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INTERSKI 2011: Strategic key message

We are committed to making snow sports accessible to as many people as possible.

Key messages

We are committed to making snow sports accessible to as many people as possible.

It is our common goal to bring more people to the snow and to convey to them a positive snowsport experience.

Emotion and passion are the key to attract new target groups, whether these target groups are kids or the 50+generation.

To achieve our goal, we are working to remove barriers. Snow sport must remain affordable and should also be accessible for people with a migration history or low educational standard, and for children with a no-sports family background.

For additional support we are striving to join forces with partners from the winter sports industry, from the tourism and leisure industry, and from educational institutions (clubs, schools, universities).

Snow sports for all ages

Thesis:
Snow sport is more than “just” skiing. Snow sport is exercise, fun and recreation for people in all age brackets. Therefore, the market wants state-of-the art products that offer maximum convenience.

INTERSKI 2011 Input:
Our society is undergoing rapid change. The “senior” generation is more active than ever before. Snowsport instructors all over the world are therefore committed to enabling people in all age groups to experience the fascination of winter sports. Accordingly, activities focus on attracting children and youngsters as well as older returners.

A number of lectures and about 20 workshops dealt with this forward-looking topic at the 2011 INTERSKI Congress. Austria, Germany, USA, Denmark, New Zealand, Bulgaria and Korea, in their on-snow workshops, presented various methods tailored to the needs and abilities of older and younger snowsport participants. In one of the workshops Peter Aubrunner, head of the technical committee of the Austrian Association of Volunteer Snowsport Instructors, focused on the physical skills and limitations of the 50+ generation. “It is important to understand the specific requirements of this target group in terms of eyesight, hearing and mobility”, said Aubrunner. Instilling a sense of confidence and safety in the participant thus becomes a key factor for “convenience”, i.e. for a leisurely, hassle-free snowsport experience. The more personalized the teaching approach, the better the learning experience.

INTERSKI 2011 Key Message:
The snowsport experience differs depending on age, individual goals, needs and skills. The sum-total of fun, recreation and exercise generates “convience” and a unique, positive snowsport experience. Snowsport instructors have a very special role to play in this context: as companions and mentors, they are in direct contact with the guests, thus contributing greatly to a positive snowsport experience.

Snow sports – social environment and integration

Thesis:
Snow sport promotes health and personal fitness and is a great contributor to social cohesion. Access of the different target groups to snow sports should be as easy as possible to maximize the positive effects for society.

INTERSKI 2011 Input:
Safety, health and social inclusion count among the basic needs of human beings all over the world, regardless of their age. There is plenty of scientific evidence to underline the positive effects of snow sports not only on physical and mental health, but also on society at large: snow sport often creates lifetime memories and friendships which help overcome geographical and societal barriers.

In over a dozen on-snow workshops, Canada, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Croatia and Slovenia demonstrated their concepts for the future of snow sports. In the lecture halls, the delegates of 41 nations agreed that further action is required to remove access barriers to snow sports. In addition to financial hurdles (affordability of snow sports), these include social obstacles like migration history, low educational standard or a no-sports family background. Snowsport organizations the world over are joining forces to remove these barriers one by one.

INTERSKI 2011 Key Message:
In many countries of the world, snow sports can make a valuable contribution to health and fitness, and to a functioning society and a livable environment for our children. Snowsport instructors worldwide are committed to making snow sports accessible to a wider range of target groups. The pronounced socialization and communication effect of snow sports will help remove barriers and obstacles, and will make it easier to share the passion for snow sports with an ever growing community.

Snow sports and education

Thesis:
The latest teaching and training methods available to snowsports today combine technical and athletic aspects with didactics and social competence. Snowsport instructors have to be mentors as well as teachers and educators. With the appropriate pedagogical guidance everyone can learn to practise snow sports in a mere three days.

INTERSKI 2011 Input:
The latest methods and educational aspects in snowsports were an essential component of the INTERSKI Congress 2011. Among other nations, France, Andorra, Netherlands, Finland, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Ireland and Hungary made major contributions to the day’s program.
To mention only one example of the numerous interesting and important approaches, David Holmberg from Sweden presented the “will-skill-hill” method. The central idea: an analysis of the individual wishes and requirements of the student reveals his or her “will”, which has to be aligned with the student’s athletic and physical abilities (“skill”) and various environmental factors (“hill”). The combination of all three elements results in an individualized profile of the participant, which the snowsport instructor must flexibly respond to. Modern snowsport instruction, concludes Holmberg, must be structured according to ability level and age. And this is possible only if the snowsport instructor, in addition to his technical and didactic qualifications, has a high level of social skills. These social skills have to be further developed and trained.

INTERSKI 2011 Key Message:
The core competence of the snowsport instructor is to tailor and fine-tune instruction to the requirements and abilities of the student. This will speed up learning progress and contribute to a positive experience of snow sports and is an essential element of a modern and convenient snowsport product. Maximum professionalism in every respect - athletic, technical and interpersonal - is therefore a precondition for successful snowsport instruction.

Snow sports & emotion

Thesis:
The unique experience of nature provided by snow sports instills enthusiasm for snow and the mountains in people of all nations. Snow sports are about more than movement and fitness, they unite people, create a feeling of belonging, and are often part of a sustainable life plan.

INTERSKI 2011 Input:
Passion for snow sports was not only a topic for the INTERSKI 2011 workshops and lectures offered by Switzerland, Poland, Norway, Spain, Argentina, Australia and San Marino, among others; rather, emotion and passion for snow sports pervaded the whole congress with its over 2,200 participants from 41 nations (38 INTERSKI countries, 3 observer nations).
The experts agree that emotion is the essential factor for a successful future of snow sports. It is necessary to (re-)arouse passion for snow and winter sports in people all over the world, beyond all societal or age-related boundaries. This requires new ideas and concepts, in particular for potential target groups in conurbations or less sports-affine environments.
One avenue could be via the lifestyle scene and communities. If it is possible to create a sustained positive climate in various target groups, snow sport stands every chance to be successful and still play an important role beyond 2050 - despite global warming.

INTERSKI 2011 Key Message:
Snowsport instructors are the most immediate and important contact for the guests and thus have a central role to play in awakening this emotion and passion for snow sports. The key to success is a combination of passion and professional mentoring.

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