PSIA-AASI Level 1 Course & Exam Scholarship
Applications Closed
Please send us an email at info@womenofwinter to get on our mailing list for our next season's scholarship opportunities!
Women of Winter and PSIA-AASI are offering twenty four (24) scholarships for the 2023-2024 season, to Black, Indigenous, Women of Color or non-binary/gender non-conforming individuals comfortable in women-centered spaces, with an education opportunity to obtain a (i) PSIA-AASI Alpine or Snowboard Level I certification or (ii) a Freestyle Specialist 1 or Children’s Specialist 1.
With our partnership with PSIA-AASI, Women of Winter is now able to collaborate with the National Brotherhood of Snowsports to offer twelve (12) additional scholarships to their membership to obtain a (i) PSIA-AASI Alpine or Snowboard Level I certification. This new partnership allows for all three organizations the opportunity to continue to expose, educate, support and advance people of color in the Snowsports Industry.
THE WHY
BIPOC women and girls are the most excluded and underrepresented demographic in snowsports. We are a group of diverse women in snowsports that want to see a change in our industry. So we are being the change we want to see...and that change is more BIPOC women and girls on the hill. How do we plan to do this?
PROGRAM DETAILS
Big Sky Resort, Big Sky Montana will be our host for all these events for the upcoming winter season. The schedule (detailed below) for the scholarship programs is designed to coincide with the NBS Summit taking place also at Big Sky Resort from February 24 – March 2, 2024.
There will be two Instructor Level I certification events - Alpine (2 groups) and Snowboard (2 groups). There will be a maximum of 6 participants for each event, for a total of 24 individuals.
In addition, for WoW scholarship recipients who achieved their PSIA or AASI Level I (Alumni), we are offering a Freestyle Specialist 1 or a Children’s Specialist 1 scholarship opportunity.
SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Level I Alpine and Snowboard Scholarships:
All Level I Alpine and Snowboard scholarship recipients will receive the following whether applying for the WoW scholarship or the NBS Scholarship:
All tuition costs associated with the Level I preparatory course and exam:
Level I event preparation fee
Level I certification exam fee
One full season of PSIA-AASI membership dues during the 2023-2024 season (only applicable if you are not a current PSIA-AASI member, dues covered are December 2023 through June 2024)
Lift tickets for all days of the Level I preparatory course and exam
For NBS Members only, free registration to the 2024 NBS Summit to be held at Big Sky Resort
Ski or snowboard gear from PSIA-AASI Official Suppliers:
Hard Goods:
Rossignol: skis / bindings -OR- snowboard / bindings (depending on the Scholarship you apply for)
Giro: helmet and goggles
Leki: ski poles
Soft Goods
Hestra: gloves / mittens
Phunkshun: facemasks / balaclavas
The North Face: swag
Terramar: base layers
Please note: The scholarship does NOT cover lodging, meals or transportation to and from the event. However, there may be sponsored receptions / meals and / or discounted lodging for each event.
Level 1 Freestyle and Children Specialist Scholarships:
All scholarship recipients will receive the following:
All tuition costs associated with the Freestyle Level 1 or Children’s Specialist Level 1 exam.
Lift tickets for all days of the Freestyle Level 1 or Children’s Specialist Level 1 exam
Please note: The scholarship does NOT cover lodging, meals or transportation to and from the event. However, there may be sponsored receptions / meals and / or discounted lodging for each event.
PROGRAM DATES
Dates:
PSIA-AASI x Women of Winter Scholarship Program:
(You do not have to be a member of PSIA-AASI or NBS to apply)
Location: Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana
Alpine Level I: 4 days (Feb. 22 – 25, 2024) OR
Snowboard Level I: 4 days (Feb. 22 – 25, 2024)PSIA-AASI x Women of Winter & National Brotherhood of Snowsports Member Scholarship Program:
(You must be a financial member of NBS to apply)*
Location: Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana
Alpine Level I: 4 days, February 22 – 25, 2024) OR
Snowboard Level I: 4 days (Feb. 22 – 25, 2024)Women of Winter Alumni Program:
(You must be a Women of Winter alumni who achieved their Alpine Level I or Snowboard Level I to apply)Location: Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana
Freestyle Specialist 1: 2 days, February 24 -25, 2024Children’s Specialist 1: 2 days February 24-25, 2024
Application link and information will be emailed to past Women of Winter x PSIA-AASI scholarship recipients.
