Rookie Selection
(Alpine | Snowboard | Telemark)

 

We believe that the APSI provides industry leading professional development opportunities to our members, and it is our Trainers that uphold and enhance that quality from year to year.  

 
Rookie Trainer selection is a season long process beginning with the first selection held in June, followed by various training and assessment tasks that need to be fulfilled. After the season, the discipline Technical Committees will review all Rookie Trainers and determine whether they will be promoted ‘Level Trainer’ based on their performance throughout the year. 
 
Included is an outline explaining what can be expected during the selection day, key dates, and a guideline of what needs to be covered over the season. All of which should help you decide if a position on the APSI training team is for you and help you prepare. 

 

Eligibility

To submit a Rookie Trainer application, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be a citizen or resident of Australia with indefinite working rights.
  • Be a current member of the APSI
  • Be employed by an APSI Approved Domestic Snowsports School
  • Have completed at least 3 full seasons working for an APSI Approved Domestic Snowsports School
  • Have successfully completed the following (discipline dependent):
    • Alpine Level 4 certificate
    • Snowboard Level 3 certificate and be engaged in the APSI level 4 pathway (have already attended a level 4 course)
    • If you hold a foreign certification, you must be approved by the APSI for Recognition of Prior Learning at the above levels
    • Telemark Level 4 certificate

Key Dates

Friday 1st May 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expressions of Interest OPEN

To express interest in becoming an APSI Rookie Trainer, please submit a 1-minute video sharing the following:

  • A little about you
  • Why you would like to become a Rookie Trainer
  • What will you bring to the APSI and its members

Please email your submissions to apsi@apsi.net.au with the subject line – ‘APSI Rookie Selection Submission’. If your video file size is too large, please use a file sharing service (e.g., Google Drive) and include the link in your submission. 

Sunday 24th May 2026
5:00pm

 

Expressions of Interest CLOSE

Please ensure that you have submitted your video submission expressing your interest by 5pm 24th May 2026

Monday 1st June 2026
9:00am – 4:00pm 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

2026 APSI Rookie Selection Day - Thredbo

Please meet at Friday Flat Bistro with ski/snowboard equipment, indoor shoes, paper and pencil. 
 
Topics that may be covered on the day could include
(Topics below apply to Level 2 in Alpine/Snowboard, and Level 1 in Telemark)

  • Theory 
  • Movement analysis on resort guests 
  • Demonstration tasks
  • Freeski/Freeride tasks
  • Movement analysis and feedback for instructors on their riding and demonstrations 
  • Interviews 
  • Group presentations

Note: If there is not enough snow during the selection day, both freeski/freeride and demonstrations will be reassessed later in the season. 

POST ROOKIE SELECTION DAY 

 Upon successful selection, the following training tasks need to be met throughout the 2026 Australian winter: 

  • Attend APSI Staff Induction in Thredbo - 3 June 2026 (details to be provided upon being offered a position)
  • Attend 2026 Trainer’s Coordination Main Event in Thredbo – 4 June 2026. 
  • Attend:
    • Alpine/Snowboard: Exam Day Coordinator (EDC) Training day in Thredbo - 5 June 2026 (details to be provided upon being offered a position).
    • Telemark: Trainer Development Day in Thredbo - 5 June 2026 (details to be provided upon being offered a position).
  • Attend Rookie specific training when it is scheduled. 
  • Provide employee information to be filed at APSI head office. 
  • Attend Trainer Development Days (TDD) at closest resort.   
  • Attend minimum of one full APSI course day as Rookie (preferred 2 days). 
  • Write a training session plan, topic to be advised by your resort Training Manager (Technical Director for Telemark).
  • Lead an in-house training session, using the above training plan, under the guidance of your resort Training Manager. 
  • Alpine/Snowboard: Lead/shadow minimum 10 hours of in-house on-snow training (at the specific level). 
  • Alpine/Snowboard: Lead/shadow minimum 2 hours of in-house indoor training (at specific level). 
  • Provide the discipline Technical Director with video of your:
    • Alpine: short turns, medium turns and Snowplough turns. 
    • Snowboard: steered short turns, carved long turns, skidded medium turns 
    • Telemark: basic Telemark turns, first Telemark turns and basic short turns
  • Alpine/Snowboard: Attend APSI level 1 & 2 exams in your state as a Rookie Trainer
  • Write a SnowPro article providing training tips
  • Complete the APSI trainers training log and self-assessment (APSI Redbook and Staff resources in ‘MyAPSI’).  Forward to your discipline Technical Director by Sep 20, 2026. 

The Technical Committee may recommend promotion of a Rookie Trainer to Level Trainer prior to completion of the above requirements, subject to approval from the discipline Technical Director. If any of the above requirements have been previously attained, your resort Training Manager can sign you off as ‘completed’. 

We hope you enjoy this journey and look forward to welcoming you onto the APSI training team.