SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Dec. 14, 2023—The Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI), in partnership with Vail Resorts and the town of Vail, Colo., will host Interski 2027.Interski 2023, courtesy of PSIA-AASI The event, held every four years at different locations, will bring together an international cohort of instructors at Vail Mountain, April 4-9, 2027, to share snowsports education innovations and core beliefs. 

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host this fantastic educational event in cooperation with Vail and look forward to welcoming our colleagues from around the world to an incredible week of learning and sharing,” said PSIA-AASI CEO Peggy Hiller.

“There’s a huge opportunity here,” Hiller added. “People know when they go to the golf course to ask for a golf pro. In the U.S. ski industry, there isn’t that same connection with going skiing and working with an instructor or certified instructor. I think Interski is a platform and opportunity to connect the dots for the skiing public.”

PSIA-AASI, Vail Mountain, and the town of Vail were selected to host the event following a vote of Interski’s member instructor associations, which represent more than 30 nations and three international specialized organizations. The Association of Italian Ski Instructors, along with the town of Livigno, Italy, presented the competing bid.

The bid process meant uniting a sizeable group of stakeholders, including PSIA-AASI, Vail Resorts, the town of Vail, Vail Mountain, the Vail Valley Foundation (organizer of the Birds of Prey World Cup event in Beaver Creek), the Vail Valley Partnership Tourism Office, the Hythe Hotel, and Ski.com.

“I appreciate all the hard work that went into this bid,” said Vail Mountain vice president and COO Beth Howard. “What a wonderful demonstration of community collaboration and passion in bringing this world-class event to Vail.”

“The strength of the bid is in the stakeholders we brought together,” said Hiller, noting that the Vail Mountain Ski and Snowboard School was instrumental in bringing Interski to Colorado. “It’s going to be a true partnership with all stakeholders all the way through, and it is going to be a super fun event.”  

The last time Interski was hosted on U.S. soil was in 1968 at Aspen, Colo. The 1968 gathering was also the first Interski Congress held outside of Europe.

“I am thrilled that the Interski Congress is being brought back to the USA and with an amazing venue like Vail,” said Interski president and former PSIA-AASI board chair Eric Sheckleton. “The next four years will be full of exciting new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities. The world will get to see PSIA-AASI at its very best, and our members will benefit from this process and event.”

“Just like educators in any other field, we are always looking at different ways to improve the learning for our students,” said Hiller. “That’s what Interski does—it pushes the profession forward across the globe.”