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Artwork for First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast

First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast

PSIA-AASI First Chair Podcast
Psia-Aasi
Skiing
Snowboarding
Ski Instruction
Snow Sports
CARV
Mentorship
National Academy
Penn State
Snow Sports Education
Interski
Rider Rally
Professional Development
Training
Teaching Methods
Telemark Skiing
Teaching
The Expert Trap
Vail
Goal Setting

The First Chair Podcast brings you inspirational stories and educational tips from the country's best ski, snowboard, Nordic, and adaptive instructors. More than 34,000 individuals belong to PSIA-AASI (Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors), making it the world’s largest organization dedicated to snowsports. We are lifelong learners committed to ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes500Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast

Latest Episodes

Are your poles helping you accelerate, or are they telling your skis to stop? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas is joined by Keith Rodney—chair of the National Children’s Task Force, US Telemark Team head coach, and multi-discipline ... more

Why do some students quit after one day, while others become skiers for life? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas is joined by Sebastian Crain to explore the deep psychology behind snowsports instruction. Sebastian teaches at Aspen Sno... more

YouTube

How much of your message is actually getting through to your students? In this episode of First Chair, host George Thomas sits down with international ski instructor Joaquin Alvarez Amuchastegui to discuss his recent 32 Degrees article, "Enhancing Ou... more

YouTube

In this episode, host George Thomas sits down with PSIA National Alpine Team member Katie White to bridge the gap between daily client lessons and the high-pressure environment of a teaching assessment. Katie breaks down how to manage the shortened 2... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Sebastian Crain
Snow sports instructor and author on self-determination theory in skiing
Aspen Snowmass; Eldora; Rocky Mountain Board of Directors
Episode: Magnetized to the Mountain: Using Social Psychology to Create Lifelong Skiers with Sebastian Crain
Joaquin Alvarez Amuchástegui
Ski instructor; wrote article for 32 Degrees, Enhancing Our Connections with Empathy
Ski Instruction, PSIA-AASI member
Episode: The 90% Rule: Why Tone and Body Language Win the Lesson with Joaquin Alvarez Amuchástegui
Katie White
Author and ski instructor who wrote about teaching for assessments
PSIA-AASI
Episode: How to be Successful in Assessment Teaching
Lou Rosenfeld
Ski instructor/expert in binding position and biomechanics
Independent / PSIA-AASI contributor
Episode: The 4mm Miracle: Mastering Binding Position with Lou Rosenfeld
Tony Macri
PSIA-AASI team member
PSIA-AASI
Episode: Why Core Control Is the Secret to Better Turns and Tricks
Carmela Olmo
Snow sports instructor at Jackson Hole; PSIA-AASI member
Jackson Hole, PSIA-AASI
Episode: Performing Under Pressure: Turning Nerves Into Better Teaching
Scott McGee
Ski instructor featured in the article, collaborative co-creator of the concepts discussed
Jackson Hole, WY-based instructor
Episode: Build Better Lessons: A Smarter Way to Create Progressions
Jake Crawford
Co-presenter and co-author of the article discussed
Northeast-based instructor
Episode: Build Better Lessons: A Smarter Way to Create Progressions
Eric Rolls
PSIA-AASI examiner and instructor
PSIA-AASI
Episode: No Shortcuts: How to Actually Prepare for Your Certification Exam

Host

George Thomas
Host of First Chair and the show; long-time PSIA-AASI member and journalist associated with First Chair branding.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Just bad

    Was hoping to get something out of this podcast but the information density is extremely low and the audio quality of the call in interview-ees is terrible.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Werkerbee007
    United States6 years ago
  • Staying Connected

    Good advice. Thanks Ed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ed Younglove
    United States6 years ago
  • A missed opportunity, but it doesn’t have to be.

    The First Chair is a missed opportunity, but it doesn’t have to be.

    I’ve been teaching for many years and I was hoping this podcast would be a good compliment to my on-hill training and my other research. To that end it is, occasionally.

    Unfortunately the gems are hidden amongst a lot of episodes that are not very helpful for a variety of reasons. Many episodes feature guests who don’t seem particularly prepared for the subject at hand and one episode was a drawn-out commercial for a glove ma... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Raymo C
    United States7 years ago
  • Valuable insights!

    This podcast is a great way to infuse your knowledge of mountain skiing and riding. George is a skilled interviewer, adept at eliciting valuable insights from his guests on the cast. I listen to these more than once, they are packed full of useful information and really fun to listen to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AdjusterMartinPhd
    United States7 years ago
  • Fantastic resources for membership

    This podcast is a great resource for the Psia aasi membership and anyone interested in Snowsports. It presents up to date information on current issues and developments providing a balance between breadth and depth.

    A joy to listen to regardless of the time of year and a sign of a vibrant community.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PeteA7
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging guests with practical takeaways for on-snow teaching.
Strong on pedagogy and real-world drills; great for members seeking professional tips.
Some episodes suffer from unedited segments and variable audio quality.
Mixed reception on production quality and content depth across episodes.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 90% Rule: Why Tone and Body Language Win the Lesson with Joaquin Alvarez Amuchástegui
Q: How do you balance signaling confidence with acknowledging nerves in challenging terrain?
By presenting multiple options, maintaining calm body language, and openly communicating the plan while supporting the student emotionally, which helps keep the lesson focused on learning rather than fear.
How to be Successful in Assessment Teaching
Q: Is that why you discuss engaging the group early as part of your approach?
Katie agrees, emphasizing that there is no absolute formula and highlights the value of aligning to the group's needs early on before moving into drills.
How to be Successful in Assessment Teaching
Q: So how do you explain the difference between teaching for guests and teaching for an assessment when the pressure is on?
Katie explains that you must adapt teaching speed, duration, and framing to the group and use early engagement to set a theme, then move the group through practical work.
How to be Successful in Assessment Teaching
Q: Katie, first of all, thank you for joining us on First Chair.
Katie expresses appreciation for the opportunity and confirms enthusiasm for discussing assessment teaching.
The “Forward Trap”: Why Getting Forward Isn’t Always Better
Q: How can instructors translate these concepts into cues for intermediate students?
Use millimeter adjustments to the ankle and boot position, watch track lines or video to spot pusher vs puller tendencies, and emphasize early setup of the turn with the skis bent on edge to create a reliable arc rather than forcing forward into the front of the boot.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast

What is First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, instructor-focused show featuring in-depth conversations with snowsports teachers, coaches, and executives. Across episodes, listeners hear on-snow pedagogy, assessment strategies, biomechanics, safety culture, and mentorship, all tied to improving teaching effectiveness and student outcomes. Noteworthy is a strong emphasis on real-world application—from binding tweaks and core engagement to managing nerves during exams—paired with extensive guest expertise from PSIA-AASI professionals and experienced instructors. The format tends to blend technical drills, coaching philosophy, and stories from the mountains, making it helpful for pros seeking actionable tips and for sponsors looking to reach a dedicated, educator-minded audien... more

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Which podcasts are similar to First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast:

1. The Fall Line: With Chaos and Co.
2. Big Picture Skiing Podcast
3. All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Snowboarding
4. The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
5. The Ski Instructor Podcast

How many episodes of First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast are there?

First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 500 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast?

Recent guests on First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast include:

1. Sebastian Crain
2. Joaquin Alvarez Amuchástegui
3. Katie White
4. Lou Rosenfeld
5. Tony Macri
6. Carmela Olmo
7. Scott McGee
8. Jake Crawford

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