NZSIA November 2023 Newsletter

I hope this message finds you well as you get underway for the summer or another winter season. As we look back on the season we have just had, I wanted to share some highlights from our recent Board and Management meetings.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the managers, committees, and staff who played pivotal roles in making it a great season for the NZSIA/SBINZ. A special shout-out goes to our administrative team for skillfully keeping the ball rolling (or juggling) as the case may be.

Board Changes: As you are aware, changes are on the horizon for our Board. We will be seeking a new representative from the Snowsports schools in May, aiming to have them in place by the AGM. A warm welcome is extended to Sarah Walls, our newest Board member. Additionally, we are actively searching for a staff Health and Safety representative to join the Health & Safety Committee.

Code of Conduct Concerns: A concern that surfaced this season was individuals teaching without concession, some of whom were reportedly members of the NZSIA. This is a breach of our NZSIA Code of Conduct and may lead to disciplinary action from the NZSIA, as well as sanctions from the resorts. We urge all members to adhere to resort practices and respect the guidelines set forth by our organisation.

Course modifications and digital resources: The Ski and Snowboard divisions are continually adapting their courses to meet the evolving needs of resorts and our membership. An exciting shift towards a modular system for qualifications is underway, providing members with more flexibility in choosing their pathway through their qualification journey. Moreover, all divisions are continually developing digital and eLearning resources, with the ski manual scheduled to go to print soon.

Tech Teams Announcement: We are thrilled to announce the selection of the Ski and Snowboard divisions’ respective tech teams for the next cycle. The diverse mix of members selected promises an exciting period of innovation and development. Please find the full teams listed below.

Interski 2024: The location for the next Interski has yet to be decided, with two prospective locations put forward since Interski Finland. While the final decision is pending, we anticipate more details by mid-December. Stay tuned for updates as we assess each bid and vote on the preferred location.

Preserving Our History: This summer, we embark on an exciting project led by Peter Clinton-Baker and Simon Cawley to curate resources and stories from the NZSIA 50th celebration. We invite you to contribute any photos, stories, or old resources you may have stored away to help preserve our rich history – bookings@nzsia.org

Thank you all for your dedication and support. I hope you all enjoy the summer season or if you are lucky enough to be in the Northern Hemisphere stay safe and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2024.

We have received a lot of feedback around the prerequisites for Level Three, and because of this feedback some changes have been made. We believe these changes will make the Level three pathway more user friendly. The new system will allow more freedom to choose the instructor pathway.

To complete the Level Three qualification, as well as passing the Level Three ski and teach exam components, two of the following will need to be completed:

• Childrens Level One

• Freeski Level One

• Race One

• A second discipline level one qualification (i.e., snowboard/telemark/adaptive/cross country)

These can be either NZSIA qualifications or a foreign equivalent.

Please note only one second discipline is allowed. For example, if you have Snowboard Level One then you must choose one of Childrens Level One, Freeski Level One, Race One, you can’t choose another second discipline. Also, important to note, these do not need to be completed prior to the Level Three exam, they can now be completed in any order. The Level Three certificate will be presented once all modules are completed.

This system will be in place for the 2023/2024 Northern Hemisphere winter season.

Website Link: here

The SBINZ Snowboard Tech Team selection ran over two days in Wanaka in October with selectors Keith Stubbs, Claire Dooney, Paul Philip and Ben Clarbrough. The crew of 17 who came along to try out were asked to present on snow whilst showing their ability to ride with versatility; produce a 2–3-minute video on a given topic to be recorded in one take; present for 15-20 minutes in teams on something concerning the future of SBINZ and a one-to-one interview.

The quality of the field was high and in the end a team of 8 was selected to form the new team: Kristy Bishop; Luke Gillett; James Howe; Kain McWaters; Jamie Middleton; Billy Roberts; Ellie Tresidder and Rich Waldie. The team will first focus on producing new educational resources for members and delivering development days before looking towards preparing for the next interski in 2027.

Website Link: here

The NZSIA Ski Tech Team selection ran over 3 days at Mt Hutt in October with selectors Dave Taylor, Sarah Walls, Gavin McAuliffe, Colin Tanner, and Yolinde Magill. The 22 who came along to try out were asked to present an on-snow clinic to their peers, topic given on the spot; ski to the best of their ability with precision and versatility; produce a 5-minute video on a ski division topic of their choice; and partake in a 10-minute interview to showcase their knowledge of the NZSIA.

