Part 1 - Becoming A Certified AASI Snowboard Instructor

Most of us were once-upon-a-time taught by a snowboard instructor. At the time we were struggling to grasp the fundamentals of riding, not entirely sure how much fun this sport called snowboarding really was. While the instructor glided down the hill, often with one foot unstrapped, we were slamming to the ground every five yards. Back then, I would have given anything just to be able to ride like my instructor.

Many of us still relish that dream, but as our riding has advanced so has our definition. As an instructor, you get to be the first "hero" of snowboarding your students will ever meet. You have the answers to their questions; you are the catalyst of their success and progression. To top things off, instructors get to reap the greatest benefit a job could ever offer: guaranteed riding time daily--whether you are teaching or not.

Aspiring instructors need not fear, the steps to make your dream a reality are not as daunting as they seem. Here are some tips to start you on the path towards an incredibly rewarding career...

What's in the Job Description?

But first, let's see how badly you want to do it? It isn't free to become a snowboard instructor. Instructing is a career, and like any career you will have to pay some money to receive the information and training you need.

Learning the skills takes time, so won't be paying everything all at once, but be prepared. You will need to buy educational materials, pay an annual registration fee to be a member of PSIA/AASI, pay for your certification courses, and last but not least pay your way to a resort before any of this can be possible.

Once you are certified you will enjoy an increased pay rate and numerous discounts including lift tickets, hotels, and snowboard gear. Getting there, however, takes a bit of personal sacrifice.

Even when you are certified, this does not guarantee tons of money. Every resort position requires guest attendance. If nobody shows up to the hill that day then you aren't getting paid.

Don't anticipate spending most of your working days coaching up-and-coming Olympians in the halfpipe either. Especially at lower certifications, you can expect to work with lots and lots of children.

Bottom line, the most successful instructors became instructors to teach. It's not about being the star of the show; it's not about raking in cash-money; it's about actually wanting to help other people learn to ride a snowboard.

Still want to give it a go?

Knowledge is Power

One thing you can't, or at least shouldn't want to do, is jump into a certification course without a little prep work. To get started, you need to invest a little bit of study and practice into this endeavor.

There are the three things you need to master in order to successfully gain your certification:

1. Riding concepts - The riding part. You must be able to demonstrate the skills you teach and some advanced riding techniques.
   
2. Teaching concepts - This is a measure of your ability to manage a class as well as relay technical information to your students in a simple manner.
   
3. Movement analysis - You must be able to identify what your students are doing right and wrong, and be able to adapt your lesson plan accordingly.
   

While you can't learn everything there is to know about these concepts in any book, there is one book you will absolutely need to purchase if you are serious about becoming a snowboarding instructor; the AASI Snowboard Instructors Guide. This single piece of literature contains everything you need to know in order to pass the written tests, as well as a breakdown of the teaching system, illustrations of proper riding techniques, and even a full gear guide.

Some other materials to consider in preparation for your exam include Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors, the AASI Snowboard Movement Analysis Handbook and the Rocky Mountain AASI 04-05 Snowboard Standards DVD, which will give you a visual reference of the movements you need to be able to perform and explain.

Now, we've established your motivation for getting mixed up in this certification business, and given you some tools to help open your mind to the world of an AASI certified snowboard instructor.

Be sure to study up, because in Part 2 it all comes together when you sign up for your *gulp* Level 1 Exam!