It comes as no surprise that a good teacher can make a world of difference in the learning experience.  I know for a fact that each one of us remembers at least one teacher who made a huge impact on our lives, whether it be for school or something else.  A good instructor is crucial when it comes to the world of adaptive skiing.  It must be a person who has patience, good skill abilities, and good communication skills.

Patience-Patience is a thing that a lot of us lack, and it is a challenging quality to truly master.   It is hard to sit back and watch someone struggle with something that comes so naturally to us.  My brother has had so many experiences like that with me.  For example, he is a mathematician and math has always come naturally to him.  When it came time for me to take my honors geometry class I asked him for help (because I was so lost).  It took a ton of patience for him to explain the same steps over and over again to me, when he could complete them in his sleep.  The same thing goes for adaptive skiing.  For those who have been skiing since they could walk, it can be a challenge to watch someone struggle to ski down a green.  Patience from an instructor can make a new experience feel so much less scary, and gives a person the feeling that they can accomplish anything.

2. Skill Abilities

Knowing your craft is so important when teaching someone.  While skiing can be such a fun sport, it is also dangerous at the same time.  I mean you are going really fast down an icy mountain with 2 sticks attached to your feet.  It is important to be a relatively good skier when teaching adaptive athletes in order to keep the both of you safe.  What does being a good skier mean?  There are several factors that contribute to being a good skier.  The first one being good technique: having parallel skis, good hand placement, pressure on the front of the boot, etc.  The second one being slope difficulty: a good skier should be able to ski all blue very comfortably, and at least some blacks.  The final one is staying calm.  It will do no benefit to you or your student if you get freaked out over a steep slope.

3. Good communication skills

Having the ability to communicate well with someone is one that is helpful in all aspects of life.  In adaptive skiing, you will often have students with some form of mental disability or learning disability.  Communication is key in these sorts of situations.  You must be able to communicate how to do a particular skill in a way that is understandable to the athlete.  In other sorts of situations, you must be able to communicate with a parent/guardian on what their child learned today.  Using easier vocab (for those who don’t ski) all while being thorough!

There are so many other qualities that contribute to being a great instructor!  Be the type of instructor that brings a smile to your students face everytime they see you!  Be the instructor that leaves a positive impact on a family.  Be the instructor that fosters a passion for skiing.