THE SCHEDULE
Alpine & Snowboard Level I (Both WoW & NBS Scholarship Recipients)
February 21, 2024 - Arrival
February 22, 2024 - First Instruction Day, Welcome Reception
February 23, 2024 - Second Instruction Day
February 24, 2024 - First Assessment Day
February 25, 2024 - Final Assessment Day & Award Ceremony
There will be two mandatory virtual orientations scheduled prior to the beginning of the program.
Freestyle Level 1 & Children’s Specialist Level 1
February 23, 2024 - Arrival no later than 2/23
February 24, 2024 - First Assessment Day
February 25, 2024 - Final Assessment Day & Award Ceremony
During the two and four-day program, WoW and PSIA-AASI instructors and assessors will closely work with scholarship recipients to ensure their success. However, it is not guaranteed that all recipients will pass the assessment and become certified PSIA-AASI members.
All scholarship recipients will be required to complete a PSIA or AASI e-learning course hosted on the PSIA-AASI website, before they attend the on-snow portion of the event.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Who should Apply:
When applying for a scholarship, please select only one (1) of the scholarship programs stated above.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Identify as a Black, Indigenous, Woman of Color or non-binary/gender non-conforming individual comfortable in women-centered spaces.
Have an interest in working as a ski or snowboard instructor.
Demonstrate leadership qualities in PSIA-AASI and/or another industry.
Express interest in pursuing any level certification (in adaptive, alpine, cross country, snowboard, or telemark) or pursuing a specialist designation (in children’s or freestyle).
Can ski or snowboard comfortably down easy intermediate terrain areas at a ski resort. For example, if you ski, you can make turns with your skis parallel to each other rather than moving down the hill with your skis in a wedge shape (aka snowplow). If you snowboard, you can link your turns, which means you can confidently move from your heel side to your toe side when you move down the hill and make turns on your snowboard.
Alpine Demonstration
Snowboard DemonstrationFor the NBS Scholarship Program, you must be a Financial Member of an NBS Club. If you are not a current financial member of a club, click the link here to identify and contact a club near you to become a member.
For the Women of Winter Alumni scholarship program, you must be Women of Winter alumni who has achieved their Alpine Level I or Snowboard Level I
Application Materials – Mission support:
Applicants for the Alpine Level I and Snowboard Level I will be asked to answer the following questions on the Application Form.
How will achieving a PSIA-AASI Level I certification support your pursuit and passion for Snowsports and for educating others about Snowsports?
Women of Winter and PSIA-AASI believe that gender and racial equity in Snowsports are incredibly important. Please share why it’s important to you?
Share how you plan to inspire and empower other BIPOC women and individuals in your community to get outside and be a part of the movement for diversifying the outdoors, either through participating in DEI initiatives in your community and/or being a leader in the Snowsports industry.
Anything else the Review Committee should know about you? Please know you’re welcome to share your LinkedIn profile or Instagram username or anything else that would help the Review Committee learn more about you!
For NBS Members, you must show proof of membership (i.e., membership card or letter from club president)
HOW TO APPLY
Review PROGRAM DETAILS.
Review the APPLICATION PROCESS.
Submit your application and materials no later than, 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, September 30, 2023.
Links to Apply:
For WoW Level 1 Alpine or Snowboard or For NBS Level 1 Alpine or Snowboard
For WoW Alumni FS1 or CS1 click here for more information
All Scholarship recipients will be announced in Late October.
Please note. If you apply for and/or receive a scholarship this season (2023-24) and are not awarded a scholarship or you are awarded and are not able to participate in the program, you’ll need to reapply for the same scholarship for next season (2024-25).
For questions regarding the scholarships, please send an email to info@womenofwinter.net
