First up, a homer in Vegas

With the new and improved Skki Inn behind them [see highlights here], the Trikke Academy’s focus shifts from the slopes to streets, specifically, their 2012 line-up of National Riding Skkools and Academies (or seminars) — the first of which take place over back-to-back weekends in March (only a few spaces left! So says their website).

Call these first two events homers, as they’ll roll out in Las Vegas, the newly minted headquarters of the Academy as of earlier this year. And rest assured, the institution where Trikke trainers are made isn’t abandoning the joy of snow carving altogether. Both the Riding Skkool (March 10-11), and the Academy seminar (March 15-18), have the added attraction of a Bonus Skki Day. (The Academy seminar also features a Bonus Elekktrics Monday.)

After doubling the fun in Vegas in March, the Academy seminar road tour — and sidekick, 3-hour Riding Clinikk — carve to Kansas City (April 27-29), then around the country through Philadelphia (June 15-17), and Charleston, South Carolina (September 7-9), before ending the year with an October Academy in Los Angeles (date to be determined).

So what kind of person should consider attending one of this year's Academies to become a certified Trikke trainer? Anyone and everyone, according to Academy Coordinator Ann Pirone:

“Diversity is what we're looking for,” said Pirone. “It’s a wide open market and we want to meet the needs of everyone out there.”

That includes those who don’t see themselves as advanced riders, said Pirone, who runs the Trikke Academy group on Facebook:

“We like beginner riders as well, because they haven't learned bad habits that need to be broken. We can mold them into riders with good technique that can then share the love of Trikke.”

But it’s not just the inexperienced who shouldn’t assume they don’t make good Trikke trainer material. Pirone made a point of encouraging Trikke dealers to consider attending one of this year’s Academies:

“It’s hard to sell this product without the knowledge of how to ride, how to repair — and about the over all business of Trikke,” said Pirone. “Why wouldn't you want to learn everything you can before getting in business? It’s just smart business.”