Formed 19 months ago, the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada (PSIC) certifies ski instructors using an array of unique programs and will be bringing courses to Sun Peaks this winter.
For the last 85 years, the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) has been certifying ski instructors with a standard of four levels of certification that the PSIC has adopted as well.
“We ski with people for three and four days, depending on the program, as their exam,” president of the PSIC Mark Sedgwick said about the method of instructor training. “So they get many, many attempts to show us their best, because that’s more reflective of what they’re doing out there in their profession when they’re with their groups for all day or all week.”
The PSIC’s programming stands out from other training organizations in a few ways, including its big mountain certification program designed to teach how to ski and instruct on challenging terrain.
About the PSIC
Up to 20 people now sit on an industry steering committee that has guided the PSIC’s programming. Formed from representatives of resorts across Canada, the committee is a way to work directly with resort employers, who know what’s needed in their employees.
A main value of the organization is a development-first approach. There was a disconnect, according to Sedgwick, between how people are proving they’re at a standard to teach during exams versus out on the mountain while teaching.
“What we’re doing is giving professionals tools to use day in and day out that they find practical and relevant,” he said, adding the PSIC helps participants understand the sport as well as the people.
A large piece of feedback received following last year’s programming was how valuable participants found this process, even if they weren’t successful, because they gained skills they can continue to grow on before a later shot at certification.
The PSIC has invested a substantial amount into online learning tools as well.
“Time on the hill is like beachfront real estate, it’s precious time,” Sedgwick said.
With about an hour of online learning including videos and knowledge checks, participants are prepared before heading out on to the mountain for the courses.
“That was an overwhelming success last year,” he said. “Everyone loved that.”
PSIC big mountain program, Sun Peaks
Along with a regular alpine pathway program based on the CSIA levels one to four ski instructor certification, the PSIC has developed a big mountain program, from level two to level four, which will be brought to Sun Peaks throughout the winter.
Based on feedback from the steering committee, Sedgwick said that while instructors were taking people into consequential terrain among the massive mountains in western Canada, there was no real training for that.
“We piloted that last year at Whistler,” he said. “We put about 50 people through the programs at level two and level three.”
The big mountain pathway was developed with the help of Derek Foose, founder of Whistler free ride club, and his senior trainers.
Sun Peaks is among a number of resorts that have signed up for this course this year, including Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Castle, Panorama, Cypress and Mount Washington.
Among regular level one to three certification courses running throughout January, February and March for the first time this year, Sun Peaks will have a level two big mountain course on Feb. 24.
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