Tony Graham, assistant ski school director, Diamond Peak Ski Resort Why he’s the expert: He’s been teaching skiing for 34 years, and has been assistant director of ski school at Diamond Peak for the last eight years. But that’s not all; before migrating to the Lake Tahoe area, Graham worked for Salomon (the ski gear company) in his native New Zealand for 20 years. Read the full story with all Graham's tips here

Erin Giri, assistant snowboard school supervisor, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort Why he’s an expert: Giri’s been snowboarding for nine years and teaching for four – two at Sugar Bowl and two in Virginia where he grew up. He holds a Level 2 Snowboard Instructor Certification with the American Association of Snowboard Instructors and this year he’ll be going for his Level 3. Read the full story with all Giri's tips here

Kal Incendy, Vertical Sports/Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort Why he’s the expert: Hailing from Mad River Glen, Vt., a notorious niche of Telemark skiers specializing in tight tree turns, Incendy’s been Telemark skiing for about 15 years. In addition to his job and lifestyle – it’s also his commute to and from work. He’s the owner of Vertical Sports backcountry center and practically grew up in a ski shop. Questions about gear? He’s got you covered. Questions concerning technique? He’s a PSIA (Professional Ski Instructor of America) Level 2 Certified Instructor who will take the exam for his Level 3 certification this year. Read the full story with all Incendy's tips here

Julie Smith, Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort Why she’s an expert: Julie has been cross country skiing, both striding and skating, for the past eight years. She achieved her Level One Cross Country Instructor certification from the Australian Professional Ski Instructors Association in 2001 and has been teaching in Australia ever since. This year, her first season in the U.S., she’ll be going for her Level Two cert. Read the full story with all Smith's tips here

Larry Maurice, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Why he’s an expert: Maurice has 27 years as a ski instructor under his boots. He’s a certified Level Three Professional Ski Instructor of America, examiner and clinician. In all of his years teaching, Maurice said one thing has always stayed the same. “I’ve never found a person who couldn’t learn how to ski. It’s a simple sport. In fact, we don’t even call it a sport. It’s an activity. A sport is outcome oriented, but what our outcome is here is that people just have fun – and they do.” Read the full story with all Maurice's tips here


Ask the Instructor - Perfect your snowboarding turns


Leo Cartellieri, snowboard school supervisor, Diamond Peak Ski Resort

Why he’s an expert: Cartellieri’s been teaching snowboarding at Diamond Peak for 11 years. He’s certified Level 3 with American Association of Snowboard Instructors. When asked if he’d ever give it up, he replies, “Who would want to miss out on this.” Read the full story with all Cartellieri's tips here



Telemarking how to - Defining the new fringe snow sport


Kevin Klein, Telemark Instructor, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort Why he’s the expert: Formerly Sugar Bowl snowboard school manager for 7 years, Klein’s dually certified. On his snowboard, he’s been teaching for 13 years and as a free-heeler, he’s been teaching for 12. He’s a certified Level 2 Professional Ski Instructors of America in the Nordic Downhill Division and a certified Level 3 snowboard instructor. Read the full story with all Klein's tips here



Tweak your skate skiing technique


Janet Penn, cross country ski instructor, Northstar-at-Tahoe Why she’s the expert: Penn started skiing more than 20 years ago, as a means of rehabilitating an injury after a dirt biking accident. She fell in love with the sport, started racing and began teaching three years later, in 1988. “I realized that teaching people to cross country ski was introducing them to a lifestyle and a new dimension to snow country. It’s really fun to do that.” Read the full story with all Penn's tips here