Dear NZSIA Members,
This year has been a busy and productive one for our office team and managers, whose tireless efforts have delivered exceptional support across all areas of our organization. Their dedication has been instrumental in the success of our courses and in creating positive experiences for our members, which we greatly value.
We are thrilled to welcome Matt Britton to our governance meetings as Snowsports Representative. His valuable insights have already contributed to strengthening our connections with Snowsports Schools, and we look forward to seeing his role continue to grow.
The Women’s Task Force has done an outstanding job this year, championing inclusivity and advancing initiatives that promote diversity within snowsports. We are eager to see these efforts evolve, with a focus on refining and expanding initiatives in the year ahead.
Sustainability remains a key priority for us, with plans underway to align closely with resort initiatives while encouraging environmentally responsible practices among our membership.
Meanwhile, our divisional committees and support teams are working hard to update our e-learning platform, resources, and manuals, ensuring members have streamlined access to up-to-date materials that reflect our commitment to excellence.
As we reflect on the year’s achievements, we want to thank everyone for their contributions and extend our warmest holiday wishes. To those in the southern hemisphere, may your summer be enjoyable and revitalizing. For members overseas, we hope you enjoy a winter season filled with snowfall and success.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your families!
Dan Bogue & Claire Dooney
NZSIA President & NZSIA Vice President
Celebrating Stephanie Brown’s Legacy
Many of you will have Stephanies signature on the bottom of your NZSIA ski qualifications, her dedication and commitment to the NZSIA is impossible to quantify, she leaves a long legacy and we would like to wish her all the best for her retirement and thank her for her years of service.
Looking Back and Moving Forward: NZSIA’s 2024 Sustainability Journey
As the first northern hemisphere snowfall hits the slopes and another season unfolds, it’s the perfect time to reflect on this year’s sustainability journey for NZSIA. Celebrating the wins, highlighting the challenges, and outlining our vision for the years ahead, we aim to prove that small actions today can lead to significant, lasting impacts tomorrow.
Guided by our mission to lead the snow sports community in environmental stewardship, we’ve planned meaningful steps to align our operations with a sustainable future. From fostering biodiversity, developing a carbon reduction plan, and inspiring dialogue across our membership, this year has set the stage for a strategic plan.
Some of our biggest achievements this year involved laying the groundwork for a clear set of values that will shape specific, measurable, and relevant goals. While I’d love to declare bold commitments like “We’ll be carbon-zero by 2050” or “Every member will volunteer a day in their community,” the reality is that building a strategic plan requires careful planning, thoughtful discussions, and a commitment to aligning ambition with feasibility. It’s about the journey to build on small steps toward a bigger vision.
Our vision incorporates three core values:
- Awareness: Sharing knowledge and fostering understanding about sustainability within the snow sports community.
- Advocacy: Inspiring action and collaboration to make sustainability a collective effort.
- Aspiration: Setting a vision for a sustainable snow sports industry, shaping how we operate and how we engage our wider community.
2024 Highlights
- Supporting Biodiversity: This year, we contributed to Trees That Count, Gold Medal Nurseries, and Southern Lakes Sanctuary, directly supporting native ecosystems and inspiring members to get involved.
- Raising Awareness: We launched regular blogs, upgraded our sustainability webpage, and expanded our social media presence to share resources, tips, and updates.
- Decarbonisation Progress: The October Decarbonisation Workshop marked a significant milestone, bringing us closer to a structured carbon reduction plan.
Next Steps for 2025
The NZSIA Board was presented with a strategic plan encompassing numerous goals. After receiving feedback, 2025 will focus on building momentum for medium- and longer-term objectives while maintaining short-term achievements. These include:
- Supporting environmental initiatives within our communities.
- Creating greater awareness and engagement with our membership.
- Developing actionable steps for our carbon reduction plan.
- Continuing to align with our mission and vision by prioritising measurable sustainability efforts.
As we reflect on this year’s accomplishments and prepare for the future, we’re reminded that sustainability is an evolving journey, one that thrives on collective action and shared commitment. Whether you’re a seasoned instructor, a newcomer to snow sports, or a passionate advocate for the environment, there’s a role for everyone in this movement. Together, we can ensure that our industry and the landscapes we love remain vibrant for generations to come.
NZSIA Northern Hemisphere Courses: From Fresh Powder in Austria to Early Season Snow in Japan
The 2024/25 Northern Hemisphere season is off to a spectacular start. Over in Austria on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, the Level One groups were welcomed by an epic 20cm of fresh snow on their very first day of the course. Talk about starting with a bang! A huge shoutout to our amazing trainers and resort partners who made this unforgettable start possible—special thanks to Josh for snapping some incredible shots of the action!
