Shows / First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast
First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast
Welcome to the First Chair Podcast—the official podcast of PSIA-AASI. Hosted by the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI), First Chair features conversations with leading educators, instructors, coaches, and industry experts from across the snowsports community. Whether you're preparing for certification, refining your teaching skills, improving your movement analysis, or simply looking to become a better instructor, each…
Episodes
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastSupporting Your Success: How QAE Is Improving Assessments
Clear expectations. Meaningful feedback. A fair opportunity to demonstrate your skills. These are central to a positive assessment experience—and PSIA-AASI’s…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastFrom Foot Scan to Custom Fit: Meet Boot Solutions
For instructors who spend long days in ski boots, fit matters. But what if the boot-fitting process could start from home? In this episode of First Chair, host…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastYour Best Season Yet Starts with A Plan
Ever finish a season thinking, “I really meant to work on that”? Before winter fills your calendar, give your goals a little attention. On First Chair…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEducation Alignment: Progress, Priorities, and the Path Ahead
What does it take to bring eight Regions together around a shared vision for snowsports education? A lot of collaboration—and a commitment to helping…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastA Case Study on New Hire Training w/ Rick Rauch from Telluride
What if new-hire training focused less on telling instructors what to do and more on helping them discover how to teach? First Chair catches up with Rick…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastDNA Vibe for Snowsports Instructors: Recovery On and Off Snow
Meet DNA Vibe, one of PSIA-AASI’s newest suppliers. In this introductory episode of the First Chair Podcast, host George Thomas talks with founder and CEO…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastBeyond Mechanics | Movement analysis, a tool for connection + Confidence with josh smith
Movement analysis is about more than identifying what needs to change — it can also be a powerful tool for building trust, confidence, and connection with your…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastMatching Students With Instructors: The RASPYS Framework with Paul Geoghegan
How much can you learn about a young skier before the lesson even begins? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down with longtime instructor…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastStacked in Your Favor with Peter Novom
What does it really mean to be balanced on skis — especially when you’re constantly in motion? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe Space Between Skills & Connection | Teaching Beyond Technique with Melodie Buell
What if the most important thing your students remember isn't what you taught—but how you made them feel? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas sits…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastApplying the 5E Instructional Model to Ski Instruction with Joe Taylor
What if the secret to better ski lessons came from science class? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas sits down with Joe Taylor to talk about a…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe Snowsports MFA: Mark Aiken on the Art of the Lesson
How do you turn a standard ski lesson into a compelling story? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down with snow pro and professional…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastBeyond Games: Authentic Enthusiasm in Kids' Lessons with Keith Rodney
How do you keep a group of teenagers engaged or turn a repetitive boot drill into the highlight of a student's day? In this episode of First Chair, host George…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe Global Instructor: Navigating Japan, New Zealand, and Beyond with Augusto Risso
What does it take to teach skiing for 10 years without a summer break? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas talks with Augusto "Rooster" Burone…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe Power of Feedback and Resilience with Lyndsey Stevens
What do you do when the assessment sheet says "Did Not Attain"? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas talks with PSIA-AASI National Team member…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe Power of the Pole Touch with Keith Rodney
Are your poles helping you accelerate, or are they telling your skis to stop? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas is joined by Keith…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastMagnetized to the Mountain: Using Social Psychology to Create Lifelong Skiers with Sebastian Crain
Why do some students quit after one day, while others become skiers for life? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas is joined by Sebastian Crain…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe 90% Rule: Why Tone and Body Language Win the Lesson with Joaquin Alvarez Amuchástegui
How much of your message is actually getting through to your students? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down with international ski…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastHow to be Successful in Assessment Teaching
In this episode, host George Thomas sits down with PSIA National Alpine Team member Katie White to bridge the gap between daily client lessons and the…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe 4mm Miracle: Mastering Binding Position with Lou Rosenfeld
