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SHANNON O'BRIEN People of APSI |
Certification/s and year achieved.
Technical Director Snowboard. 1993-1995
What was training with the APSI like when you achieved your certification and how would you compare it to current times?
Training was so much fun for the early snowboarding instructors. We had a fairly strong manual and most resorts were very supportive. My home mountain at Perisher allowed me a lot of flexibility. Growing snowboarding with my best friend Craig Mason was very rewarding.
Which Australian Snowsports School did/do you work with?
Perisher Blue
Did/do you also teach in the Northern Hemisphere and where?
I opened a snowboard shop in Sun Valley Idaho in 1994 and did a lot of private lessons for special customers.
What position/s did/do you hold in the APSI?
TD snowboarding 1993-1995
APSI Demo Team, 1995 Interski, Nozawa Onsen
What made/makes you most proud of the APSI at that time?
Being part of a great team that developed a very strong early teaching methodology. Being part of the Demo team that went to Japan.
APSI Demo Team, 1995 Interski, Nozawa Onsen
What important events happened during your time with the APSI?
Publishing and distributing our first Australian teaching manual.
Snowboarding growing at a very fast rate.
Managing clinics and exams around Australian resorts.
With regard to your work with the APSI, what accomplishment/s are you most proud of?
Being part of the beginning crew and growing something substantial.
Describe how the APSI compared/s to international instructor organisations at that time?
I think our snowboard program was as strong as any country.
During your time with the APSI, who were some influential/inspiring people within the organisation?
Please share a funny or interesting APSI story from your time with the APSI.
What happens on tour, stays on tour.
Is there anything else that you think would be interesting to share about your time with the APSI?
We had a lot of fun.