Race coach, instruction innovator

Isadore (Izzy) John Ture, one of the most influential instructors of his time, passed away October 23 in Saratoga Springs, New York, at the age of 87. He had a long and prominent career in the ski world, most notably with Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), where he developed the Milestones Concept, which influenced the American Teaching Method.

Ture was first introduced to skiing at the age of eight when his parents purchased a set of wooden skis. Ture and his father screwed on segments of metal edging, enabling him to execute his first truly carved turn. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953–1955, and attended Union College in Schenectady.

During his early years he skied at Darrow’s Ski Hill in Greenfield Center, New York. He went on to coach racing at Skidmore College. In 1964, at age 30, he became Gore Mountain’s first ski school director during its inaugural year. In 1966, he joined the West Mountain Ski School in New York, along with the West Mountain Racing Program where he coached athletes to collegiate, state, national, and international success (see page 5). In 1978, he moved to the Karl Plattner Ski School at Hunter Mountain, eventually becoming technical director in 1986 and co-director in 1994.

In 1974, Ture became an examiner for the PSIA-Eastern Division, and later served as the Chairman of the PSIA-E Education Committee, Chairman of the Board of Examiners, and also served on the national board. Ture drew a parallel between World Cup racers and the natural movement of children. With those similarities in mind, Izzy developed the Milestones Concept, which became the basis for the American Teaching Method today.

With his emphasis on technical expertise, Ture became known as the “instructor’s instructor,” and he enjoyed preparing candidates for PSIA exams. For decades, he was hired by ski schools to coach their staffs for certifications. Ture was given the Lifetime Membership award by the PSIA-AASI Eastern Division in 2001.

Outside of the ski world, Izzy had a 45-year career as an executive with Callanan Industries, Inc. —Iseult Devlin