IASI Snowsports
January Newsletter - Wishing you a great 2026!
As we head into a new year, we have a few important updates to share: a Board appointment, an update to our education structure, upcoming courses, and our January member webinar.
Board Update
Communications role
Kathryn Mason has been co-opted to the IASI Board at the start of January and will take on responsibility for Communications.
Kathryn previously served as Chair and Board member and brings long-standing experience of IASI during periods of growth and change. She is a public relations professional with over 35 years’ experience, runs her own communications consultancy, and is an IASI Level 3 Ski Instructor (ISIA). Kathryn has worked extensively in the Alps and at our home base in Kilternan and is currently an Educator for Level 1 ski candidates.
Education update
Over the coming months, IASI will establish a new Education Committee to guide the revision of education materials, manage updated accreditations with ISIA and IVSI, and continue IASI’s work on the international stage.
As part of this structure:
An Education Secretary role will oversee material revisions, educational website content, discipline leads, and compliance processes.
A Lead Educator role will work alongside the Education Secretary on
updated revisions and also coordinate closely with the discipline leads, educators and the wider membership regarding all active educational matters
This work is focused on clarity, consistency and future-proofing IASI’s education pathways. Further updates will be shared as the structure is finalised.
January Webinar
‘Trigger Warning’ with Henry Schniewind
This month’s member webinar explores how and why slab avalanches are — and are not — triggered.
Henry Schniewind will use a practical four-step triggering model to examine:
Why unstable slopes often don’t avalanche — even after multiple riders
How remote (distance) triggering can occur from unexpected locations
Why ‘nothing happening most of the time’ can create false reassurance and human-factor traps
The session builds directly on previous Mountain Safety webinars and reinforces the need for clear frameworks when applying avalanche education in real terrain.
DATE: Tuesday January 20th 2026
TIME: 6pm (Ireland/UK) and 7pm (CET)
Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/trigger-warning-tickets-1978901766454?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&keep_tld=1
If you missed the previous webinar, you can rewatch it here
Courses to note
A reminder of upcoming courses now open for booking:
Ski Definition Courses – click here for more
Alpine Level 2
📍 Hintertux, Austria
📅 12–17 April 2026
Alpine Level 3 Tech
📍 Hintertux, Austria
📅 12–17 April 2026
Alpine Level 3 Teach
📍 Hintertux, Austria
📅 19–24 April 2026
Alpine Freestyle Level 1 Coach
📍 Hemel Snow Centre
📅 18–20 May 2026
Places are limited on several courses. Members considering progression are encouraged to plan early.
Supreme Ski – Click here for more
A small number of upcoming courses require additional registrations to confirm viability. Members considering these pathways are encouraged to book soon.
Level 1 Snowboard
📍 Verbier
📅 First week of March
Without further uptake, this course is at risk of cancellation.
Level 3 Technical
📍 Verbier
📅 22–27 March
Interest is building, but minimum numbers have not yet been reached.
Level 3 Teaching
📍 Verbier
📅 29 March – 3 April
Further registrations are needed to confirm delivery.
Early commitment makes a real difference to
course planning and delivery.
