In January, the CSIA Interski Team gathered for Camp 1, the first on-snow training camp in Canada’s preparation for Interski 2027. Fourteen team members from across the country came together for two focused days of skiing, discussion, and alignment, setting the tone for the work ahead.
A sincere thank you goes to Blue Mountain in Ontario, who hosted the camp and provided excellent terrain and conditions that allowed the team to work at a high level from the first run to the last.
Setting the tone
Camp 1 was about more than just skiing well. It was about building a shared foundation — technically, culturally, and as a team.
One of the first milestones of the camp was the selection of the team captain. Rather than appointing the role, the captain was chosen through a peer voting process, with team members selecting the individual they felt best represented the group and could lead the team forward. Through that process, Steve Young was selected as Team Captain. Steve’s role will be to help synthesize group discussions, reinforce alignment, and represent the collective voice of the team.
A simple question with a big impact
Early in the camp, the coaching staff posed a deceptively simple question during on-snow observation:
“What do you like about this skier?”
This shifted the focus away from correction and toward understanding quality movement, intent, and outcomes. Team members were asked to observe carefully, communicate clearly, and build from strengths. From these conversations, the group identified five key technical fundamentals that became the shared focus for Camp 1:
- Athletic balance
- Parallel skis
- Managing friction
- Leading the turn with the lower body
- Receiving and managing pressure
These fundamentals became a common reference point for skiing, feedback, and teaching conversations throughout the camp.
Learning in a public space
An important part of Camp 1 was the environment in which the training took place. Members who were at Blue Mountain during the camp stopped by to watch, ask questions, and cheer on the team as they trained. Their presence added an extra layer of energy and accountability.
Training in front of the membership kept the team sharp and focused, reinforcing the responsibility that comes with representing CSIA on an international stage. The support and interest from members was genuinely appreciated and contributed positively to the quality and intent of the work being done.
Team collaboration
On snow, team members rotated between skiing, observing, and providing feedback. This ensured everyone was actively engaged and that the language used to describe performance matched what was being demonstrated. The emphasis was on consistency — between skiing, analysis, and communication, and on creating movements and explanations that are clear, repeatable, and transferable.
Off snow, discussions connected the on-snow work to CSIA technical priorities and the broader vision leading into Interski 2027. The focus remained on process and alignment, reinforcing the idea that strong foundations lead to strong performances.
Why this matters for members?
While Interski culminates in an international event, the real value lies in the journey. The work done at Camp 1 was immediately passed on to the CSIA membership by the team members and coaches at the High Performance camp at Craigleith Ski Club; this is meant to feed the refinement of our content directly back to the members throughout the teams training process. Our goal is to help our Technical and Educational Committee (TEC) and the rest of the Staff to continue to refine our technical approach, teaching methodology, and national alignment.
To support this, short videos paired with clear explanations will be shared with members, allowing them to explore the same concepts through the lens of what to work on, why it matters, and how to practice it in their own skiing and teaching.
Looking ahead
Camp 1 set a strong, collaborative tone for the season. The next step in the journey will be Camp 2 in April in Whistler, where the team will continue to build on these foundations, further develop team skiing, and refine how Canadian skiing and teaching are represented on the international stage.
| Don’t forget! You will have a second opportunity to train with our Interski team members and coaches this season! Join us at the R&D Camp in Whistler on April 16-17, 2026, right after the Interski Team Training Camp 2. Registrations on snowpro.com |