The Central Division
Skills Development
Elevating Skills, Strengthening Patrols
Promote and uphold the mission, goals, and core values of the National Ski Patrol and the Central Division by providing active support to division supervisors overseeing key programs, including the Senior Program, Certified Program, Introduction to Ski Patrolling, Women’s Program, and other initiatives that strengthen skills and leadership across the organization.
In addition, plan, coordinate, and oversee the Central Division Ski Patrol Festivals, ensuring these events provide high-quality training, development, and networking opportunities for patrollers at all levels.
Ski Patroller Festival: Building the Next Generation of Leaders
This is your hub for information about the Central Division Ski Patroller Festival—an annual gathering focused on advancing alpine skills and preparing patrollers for the next steps in their leadership journey.
The Ski Patroller Festival is more than just training; it’s a chance to bring together patrollers from across the Division to learn, practice, and be evaluated in a supportive, collaborative environment. Participants will have the opportunity to work with peers and experienced instructors while building the skills necessary to become an OET Trainer, an OET Training Evaluator (OET-TE), or part of the Division Education Staff.
This year, we are excited to host two festival events in December, located in different areas of the Division to make it easier for each Region to send more participants. Whether you’re preparing for an evaluation or simply looking to grow your alpine expertise, the Festival is designed to challenge, inspire, and equip you with the tools you need to succeed.
Session Descriptions of Ski Patroller Festival Sessions (formally ASDW)
S1: New Senior OET Trainer Evaluator Certification (invite only)
Enrollment Category Groupings and who should attend: The participant must be a senior alpine patroller and a current OET instructor. Participants should be ready to test to become a newly certified Senior OET trainer evaluator this year. This is the first step to becoming a Senior Trainer Evaluator for your Region. The emphasis of training will be Saturday: Senior toboggan handling standards (TTW) and Sunday: Senior ski/ride standards (STW).
Note: Any prior senior alpine evaluator who did not maintain the 3-yr. re-certification status must enroll here for a new certification.
Evaluation Factors: Successful participants will be able to demonstrate technical knowledge of senior scoring matrix (1-6) and scorecard, effective assessment (movement analysis) skills, and feedback methods. Participants will also perform toboggan and ski/ride skills at or above senior level and show their ability to demonstrate, teach, and evaluate senior candidates effectively.
Category Limit: Maximum of three (3) participants per Region or more if space allows.
Result: Participants will be identified in their feedback as one or more of the following – 1) New Senior OET Trainer Evaluator who has met the certification criteria to become an OET Senior Trainer Evaluator for their Region, or 2) unsuccessful-not approved to serve as a Senior OET Trainer Evaluator for this year.
S2: Senior OET Trainer Evaluator RE-Certification: Current Ski/Ride TE's (invite only)
Enrollment Category Groupings and who should attend: The participant must be a senior alpine patroller who is a Senior Ski/Ride Trainer/Evaluator needing to recert this season to maintain their 3-year requirement. The emphasis of training will be Saturday Senior toboggan handling standards (TTW) and Sunday: Senior ski/ride standards (STW).
Evaluation Factors: Successful participants will be able to demonstrate technical knowledge of senior scoring matrix (1-6) and scorecard, effective assessment (movement analysis) skills, and feedback methods. Participants will also perform toboggan and ski/ride skills at or above senior level and show their ability to demonstrate, teach, and evaluate senior candidates effectively.
Category Limit: Maximum of three (3) participants per Region or more if space allows.
Result: Participants will be identified in their feedback as one or more of the following – 1) New Senior OET Trainer Evaluator who has met the certification criteria to become an OET Senior Trainer Evaluator for their Region, or 2) unsuccessful-not approved to serve as a Senior OET Trainer Evaluator for this year.
S3: Senior OET Trainer Evaluator Re-Certification: Current Toboggan TE's (invite only)
Enrollment Category Groupings and who should attend: The participant must be a senior alpine patroller who is a Toboggan Trainer/Evaluator needing to recert this season to maintain their 3-year requirement. The emphasis of training will be Saturday: Senior ski/ride standards (STW) and Sunday: Senior toboggan (TTW).
