Freestyle Specialist
American snowsports instruction demands versatility. PSIA-AASI members teach guests of all ages in a wide variety of snowsports environments – from groomed trails to off-piste terrain and from hard snow to powder to terrain park features. The types of lessons offered can be similarly diverse, including recreational skiing or riding, racing, freeski, and freestyle, to name a few.
The Freestyle Specialist (FS) courses are for instructors who are comfortable with the basics of freestyle and who are looking to continue their professional development. The courses are non-linear, so if you are a very experienced park instructor and you are Level II certified, you can start with Freestyle Specialist 2 or even 3. For our Eastern Freestyle Specialist 1 courses, you would choose a course in your discipline (i.e. snowboard or alpine). The Freestyle Specialist 2 and Freestyle Specialist 3 courses may be multi discipline groups (i.e. snowboarders and skiers might be participating in the same group).
PSIA-AASI recognizes three levels of Freestyle specialty: Freestyle Specialist 1, Freestyle Specialist 2 and Freestyle Specialist 3. These are considered non-linear courses which means that if you are a very experienced freestyle instructor and PSIA-AASI Level II certified, you can start with the Freestyle Specialist 2 or even Freestyle Specialist 3. Success is based on the individual’s attainment and application of discipline specific skill ability, educational expertise and experience related to teaching freestyle to the general public.
FS1 Information
Freestyle Specialist 1 (FS1) is the first of three freestyle courses for PSIA and AASI and is designed for instructors comfortable with the basics of freestyle who are looking to continue their professional development. This course is run with either an Alpine-specific or a Snowboard-specific focus (which is noted in the event title) and the course includes:
- an interactive online Freestyle Specialist E-Learning course (Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Skiing Track or Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Snowboard Track),
- skiing/riding and teaching scenarios,
- a technical discussion regarding how individuals learn and progress through the beginner/novice zone on beginner/novice terrain (typically identified as “green”) as well as extra small to small terrain park features.
- and an evaluation component.
Evaluation Criteria
- Must complete the interactive online Freestyle Specialist E-Learning course (Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Skiing Track or Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Snowboard Track). This national interactive eLearning course is discipline specific and needs to be completed prior to registering for the on-snow evaluation.
- Must be an active participant in the course.
- Participants will integrate their technical understanding of the ATML model and Smart Style with movement analysis and teaching activities for freestyle in the beginner/novice zone and on beginner/novice terrain (typically identified as “green”) as well as extra small to small terrain park features.
- Evaluations will reflect the participant’s knowledge of safety in the freestyle environment. A passing score from the clinician will be based on the participant’s demonstrated knowledge, understanding, teaching, movement analysis, and on-snow movement as described in the Freestyle Specialist Standards. Candidates must possess the requisite skills necessary to demonstrate freestyle maneuvers to their guests.
- All participants must follow the PSIA-AASI Eastern Event Participant Safety Policy.
Instructors are encouraged to take the FS1 course once they’ve achieved Level I PSIA-AASI certification.
Participants’ achievement will be relayed via verbal feedback from the clinician throughout the course and written feedback at its end.
Experience Requirements
- Must be a current PSIA-AASI Certified Level I (or equivalent) instructor.
- Must be able to ski or ride at current certification level and be comfortable with the basics in the park.
- Must complete the online Freestyle Specialist E-Learning course (Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Skiing Track or Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Snowboard Track) prior to registering for the on-snow event. The cost is $20 and offers 1 CEU upon completion.
Resources
FS2 Information
Freestyle Specialist 2 (FS2) is the mid-level freestyle education course for PSIA and AASI and is designed for instructors who are continuing their professional development in freestyle coaching/instruction. This may be multi-discipline course which means that there may be both snowboarders and skiers in the same group. The course includes:
- an interactive online Freestyle Specialist E-Learning course (Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Skiing Track or Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Snowboard Track),
- skiing/riding and teaching scenarios;
- a technical discussion regarding how individuals learn and progress through the intermediate to advanced zone as well as extra small to medium terrain park features.
- an evaluation component.
Evaluation Criteria
- Must complete the interactive online Freestyle Specialist E-Learning course (Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Skiing Track or Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Snowboard Track). This national interactive eLearning course is discipline specific and needs to be completed prior to registering for the on-snow evaluation.
- Must be an active participant in course.
- Participants will integrate their technical understanding of the ATML model and Smart Style with movement analysis and teaching activities for freestyle in the intermediate to advanced zone and on intermediate (blue) terrain as well as extra small to medium terrain park features.
- Evaluations will reflect the participant’s knowledge of safety in the freestyle environment. A passing score from the clinician will be based on the participant’s demonstrated knowledge, understanding, teaching, movement analysis, and on-snow movement as described in the Freestyle Specialist Standards. Candidates must possess the requisite skills necessary to demonstrate freestyle maneuvers to their guests.
- All participants must follow the PSIA-AASI Eastern Event Participant Safety Policy.
Participants’ achievement will be relayed via verbal feedback from the clinician throughout the course and written feedback at its end.
Experience Requirements
- At minimum, must be a current PSIA-AASI-certified Level II (or equivalent) instructor, and be able to ski or ride at current certification level or, have successfully completely FS1.
- Must complete the online Freestyle Specialist E-Learning course (Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Skiing Track or Freestyle Specialist E-Learning Course for Snowboard Track) prior to registering for your on-snow event. This cost is $20 and offers 1 CEU credit upon completion.
FS3 Information
Freestyle Specialist 3 (FS3) is the expert-level freestyle education course for PSIA and AASI and is designed for instructors who are near the highest levels of professional development in freestyle coaching/instruction. This may be multi-discipline course which means that there may be both snowboarders and skiers in the same group. The course includes:- a written workbook (FS 3 Workbook);
- skiing/riding and teaching scenarios;
- a technical discussion regarding how individuals learn and progress to advanced zones as well as all terrain park features;
- an evaluation component.
- Must complete the FS 3 Workbook.
- Must be an active participant in course.
- Participants will integrate their technical understanding of the ATML model and Smart Style with movement analysis and teaching activities for freestyle in the advanced zone and on advanced (black) terrain as well as all terrain park features.
- Evaluations will reflect the participant’s knowledge of safety in the freestyle environment. A passing score from the clinician will be based on the participant’s demonstrated knowledge, understanding, teaching, movement analysis, and on-snow movement as described in the Freestyle Specialist Standards. Candidates must possess the requisite skills necessary to demonstrate freestyle maneuvers to their guests.
- All participants must follow the PSIA-AASI Eastern Event Participant Safety Policy.
- At minimum, must be a current PSIA-AASI-certified Level II (or equivalent) instructor and be able to ski or ride at current certification level or, have successfully completed FS1 or FS2.
- Must complete the FS 3 Workbook prior to your on-snow event, and bring a printed copy to the event.
Freestyle National Academy
Okemo, VT
March 3-7, 2025
The East is thrilled to host the third annual National Freestyle Academy at Okemo Resort in Ludlow, Vermont, March 3-7, 2025! This event offers participants the opportunity to join National Team members and Eastern Region freestyle staff for the freestyle camp, the FS1, FS2, FS3 specialist days, or the entire Academy.
During the freestyle camp, you will get more time to develop skills. You’ll have plenty of time for feedback on tricks you want to learn while helping to develop your Technical Understanding, Movement Analysis, and Teaching Skills in the Freestyle environment focused on the Freestyle standards.
More details, including registration information, will be available here.
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