The Examination Process – The Ultimate challenge

Ever since I started skiing 32 years ago, I have always loved the constant challenges that snow skiing provides. But after a while, skiing the steepest of the steep, the deepest of the deep, or crossing over from Alpine to Nordic Downhill just doesn’t seem to be enough. The question begs to be asked, “Just how good are you?”

You can go huck big air, jump off cliffs, haul paw by straight lining some hair ball run, but is that going to reveal your true skiing ability, technical knowledge, or more importantly, that you can communicate that ability to someone so they could actually improve their skiing? In my professional opinion there is only one way to determine how “good” you really are.

For almost all of the members of PSIA, that’s participating in the examination process – the ultimate challenge.

Basically, the certification levels are set up so that Level 1 instructors can teach beginners, Level 2 instructors can teach intermediate and beginner skiers, and Level 3 instructors can do it all, teach any skier ability, on any terrain, in any weather condition. In fact, the Level 3 certification is so highly acclaimed that the PSIA-W Level 3 certification is internationally recognized. So how good are you?

The common mistake many candidates make is to approach the examination process with the minimum, instead of the maximum, level of commitment and effort.

The Level 3 examination process is often described as “really hard,” “difficult,” “grueling,” and by many other colorful expletives that are beyond the scope of this article (especially by those who don’t pass). Don’t you think an internationally recognized certification should be rigorous and demanding?

I think it is important to point out that the examination process is just that, a process, especially Level 3. The common mistake many candidates make is to approach the examination process with the minimum, instead of the maximum, level of commitment and effort.

Participating in the examination process is a commitment of the highest order. It is a multi-season and continuing com- mitment that consists of bettering one’s technical, skiing and teaching ability by consistently teaching, studying, skiing with accomplished PSIA-W Clinicians and Examiners, and regularly participating in PSIA-W educational events.

For some, participating in the examination process means taking exams andfailing. The important aspect here, andI cannot emphasize this enough, is thatthis is part of the examination process.Remember, the difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude! Walkingaway from a failed exam with the attitudethat you got “screwed over,” or it wasn’t“fair” simply isn’t consistent with truly being committed to being a full participantin the exam process.

So if you are planning on movingthrough the examination process by simply relying on knowing what you know,turning in your take home test late, andthen throwing a hissy fit because youdidn’t pass, well then don’t even wasteyours and the Examiner’s time. But ifyou’re committed to better your professional qualifications by studying, conditioning, teaching, and participating inPSIA-W educational events (above andbeyond the “minimum” required for theexam), then I’d say you’re ready to facethe ultimate challenge.

So Nord Up and participate in theexamination process, and find out goodyou really are!