Evaluation Factors: Successful participants will be able to demonstrate technical knowledge of senior scoring matrix (1-6) and scorecard, effective assessment (movement analysis) skills, and feedback methods. Participants will also perform toboggan and ski/ride skills at or above senior level and show their ability to demonstrate, teach, and evaluate senior candidates effectively.
Category Limit: Maximum of three (3) participants per Region or more if space allows.
Result: Participants will be identified in their feedback as one or more of the following – 1) New Senior OET Trainer Evaluator who has met the certification criteria to become an OET Senior Trainer Evaluator for their Region, or 2) unsuccessful-not approved to serve as a Senior OET Trainer Evaluator for this year.
S4: Senior OET Trainer Evaluator Re-Certification: Current OET TE's, IT Re-Certification (invite only)
Enrollment Category Groupings and who should attend: Participants are current Senior Trainer Evaluators in both Ski Ride & Toboggan needing to recert this season to maintain their 3-year requirement, and/or OET Instructor Trainers needing to recert this season to maintain their 3-year requirement. The emphasis of training will be on calibrating and recertification as a Senior OET Trainer Evaluator for your Region, and/or maintain IT status (if appropriate).
Evaluation Factors: Successful participants will be able to demonstrate technical knowledge of senior scoring matrix (1-6) and scorecard, effective assessment (movement analysis) skills, and feedback methods. Participants will also perform toboggan and ski/ride skills at or above senior level and show their ability to demonstrate, teach, and evaluate senior candidates effectively.
Category Limit: Maximum of three (3) participants per Region or more if space allows.
Result: Participants will be identified in their feedback as one or more of the following – 1) New Senior OET Trainer Evaluator who has met the recertification criteria to remain OET Senior Trainer Evaluator for their Region, or 2) OET Instructor Trainer who has met recertification criteria to remain an OET IT for their Region, 3) OET Instructor Trainer & Senior OET Trainer/Evaluator who has met recertification criteria to remain an OET IT & TE for their Region. 4) unsuccessful-not approved to serve as a Senior OET Trainer Evaluator and/or OET IT for this year.
S5: Train the Trainers
Enrollment Category Groupings and who should attend: This session is for Alpine Patrollers who are interested in becoming OET instructors for their areas and/or Region.
Session will Provide: Effective feedback delivery, movement analysis, technical knowledge review, teaching/building effective progressions and overall preparation for a successful Toboggan Trainer or IT candidate.
Category Limit: Maximum of two (2) participants per Region or more as space allows.
Note: Minimum qualifications to register for the group are: Alpine Patroller status and recommendation from your local OET IT or Patrol Representative.
S6: Senior OET Trainer Evaluator Prep Clinic (invite only)
Who Should Attend: Region evaluators not requiring recertification this year looking to sharpen their teaching skills. Those Senior Patroller who are interested in becoming an OET Trainer/Evaluator.
Session Will Provide:Focus on skiing/ride and toboggan fundamentals and benchmarks as defined by PSIA/AASI in the Alpine Technical Manual and Snowboard Technical Manual for Region snow sports trainers. This will also include Movement Analysis, Video review, and Movement Learning Activities to develop an understanding of how to teach, demonstrate, and evaluate ski/ride and toboggan at the Senior level.
Category Limit: Maximum of two (2) participants per Region or more if space allows.
Result: Participants should better understand the Senior OET program training techniques and knowledge in preparation for certification as an OET Trainer/Evaluator in the future.
S7: PSIA-AASI Level One Exam
Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in becoming a member a member of PSIA (alpine, telemark) or AASI (snowboard) and trying out for Level 1 certification. Ideal for OET instructors or anyone working with candidates/patrollers to evaluate and improve ski/ride performance.
Session Will Provide: PSIA-AASI Level 1 is ideal for trainers wanting an increased understanding of terminology, teaching progressions, and analysis of movements for effective and efficient ski/ride performance. Ideal for working with candidates and for improving one’s own skills. Previous experience teaching ski/ride skills to current or candidate patrollers is desirable. Level 1 certification is also the starting point for attaining higher levels (Level 2 or 3) certification. Registration for the Level 1 exam and fees are handled directly with PSIA-AASI. The exam includes required online components prior to the two days on the snow instruction and assessment. Contact cmjsunrise@gmail.com for questions and to advise your interest. You will be sent details on how to participate.
