Hello Amazing MLC Instructors!
Groundhog day was February 2 and the ground hog saw it’s shadow meaning 6 more weeks of winter! And that little buddy was right! We’ve had some amazing snowfall and conditions this last week, after the conclusion of 3+ weeks of Spring-like conditions in “Juneuary”, with more snow is on the way. Tomorrow of going to be the nicest day of the weekend, with 1 to 2 inches of snow fall on Saturday night and up to another 3 inches on Sunday. This is the final weekend of February Program lessons, so get your progress cards, guest satisfaction surveys and tip envelopes ready!
If you are an alpine instructors and can pick up tomorrow we’d love to have you – need about 4 more alpine instructors “just in case.”
In this update …
Safety, Fun & Learning
March Sunday SnoBlasters
Oregon Spring Break Camp – March 21-23
Ski to Defeat ALS
Oregon’s Largest and Busiest Snowsports School
Guest Comments – You’re Amazing!
Recognition
Safety, Fun & Learning
These are the 3 tenants of snowsports instruction. Keep your students safe – both physically, mentally and spiritually. Choose the right terrain, show them how, give them praise, raise them up, celebrate their successes – this will create a “safe” and “trusting” learning environment. Don’t make students cry – your words can hurt and make or break a person’s desire to continue. Know you have this incredible power and responsibility. Be positive! Make it Fun! – That’s why we are here. This is your “fun” job and the reason why kids and adults are taking a lesson … is to add some fun to their lives. It’s your job to make it fun. If you’re not having fun or if your students are not having fun, then why are you an instructor? Make it fun for everyone! Learning (and trying) – being a first time student is a magical moment. It’s a chance to try something new. To feel the wind in your face. To ride the Ballroom Carpet for the first time. To ride a chairlift for the first time. Remember, it may be just another first time lesson for you, but this is a once in a lifetime experience for your students.
March Sunday SnoBlasters
We have more than 100 SnoBlasters/Trail Blazers signed up for Sundays in March! This is going to be the biggest March program lesson session we’ve had in years! Coming to ski and snowboard with you is very popular. If you can switch your schedule to work the 4 consecutive Sunday’s in March that’d be awesome! We’ll schedule you to work with these programs! If you are able to adjust your schedule to work these 4 Sundays, please reply all to this email!
Oregon Spring Break Camp – March 21-23
We already have more than 120 students signed up for the Oregon Spring Break Camps (Youth and Adult). If you can adjust your schedule to work these 2 3 days over Spring Break it will be an amazing time. You’ll get to enrich the lives of the same students for 3 days in a row. It’s a real treat to see kids and adults progress over the 3 days. If you can work these 3 days please reply all to this email and we’ll add you to the schedule.
Ski to Defeat ALS
The Meadows Learning Center is sponsoring the registration fees for a Ski to Defeat ALS team. If you’d like to be on that team please email john.bailey@skihood.com as he is coordinating the MLC Team. What is Ski to Defeat ALS you aski? Ski to Defeat ALS is a remarkable event that offers participants an opportunity to challenge themselves, make a difference in our community and experience the beautiful slopes of the Pacific Northwest. Ski to Defeat ALS welcomes all levels! This is an event for the whole family. Participants may do one run or fifty runs. In addition because of our partnership with Oregon Adaptive Sports, individuals with ALS are encouraged to participate! Proceeds benefit the ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter. You can find out more about the event here: https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/TR?fr_id=14944&pg=entry
Oregon’s Largest and Busiest Snowsports School
Mt. Hood Meadows is Oregon’s largest snowsports school with more than 350 instructors! That’s you! This season we have had 3 of the top 5 revenue days dating back to 2008. Saturday February 5 and last Saturday February 19 were 2 of those days! Everything ran very well on those days and you all did an amazing job – thank you to each of your who worked on these days to make it a special experience for all who came for lessons on these days!
Guest Comments – You’re Amazing!
· My teacher Robert was excellent. This is my second lesson at meadows, and I already feel very competent and safe on skis on green slopes. I can’t say enough good things about your instructors, both experiences have been outstanding. I had no idea I could ski like this after 2 lessons.
· Just finished the 4 consecutive week program after talking my first lesson on Jan. 1st. First private lesson on the 1st was with Brian Beardlsy was great and he gave such a great foundation to go into the four week program. Brian was very calm patient, and motivating. He made my first experience on skis so much fun. Then I went into the four week program. Every week had a different instructor. Humaira, Damian, Paul L. , and Eric C. Humaira really focused on fundamentals and technique. She gave great constructive feedback and was so supportive when she saw you did something positive. Damian has such an easy personally to get along with and learn from. After having a very technique driven instructor in Humaria, Damian, allowed us to explore our movements a bit and then gave great tips and adjustments as we went. Paul L really help put things together, getting me in a better overall stance, and got something to click in my head about taking pressure off my inside ski. He had great drills and help take that next step in upper body lower body separation. Eric C. Was easy to get along with, gave me confidence in turns and pushed me to terrain I have not done before. He continues to help me focus on upper body lower body separation, and being softer on hockey stop turns. I also had the pleasure to have worked shortly with Pat. She has such a great dry sense of humor, and was so nice! Despite having 4 different instructors they all did such a great job at assessing where I was at and I truly felt that every lesson built on the last. I made so much improvement in the past 5 weeks from never skiing before to doing some blue runs with good parallel turns and control. Every instructor made it a fun experience and laughter was part of every lesson which I truly appreciate. I am not one to leave reviews often but wanted to make sure that these instructors got credit for doing such an awesome job, and making my first 5 weeks of skiing so enjoyable made me feel that my money was well spent.
· We have been having a wonderful time at Meadows this season! Everyone from the parking lot crew, shuttle drivers, baristas, food service, lift attendants, instructors has been super friendly week in and week out. I participated in the Chicks Who Rip Clinic & the instruction was wonderful & very positive & they were able to adjust staffing to accommodate different skill levels halfway through the clinic…a HUGE thank you for that! Keep up all the great work!
· I had an excellent lesson with Matt Hurley. He is a very skilled and patient instructor.
· Adrian, a wonderful instructor. The ski lesson was so much fun, probably the best I’ve had. Adrian was so patient with both my brother and I, and the two hours felt like five minutes. The lesson helped me improve my ski skills a few levels up.
Recognition from your Supervisors
While so many of you are doing a great job, at this week’s supervisor meeting a few people drew some special attention:
· John Wiley – is amazing. Takes whatever lesson assignment he receives with enthusiasm
· Gabe – he is a giver. He gives it his all everywhere from Chill night, to rentals to kids lessons. We’re so stoked to have him on our team!
· Krystof – always helping out where ever. Gives a great lesson every time. And fixed the Rental Department’s spreadsheet! Who knew he’s got IT skills, too!
· Abby – Always willing to work. Going out of her way to learn the next best tips and tricks to share with her students. She’s amazing!
· Bradi – She is so great with the littles and always goes the extra mile to make sure the Daycare kiddos have a great lesson.
· Alena – Always available. Helps out in so many ways from greeting, to teaching, to helping out with adaptive lessons, working with kids and teaching a Parent & Me lesson! Whoop, whoop! She’s great!
· Al Richards – Every lesson he leads the kids are stoked. He has the best “student snake” of any lesson on the hill!
· Dana Herth – Such a giver. She works in Lift Ops and with the Chill kids at night. She prepared a little note to go into the kid’s goodie bags on the last night of their program. So awesome!
Thanks so much for all you do! See you this weekend!
Tyler
