BY: Warren Jobbitt, CSIA Head Coach, Interski 2015 & Martin Jean, CSIA Director of Education & Membership Services
The Interski Congress brings together delegations from ski teaching nations around the world. Established in 1962 andheld at four-year intervals, the event was initially an occasion to share technical and teaching approaches with other skiing nations through demonstrations and workshops. With time, the Congress has evolved to include industry issues and the business priorities of snow sports instruction. National approaches vary in function of social, geographical, and economic factors, and the congress provides the opportunity to compare and discuss approaches and challenges.
More than just a 7-day event, Interski is a four-year check-up on our research and development adventure! Since our return from a successful congress held at St-Anton, Austria in 2011, our organization has been critically reflecting on the science behind what we do on the snow and on ways to stay current in a changing industry. Since the last Interski, our key projects have been:
- Modernizing how we educate and beginning to certify our membership with modular education.
- Forming a renewed Technical Committee to review and simplify our technical approach.
- Creating the High Performance program to spread the training effect. Launched at the previous Interski selection, this program attracted more than 800 members from across the country.
In September 2015, we will share our research and mark the beginning of our next phase of evolution. A small delegation of managers, demonstrators, and presenters will embark on a 17-hour travel itinerary ending in Ushuaia, Argentina, commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the world. The delegation will gather information from 35 other ski nations and share our approach and education system with approximately 1,200 of the world’s top ski instructors and educators. The CSIA delegation will have an opportunity to discuss what we do with the best of the best!
How does it benefit the CSIA?
- It obliges us to define our values and approaches.
- It helps us measure our effectiveness domestically and internationally.
- It motivates our organization to strive for excellence.
- It exposes us to ideas from around the world and ignites innovation.
- It provides members with technical reports and comparisons with other leading nations in the form of videos, testimonials, opinions from participants, and critical analysis of different methodologies. Today’s technology will be used to bring you the most accurate updates on what is being delivered and delegation members will be presenting their experiences and new knowledge in different programs through the winter.
USHUAIA
A trip to the end of the world!
The upcoming Congress in September 2015 will take place on the main island of Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), between mountains crowned with snow and the Beagle Channel. Ushuaia, the southernmost city in Argentina, is often referred to as ‘’fin del mundo’’ (end of the world) and is located a few hundred kilometres from Cape Horn. The Cerro Castor ski resort is located 26 kilometres from Ushuaia and it takes between 30 and 40 minutes to get there, depending on the hotel in which the delegations will be staying. Despite its modest size, Cerro
Castor possesses the facilities to hold an excellent Congress. The demonstration slope located at the base of the mountain will provide an exceptional view for the delegates.
As the CSIA delegation is actively preparing for the event, we invite you to keep visiting snowpro.com for updates and further developments.
