 Poster: A snowHead
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This saturday sees the beginning of INTERSKI congress in St Anton Austria. Held every 4 years snowsports instructor / coaching associations meet to deliver workshops, discuss current technique and demo high performance.
Both the UK and Ireland are well represented through the national teams attending the conference (BASI and IASI). This is great opportunity for smaller, non Alpine nations to show case their systems for Snowsport instructor education. Also its a great opportunity to see the BIG guns perform!
My personal INTERSKI blog www.petesilvergillespie.wordpress.com
follow the teams at www.iasisnowsports.ie and www.basidemoteam.com
www.stantonamarlber.com
For information on INTERSKI www.interski-2011.com
I will keep you updated from the congress
PSG
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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That BASI Team site has given me travel sickness 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Nice video - where in Ireland was it shot? 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Great day with the Australian Professional Snowsports Instructors yesterday. Very simplistic system based on fundamentals and their target group of weekend skiers.
Most Aussie instructors have NOT grown up in the snow (unlike our alpine friends ) but due to the general culture of out door life and sports they develop fast. Very nice skiing style, influences are Austrian and Canadian. Close stance but very effective use of the ski and flowing performance.
European politics just don't feature (very refreshing)
PSG
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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German snowsports instructors association.
Tuesday 18th January I joined the German delegation to get an insight in the way they view snowsports from a safety and technical aspect.
In the morning I attended a presentation on how the association is working to change safety attitudes with young free riders.
It is generally felt that younger skiers and snowboarders are very influenced by all the exiting media that in current around free riding. Where this is positive to generate interest, youth Sometimes lacks experience in the wider mountain environment.
Working in association with the German Alpine Club the snowsports instructors association has began a program of mountain awareness called "know your risk" . The scheme uses mountain guides, pro free riders and instructors to deliver work shops through the schools educational program.
There are three levels of work shop ranging from the basic (90 minuet presentation), followed by a half day session and finally a full day work shop.
It is believed that this education program is having a positive impact in reducing accidents
in the back country.
The Perfect turn
Mark a trainer from the German association took us for a great technical session today. The theme was "the perfect turn"! How could I resist this, I have been searching for this for around 25 Years!
As you would expect from the Germans the session was all about precision. First there was discussion on the optimal posture, it was suggested a centred stance is desirable and generally a skier should seek to maintain this.
Our movements should begin with the ankle allowing the rest of the joints to follow in relation to the ankle movements. As the skier moves through the arc the edging build around the turn. Turning sequence as follows:
Release (old arc)
Edge (start the process)
Steer (take the skis to where you want to go)
The body should adapt to maintain optimal balance using "three dimensional angulation". This is allowing the body to separate laterally, forwards and with some rotation. I personally liked this term. The Germans advocate some natural inner ski advance on steeper terrain.
Marks parting statement was "the perfect turn is a carved turn". Not sure if I fully agree with this, however he was an awesome skier.
Pete Gillespie
IASI Alpine Trainer
Sent from my iPad
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for these reports Pete, and for the Facebook updates (how come you didn't get a photo with the San Marino girls?).
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rob@rar, Derek sent me on a mission connect with our European brothers. I wonder why?
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| gilleski wrote: |
| rob@rar, Derek sent me on a mission connect with our European brothers. I wonder why? |
Derek 1 - 0 Pete.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
three dimensional angulation
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i like that as well really nails it doesnt it...
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| Our movements should begin with the ankle allowing the rest of the joints to follow in relation to the ankle movements. |
couldnt agree more with that... keep the reports coming pete really interesting to hear.
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gilleski, great report, thanks!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for the reports Pete. Good to know how our overseas colleagues are thinking and heading.
Regards,
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Better pics on fb.
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Training day today and we got a few runs down the demo slope. Bullet proof frozen lumps of ice! Good to get on the slopes as IASI will take a run in the closing event. BASI team where training hard as they have a demo slot tomorrow evening.
Snowing hard now and due to continue so that may change the dynamic of the demos (personally prefer powder to boiler plate)!
So far have been very impressed with the skiing of Denmark (yes I did say Denmark) Australia, Croatia and the Brits but the show stealers are Austria without a doubt. Very technical, precise and fast!
Oh, remind my to never attend an ISIA general meeting again! Lawyers and politicians arguing about European laws etc. ISIA is a world body for sharing ideas and maintaining standards. The rest of the world that live outside Europe where NOT impressed. Neither was I as a 1 hour meeting that started at 6pm ended at 9pm and I almost missed my dinner! And all to wear a nice silver badge.
My blog www.petesilvergillespie.wordpress.com
Wine o clock.
PSG
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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beanie1, nice video! Do you know who was in it?
