realskiers

First Mike Rogan he one the captain of the demo team and I agree with living proof his writing is not awesome and I was recent critic of his on tree skiing video.

On the progression of PSIA members

this document will outline the specifics of skills from both the teaching and skiing sides.

http://www.psia-e.org/ed/alpine/AlpineExamGuide.pdf

My cliffs notes for those not willing to read that document

PSIA Level 1 - able to make open parallel on blue level terrain. As well show solid demo of fundamental skill like sidestepping, herringbone elect able to teach at a very basic level.

I have never heard of  someone failing a L1 exam. Its the only exam that the examiners/DCLs are aloud to coach you to get though. If you have a pulse and can ski in the loosest sense you will pass.

PSIA Level 2 - Skiing skills -L2 ski teachers should be able to make short, medium, and long radius turns on all blue terrain and groomed black terrain. skis should leave 2 separate arcs with minuimal skidding at all time.  Basically someone who solid and in balance on most terrain low level 8.

Teaching skills - Is able to teach though the intermiedate zone while address from MA what is happening and why it is happening. Should be able to teach creatively.

My take, a PSIA L2 is someone who can teach 95 percent of your lesson and do it well. Their skiing skill is admittely not very high but they have a solid base and solid understanding and most will be able to make a real improvement in the general publics skiing.

PSIA Level 3 - copied right out of the above link  Level III-certified instructors possess high levels of skill and knowledge that allow him or her to
make an uncompromised contribution to the customer, the association, and the ski industry. A
Level III-certified member has the ability to assess all variables with regard to student
personality traits, goals, abilities, needs, the learning environment, conditions of the day,
available terrain, equipment, etc., and to synthesize these parts into a viable lesson plan. A
Level III instructor can make adjustments to lesson goals and is able to appropriately adjust or
modify lesson content as required by any situation.
Category A: Skiing

Level III-certified teachers should have the skills to make short-, medium-, and long-radius turns
with little or no skidding. The skis describe two well-defined arcs from before the fall line to turn
completion. Terrain and snow conditions should have a minimal effect on skill application,
movement accuracy, and turn outcome. Turn dynamics should represent the terrain, speed, and
snow conditions common to Advanced zone skiing. A Level III-certified teacher has the ability to
maintain dynamics and movement accuracy through most conditions, on any terrain on most
mountains.

General Characteristics

The candidate will be able to:
 Ski dynamic-parallel turns on any terrain on most mountains
 Reduce, generate, or maintain speed without interrupting overall flow or rhythm
 Ski a variety of turn sizes and shapes and apply them to different mountain
situations
 Demonstrate different types of skill blends and movement patterns in exercises,
tasks, and turns upon request, and as applied in different mountain situations
 Maintain control over turn shape and speed while skiing most conditions on any
terrain on most mountains

teaching skills - Consider safety concerns as students move beyond the Intermediate zone
learning environment
 Make specific lesson-plan decisions based on accurate interpretation of student
behavior and performance
 Adjust the depth and pacing of information and feedback to address the needs,
motivation, and interest level of the students
 Address a variety of learning styles and utilize various feedback systems to
facilitate an experiential learning environment
 Identify the elements of multiple intelligence theory and relate these concepts to
sensory preferences in communication and information exchange
 Describe, in depth, the skier services and activities available at one?s home area
as well as within the ski industry
 Display a strong ability to answer a ?How-do-I-get-there?? question regarding
queries involving movement analysis
 Display an in-depth understanding of cause-and-effect relationships relative to
skill references and specific movement issues
 Create unique lesson plans by way of strong understanding of people and ski
technique

my take, a PSIA L3 on paper should be a solid skier all around on anything. they should also be able to teach that skill anytime, any where in any conditions.