2007 - 2008 Alpine Events

Below are descriptions of the various alpine events. See the event calendar for the dates and prices for this year's lineup of educational and certification events. Online registration for events is available on the event calendar page as well.

Educational Events

DCE training - Alpine examiners, clinicians and clinicians-it-training train together for three days to refine our own skiing, share movement analysis, and discuss staff training and the certification process. Learn more about our alpine DCE program.

Fall Festival - This three-day event is Northern Rocky Mountain's largest event of the year. It's held in early December at Big Sky Resort and is open to all members. There is a selection of clinic topics to choose from, ranging from ski improvement to teaching and movement analysis. Fall Festival also includes a banquet, auction and awards ceremony.

Advanced Educators clinic - This one-day event is held the Friday of Fall Festival and is open to any Level III alpine member. This is the first step for instructors who are interested in becoming trainers, clinicians, or examiners. During this one-day clinic you will learn about the DCE program, get high-level skiing feedback, and be evaluated for entrance into the DCE-IT program. After you successfully complete this clinic, you may apply to enter the DCE-IT program.

Master's Clinic - This one-day event is held the Friday of Fall Festival and is open to any Level II alpine member. Spend all day with a guest D-Team member, working on the latest and greatest techniques. Tune up your turns and teaching!

Train the Trainer - This one-day event is held the Friday of Fall Festival. Join the DCE staff for a day of sharing ideas on how to improve your training techniques to improve staff education and prepare instructors for further advancement in PSIA. This event is free for trainers who are employed at ski schools that are current members of PSIA-NRM. This event is intended for trainers who are not part of the DCE program.

Accredited Children's Educator (ACE) - Led by members of the children's education clinician team, this educational course will be held both on and off snow and will investigate how children and teens move, behave, and learn as they grow. Additionally, the clinicians will facilitate discussions and activities that will help instructors design lesson plans that encourage exploration of the mountain environment on skis or snowboards. Instructors will be given a self-study handbook that quizzes their knowledge about the information shared during the course as well as information referenced from the PSIA Children's Instruction Manual (That's the one with the green cover and can be borrowed from fellow instructors or purchased from the Accessories catalog prior to the start of the course). Instructors completing this two-day course, along with the workbook will be recognized as an Accredited Children's Educator (ACE) by PSIA/AASI-NRM. This event is two days and is open to Level II members of any snowsports discipline. Completion of the ACE program (clinic plus workbook) is required for all DCEs.

Ski Like a Girl: skiing and teaching for women - This is a relatively new clinic topic but it is already a big hit with our women instructors! When we say "ski like a girl," what we mean is to embody the style, athleticism, finesse and spirit that women bring to our sport. During this one-day event, you'll learn about strategies that are specific to coaching women skiers. You'll also get a chance to work on your own skiing with a group of your female peers. This clinic is taught by one of NRM's talented female clinicians. (They are easy to spot in their pink uniforms!)

Ridge Tactics - This clinic may just be the opportunity of a lifetime - a chance to ski and explore Bridger Bowl's famous Ridge with a group of fellow instructors. You will be guided by a qualified clinician who will help you adapt your skiing skills to the steep, narrow and thrilling terrain offered by the Ridge. This terrain is accessed by a 600 vertical foot bootpack, so be ready for some hiking! Participants will need a backpack, an avalanche shovel and a transceiver, and should be comfortable on black diamond terrain.

Video Clinic - There is no better way to evaluate your own skiing than by seeing it on video. This clinic will provide you with clear and direct analysis of your skiing, followed by more on-snow time to work out the bugs and improve your moves.

Alpine Committee Meetings - Well, these meetings might not be as fun as a day on the snow, but they are just as important. Members of the DCE program are strongly encouraged to attend and help us chart the course of the NRM alpine program. Remember, that if you don't come to the meetings, you forfeit your right to complain!

Certification Events

Level I evaluated clinic (AKA Level I exam) - This is the entry level of certification for ski instructors. The Level I certification consists of a 2-day evaluated clinic. This clinic includes a written test, skiing, teaching scenarios and technical discussions. Level I events are typically offered several times during each season at areas around the division. In some cases the Level I clinic is offered “in house,” meaning it is organized and subsidized by a specific snowsports school. Other Level I events are run by NRM and appear on the events schedule each year. To learn more about Level I events in NRM, check the event calendar or ask your snowsports school director to see if an in-house event is coming to your mountain. For more information, see the Level I Guide and the Alpine Certification Guide.

Level II Prep Clinic - This is a three-day event and is the prerequisite for taking the Level II exam. This clinic must be taken the same season as your exam or the season before your exam. The Level II written test will be given during the prep clinic. The on-snow portion of the prep clinic will cover tasks, demos, free skiing, teaching, movement analysis. At the end of the prep clinic, you will be given an exit interview with the examiner and you will receive feedback that will help you train for and plan for your exam. For more information see the Level II Alpine Certification Guide.

Level II Exam - This is a two-day interactive exam focusing on teaching, understanding and performing effective movement patterns in skiing. This will involve demonstrations, tasks, free-skiing, and teaching segments. The tasks, demonstrations and teaching segments are designed to allow every candidate the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet the Level II national standards. All parts of the exam are scored, and you will be given both written and verbal feedback at the end of the exam. For more information see the Level II Alpine Certification Guide.

Level III Prep Clinic - This is a three-day event and is the prerequisite for taking the Level III exam. This clinic must be taken the same season as your exam or the season before your exam. The Level III written test will be given during the prep clinic. The on-snow portion of the prep clinic will cover tasks, demos, free skiing, teaching, movement analysis. At the end of the prep clinic, you will be given an exit interview with the examiner and you will receive feedback that will help you train for and plan for your exam. For more information see the Level III Alpine Certification Guide.

Level III Exam - This is a two-day interactive exam focusing on teaching, understanding and performing effective movement patterns in skiing. This will involve demonstrations, tasks, free-skiing, and teaching segments. The tasks, demonstrations and teaching segments are designed to allow every candidate the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet the Level III national standards. All parts of the exam are scored, and you will be given both written and verbal feedback at the end of the exam. For more information see the Level III Alpine Certification Guide.