns, and bump skiing/riding.

  • 12:00–2:00: Movement Analysis: Practice identifying “Watchers, Doers, Feelers, and Thinkers” among peers to adapt teaching styles.

  Day 4: On-Snow at Lost Valley

  Saturday, Dec 13 | 8:00am – 3:30pm

  Focus: The Teaching Cycle & Beginner Progressions

  • 8:30–11:30: Beginner Progression (Levels 1–2): * Implementing the 7-Step Teaching Cycle (Introduce, Assess, Determine Goals, etc.).

    • Teaching “Welcome to the Snow” mechanics and first turns.

  • 12:00–3:30: The “Always Teach” Mandate: Practice drills that avoid “Follow the Leader” or “Babysitting”.

    • Chairlift Protocol: Mandatory bar rule and student communication drills.

  Day 5: On-Snow at Lost Valley

  Sunday, Dec 14 | 8:00am – 3:30pm

  Focus: Lesson Logistics & Emergency Procedures

  • 8:00–11:30: Lesson Delivery: * Applying the CAP Model (Cognitive, Affective, Physical) to different lesson types.

    • Lineup punctuality (15 minutes prior) and professional “On Stage” conduct.

  • 1:00–3:30: Emergency & Communication Drills:

    • S.P.A.D.E. Protocol: Role-playing incident response and Radio Channel 5 usage.

    • O.A.R.S. Method: Practicing professional parent hand-offs and incident reporting.

Lost Valley Instructor Orientation

Two Meetings:  Returning Instructors / New Hire Instructors

Monday Dec 8

Re Hire Instructors Only Must Attend

• 5:30 pm

Tuesday Dec 9

New Hire Instructors Must Attend

• 5:30pm

Weekly Instructor Training Clinics

Saturday Morning Expansion Clinics

Saturday Morning Clinic Drill Library (8am–10am)

Jan 3: The CAP Model (Cognitive, Affective, Physical)

• The “Storybook” Run (Cognitive – Kids): Have students pretend they are superheroes; their skis are “laser beams” that must stay parallel to hit a target.

   

• The “Body Scan” (Affective – All): Before a steep pitch, have students rate their fear from 1–10; if it’s over 7, address the emotion before the technique.

   

• Balance Hop (Physical): While gliding, have students perform small hops to find their centered athletic stance.

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Jan 10: Teaching Styles (Command, Task, Reciprocal)

• Red Light, Green Light (Command): Use for safety and immediate stops.

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• The “Garland” Challenge (Task): Assign students to perform three “half-turns” into and out of the fall line before the next trail junction.

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• Peer Review (Reciprocal): Pair students up; one watches for “quiet upper bodies” while the other rides, then they switch.

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Jan 17: Chairlift Safety & Professionalism

• The “Bar Protocol” Mock-up: Practice the verbal cue: “We are going to lower the safety bar now; please keep your hands and poles clear”.

   

• The “Slow/Stop” Signal: Practice clear hand signals and verbal communication with the lift operator for beginner loading.

   

Jan 24: Speed Control (Managing the Arc)

• The Dimmer Switch: Skis/Boards start in a fast glide; on command, students slowly increase wedge size or edge pressure to find “medium” then “slow” speeds.

   

• Turn Shape “S” Drills: Focus on finishing the turn across the hill rather than pointing downhill to manage speed without “racing”.

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Jan 31: Level 3 Tactics (Greens & Flats)

• The “Anticipation” Glide: On green trails, identify upcoming flat sections and teach students to tuck or maintain a straight line to keep momentum.

   

• The “Falling Leaf” Race: (Snowboard) See who can move across the widest part of the hill using only side-slipping movements.

   

Feb 7: Level 4 & 5 Transitions (Parallel & Movement)

• The Hockey Stop Challenge: Practice sudden, forceful stops in both directions to ensure edge control.

   

• Pole Plant Timing: (Skiers) Use a rhythmic count—”Turn, Touch, Turn”—to coordinate pole plants with edge releases.

   

• The “Invisible Chair”: (Snowboard) Practice flexion/extension by “sitting” into the turn and “standing” to release the edge.

   

Feb 14: Guided Discovery (Real-time Feedback)

• Follow the Tracks: Students must stay exactly in the instructor’s arc; instructor provides feedback while moving (e.g., “Keep your chest facing me!”).

   

• The “Sound” Test: Have students listen to the sound of their skis/board; “scratchy” means skidding, “silent” means carving.

   

Feb 21: Advanced Terrain (Bumps & Crud)

• Line Choice Discovery: In easy bumps, have students try two different lines (the “trough” vs. the “top”) and report which felt smoother.

   

• The “Shock Absorber”: Practice riding over small natural rollers using “retraction” (pulling knees up) to keep the equipment on the snow.

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8:00am–10:00am | Revisiting Manual Topics

Lesson Shadowing: Newly hired instructors are required to shadow TWO lessons prior to being approved for teaching classes. Minimum of 1 Private Lesson Shadow (1 hr), Minimum of 1 Group or Semi Private Lesson. Must complete both before Jan 1