PSIA-AASI

As the economic downturn is hitting the population harder, what is the organization doing to prepare for this opportunity?
If we view this as an opportuntity to get people involved as members i think the organization needs to focus on Nordic, speciffically cross country. ASEA involvement with cross country is miniamal at the moment but an effort is starting to be made. What is the next step to involve local area coaches into PSIA? This could be a huge growth area if ASEA and the Nordic team pursue it!
I am happy that ASEA is going after a national standard for children’s accreditation. I hope that Nordic is actively involved with the process.

Warren Souther

Warren, As a nordic downhill instructor I have be producing a nordic winter festival for the last seven years at a mid-Atlantic resort. Adults pay for the festival but kids 16 yrs of age and younger are free. It was a slow start, but last winter we had 15- 20 kids participate. What helped was the fact that we provided free gear from the local ski clubs stash, lots of loaner gear. The local Karku rep Doug Reilley scored us a load of loaner telemark boots from Garmont. So a little bit of help in different directions all made the kids beaming with smiles. One young girl about age eight told us at the after party that she’s never going back to her alpine gear! Score one for the future knee droppers. For pics of this event go to http://www.telemarker.org, Tele Ho! Jim Kapp

Jim,
That is good news from Seven Springs, great job! A friend of mine has been organizing a local telepalooza event here in Alaska for a few years as a fund raiser for the adaptive program program that has been hugely successful as well. Another friend, Ned Ryerson aka TeleNed, has been conducting children’s events through the rockies for quite a few years now as well. Thanks in part to the folks at Garmont, children’s telemark boots have been available and the fun the children experience on the equipment has been a joy to experience!
That fun experience is what i would like to see ASEA package with a children’s Nordic accreditation. I would like to stress here that this is not limited to telemark only but incorporates all free heel equipment. The range of motion and freedom the free heel allows needs to be the focus in children’s games for different ages as they develop.

By developing a nordic children’s accreditation, ASEA will be able to approach Nordic clubs with a specific product geared towards their interests. Our teaching technique’s coupled with a program to specifically help their coaches develop interest and fun in young skiiers is what is needed right now!The growth potential is there and now is the time to push this. Contact your local Nordic PSIA rep and ask them what they are doing in this area to help. For more information go to Dan Clausen, David Lawrence and Scot McGee.

I would love to hear more about other programs like Jim’s! Who else is out there?