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Poster: A snowHead
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cathy, yes there are Alain Baxter, Andrew Freshwater, Amanda Pirie, Ben Kinnear, Joe Beer and Ben Sneesby
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A day with the Canadians
Canadian lecture theme "the winning feeling"
Great presentation by John Gilles. Canadian theme encourages instructors to create life long snowsports participation through emphasis on tuning in to emotions. Being with nature, the freedom, excitement, thrill, well being, anticipation, accomplishment. We can all get "The Winning Feeling" by focusing on these emotions. A very client centred approach.
It is recognised that 90 percent of snowsport consumers in Canada are families with children. The growth Market in snowsports will come in converting these families and their children in to "life style" snowsport consumers. It was noted that there has been zero growth in the beginner market in recent years.
Technical philosophy is very simple, outcome focused V form. Form ( style) is a result of achieving specific outcome that vary depending on the result you are seeking.
The on hill session was ran by Emerson, a trainer and demonstrator with CSIA. The technical skiing at top end was flowing and inspirational. Rather like the Australians there is no over wide stance and a theme of angulation and separation to aid balance where required.
It terms of technical skill the Canadian levels 1 to 4 would be comparable to both the IASI and BASI levels.
Teaching philosophy is very customer focused and learner designed. Learners are not taught to perform specific turns, they are guided through phases by the instructor. The learner has a degree of autonomy in shaping the process.
I shared the session with a group Finnish and Eastern Europeans who found this approach refreshing but very different from their "traditional" system of fault correction. They commented this was a cultural challenge and one that was slowly changing with new attitudes to learning.
The teaching approach would not be unlike the IASI and BASI systems.
A great session well done CSIA.
PSG
Sent from my iPad
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Irish presentation
This morning Dave Murrie IASI trainer delivered an off snow lecture covering the subject of prevention of knee and back injuries in snowsports. This is Dave's specialist subject and the presentation went down a storm with the international delegates. Over 50 people packed the room to listen to findings of many years of research.
Further information can be downloaded at www.iasisnowsports.ie
Following this the IASI delegation attended the Hungarian presentation titled "Le Big Mac"
the theme was cleverly presented and encouraged snowsport teachers to look for the subtle differences in similar performances.
The title was influenced by the film pulp fiction! You remember when they are discussing the subtle differences between burgers? Quarter pounder with cheese or the Royal with cheese, they even have Mayo on their chips!!
Hungary has a few small natural ski areas but are normally used by day or weekend visitors. The typical Hungarian instructor works part time and will travel with clients for courses in Alpine resorts. There are around 500000 snowsports consumers in Hungary. There are a few dry slopes in Hungary with two in Budapest. The ski instructors association has around 200 members.
For such a small association they seem very well organised and are credible performers.
Closing ceremony tonight and Ireland will be represented on the demo hill by myself and Derek Tate. Dave Murrie will be the official camera man.
PSG
Sent from my iPad
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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gilleski, good luck!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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beanie1, Gunna need it! It's boiler plate!! BASI demo was fantastic last night, top form.
PSG
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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FlyingStantoni, great, weren't they!
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Wow, how fantastic!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Pretty tasty run.
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2011 St Anton Austria
Irish Association of Snowsport Instructors
Irish delegation:
Derek Tate
Dave Murrie
Pete Gillespie
The recent INTERSKI congress in St Anton Austria has been a huge success for Ireland. It provided a platform to show case our small but very professional association and created opportunities for our association to forge strong links with other nations.
The congress brings together the snowsport instructor associations who are members of INTERSKI international. The world bodies ISIA (professional instructors) IVSI (instructors working through clubs and associations) and IVSS (instructors working through schools and universities) are all represented at the congress. Over 2000 instructors and delegates met to showcase their systems, run and attend workshops and discuss current and future snowsport instruction issues.
Ireland received a very positive and warm welcome from all the nations. Our presence at the congress has build awareness of our system and qualifications which in turn creates working opportunities for our members.
INTERSKI team member and IASI trainer Dave Murrie delivered a fantastic indoor presentation on prevention of knee and back injuries in snowsports and how instructors can influence change. The presentation was attended by over 50 people and received rave reviews. Without a doubt one of the best presentations of the whole congress.
During the week the Irish delegation attended the on snow workshops of Australia, USA, Denmark, Slovenia, Germany, Sweden and Canada to name a few. It is apparent that we have some real synergy with the Professional ski instructors of America (PSIA) and will be talking to them further about reciprocal opportunities.
Although not big enough to send a demo team we did ski everyday with trainers from other nations. The IASI technical and teaching levels are right up there with some of the more established snowsport nations. We really do have a very credible and comprehensive system.
IASI is one of six English speaking nations in the ISIA of which only 2 are European.
Ireland took part in the closing ceremony where myself and Derek Tate took a run of honour in front of a crowd of over 2000 spectators and fellow instructors. Dave Murrie captured the moment as official camera man. A short run but a huge step for IASI now firmly established on the world stage.
More detailed information on the individual workshops are available on the IASI facebook site and we will be compiling a final report in the near future.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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gilleski, well done, sounds like IASI made an impression and that you all had a successful and worthwhile trip
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FAQ
