I've been told by others that I apparently count as a higher certified instructor, and I am more than content to be able to teach never-evers and get them linking turns and skiing in a confident within an hour or less. Anyone who thinks that a higher qualification is a pathway to teaching only advanced lessons is sadly mistaken unless you can get yourself into a high-end season long program. My ultimate goal is to finish the level 4 and be the greatest ski instructor of 5-year-olds Whistler has ever seen.
The truth is that this industry relies on beginners, and having a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of skiing is like a cheat code when it comes to teaching those beginners. The more tools you have in your kit, the less frustrating it will be. When I was a level 1 instructor with no experience, it was difficult if I tried the one thing I knew on my students. 12 seasons later, I've got a lot more tricks, and I know that there is more than one way to peel an orange.
Perhaps the greatest benefit to higher certification is the confidence to stick to your own guns. I've met far too many higher level instructors who are adamant that there is only one true way to teach a wedge. Once you have that validation that you know what you're talking about, it becomes a lot easier to stick to your guns.
As bendzeekneez said, the average beginner skier doesn't need to be technically proficient, and if approaching it from an unconventional approach results in a technically wrong approach to a desired outcome, the guest is happy, they can glide, what's the problem?
The truth is that this industry relies on beginners, and having a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of skiing is like a cheat code when it comes to teaching those beginners. The more tools you have in your kit, the less frustrating it will be. When I was a level 1 instructor with no experience, it was difficult if I tried the one thing I knew on my students. 12 seasons later, I've got a lot more tricks, and I know that there is more than one way to peel an orange.
Perhaps the greatest benefit to higher certification is the confidence to stick to your own guns. I've met far too many higher level instructors who are adamant that there is only one true way to teach a wedge. Once you have that validation that you know what you're talking about, it becomes a lot easier to stick to your guns.
As bendzeekneez said, the average beginner skier doesn't need to be technically proficient, and if approaching it from an unconventional approach results in a technically wrong approach to a desired outcome, the guest is happy, they can glide, what's the problem?