Stop struggling with your ski technique—the problem might be your bindings! In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas talks with biomechanics expert…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastWhy Core Control Is the Secret to Better Turns and Tricks
What does “core tension” really mean—and how does it impact your skiing and riding? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas talks with PSIA-AASI National…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe “Forward Trap”: Why Getting Forward Isn’t Always Better
Are you actually too far forward when you ski? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas talks with PSIA-AASI Alpine Team member Kevin Jordan about the…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastPerforming Under Pressure: Turning Nerves Into Better Teaching
What happens when pressure shows up—during a certification, a clinic, or even a lesson? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas sits down with PSIA-AASI…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastBuild Better Lessons: A Smarter Way to Create Progressions
Want to build better ski and snowboard lessons? This episode breaks down a smarter way to create progressions that actually work for your guests. In this…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastNo Shortcuts: How to Actually Prepare for Your Certification Exam
Thinking about your PSIA-AASI certification? Here’s how to actually prepare—and what examiners are really looking for. In this episode of First Chair, George…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastFrom Purple Heart to Ski Instructor: Tony Drees on Resilience, Purpose, and Teaching on One Leg
What drives someone to keep pushing forward when life delivers unimaginable setbacks? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas sits down with Aspen Ski…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastCross Country Academy, Efficiency, and Micro Adjustments with Justin Arndt
How can a movement as small as a five-degree change in your knee or shoulder position dramatically improve your skiing efficiency? In this episode of First…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastThe State of Telemark in the U.S. — Growth, Community, and What’s Next
What’s the state of telemark skiing in the United States today — and where is it headed next? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas sits down with PSIA…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastMentorship in Snowsports: A Little Support Goes a Long Way with Carol Levine
In Part 3 of our Mentorship Series, former PSIA-AASI National Team member Carol Levine shares how a simple idea turned into a powerful national mentorship…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastHow Instructors Shape Safety Culture on Snow
How do we make safety engaging without turning it into a buzzkill? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas is joined by Tanya Riley and Earl Saline from…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastMentorship in Snowsports – Part 2: Mentorship Doesn’t Have to Look One Way
In Part 2 of this four-part series on mentorship in snowsports, George Thomas builds on the foundation set in Part 1 by shifting the conversation west. After…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastMentorship in Snowsports – Part 1: Creating Community Beyond Certification
Mentorship plays a critical role in shaping careers, confidence, and community within the snowsports industry. In Episode 1 of this four-part series, George…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastBuilding Better Skiers: PSIA-AASI x U.S. Ski & Snowboard Collaboration
In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down with Matt Gnoza, Freestyle Sport Director at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and PSIA-AASI National Team…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastOff-Snow Training with Purpose: Slackboard Fitness for Skiers and Riders
In this episode of First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast, host George Thomas sits down with Derek Mikulski, Director of Commercial Sales and Education for Gibbon…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastFinding Your Why: Keep It Fun, Not Final: Playing the Long Game with Nathan Chapple | Part 4
In the final episode of the Finding Our Why mini-series, PSIA-AASI’s Nathan Chapple reflects on two decades in snowsports instruction—starting as a 15-year-old…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastFinding Your Why – From Ski Club to Ski Pro - the Joy of Teaching with Kathy Mogensen – Part 3
In Part 3 of Finding Our Why, PSIA-AASI member Kathy Mogensen joins George Thomas to share her journey from a seventh-grade ski-club kid with rental skis and…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastFinding Your Why: Owning Your Journey and Finding Purpose with Melodie Buell - Part 2
In Part 2 of Finding Your Why, PSIA-AASI National Team member Melodie Buell sits down again with George Thomas for a raw, heartfelt conversation about what it…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastFinding Your Why – Why We Teach: A Conversation with Melodie Buell – Part 1
In the first episode of our latest mini-series, Finding Your Why, host George Thomas sits down with PSIA-AASI National Team member Melodie Buell to unpack what…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastWe’re Listening: How PSIA-AASI’s New Member Survey Will Shape the Future of Instruction
In this special episode of the First Chair Podcast, PSIA-AASI CEO Jeff Lifgren and Marketing & Communications Director Katherine Fuller share the inside story…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastGear Meets Community: Renoun Launches a First-of-its-Kind Ski Membership
