In Part 3 of Finding Our Why, PSIA-AASI member Kathy Mogensen joins George Thomas to share her journey from a seventh-grade ski-club kid with rental skis and fifty cents for hot chocolate to a 20-year PSIA-AASI instructor who’s helped generations of new skiers fall in love with the sport.
Kathy’s story captures what makes ski and snowboard instructors so passionate about what they do—the joy of watching guests gain confidence, connection, and community on snow. What started by chance—when a ski school director handed her a jacket and said, “Here’s your group”—grew into a lifelong purpose rooted in helping others discover the same love of skiing that shaped her family’s life.
Throughout the conversation, Kathy reflects on the mentors who guided her, the small ski areas that nurture tight-knit teaching communities, and the simple power of sharing turns with others. She also opens up about fear—how she’s faced it, learned from it, and now uses those lessons to help her students find control and confidence on the hill. Whether she’s teaching inner-city kids, moms learning to ski for the first time, or fellow instructors, Kathy’s “why” is simple: to create opportunities for others to feel the same joy and connection she’s found through skiing.
This episode celebrates the everyday instructors who make the biggest difference—not through big mountains or fancy titles, but through genuine care, patience, and passion for helping others find their way on snow.
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In Part 3 of Finding Our Why, PSIA-AASI member Kathy Mogensen joins George Thomas to share her journey from a seventh-grade ski-club kid with rental skis and fifty cents for hot chocolate to a 20-year PSIA-AASI instructor who’s helped generations of new skiers fall in love with the sport.
Kathy’s story captures what makes ski and snowboard instructors so passionate about what they do—the joy of watching guests gain confidence, connection, and community on snow. What started by chance—when a ski school director handed her a jacket and said, “Here’s your group”—grew into a lifelong purpose rooted in helping others discover the same love of skiing that shaped her family’s life.
Throughout the conversation, Kathy reflects on the mentors who guided her, the small ski areas that nurture tight-knit teaching communities, and the simple power of sharing turns with others. She also opens up about fear—how she’s faced it, learned from it, and now uses those lessons to help her students find control and confidence on the hill. Whether she’s teaching inner-city kids, moms learning to ski for the first time, or fellow instructors, Kathy’s “why” is simple: to create opportunities for others to feel the same joy and connection she’s found through skiing.
This episode celebrates the everyday instructors who make the biggest difference—not through big mountains or fancy titles, but through genuine care, patience, and passion for helping others find their way on snow.
Flip the Script and Reignite the Joy: Why Fall Instructor Training Matters – Part 3
First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast
11 minutes 13 seconds
1 month ago
Flip the Script and Reignite the Joy: Why Fall Instructor Training Matters – Part 3
In part three of our Return Instructor Training mini-series, host George Thomas chats with Lindsay Ward, PSIA-AASI Central Region Education and Certification Manager, about how to bring fresh energy and purpose to the start of every season. Lindsay draws on her journey from small-town instructor to trainer, ski school director, and regional leader to share a powerful perspective: return training isn’t a box to check—it’s a chance to reconnect, retool, and reignite your passion for teaching.
She breaks down how management can turn pre-season meetings into celebrations of community, creativity, and culture—and how instructors can transform routine refreshers into opportunities for growth. From the importance of safety and communication to sparking curiosity and lifelong learning, Lindsay reminds us that returning to snow is more than just repeating old steps—it’s rediscovering the joy that brought us here in the first place.
Whether you’re leading the training or lacing up your boots to attend, this episode will inspire you to flip the script and see preseason prep as the launchpad for your best winter yet.
First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast
In Part 3 of Finding Our Why, PSIA-AASI member Kathy Mogensen joins George Thomas to share her journey from a seventh-grade ski-club kid with rental skis and fifty cents for hot chocolate to a 20-year PSIA-AASI instructor who’s helped generations of new skiers fall in love with the sport.
Kathy’s story captures what makes ski and snowboard instructors so passionate about what they do—the joy of watching guests gain confidence, connection, and community on snow. What started by chance—when a ski school director handed her a jacket and said, “Here’s your group”—grew into a lifelong purpose rooted in helping others discover the same love of skiing that shaped her family’s life.
Throughout the conversation, Kathy reflects on the mentors who guided her, the small ski areas that nurture tight-knit teaching communities, and the simple power of sharing turns with others. She also opens up about fear—how she’s faced it, learned from it, and now uses those lessons to help her students find control and confidence on the hill. Whether she’s teaching inner-city kids, moms learning to ski for the first time, or fellow instructors, Kathy’s “why” is simple: to create opportunities for others to feel the same joy and connection she’s found through skiing.
This episode celebrates the everyday instructors who make the biggest difference—not through big mountains or fancy titles, but through genuine care, patience, and passion for helping others find their way on snow.
