Interview: Corinne Mayhew (August 2015)
Interview 7: Rhys Jones - NZSIA Snowboard Trainer and NZSIA Level 4 Snowboard Instructor
1. What have you found to be the most common psychological bariers experienced by your clients?
I think some common psychological barriers people experience are fear and anxiety. In my experience, clients will have a fear of the unknown whether it be the first time they have put on a board and start learning fundamental skills to the first time they are riding a particular slope. They will often focus their mind and energy so much on not falling/crashing or what is going on around them, that they will lack commitment to the task they are trying to achieve.
I have also experienced the other end of the spectrum where clients will have bags of confidence and are totally focussed on an achievement, like getting to the top of the mountain, but not prepared to take the steps needed to learn and master the skills required to get them back down the hill safely. This often leads to frustration.
2. Which techniques have you used to overcome these barriers?
Techniques I use for the clients who have fear or are anxious is to make them feel relaxed and at home in the environment I am going to teach them new skills. I go by the rule of 'New skills old terrain, old skills new terrain'. This way I am taking the environmental stress away. At lower levels I will use hands on and focus on the positives in their riding to build confidence. As their skills progress I will choose suitable terrain that is challenging but not going to freak them out, also plenty of mileage.
For the other crew who just want to go nuts and shred but don't have the skills, it's all about how we as instructors sell the importance of learning the fundamentals. Why we need them and how much more we can achieve with them.