In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down with Rob Golden, CEO of Renoun, and Dana Kaufman, Director of Renoun Pro Membership, to introduce…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastFlip the Script and Reignite the Joy: Why Fall Instructor Training Matters – Part 3
In part three of our Return Instructor Training mini-series, host George Thomas chats with Lyndsay Ward, PSIA-AASI Central Region Education and Certification…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastCuriosity, Culture, and Commitment: Why Fall Instructor Training Matters – PART 2
In the second episode of our three-part series on fall instructor training, host George Thomas is joined by PSIA-AASI National Team member Peter Novom to talk…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastKick Off the Season with Purpose: Why Fall Instructor Training Matters - PART 1
The season is right around the corner, and fall instructor trainings are more than just a chance to reunite with friends and get back on snow. In this first…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastA New Era of Collaboration: National Leadership Talks Priorities
In this episode of First Chair, PSIA-AASI CEO Jeffrey Lifgren and Board Chair John May sit down with host George Thomas to share their perspectives on…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastJumpstart Your Season with Katie White & Kevin Jordan
First Chair connects with National Team members Katie White and Kevin Jordan as they join us from Portillo, Chile. They talk about why late-season training…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastSkiing South America: Kevin Jordan on Training in Portillo, Chile
First Chair connects with PSIA-AASI Team member Kevin Jordan to explore what it means to train in the Southern Hemisphere during the North American summer…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 761 | How Teaching Mountain Biking Can Make You a Better Ski or Snowboard Instructor
First Chair catches up with Aspen Snowmass instructor and PSIA-AASI National Team member Kevin Jordan to talk about the growing crossover between skiing…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEPISODE 760 | Collaboration, Communication, and Cooperation with Grace Center do Ouro
In this episode of the First Chair Podcast, George Thomas chats with Grace Center Du Oro, recipient of the PSIA-AASI Three Cs Award for communication…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 759 | Dale Drennan on a Life of Learning, Teaching, and the Power of Tele Turns
In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas catches up with Dale Drennan, recipient of PSIA-AASI’s Educational Excellence Award. Dale shares her journey from…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 758 | Year-Round Ski and Ride Training with SkyTechSport
In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas talks with SkyTechSport co-founder Alex Golunov and account manager Connor Bishop about how their cutting-edge…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 757 | The 5 Elements of Inspirational Instruction - Part 3 - w/ Dr. Josh Pighetti
In the final episode of this three-part series, host George Thomas is joined by Dr. Josh Pighetti and PSIA-AASI National Team members Matt Larson and Zoe Mavis…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 756 | The Five Elements of Inspirational Instruction — Part 2 w/ Dr. Josh Pighetti
In Episode 756 of the First Chair Podcast, George Thomas continues the conversation with Dr. Josh Pighetti to explore the remaining three of the Five Elements…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 755 | The Five Elements of Inspirational Instruction — Part 1 w/ Dr. Josh Pighetti
In Episode 755 of the First Chair Podcast, George Thomas talks with Dr. Josh Pighetti about the first two of the Five Elements of Inspirational Instruction…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 754 | A National Team Member's Path to Adaptive Level III with Lyndsey Stevens
In this episode of First Chair, PSIA-AASI National Team member Lyndsey Stevens joins host George Thomas to discuss her recent achievement of earning her…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 753: Finding Balance with Gibbon Slacklines and the Giboard
In this episode, George Thomas talks with Brian Pate and Derek Mikulski from Gibbon Slacklines about how balance training can elevate your performance on snow…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 752: Inside National Academy: A Conversation with Jeff Lifgren
Episode 752: Inside National Academy: A Conversation with Jeff Lifgren by PSIA-AASI First Chair Podcast
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 751: National Team Member Lyndsey Stevens Talks Spring Riding, Team Tryouts, and Interski
In this episode, George Thomas catches up with PSIA-AASI Snowboard Team member Lyndsey Stevens. They chat about the shift into spring riding, exam season, and…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEPISODE 750 | Connecting with the Nation’s First ‘Doctor of Snowsports Education’
On this episode, we chat with Josh Pighetti who just earned his doctorate degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management. This has taken over two years to…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEPISODE 748 | Power & Grace: 2025 Women’s Summit Recap with Ying Liu
On this episode, we chat with Ying Liu about the 2025 PSIA-AASI Women's Summit at Solitude, an event dedicated to skill development, inclusivity, and…
First Chair: PSIA-AASI PodcastEpisode 749 | Building a Strong Snowsports Culture with Jen Lockwood
On this episode, we chat with Jen Lockwood, training coordinator at Mount Hood Meadows Ski and Ride School, about building a strong instructor culture. Jen…