Contact:
303-987-9390
EMAIL: info@psia-c.org
Office Hours:
M-F: 9am- 5pm EST
***Please note — it is likely that operating procedures will shift as the pandemic situation changes throughout the season. Please read each event individual description carefully and watch your email for regular updates if registered for an event.
When speaking of the outlook for the coming season, there are things we know for sure, and things we can’t predict- many of our plans will remain fluid. As a Division, we will adapt and change to face the changing landscape COVID presents. We must all remain flexible and possess concern for our own safety and the safety of others. We know that there will be skiing and snowboarding, and there will be learning. We will continue to improve our craft, driven by our desire to help others learn and our love of the sport. We know that HOW we do these things will look differently this season.
KNOW that the leaders of PSIA-AASI Central are taking advantage of these challenges by looking for all of the ways to reimagine and improve all of the ways we have delivered snowsports instruction education and certification. More information about the season exam and education process will be available in the weeks to come, utilizing small groups and video and online classroom technologies, in the interim, these are the current projected operating procedures for the 2020/2021 PSIA-AASI Central Snowsports Season, under COVID-19 Safety Protocols:
Operating Procedures, 2020/2021 Season:
TRAVEL and EDUCATION STAFF:
It is PSIA-AASI Central’s intent to keep our staff as safe and socially responsible as possible. We will do this by limiting the range of our staff travel, using local staff when possible. We will avoid overnight travel and carpooling. These steps come at additional costs to the organization, yet we feel that they are the right thing to do.
ON-SNOW EVENTS:
All staff and participants are requested to self-monitor temperature and symptoms prior to attending events. If a participant or staff member develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, while at the event, immediately have them return home from the mountain as soon as possible and follow CDC-recommended steps for persons who are ill with COVID-19 symptoms.
Staff and members must stay at home if they are sick. If there is a confirmed COVID-19 infection, inform the host resort management, staff and members about their possible exposure to the virus, while maintaining confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act
Screening will be done of Staff and Members following recommendations established by County Health Department, State and CDC. Wellness Checks conducted during event registration and daily as recommended by County Health Departments. Daily Wellness Checks of all Central employees when they are in contact with PSIA-AASI members, resort employees and resort guests when they are working on behalf of Central
Conditions will be regularly monitored regarding the spread of COVID-19, following federal, state, and/or local public health officials recommendations when deciding whether to postpone, cancel, or reduce attendance at events.
All clinics will be “Direct to Snow.” Groups will receive advance notice of meeting places and times.
Participants are encouraged to boot-up at their vehicles, and to pack a lunch in order to minimize indoor exposure.
Lunch periods are independent, groups will not formally meet over lunch.
Masks are required. Any and all protocols of the hosting resort MUST be followed, or the participant will be excused from the event, without refund.
Pre-Clinic Discussion and Material will be presented via webinar/email.
Many events will shift to 1-Day formats, in order to best accommodate the above protocols.
Events will be held mid-week and/or coordinated to avoid regional peak periods.
ONLINE LEARNING:
We pivoted quickly last spring to offer more online learning opportunities, and we are committed to doing the same for the upcoming season, with new and redesigned webinar courses.
Educational Clinics and Certification Exams will incorporate more online learning, to continue to provide adequate instruction and feedback time in support of more limited face-to-face interaction.
Online learning will allow our members to benefit from exposure to a wider range of education staff, along with individualized instruction and feedback.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
We anticipate that more members will take 6 CEU courses to fulfill their annual requirement rather than the 12 that achieves a biannual update, and this will likely place an additional burden on our education staff and events in the 2021-2022 season. In an effort to relieve this potential bottleneck, PSIA-AASI Central will not enforce a limit of on-line courses employed to achieve continuing education for the 2020-2021 season.
For more information on Navigating the 2020-2021 Snowsports season, check out this resource from PSIA-AASI National: https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/covid-19-updates/
***Please note — it is likely that operating procedures will shift as the pandemic situation changes throughout the season. Please read each event individual description carefully and watch your email for regular updates if registered for an event.
ON-SNOW EVENTS:
Clinic Group Size: 2020-2021 COVID Operating Procedures will utilize small group (5 participant to 1 clinician Max) in order to keep groups small. Some events will offer private-type lessons with clinicians.
