10/19/2026
Your beginner guest is crouched low, bracing, and gripping their poles as they slide down from the magic carpet. Then the terrain flattens, they relax, and suddenly they’re standing over their equipment in a comfortable wedge.
That moment gives you something to build on.
In a recent First Chair Podcast Episode, PSIA-AASI National Team member Josh Smith shares a practical approach to movement analysis: find where your guest is already successful and use it as the starting point for their next attempt.
In this example, that means recognizing the position they’ve found on the flats, hiking up just five feet, and seeing if they can maintain it while gliding. Then try a little higher. If the tension returns or the movement changes, shorten the distance and build from where it’s working.
For instructors, it’s a useful reminder that the next step doesn’t always need another explanation or a full run. A smaller task on manageable terrain can give your guest a chance to repeat a successful movement and build confidence.
Where in your beginner lessons do you see guests relax—and how do you build on that moment?
Watch the full conversation with Josh for more practical ways to make movement analysis work for your guests
