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Should I join PSIA?

The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) are our professional organizations.  They advocate for snowsports and educate and certify snowsport instructors.

Financial
Let’s get to right the money, since we’re all worried about it. My dues for the 2009-10 season are $109. Here’s how I took advantage of my membership last season:
• Pro deal on new skis
• Nine days of PSIA-E clinics
• Two day PSIA-I steeps clinic at Jackson Hole
• Four discounted lift tickets at different areas

I estimate the retail value of this at $3,838 and I paid $1,423 simply because I am a PSIA member. I did a lot last year because I was preparing for exam. But even when I don’t travel as much, the membership still pays for itself.

Training
As a PSIA member, you can go to clinics in your division, any other division in the country and the awesome national academy. The people teaching your clinics are some of the finest skiers and teachers working today. They have spent years training and competing for their fancy jackets. You're not going to find a better value than a PSIA clinic: top notch trainers skiing with you all day for barely more than the cost of a lift ticket. If you like to learn about skiing and teaching skiing, nothing will help you progress more than learning from the best.

Social
The divas love to ski, learn and socialize. You will almost always find us in the bar after a clinic. You will meet great people at PSIA events. They won’t think you’re crazy for being an instructor. You’ll get to swap stories about places you’ve skied and where you want to go next. You also meet people who work at other mountains who you can ski with when you travel. Also, some of your fellow participants will be very attractive and that can be fun too. I’m not looking, so I can be your wingman.

Certification
You can choose to be a member or pursue level 1 certification. If you are certified it will be easier to get hired, you will make a little bit more money per hour and you will be able to teach a wider variety of student. If you work at it, you can become certified in your first season.

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