CSIA level I cert course: a shitty situation

Cincher

Cincher

Active member
I'm currently working as a ski instructor at my local hill, and it's my 1st year. Naturally, I do not possess my CSIA level I certification, so I need to go and take that. The problem is, is that it is occurring not at my local hill, but rather another ski area about 1 1/2 hours south of Winnipeg. It would've happened at my local hill, had there been at least 6 people who wanted to take the course. But since this is snowboarder territory, there is simply not enough interest for them to warrant running the course at my place of work/play.

What makes this situation shitty is that I can't drive. My license has been suspended since August, and I can't get it back until January 22. The course occurs on January 17th through to the 19th, and apart from illegally driving my brother's car out there, I have absolutely no way of getting out there. My mother can't sacrifice the time to drive me out there, nor does she want me having to drive my brother's car out there. I looked into taking a bus out there from Greyhound, but they don't run anything out there. My plan was to stay at my aunt's place who lives about 20 minutes from where the course is being held, but I am highly unsure if she would be willing to drive into the city to pick me up, driving to and from there, and then drive me back.

I have already paid the $375 for the course, and I really don't want to have to get a refund on that because I need this to work this winter. So I'm pretty stuck between a rock and a hard place.
 
You might be able to find someone from NS if you did end up staying at your aunts so its not as far of a drive. Goodluck tho man im in BC so i cant help ya
 
Post a thread in regionals asking to see if anyone else is going, if not, hitch hike, or see if your brother will take you. get up to the mountain w/ a tent and a few bucks and ski bum it for a few days, if it its multiple days.
 
thats hard man, taxi or ask ns regionals maybe someone will help; ya out, and off topic i know but i hate the way they run the certs for skiing and snowboarding its just beuracratic bullshit with "usually" some elitist mother fucker, especially ski certs, telling you how you need to teach then you have to pay them every year to keep your cert current i hate those mother fuckers with a passion and i will get far without a cert just like i am now.
 
i have my level 1 and I agree with you that paying 110$ every year is bullshit considering that the certification is around 400$ by itself but the deals that you are getting are pretty worth it when you think about it. I got some k2 shreditor with some fks for 600$ instead of 1000$ and that by itself payed the annual cost.
 
I'm not sure if any taxi would ever take an hour and a half drive south to holiday mountain. If they did, that will be one expensive ride. Plus, the central forearms are basically comatose 80% of the time. Anybody from this area who is new to an S posts there, or just doesn't check on it due to all the inactivity. I certainly don't check on it on a regular basis...

I agree with you, it is a load of bullshit; I had to put the damn course on my credit card because I barely have the money to pay for it due to how fucking cold it's been around here for the past month (rarely has it been above -18°C). The weather has basically prevented me from working as much as I possibly could. Mind you, they're still letting me work and do lessons, however if I wanted to do any form of instruction at a different place, I'll definitely be needing that.

Personally, I see little issue with having to drive my brother's car. There've been a couple times where I've had to drive his car over the six-month period of suspension, and as long as I drove as I usually would have which is to say sanely and legally, I flew under the radar of any legal authority. All I would have to be doing is take a short drive outside and around the city, and then the rest of the drive would be out in the country were basically no one either gives a crap or I wouldn't be spotted. I'm personally at a point where I will have to say "sorry mom but I'm doing this whether you like it or not."

Fueling the car will be an expensive endeavor on its own,; my brother owns a 1995 Chrysler New Yorker and its 3.5 L V-6 is not particularly efficient (16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway). it would cost me about $40 in gas to get from Winnipeg to La Riviere, and if I stated my aunt's place, about 20 bucks to and from her place two times. I used the trip cost calculator to help me figure out the numbers.

since it appears it would cost be an extra $40 in travel costs to stay at my aunts where I could basically eat and bunk for free, I'm wondering if it would be any cheaper to just sleep in the car, and get something cheap to eat for supper and breakfast. And also, if it's worth feeling a little cold/staying in my ski clothes to save a little bit of money. Maybe someone has some advice on ski bumming it out of your car for a couple of days.....?

 
okay so I re-calculated how much fuel it would cost to do the whole trip including the jumps to and from my aunt's place to the hill and it came out to about $70.

