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MARK MCDONALD People of APSI |
Certification/s and year achieved.
- 1995 APSI Alpine Level 4
- 2020 APSI Nordic Level 1
What was training with the APSI like when you achieved your certification and how would you compare it to current times?
The full cert had a similar structure although we had a high end and low end teach. It was like today a great way to meet friends that would remain for life.
Which Australian Snowsports School did/do you work with?
Worked the early days in Falls Creek where jackets would be thrown over to anyone in tight times. Did a few weekends at Mt Buller while studying and then settled into Falls Creek for most of the time but did do two years in Thredbo and ironically worked with Brad in his last year at Thredbo and first year at Falls Creek.
Did/do you also teach in the Northern Hemisphere and where?
Worked like many in Austria in Mayrhofen as part of Rudi’s team and then Schladming for many years before making it to Beaver Creek. Worked as a Director in Niseko for NISS and Telluride as an instructor and trainer.
What position/s did/do you hold in the APSI (include year's held)?
Was level four trainer from 1996 until today and was part of the technical committee for those years
excluding the time in Japan and Telluride from 2008 til 2022.
Approximately how many members did/do the APSI have during your involvement?
Think in the early days there may have been about 400.
What made/makes you most proud of the APSI at that time?
Think the instructor pride in teaching, skiing and ready to teach in any conditions any time is something that existed then and still exists now that makes me the most proud of our APSI.
What important events happened during your time with the APSI?
Think our representation in Interski and being recognised by Professor Hoppichler as Australia having something to offer the world of skiing.
Finally the spring sessions as an event to celebrate snow sports.
With regard to your work with the APSI, what accomplishment/s are you most proud of? (share all that apply)
Being part of the manual development and representing Australia in three Interski teams. The introduction of the distinction program for our qualifications to help drive higher achievement. The introduction of the app as a teaching tool.
1999 Interski, Norway
2007 Interski, Korea
2011 Interski, Austria
How did the above accomplishment/s change the APSI moving forward?
The app brought us into the digital age and gave us teaching information at our fingertips. The Interski’s placed Australia on the world arena and gives our instructors a goal to aim for with their own professional development whilst giving the opportunity to gain information to assist in further developing Snowsports.
Describe how the APSI compared/s to international instructor organisations at that time?
I think in the early 1990’s we were the small unknown organisation but still revered as being able to ski somewhat, teach anything but most importantly had good humour and always ready to go.
How did/do international organisations view the APSI? Was/is there much communication/sharing of information between organisations?
Not sure if there was much official communication directly between the offices but luckily having large international staff in most resorts the way things were done in other countries was shared fairly well over a few beers across the key bars of all our resorts.
During your time with the APSI, who were some influential/inspiring people within the organisation?
Bobby Irwin , Ian Bruce, Jeff Price , Nigel Abbot, Mike Sodergren, Hutchy, Tim Robertson, Francis Jackson, Andy Rae, Kerry Lee, John Fahey Brad Spalding, Rod Tidmarsh, Nigel Bolton, Gino, Peter Mack, George Perry, Richard Jameson, Roberto Ireland, Peter Fox, Don McInnes and Paul Lorenz.
Please share a funny or interesting APSI story from your time with the APSI.
Well, there are many but the last two years we did an early morning teach at 7am with Ange Pope for the level four and skinned up at this year's level 3 at Mt Hotham so hoping our weather turns for the better in the next years.
We were on a precourse in Falls Creek Level 2. The eagle chair stopped and a few characters in front jumped off the chair near the loading station. never being one for air did not jump. Nevertheless, Rod Tidmarsh was not really happy with the Falls Creek Team. The course ended up being one of the best I had been in. Rod was an incredible teacher and demonstrator. We all actually put in 100% into the course we were professional but I guess larikins as well.
The first time we received notice that we had jobs in Schladming was by stepping outside in a solid snowstorm in 1990 and phoning on the little phone box that used to be outside The Man Hotel in Falls Creek. In our timberlands, track suit pants, baseball caps and with jackets we could not really afford. Andrew
Poole, Finlay Walker, Jane Lindsay, Janaka and Lisa Spargo all had jobs. When we got to Schladming we were paid 350 shillings a day. When the bosses took us down a wind pressed paddock of the back of Rohrmoos and saw that hey these Australian's may be able to ski we were paid 380 Shillings. 3 bucks more a day we thought we were unstoppable.