Thank you to all who attended. The vibe and the talent on display was inspirational. We selected a team of 12 people, 6 females and 6 males to form the new team: Lena McFadden, Sam Liggins, Francesca Pavillard-Cain, Josh Duncan-Smith, Felix Lempriere, Sophie Chen, Harry McFadden, Naoko Usui Adams, Campbell Mason, Monica Stone, Emily Pocock, Yusuke Inoue. The team coaches are Dave Taylor and Sarah Walls. Most team members will be overseas working in the Northern Hemisphere this summer whilst also focusing on producing new educational resources for the membership. Expect to see the team members delivering development days at a resort near you in the New Zealand winter of 2024.

Website link: here

We are excited to announce the appointment of the NZSIA Women’s Taskforce.

Congratulations to the six representatives appointed – Charlotte Villiers-Smith, Emily Pocock, Kirsty Oakes, Mereana Wilkie, Ruth Tseng and Siobhan Challis.

The task force aims to become the visionary steering group for creating opportunities for women in leadership in NZSIA. We look forward to the team developing appropriate and accessible channels of communication to listen to the voices of the membership. This will be to better understand gender challenges including diversity, equity and inclusion, with identifying strategies for change.

We ended up with some big waitlists this season. We have looked at a few ways to help minimise this as it resulted in many last-minute changes to courses. Members will now only be able to book one course of the same type at a time i.e., only one Level Three exam at a time. Once that course is complete, you will be able to book the next course if you need to. We will keep working on scheduling availability for resits, but hopefully, this will also help reduce the waitlists. To clarify, it is fine to book multiple courses still i.e., Level three workshop and module, Childrens cert and Terrain Park.

During the New Zealand 2024 season, if a person cancels a course with a medical certificate within the last 10 days of the course starting, there will be a 10% administrative fee. To avoid this fee, please make all changes prior to the 10-day cutoff before the course starts. For the Northern Hemisphere season, no changes are available within the last month, and insurance is highly recommended to ensure financial cover for any medical events.

In October, we headed north to celebrate our 50th anniversary with the North Island crew. We really enjoyed being up there and thank you all for your support. A special thanks to Peter Clinton-Baker for his support during another 50th event!

Website link: here

We are very excited to have many courses running in Japan again this Northern winter. Availability is limited, so if you are interested, get your place secure. Please note if you book a 2024 course, ensure your membership is current for 2024.

Renew membership: Here

Ski Courses: Calendar

Snowboard Courses: Calendar

We still have a few spaces on the level ones before the end of the year in Japan – a great chance to do a crossover in a different division:

We have a winner for 2023!! Congratulations to Rebecca, it was awesome to get to celebrate your success at the Snowsports Awards held up at Coronet Peak in October.

Works at: Cardrona – her nomination wording:

Rebecca “‘Becca”‘ is a level 3 female snowboard superstar! She has come into Cardrona with awesome energy and a passion for the sport that is infectious. She has encouraged other wahine to challenge themselves and leads by example. Becca gives 100% to every lesson, from first timers to the park clinic, she goes out of her way to help our guests have the best day on the mountain. We appreciate everything that Becca has brought to our school this season, she loves snowboarding, it comes through every day she comes to work. She is an incredible instructor and a credit to our industry.

Memberships will be rolling over on the 1 Jan 2024 – $90 per year. If you are applying for New Zealand employment in 2024, applications open early next year. Now is a good time to get yourself sorted (before the office shuts for the Christmas New Year break).

• Log into your profile here

• A PDF version of your card will be created by the office and emailed to you once you have paid.

• Ensure you have a photo uploaded to your profile (like a passport photo).

• If you require a physical card, you can purchase one in your profile from the NZSIA shop for $5.

• Any problems please email bookings@nzsia.org

Check out our calendar from mid-January, that is when we will release our courses for the 2024 season in New Zealand for Ski and Snowboard initially – with the other divisions to follow.

Ski: Here

Snowboard: Here

Adaptive: Here

Telemark: Here

Coaching: Here

If you have any questions, please let us know: bookings@nzsia.org

The administration for NZSIA will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period from Friday 22nd December 2023 until Monday 8th January 2024. For any urgent issues that need to be resolved over this time, please contact: 0275341796….emails will not be monitored.

Merry Christmas and we will see you all next year!

Your NZSIA team