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AUSTRALIA Our Indoor Presentation |
By Jason Clauscen
After the quite long and extensive selection process for the 2023 APSI Demo Team. There were only a few days on snow to discuss fundamentals and ideas we felt could define some of the key aspects of APSI snowboarding and the Guest Experience.
As spring and summer swept by, we quickly found ourselves in February with Levi approaching. Through a few Team meetings, Kylie, John, and I started the process of connecting the dots and formulating the indoor presentation. For the indoor presentation, we targeted the theme of Inter-ski, “The Guest Experience is Everything”, and broke it into the External and Internal guests. We then progressed this from the past, present and future to create a story that linked together.
Both our on-snow, indoor presentations and demonstrations were on the first day, which made day one quite intense.
Our presentation took form in basically 4 parts.
1. A brief history of where we came from
This covered the early years and the influences from Europe, mainly Austria, then progressed to North America and how the APSI developed in aiding the guest experiences and instructor development. This then wrapped up with the recent years and the shift from Australian’s, guests and instructors venturing to Japan and how culture, snow and travel has influenced us.
2. The Covid years
How Australia and the APSI handled the pandemic and what evolved. As we know Australia was heavily impacted during this time, but it also made the APSI adapt. Connecting with APSI instructors and starting to provide online options to keep instructors and trainers engaged. This is something that the APSI is adopting moving forward.
3. The C.A.R.E. model
Culture. Authenticity. Relate. Empathy.
This was a quick overview of the main Australian indoor lecture – We only touched on the framework and encouraged participates to attend the main presentation later in the week.
The C.A.R.E. model really simplifies connecting with the guest and providing an experience and connection for all to enjoy.
4. The future
Highlighted some of the aspects which are driving the guest and instructors enthusiasm. This looked at the success of Australian athletes such as Valentino Guseli, Scotty James, Tess Coady, which help drive the younger generation. It also introduced some of the new facilities such as the National Snowsports Training Centre (NSTC) and the Concrete Playground – due to be built in Sydney by 2025.
Throughout our presentation there were some quiz questions with small prizes given out to those that could answer correctly. This ranged from Caramello Kolas, APSI face masks and a grand prize of a pack of Tim Tams.
Example - Can you name this rider?
This then left a short time for questions. The realisation that Australia was isolated with such heavy restrictions was one area that surprised many.
Another question focused on the Level 4 being available in Japan. One that often comes up within the APSI and when talking with other countries.