by Garth McPhie
“Learn, Teach & Inspire” is a catchy slogan, eh? Well, yes, that too, but much more. I was reading the latest PSIA-NW newsletter, the NW Snowsports Instructor, and got to the back cover when those words caught my eye, and my mind’s eye, too. “Learn, Teach and Inspire.” Why these words? What do they mean to me? To you? To PSIA? For our customers and guests? After thinking about these words for a minute, maybe two, here is what they mean to me.
LEARN
Be a learner. Commit to learning forever, not just until you have passed your last exam. Or until you complete your annual PSIA educational credit requirement. Learn to ski better, more efficiently. Never stop progressing. I have been inspired by many Demo Team members and Technical Team members who are still working on their own skiing … continuously. They, too, are still in the process of learning to ski better. They are committed to continual learning. It is this commitment to learning that directly affects their effectiveness as instructors and coaches.
Learn to teach better, more effectively. Learn from each lesson, each clinic, each student and client. What worked, what didn’t work, what process or progression got us/them to achieve the desired outcome. Take coaching courses and clinics. Immerse yourself in learning.
TEACH
Be a teacher or coach to your students, co-workers, self, friends, enemies. Teach with passion, compassion and persistence. Teach because you want to, not because you have to. Teach beginners, teach instructors, teach racers, teach freestyle, teach children, teach seniors. Teach it all. Teach what you like, teach what you don’t like. Teach because it is your duty, your vocation, your commitment. Immerse yourself in teaching.
INSPIRE
Be an inspiration. Through your example of commitment to learning and teaching, inspire others. Inspire your students/guests to want to learn. Inspire your instructors to want to learn and teach. If you have a student that only wants to cut lift lines, inspire them to want to learn, to be taught. Immerse yourself in inspiration.
I have been inspired by many individuals throughout my continuous journey; inspired by fellow instructors, coaches, clinicians, examiners, Technical Team members, PSIA Demo Team Members, non-PSIA Demo Team Members, and students. It is my goal to maintain and share my passion for snowsports education. It can be summarized by the recipe: Learn, Teach and Inspire.
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