Lakewood, CO – Two PSIA-AASI instructors from the Lake Tahoe, Calif. area have been named Ambassadors for the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month/Bring a Friend ski industry initiative. Heidi Ettlinger hails from Heavenly Resort and Allison Ace is based at Northstar.
Ambassadors help spread the message that taking lessons from professional instructors is the best way to learn how to ski and snowboard. Glen Plake and Daron Rahlves also are ambassadors for the program.
Ettlinger started skiing in Vermont’s Green Mountains soon after learning to walk. She now is a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America National Alpine Team, and also an instructor trainer and examiner for the Western Division Technical Team for which she is serving a third term on the Board of Directors.
Her passion for snow sports led her to develop Gearing to Go DVDs and educational materials designed to improve beginner retention. She also leads a variety of women’s adventure programs that support the professional growth of female ski instructors, patrollers, and help build greater participation of women in alpine skiing.
Ettlinger pursues instruction year round dividing her time between Heavenly in Lake Tahoe and Mt. Hotham in Australia. “I’m heading into my tenth year without a summer”, she acknowledged.
Allison Ace was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She grew up skiing at Elk Mountain starting at the age of three and continued through elementary school via the school’s ski program, led by her mother. At 12, Ace joined the Elk junior race team. She raced competitively throughout high school and was a member of the Penn State Ski Team. After graduating, Allie started coaching on holidays and weekends at ski areas in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Her pursuit of a full-time coaching career led her to Lake Tahoe.
Ace also coached in the southern hemisphere the past two summers in Australia and New Zealand. She is a member of PSIA and USSA (United States Ski and Snowboard Association).
Ace was an intern with LSSM last winter for her Master’s in Tourism Administration and Sports Management degree from George Washington University. She continues to work with the initiative and says that she shares her passion and love of skiing with others through her work.
Started in 2008 by the National Ski Areas Association, ski and snowboard areas throughout the U.S. offer free and reasonably priced turnkey lesson programs during January as part of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month initiative. The website www.skiandsnowboardmonth.org provides useful information for beginners and current participants who want to improve their skills, as well as details about programs offered by participating destinations.