Ian's Final SnowPro report: Oct 2002

What an August, what a season, what a four-year term and what a twenty years of instructing in Australia. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I could easily do it for many more years but the fact is, it’s time to move on and tackle some new challenges.

Before I write anything more I must thank some individuals who have been a tremendous help during my stint as National Training Coordinator. Kim Clifford, Bob Heatley, Brad Spalding, Bennie Pregenzer; the Alpine technical committees: Con Poulos, Kent Carpenter, Tina Burford, Andrew Rae, Bob Irwin, Mark McDonald, Richard Asbreuk, Stephanie Aitken; the new APSI: Dave Anderson, Claire Stanton and Bruce Wharrie; all the trainers; and finally all the instructors with whom I’ve had the pleasure to train. Without all of your help my term would not have been anywhere near as successful and fun. Thanks very much.

So what has been my mission as national training coordinator for the past four years?

I have always recognized that my goal has to be to create an INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SYSTEM that PRODUCES INSTRUCTORS with the SKILLS to deliver a lesson that will impact very favourably on the guests’ enjoyment of the sport, their holiday and ultimately their lives.

To achieve this there have been two main areas that I have focused on:

1. To improve the UNDERSTANDING and standard of CUSTOMER SERVICE of all instructors
2. To change from TRADITIONAL TEACHING to MODERN TEACHING.

I am very happy with the level of understanding and application of the CUSTOMER SERVICE principles in all the Snow Sport Schools. It has become such an integral part of the instructors training and certification process that the high standard will continue.

After four years of preaching and drumming in the MODERN TEACHING concept I am very excited with the results this year. For the first time our new instructors are very aware of the difference between TRADITIONAL AND MODERN TEACHING and the older instructors are discovering that teaching is once again challenging, interesting and fun.

I sincerely hope that all of you continue to develop and apply these two points. We all have to be very proud of the level of instructing in Australia.

I wish you all a fantastic future, keep striving towards the next level and keep giving those guests the best lesson they have ever had.

All the best,

Yours truly,

Ian Bruce.