Kayaker;c-56701 wroteThe instructor in the article, Bill Shew, makes valid points about the working conditions for ski instructors. But, did he expect anything different? Was he mislead when he was hired? If so, he has a point. It is virtually impossible to make a living as a ski instructor or any other recreation-based instructing unless you are in management. This is not unique to Vail (but jeez, he shouldn’t have to pay for parking). I’ve been a part-time instructor for 25+ years and on a good year I cover my costs including equipment, parka, and dues and continuing education with PSIA. And believe me, PSIA has no interest in promoting or representing instructors to the industry. They won’t even start a promotional campaign to encourage clients to ask for a certified instructor. I teach because it’s fun and I like my fellow instructors. I didn’t expect anything more. Maybe my attitude is part of the reason why pay and working conditions for instructors is so poor. I continue to belong to PSIA because the ski education is very good. It’s my choice. Industry has little interest in rewarding good, or even PSIA certified instructors because lessons are sold as a commodity. To the industry and most clients, anyone in a parka is as good an instructor as anyone else. Mr. Shew should vote with his feet like the snowboard instructor mentioned in the article did.
I started teaching in the 1978-9 season. I was a member of PSIA for 30 years before I quit. They are a school and not a bad school. They are not a professional organization and that's a desperate need that ski instructors have.
After pushing for that against the PSIA brick wall, I dropped my membership. The dollar an hour premium for their certification was always less than what they charged for their dues + the cost of the required update clinic.