Exams will follow a Round-Robin arrangement- participants will work with their examiner in a private lesson format:
Why “One Day” on-snow Events? It is PSIA-AASI Central’s intent to keep our staff as safe and socially responsible as possible. We will do this by limiting the range of our staff travel, using local staff when available. We will avoid overnight travel and carpooling for both clinicians and members. These steps come at additional costs and risks to the organization, yet we feel that they are the right thing to do.
Historically, members have been limited in the number of online courses they could take for continuing education relative to on-snow courses. In light of COVID-19, the constraints we face, and both the range and quality of virtual offerings, this limitation will not be enforced. Members are encouraged to pursue on-line education opportunities across all divisions and disciplines. Webinars are posted on the PSIA-C.org and TheSnowpros.org websites, and updated regularly.
Standard/Hybrid Educational Clinics and Certification Exams will also incorporate more online learning, to continue to provide adequate instruction and feedback time in support of more limited face-to-face interaction.
Online learning will allow our members to benefit from exposure to a wider range of education staff, along with individualized instruction and feedback.
We anticipate that more members will take 6 CEU courses to fulfill their annual requirement rather than the 12 that achieves a biannual update, and this will likely place an additional burden on our education staff and events in the 2021-2022 season. In an effort to relieve this potential bottleneck, PSIA-AASI Central will not enforce a limit of on-line courses employed to achieve continuing education for the 2020-2021 season.
For more information on Navigating the 2020-2021 Snowsports season, check out this resource from PSIA-AASI National: https://www.thesnowpros.org/education/covid-19-updates/
For On-Snow events, there will be no penalty for cancellations due to Covid-related issues. This includes symptoms for you or a family member (living at home). The organization and membership also must plan for the possibility that an education staff member may become symptomatic or exposed. In the event that an on-snow event must cancel as a result (we will first seek a replacement), all event fees will be refunded- however, members are encouraged to pursue online education for CEU’s, as on snow event cancellation will not result in any form of administrative waiver. Members have asked if the division will waive late fees due to concerns about event cancellations. The above referenced cancellation policy leaves members risk-free should they need to cancel an event due to Covid-19, and so the late fee (which is intended to give us sufficient time to plan and assign staff to events, and cover the additional costs associated with late preparation of event packets) will remain in effect. Thank you for understanding this policy.
***Please note — it is likely that operating procedures will shift as the pandemic situation changes throughout the season. Please read each event individual description carefully and watch your email for regular updates if registered for an event.
Typically event registrations made before the late period receive a discount. Registrations made less than 14 days from an event will include a $25 non-refundable administrative late fee, to cover costs for reassigning or assigning more education staff and other administrative last-minute required changes.
The online on-snow event registration will close at the end of the day (11:59 PM), seven days before the event. Event registrations made after the seven-day deadline will be reviewed on an individual basis by the event coordinator and the Central Office.
All registration made after the seven-day date (Online, Phone, or Mailed) will include an additional $25 “walk-on” (Closed) registration handling fee ($50 total Non-Refundable administrative fees).
For On-Snow events, there will be no penalty for cancellations due to Covid-related issues. This includes symptoms for you or a family member (living at home). The organization and membership also must plan for the possibility that an education staff member may become symptomatic or exposed. In the event that an on-snow event must cancel as a result (we will first seek a replacement), all event fees will be refunded- however, members are encouraged to pursue online education for CEU’s, as on snow event cancellation will not result in any form of administrative waiver. Members have asked if the division will waive late fees due to concerns about event cancellations. The above referenced cancellation policy leaves members risk-free should they need to cancel an event due to Covid-19, and so the late fee (which is intended to give us sufficient time to plan and assign staff to events, and cover the additional costs associated with late preparation of event packets) will remain in effect. Thank you for understanding this policy.
***Please note — it is likely that operating procedures will shift as the pandemic situation changes throughout the season. Please read each event individual description carefully and watch your email for regular updates if registered for an event.
PSIA-AASI Central Division Education Staff members are required to wear a helmet at all lift-served events. Due to the large and increasing number of resorts requiring helmet use by employees and/or snowsports participants, PSIA-AASI Central now requires all participants to wear a properly fitting helmet during PSIA-AASI Central lift-served events. This policy serves to limit the risk of non-compliance at host resorts—participants who arrive without a helmet may be required to procure one before event admission.
