Ski Better…
Teach Skiing Better
Whether you’re training for that next level of certification, or you just want to be better at your job, SkierLab offers professional development for ski instructors online.
Get guidance from experienced level 4 instructors whenever you need it.
The Science Friction Club
A Membership for Ski Technique Geeks
- Movement Analysis - Use our diagnostics tool to troubleshoot your student’s ski technique.
- Build your skill development tool box - Understand cause and effect, learn skier anatomy, find unique cues for skill development, and isolate moves from our drill library.
- Access to top pros - Upload video, ask questions and discuss ideas. Join world class ski pros in the community forums.
Science Friction Features
Diagnostics
Assess skills by observing your skis interaction with the snow
Skier Anatomy
Learn how your body moves to make your skis work how their meant to.
Cue Corner
Connect your brain & body with cues for motor skill development
Drill Library
Develop ski technique with drills & training tactics for all levels
Progressions
Set your sights high and follow a step by step pathway towards your goals
Community
Forums to ask questions, receive feedback & discuss strategy
What makes SkierLab different?
SkierLab is student centered. Our system allows members to personalize their skill development journey, based on their unique challenges and goals.
We Make Complicated Simple
Skiing isn’t rocket science, but it is individual… Upload video of you skiing and we’ll build a personal development plan specifically for you.
Bonus: Downloadable Instructional Videos
Access the complete Piste to Peak Ski Performance Series. These classic instructional videos will teach you everything you need to know about ski technique, from the basics all the way up to bumps, off-piste and carving. They’re a $90 value but you can have them for free. Join us for a month, download the whole series and their yours to keep.
Volume #1 - Skiing Fundamentals
Volume #2 - The Lost Art Of Slushy Bumps, Icy Bumps And Everything In Between
Volume #3 - Carving Corduroy
Meet the Coaches
Tobin Leopkey - CSIA Level 4 Instructor, CSIA Snow Park, Alpine Canada Development Coach, BCFA Freestyle Club Coach, CSGA Level 1 Ski Guide, Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training Graduate
Tobin Leopkey is a middle age ski bum who honed his skills on the steep and deep tree lines of Vancouver Island, Canada. He took his first ski instructor certification in 1992 at the age of 16. Now slightly creakier, he’s still passionate about teaching people to slide down snowy hills. Having taught on 5 continents and many mountains along the way, Tobin is a Course Conductor and Level 4 Instructor with the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance, a former member of the CSIA High Performance Team, the Whistler Blackcomb Demonstration Team, as well as author of ski technique articles for Ski Canada magazine.
Since 2005, Tobin has been owner and head coach of Section 8 Snow Sports, running ski instructor courses, mountain leadership programs and all mountain ski improvement camps around the world.
Helen Campbell works as the Technical Director For the Mount Washington Snow School and helps coordinate Section 8’s Snowsport Leadership Training program.
Helen started skiing at 4 years of age at Whakapapa in New Zealand, began ski racing at 11 and did her first full season teaching at 15. It turns out skiing is addictive! In 2007 she came over to Canada to teach a season at Mount Washington and she’s been stuck here ever since.
Helen is a CSIA Course Conductor and Level 4 certified instructor. She‘s also working on a Masters Degree in Psychology, which comes in pretty handy whilst trying to convince students to do irrational things like sliding really fast down an icy pitch. Secretly, she also teaches snowboarding and is mom to some ridiculously cute twins.
Helen Campbell - CSIA Level 4 Instructor, CSIA Snow Park Instructor, CASI Level 1 Snowboard Instrcutor, Bachelor of Psycology
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Science Friction Club really suitable for Ski Instructors?
The Science Friction Club welcomes anyone who wants to ski better...
However, teaching to teach is our specialty! We love creating simple learning systems, and the SkierLab community is full of keen ski instructors on a professional development mission.
Many use it while training for their next level of certification. Others use it to troubleshoot tricky students, gain a stronger technical understanding, build a bigger skill development toolbox, have more success with their clients.
Just think of the potential to earn more private request lessons… and bigger tips!
Can’t I just learn all this stuff from Youtube?
There are plenty of inspirational skiing clips and quick technique tutorials on the internet, but generic ski tips produced for mass consumption are typically incomplete (We know, we’ve uploaded plenty of them ourselves). Drills and exercises won’t do much for a students skiing until they’re put in the right context for the individual. In fact, practicing moves designed for someone else will often make things worse.