Category Limit: Minimum of 5 participants per discipline
S8: PSIA-AASI Prep Workshop for NSP Trainers
Who Should Attend: Region Trainers who already have their Level I or 2 PSIA-AASI certification and are actively preparing for their Level 2 or 3 examination.
Session Will Provide: Review of The Learning Connection as it relates to people skills, teaching skills and technical skills. Review of ski/ride fundamentals and benchmarks as defined by PSIA-AASI in the Alpine Technical Manual, Snowboard Technical Manual and Teaching Snowsports Manual. Discussions and suggestions for assisting the participant in assessment preparation using the National Certification Standards and People Skills, Teaching skills and Technical skills performance guides. Opportunities will be available to work on Movement Analysis and Feedback skills, teaching progressions and technical knowledge.
Category Limit: Maximum of eight participants per session will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Minimum of two boarders or four skiers to hold sessions. More openings if space allowed.
S9: MVP Program "Guide" Training
This is a Saturday only session. It will be held at both Wild Mountain and The Highlands
Who Should Attend: Toboggan and/or OEC instructors/trainers who are over the age of sixty and who are actively involved in teaching and training at the Region and/or Patrol level.
Session Will Provide: The workshop will train attendees to be MVP Guides, so that they can activate MVP Workshops for patrollers in their Region/Patrol during the 2024/2025 season. The curriculum consists of pre-read materials, facilitated group discussion and skiing and tobogganing on-hill sessions.
Category Limit: 12 – you must register through the NSP Central Ski Patrol Festival registration form and sign the online waiver.
S10: New Toboggan Trainers IT (invite only)
Who should attend: Anyone who wishes to be considered for appointment as an OET TE at the Region Level who meets the Prerequisites.
Prerequisites: Current OET Instructor and Current OET TE or Toboggan TE, Active at the Region level as a trainer and/or trainer/evaluator. Recommendation from an IT or Patrol Director or Region official, and Region OET Supervisor is required.
Instructor Trainer Re-certification: An OET IT is a yearly appointment, requested by the Region OET Supervisor and confirmed by the Division OET Supervisor. An OET IT must attend a Division Festival for recertification once every 3 years.
Evaluation Factors: Successful participants will demonstrate a clear understanding of the responsibilities and best practices toboggan operation and training. This includes performance skills and tasks. The IT must demonstrate technical proficiency at various levels of instruction. Because of the nature of the IT as an Instructor’s Instructor, an accomplished level of teaching (knowledge, teaching and communication) must also be demonstrated.
Category Limit: Maximum of two participants per Region. Total 8 per event.
Result: Successful participants will be appointed as an IT for their Region for the upcoming year. We recommend that Regions mentor the new IT’s for the initial year. Unsuccessful Participants will be given feedback and recommendations for further training and mentoring.
S11: New Division Staff IT Certification
Who should attend: Existing OET IT’s interested in Teaching STW’s and TTW’s at the Division level.
Prerequisites: Current OET Instructor, current OET TE and current OET IT. Active at the Region level as a trainer and/or trainer/evaluator. Recommendation from current Division staff instructor, Region OET Advisor, Patrol Director or Region official. Approval from a Skills Team Division Supervisor.
Instructor Trainer Re-certification: A Division Staff IT is a yearly appointment and confirmed by the Division OET Supervisor. A Division Staff IT must attend and actively instruct at a Division Event for recertification at a minimum of once every 3 years.
Evaluation Factors: Successful participants will demonstrate a clear understanding of the responsibilities and best practices toboggan operation and training. This includes performance skills and tasks. The Division Staff IT must demonstrate technical proficiency at various levels of instruction. Because of the nature of the Division Staff IT as an Instructor’s Instructor, an accomplished level of teaching (knowledge, teaching and communication) must also be demonstrated.
Category Limit: Maximum of one participant per Region. Total 4 per event.
Result: Successful participants will be recommended for Division IT Staff and must participate as a shadow instructor at a Division training event under the guidance of a current Division Staff IT. Current Division Staff IT will provide feedback and final recommendation for Division Staff assignment.