Instructor Job Description

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Instructor Job Description
What is a ski/snowboard instructor? What do they do? It will depend who you ask. As a PSIA/AASI instructor and you may get a list similar to this: Why so many hats? Why so many various ‘duties’? It is because needs differ from one person to the next and we wish to create a guest-centered vacation environment. Rather than making assumptions about why the guest is taking a lesson, ask and find out. (As an instructor, what you do in a ‘lesson’ will depend upon the guest/s.)
 * Area Guide
 * Coach
 * Therapist
 * Companion, Social Guide
 * Teacher, Motor Skill Developer
 * Disciplinarian, Drill Sergeant
 * Historian
 * Environmentalist/Nature Guide
 * Baby Sitter
 * Lift Line Cutter
 * Unique Experience Creator
 * Mentor
 * Encourager/Cheerleader
 * Business partner
 * Epiphany Engineer
 * Fun Facilitator
 * Teaching snow sports is so much more than the result of mechanical guidance of the student.
 * Every Snow-Sport School director will educate her/his instructors to the specific reputation a winter sports center wishes to gain or uphold. Ultimately, the lesson content will be directed by the guest’s stated wishes.
 * Many pros all too quickly assume that the main purpose why people take lessons is to learn to ski or ride. By failing to ask key screening questions they may miss important primary social and emotional needs that are rarely offered up at first contact.
 * While learning to ski/ride may be the desire of many guests, skiers/riders can also learn much about themselves and life balance, requiring a vast repertoire of skills on the part of the instructor.
 * Unlike golf or tennis, sport activities that measure success with a score sheet, snow sports are all about mastering control and enjoying the outdoors.

Becoming a snow sports instructor is taking on a lifestyle. We hope we can help train and inspire you to entertain professional methodology as you learn and explore this lifestyle.

Study Questions
1. What did you think an instructor was or did prior to reading the previous descriptions?

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