Pre-Event:
It is VERY important that you check your email (including spam folder) for a confirmation email that you are registered successfully for the event. This confirmation email may often contain information needed prior to the event (such as meeting time, lift tickets, prerequisites, etc.). You will likely also receive an email from the PSIA-AASI Event Coordinator or your event instructor closer to the time of the event — which includes more detailed information not included in the confirmation email. These emails may come from a staff member at @psia-c.org and/or directly from a clinic leaders personal email. Look carefully!
PSIA-AASI Central operates at the discretion of the hosting ski area re: discounts on lodging and lift tickets.*** You typically will receive information on these items in the event registration confirmation or on an email from the event coordinator or Central Admin in the week prior to the event. (Be sure to check spam folders.)
***We encourage hosting resorts to offer lodging discounts and reduced-rate lift tickets for our members. Some resorts offer discounted lift tickets based on certification level, so we do encourage you to ask the resort in order to take full use of your membership benefits (show your digital or print membership card as proof).
Central administration actively negotiates to pass on discounts to our members, as ski instructors create happy, return guests for resorts. We do attempt to schedule events at ski areas that pass on savings to our members.
Event Day:
Arrive at area no later than 30 minutes prior to start time. This allows you time to find your meeting location and check in, get lift tickets. (Events can be crowded and busy. Have patience and give yourself time!) There may be a short informational meeting prior to breaking into groups. Anxiety/excitement is normal and everyone else feels the same way, group leader too, so channel the energy for positive results!
You will break into groups and meet your group leader, who will outline the procedure for the day and answer questions. Your group leader will suggest a meeting place and a time and release you to boot up and get ready for on-snow.
Feedback: Your group leader(s) may separate themselves from the group from time to time to take notes on various observations made throughout the day. If this happens, continue on and the group leader will catch up. For exams, please be patient following the event as your examiner thoughtfully prepares your formal feedback.
LOGISTICS FOR THE DAY:
Meals: Clinicians schedule breaks and lunches based on the needs of the entire group and flow of teaching. There is no set break or lunch time. Please inform your leader if you have specific needs. It is a good idea to pack lunches and/or snacks, due to limited time availability and possible limited food-offerings at different resorts (over which PSIA-AASI has no control.)
Lift Tickets/Lodging: You likely received information via email on whether lift ticket/lodging discounts are given to participants by the resort, but it is a good time to clarify this now with the event coordinator or clinic leader if you do not have your lift ticket.
Exams: For more info on specific exams, visit the Education and Certification Discipline pages.
Clinicians schedule breaks and lunches based on the needs of the entire group and flow of teaching. There is no set break or lunch time. Please inform your leader if you have specific needs. It is a good idea to pack lunches and/or snacks, due to limited time availability and possible limited food-offerings at different resorts (over which PSIA-AASI has no control.)
Make sure you are all set to join and participate in an online webinar with the RingCentral Pre-Webinar Tech Check List
Your Group Leader will complete an Accident Report on the occurrence; indicating your level of attendance in order for administrative staff to complete the following:
Check out PSIA AASI Central’s online Webinar’s these courses are great ways to earn credit when you can’t make an on-snow event! Webinar registration can be completed online through our Event Calendar or by contacting our Member Services staff at 231-335-4627 ext 0.
Medical waivers are also available and are approved on a case by case basis. You can apply for a Medical Waiver using our “Online Waiver Request Form” on our Membership Forms page.
You may take a PSIA-AASI education event in any division and Central Division will honor the education credits you earn. Please note that this is true of any official, sanctioned PSIA-AASI education event, and you are responsible for meeting any event prerequisites imposed by National or the other Division. Education Credits received for this event will be added by the hosting division or National.
You must contact the PSIA AASI Central Division office prior to taking a Certification Exam or Certificate-Based Specialist Program in another division. The divisions require approval from your home division before they will let you register. It is especially important that you check the prerequisites of the division in which you plan to take the exam, as you must fulfill all of their requirements. This may include prep clinics, written or online exams, testing in various modules at different times, and so on.
Under certain circumstances, the Central Division will approve education credits for an event sponsored by organizations other than PSIA-AASI and its divisions:
In order for you to be eligible for credit for a Non-ASEA Central division event, you must complete the on-line application form below at least 4 weeks before the start of the event. Please note that the application must receive approval before a credit can be granted. Applications received during the peak season may take longer to be addressed so please ensure all required information is attached to the application.
Non-ASEA Education Credit Application Form