We’ve created an interactive diagnostics tool for troubleshooting problem areas, so you can select development tactics tailored specifically to your students needs. You’ll develop an understanding of cause and effect so you can help students seek cues that let them know when they’ve got it right.
We’ve also got a thriving community where you can share ideas and get direct feedback from top level ski pros.
Is a membership worth paying for?
We’ve crammed more information into this website than any certification course. More than your level 1, 2, 3 & 4 combined! Plus you get access to top course conductors/examiners all year long.
We’re an inclusive community where you can learn at your own pace, and you won’t even have to buy us expensive beer at apres:)
Do you have a Partner Program?
Yes, member instructors are eligible to join our Partner Program, so you can invite your students to join SkierLab and make money. Refer a couple people and you’ll cover your membership fees indefinitely… refer a few more and start earning cold hard cash.
What If I run a ski school?
What a great way to train your staff, keep them inspired and churning out great lessons for your guests! Get in touch and we can discuss a group membership for your snow school.
What if I want to Cancel?
No problem, if you just want to take a break you can pause your membership, or cancel anytime from within your SkierLab account. Zero hassle.
Science Friction Ski Club
Join over a thousand members inside the community
Pay Monthly
$19 / Month
Recurring Payment:
Cancel anytime with two mouse clicks
14 Day money back Guarantee
Pay Annually
$119 / Year
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The ultimate resource for ski technique…
Richard Lawson - Level 3 Ski Coach
I find SkierLab to be the most up to date and useful resource from the many I have used over the years. Accurate technical information delivered in a fun and helpful format. It informs most of what I teach on a daily basis.
100% Money Back Guarantee
If you don't get more value from SkierLab then your last ski lesson, get a full refund anytime within 14 days of your initial subscription. If you have any issues, just get in touch and we'll either help you out until you get the results you need or give you a swift refund.
What are people saying?
Peter Berry
-United Kingdom-
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know how impressed I am with your "Piste to Peak" series. As a lowly CSIA level 1 ski instructor, I suppose you could say I'm a "ski technique geek" and have an impressive collection of books, DVDs etc on the finer points of ski technique. Your videos pretty much blow everything else I've got out of the water. Keep up the good work.
I am currently a full time ski instructor at Sunshine Village and I am training for my CSIA level 4. I was really impressed with SkierLab! The skiing is fantastic and Tobin is able to take a lot of technical information and present it in a fun and simple way. I would highly recommend membership to any skier who wants to improve and understand skiing. It is also a great resource for instructors at all levels. Thanks Section 8!
Chris D'Silva
-Banff Canada-
Sandy Murray
-Vancouver Canada-
Just wanted to let you know that I am finding SkierLab very helpful. Not only does it remind me of the important concepts covered in the sessions I took with you, but also remind me of the terminology used in the CSIA program.
Physics is not my thing so I appreciate your very clear explanations, on snow and off snow. Great analogies! (E.g., soccer goalie stance, running down the stairs . . .) And lots of humour interspersed :) I also like the accompanying music a lot.
I know I'll continue watching these videos repeatedly as I prepare for Level 3. I especially like the troubleshooting video. Those demos of the various and typical problems were really well done. I appreciate seeing that there are many ways to approach those issues. I'll be sure to recommend your videos to my fellow instructors! Hope that our paths cross again!
The best ski resource I have seen. It's serious and theoretical but funny too. I especially think the trouble-shooting section is very helpful for many people.
Takeshi Otsuka
-California USA-
Giles Patterson
-Australia-
This has got to be one of the best kept secrets in ski improvement. 3 volumes of vids that spell out the fundamentals of ski technique to get you headed in the right direction (Volume 1), getting off-piste especially those bumpy bits (Volume 2) and then how to carve up the groomers (Volume 3). Throughout there's a wealth of demonstrations, drills for improvement and relevant discussion all covered with good humor and clarity. These are a worthwhile additions to the ski education library of any intermediate or advanced skier aiming to step their skiing to a new level.
We have just watched the videos. They're absolutely excellent. Your presentation is fantastic and makes it all really simple and understandable. I am unashamedly going to be stealing some of your ideas.
Now it's up and running I'm going to be pushing my friends into signing up.
Adrian & Cath
-United Kingdom-
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