PSIA-AASI

About Michael

Those who have worked with Michael (who has taught skiing since 1985) value him for his extraordinary skiing and technical ability as much as for his solid communication skills. Numerous photos of him in action accompanied the book Good Things to Know about Gliding on Snow as well as educational articles in SKI Magazine, where he is now director of instruction. Michael has also worked as ski school director at Hotel Portillo in Portillo, Chile. This is his fourth consecutive term on the PSIA Alpine Team (a record for a non-coach member), and this year he was named team captain. When not ski instructing or training at Heavenly Ski Resort in California, Michael enjoys mountain biking and golfing.

Vital Stats

Hometown: Rhinebeck, NY

Resort: Heavenly Ski Resort

Sponsors: Nordica, Bolle, Goode, Swany

Favorite run: Roca Jack (Portillo, Chile)

Favorite on-mountain restaurant: Tio Bob's, Portillo, Chile

Favorite movie: The Princess Bride

Ski day breakfast: Six egg whites, two yolks, and a toasted bagel.

Skis on: Nordica Doberman boots and Nordica Speed Machine Mach III skis

Just read: Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire, by Rafe Esquith
 
Average days on snow each season: No idea. The most in a year was 324.

Most memorable ski moment: Skiing Roca Jack in Portillo Chile with 2 feet of powder under a full moon or skiing a plastic slope supported by bamboo in a farmer's field outside of Beijing, China.

Top three off-snow activities:
1) Golf
2) Mountain biking
3) Golf

I would like to meet . . . Tiger Woods.

PSIA-AASI makes me . . . proud of my profession.

Something not many people know about him: I am a TV junkie!

Snowsports goal: Take skiing to the inner city.