Policy A17 - Guide/Skier Matching

Purpose

To provide skiers and guides with the most appropriate match to enhance the SFL experience.

Policy

The matching of guides and skiers is done by a team of experienced SFL people. This team consists of the Instructor/Guide Applications Coordinator, the Visually-impaired Participant Applications Coordinator, the Mobility-impaired Program Coordinator, the Guide Training Coordinators, the SFL President, and the Event Chair (optional). This meeting will take place on Saturday afternoon during the current year SFL event and will be continued Saturday evening if necessary.

To the extent possible, individual requests for guide-skier matches will be considered.

Unless extenuating circumstances exist, guidelines for guide/skier matching include:

• First-time guides should be matched with experienced skiers and first-time skiers should be matched with experienced guides.
• Veteran guides and skiers should expect to be matched with first- time participants periodically, although every attempt will be made to not make such a pairing more than once every three years.
• When there is a shortage of guides, first-time skiers will be given preference for full-time guides.
• Matches will be based on skill level, speed, general temperament, number of experienced guides and skiers, and any other known factor that would promote compatibility and a quality experience for both skier and guide.
• In general, skiers and guides should not be matched with the same person for more than two consecutive years.
• A record of previous matchings should be kept and passed along to subsequent guide training coordinators.
• Efforts will be made to allow experienced guides to ski with advanced skiers to enhance the experience for both.

January 27, 2023