Early Wins at Karuizawa Ski Resort, Japan
Over in Japan, the season’s first exams have wrapped up at Karuizawa Ski Resort. With limited skiable terrain, trainers Drew, Jay and Naoko, made magic happen, delivering a world-class experience despite the challenges. Their dedication and innovation ensured that participants left equipped with skills to take their skiing to the next level.
Thankfully the snow has started to fall and its looking set to be another great season across Japan for the rest of our courses.
Spaces Available for December Level One Courses!
Great news for aspiring instructors! We still have spots available for our December Level One Instructor courses, now with exciting new venues like Appi Kogen and of course Niseko-Hirafu.
Don’t miss your chance—keep an eye on our Dates and Prices page or register your interest to join the waitlist and be the first to know when new spots open up: Ski – here and Snowboard – here
Breaking New Ground: SBINZ’s First Mandarin Level 1 Exam in China!
Snowplanet Highlights
New Resource Manager Announcement: Meet Dave
When Dave Pearse isn’t busy carrying snowboards during SBINZ courses, you can find him carrying his laptop as he steps into his new role as NZSIA Resource Manager. Congratulations, Dave, on this exciting new chapter!
In his role, Dave will lead the charge in developing our E-Manuals, E-Learning content, and creating valuable new resources for our Telemark and Adaptive divisions. This reflects our commitment to continually invest in tools that enhance the learning experience for instructors and support the growth of our snowsports community.
We’re thrilled to have Dave onboard and look forward to the exciting projects ahead! Stay tuned for updates as these resources roll out.
Adaptive E-Manual Now Live!
We’re excited to announce that our Adaptive E-Manual has just gone live! It’s looking fantastic, and packed with valuable content to support adaptive instructors. Check it out now! Link to Adaptive E-Manual
Stay tuned for more updates and new resources coming your way! 😃
Getting current for 2025
Memberships will roll over on 1 Jan 2025 at $90 per year. If you’re applying for New Zealand employment in 2025, applications open early next year, so now is a good time to get organised (before our office closes for the Christmas–New Year break from 20th December 2024 – 6th January 2025.)
- Log into your profile here
- A PDF version of your card will be created by the office and emailed to you once you have paid.
- Ensure you have a photo uploaded to your profile (like a passport/selfie photo).
- If you require a physical card, you can purchase one in your profile from the NZSIA shop for $5.
- Any problems please email bookings@nzsia.org
Calendar for New Zealand 2025
Check out our New Zealand calendar from mid-January, that is when we will release our courses for the 2025 season for Ski and Snowboard initially – with the other divisions to follow.
If you have any questions, please let us know: bookings@nzsia.org
Office closure over the holidays
A quick reminder – NZSIA admin will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period from Friday, 20 December 2024 until Monday 6 January 2025, as we take a break for the holidays. For any urgent issues during this period, please contact 0275341796. Emails will not be monitored.
ISIA Stamps For 2025 Are Here!
If you need to renew your ISIA Stamp, we are ready to help:
- Membership will need to be current for 2025
- Purchase the stamp through the NZSIA Shop in your profile – cost is $25.
- Ensure you have a photo on your profile. This can be uploaded to your profile or emailed into Bookings
- Ensure you have a recent course, this is a requirement to keep current for your ISIA stamp – more info on this here
Limited Availability on Japan Courses – Secure Your Spot
Our Japan courses are filling up fast, with limited spots remaining for the 2024-25 season. If you’re eager to join, we recommend acting quickly to secure your place.
If a course you’re interested in is already waitlisted – reach out to us through the waitlist form – we will do our best to get you sorted!
Waitlist Reminder: If you’re looking to join a course but see it’s fully booked, make sure you complete a waitlist request form as soon as possible for the specific course you’d like to join. A few important things to keep in mind to ensure priority consideration:
- Current Membership: Priority will be given to individuals with a current 2025 NZSIA membership. If your membership isn’t up to date, we will move on to the next person on the waitlist, so make sure your membership is current!
- Foreign Qualifications: If you hold foreign qualifications and want to join our pathway, please create a profile and send a copy of your qualifications to be verified. This step is crucial before you can be added to the waitlist.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the action – ensure your details are up-to-date, and your membership is current!
Head to the Dates and Prices page for all the details, and sign up or update your profile today to stay ahead of the curve!
•Ski
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook! The Ski and Snowboard crew will be sharing some great stories to keep you inspired until you’re back on the slopes: Ski and Snowboard
Wishing you all a great holiday season and a fantastic New Year, ready for more adventures together in 2025.
Stay safe, enjoy the snow (or sunshine!), and have a wonderful holiday break (if you get one).
Your NZSIA team