Becoming an AASI Certified Snowboard Instructor – Part 1

Most of us were once taught by a snowboarding instructor. At the time, we were struggling to understand the fundamentals of riding, not entirely sure how much fun this sport called snowboarding really was. As the instructor slid down the slope, often with one foot unbuckled, we crashed to the ground every fifteen feet. Back then, I would have given anything to be able to ride as my instructor.

Many of us still enjoy that dream, but as our driving has progressed, so has our definition. As an instructor, you may be the first snowboarding “hero” your students will meet. You have the answers to their questions; you are the catalyst for your success and progression. To top it off, instructors get the biggest perk a job could offer: guaranteed drive time every day, whether you’re teaching or not.

Aspiring instructors need not fear, the steps to making your dream come true are not as daunting as they seem. Here are some tips to get you started on the path to an incredibly rewarding career…

What’s in the job description?

But first, let’s see how much you want to do it. It is not free to become a snowboard instructor. Teaching 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 you won’t have to pay for everything at once, but be prepared. You will need to purchase educational materials, pay an annual registration fee for PSIA/AASI membership, pay for your certification courses, and last but not least, pay for your trip to a resort before all of this is possible.

Once you’re certified, you’ll enjoy a higher pay rate and numerous discounts, including lift tickets, hotels, and snowboarding gear. However, getting there requires a bit of personal sacrifice. Even when certified, this doesn’t guarantee tons of money. Each resort booth requires guest attendance. If no one goes up the hill that day, then you don’t get paid.

Also, don’t anticipate spending most of your work days training up-and-coming Olympians at the half pipe. Especially in lower certifications, you can expect to work with a lot of children. Simply put, the most successful instructors became instructors to teach. It’s not about being the star of the show; it is not about raising cash; it’s about wanting to help other people learn to snowboard.

Do you still want to try?

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 study and practice into this endeavor.

There are three things you need to master to successfully earn your certification:

1. Driving concepts – The driving part. You must be able to demonstrate the skills you teach and some advanced driving techniques.
2. Teaching Concepts: This is a measure of your ability to manage a class and convey technical information to your students in a simple way.
3. Movement Analysis – You need to 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 one book, there is one book you will definitely need to buy if you really want to become a snowboarding instructor; the AASI Snowboard Instructors Guide. This one-of-a-kind piece of literature contains everything you need to know to pass the written tests, as well as a breakdown of the teaching system, illustrations of proper riding techniques, and even a comprehensive equipment guide.

Some other materials to consider in preparing for your exam include Snow Sports Instructor Basics, the AASI Snowboard Motion Analysis Manual, and the Rocky Mountain AASI Snowboarding Standards 04-05 DVD, which will give you an Visual reference of the movements you need to be able to perform and explain.

Now, we’ve laid out your motivation for getting involved in this certification business and have given you some tools to help open your mind to the world of an AASI certified snowboard instructor.

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