MARTY FIRLE

People of APSI

 

Certification/s and year achieved.

  • 1995 APSI Alpine Level 1
  • 1995 APSI Alpine Children's Certificate
  • 1997 APSI Alpine Level 2
  • 2000 APSI Alpine Level 3

 

 

What was training with the APSI like when you achieved your certification and how would you compare it to current times?

Every course was 5 days long I think. The biggest thing I think is different is, how much free skiing we did back then. If we weren't training we would be rat packing around Mt P, just pushing each other.

 

Which Australian Snowsports School did/do you work with?

Perisher, 2025 will be 32yrs

 

Did/do you also teach in the Northern Hemisphere and where?

  • Sugarloaf Maine 1995 -1998
  • Breckenridge 1998 - 2000
  • Telluride 2000 - 2006

 

What position/s did/do you hold in the APSI (include year's held)?

  • Current Alpine L4 Trainer/Examiner
  • Current Alpine Technical Committee member
  • 2008-2011 APSI National Team Member

 

 APSI National Demonstration Team, Interski 2011, St. Anton, Austria

Approximately how many members did/do the APSI have during your involvement?

500 - 700 when I started.

 

What made/makes you most proud of the APSI at that time?

Seeing how the rest of the world respects our certification

 

What important events happened during your time with the APSI?

  • Getting my full cert, coming back from knee injury
  • Becoming a Trainer
  • Being on the 2011 Interski team

 

With regard to your work with the APSI, what accomplishment/s are you most proud of? (share all that apply)

Representing Australia at Interski 2011, Being on the Tech committee

 

How did the above accomplishment/s change the APSI moving forward?

Helping to keep the APSI up to date and being on the front foot.

 

Describe how the APSI compared/s to international instructor organisations at that time?

Having done my PSIA certs, I think we do a lot better at keeping the standard fair and consistent.

 

How did/do international organisations view the APSI? Was/is there much communication/sharing of information between organisations?

They think very highly of the APSI. Seeing the numbers of people coming the clinics the APSI puts on at Interski really shows their interest.

 

During your time with the APSI, who were some influential/inspiring people within the organisation?

There are so many, here are some key people:

  • Tim Robbo
  • John Fay
  • Nigel Bolton