FDB Skiers Need One-Ski Before Two

One of the best things you can do for your First-Day-Beginner Skiers is to start them out on one-ski with poles---they learn several things: they learn to ski while they walk, to use their poles to go but not to stop, to operate their bindings, to get around, to be able to get up after they fall down--they learn tons of confidence, setting the stage for the rest of their ski life. Skip the one-ski scenario, and you teach them failure--and it only takes a few minutes,--otherwise they can't get started right . . . and learn to abuse or hate poles.

Should "Ski Bums" Be Instructors?

Too many Ski Instructors confess or even brag they're a "Ski Bum" . . . without ever considering what they're saying. When I joined Pro Ski Instructors of Am in 1980, I took pride in the idea of being a "Professional"--it had a nice ring; but little did I know They would laugh at me later for thinking I could make a living. I have nothing against Ski Bums always plotting their next ski days; but they shouldn't hog the lift tickets and locker rooms and uniforms away from the True Professionals who are few-n-far between, . . . and they shouldn't be getting paid for giving lessons they don't even want or know-how to teach.