One other question, does the coursing clued lift tickets, or do I have to buy those? I sure as hell hope so, otherwise this is going to be very expensive for me..
 
sometimes it is included in price i know my friends had to pay for theirs but it was for snowboarding,

and to the other guy yea the discounts can be pretty good though for sure and any other place will hire you, thats why i am stoked to work at brighton where alot of places really like to see people come from.
 
I got my certification last year and have been working as an instructor this season. They have not yet bothered me for proof of certification or proof that I renewed my membership so as far as anyone knows I havent even done the course. Not necessarily saying you should ditch the course but you could probably get away without doing it if you're sneaky enough haha
 
Holiday Mountain. Was hoping for enough interest to have it held at Springhill so this would be a non-issue, but it isn't the case.
 
Maybe, but like I said I have already paid for the course so I might as well follow through with it. Then I will only have to worry about renewal after that.
 
I taught many years without re-newing my dues, all hills say they check, but they don't. That being said, part of paying your dues is for legal reasons, so you have coverage if someone tries to sue you. I finally paid mine this year cause I upgraded my certs.
 
Not to nitpick but isnt it PSIA? (professional ski instructors of america) or is this a different cert? Also best of luck to you in your situation dude
 
Most countries have their own cerification system, PSIA is 'Murica, CSIA - Canada, APSI - Australia ect. PSIA is one of the od ones that only have 3 levels though, as does the NZSIA and the Austrian system. most got to level 4
 
There's skiing in the Winnipeg area?!

Everyone in my family has done our CISA level 1 and the cost of the course has included lift tickets each time. (in BC, could be different in MB)

My suggestion would be to stay with your aunt and if she can't drive you check to see if theres a bus you can take. If not taxi or hitch hiking are your other options
 
There's skiing in the Winnipeg area?!

Everyone in my family has done our CISA level 1 and the cost of the course has included lift tickets each time. (in BC, could be different in MB)

My suggestion would be to stay with your aunt and if she can't drive you check to see if theres a bus you can take. If not taxi or hitch hiking are your other options
 
There's skiing in the Winnipeg area?!

Everyone in my family has done our CISA level 1 and the cost of the course has included lift tickets each time. (in BC, could be different in MB)

My suggestion would be to stay with your aunt and if she can't drive you check to see if theres a bus you can take. If not taxi or hitch hiking are your other options
 
S'okay.

Yeah, there are places to ski in Manitoba besides urban spots, though nothing too special. Springhill Winter Park is my place of work/play. It's 10 minutes north of Winnipeg situated on one side of the city's floodway (meaning it's only 120ft high). Given it's distance it's the best around for park laps and stuff.

The place I need to take my CSIA course at is Holiday Mountain (Holiday Valley would be more accurate) which as I said is 1 1/2 hrs. south of the city in La Riviere, MB. Asessippi (Near Russell, MB) is by far the biggest ski area between MB and SK, but it's a 3 1/2hr. drive for me so it is not frequented by me.

doyle. Said:

"My suggestion would be to stay with your aunt and if she can't drive you check to see if theres a bus you can take. If not taxi or hitch hiking are your other options"

I checked with Greyhound already as my mother suggested it, and no bus runs out there. Not sure if any Winnipeg taxi would take up that fare, and then there's the matter of getting to and from my Aunt's place. I'd prefer not to disturb my relative's daily lives any more than I already will be.

The Driving Illegally looks to be my only option. Again, I foresee no issues with this so long as I drive safe and don't crash (Slow n' Steady). My brother's also fine with me borrowing his car so long as I fuel it which I will be. I'll just have to deal with my unhappy parents after I return.

TheWingmen Said:

"Not to nitpick but isnt it PSIA? (professional ski instructors of america) or is this a different cert?"

Not in Canada it isn't, which is what the C stands for. It's also probably the same cert. Basically what Skiingsnow$$ said.

Thanks for the advice and support guys.
 
Is there maybe a ride share on craigslist or on the hill's facebook. Also, you could try contacting the CSIA and seeing if there is someone who might be able to give you lift from your aunts, maybe the evaluator might be willing, or someone else in your group?
 
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