Instructor courses

H

harrystamp

New member
Hey guys
I have done a ski instructor course (BASI 1&2) and would be more than happy to answer any questions if any of you are thinking of doing it....
Harry
 
my advice to anyone thinking of doing them, is don't do anything past level one if you enjoy skiing. the instructors are a bunch of old fucks who ski like robots. Tell you to do one thing, demonstrate the same style they have had for the past 5 days, then tell you that you did it wrong. fuck instructing man that shit is for fucking losers.
 
I'm gonna claim CSIA level 1, CSCF level 1, CSIA snowpark and AST1.
But yeah, I always have problems with the pizza to french fry, I mean I try but it usually just turns into like a pretzel or a reverse pizza, and I eat shit. Can I haz help pliz?
 
*claim* CSIA level 1

and not all instructors are old and ski like robots, I work as instructor for the money and because it allows me to be on the slopes as much as possible even if I'm not shredding. Most of the insrtuctors at my local hill (Sun Peaks) are young and great people.
 
Agreed, ski instructor's courses are actually really good, you would be surprised at how much a level 3 instructor can teach you, even if you're already a good skier. Ski coaches is for racing, Freestyle is for park, high level instructors is for shredding the whole mountain.
That said, if you're doing the level 1 that course is hell, but aside from that you'll learn some really valuable stuff from the courses. Best way to really improve your all mountain skiing IMO. I watch pros shred pow and I can see the same things I learned from a level 3 instructor I coached with in their skiing.
 
Maaaaaan. Failed my CSIA level 1 because my outerwear was 'uninviting' and shit. Basically i'm too thug to teach.
 
yeah, only having my level 1 does suck sometimes because I mostly teach kids lessons, the higher instructors get the good private lessons. Kids lessons is almost a babysitting service more than a ski lesson, but it's so much fun when you get some little rippers that hit up the park and shred. I taught this kid who was 7 years old how to afterbang.
 
are you in Canada? if so, go to the CSIA website and look at the course schedule for your local mountain. I would advise to take a lesson before with a high level instructor first, get his/her oppinion if you will pass the course because it would not be worth paying $350 and spending 4 days doing the course only to fail. good luck.
 
I've been considering taking my level 1 just so I can make some extra cash instructing at the hill near my school. I know for sure i would pass, as i can ski circles around all of the instructors at this mountain because of my 10+ years of skiing moguls.

I think it would be pretty fun to show a gang of little rippers around the mountain for a few hours and get paid for it.
 
Prepare to be disappointed, to the best of my knowledge no level 1 instructor gets the little rippers lol. See if you can get your park and pipe or you freestyle for wherever you are. That will get you a better job.
 
almost every hill offers a level one course through out the year. I Instruct now and then (just so I can get the pass) 80% of the time it sucks and you're a glorified baby sitter, but once and a while you get a ripper and their parents give you a tip. Freestyle lessons are super fun but rare.

Personally I don't like the instructing scene, thats not to say I haven't worked with some rad people or met some cool instructors. But there are so many that seem to take pride in making fun of park rats cause you can't hold edge. I hate the way the CSIA is set up, like the way the teach you doesn't even make skiing fun. Theres so many aspects of skiing they miss out and the park and pipe course was a joke. The old man's club has to go. Personallly I'm not going to waste my time getting the upper levels in CSIA I'd rather just get my freestyle coach.
 
I did it in val d;isere with a company called base camp group......
i'm not sure its 'robot skiing' i believe the right word is 'skiing'....
i respect what goes on in the park and i love to see people ripping it up, however why does that give any of you the right to have a go at ski instructors style of 'real skiing'?
xx
 
Okay guys...
I did a 'BASI' instructor course.... Not 'CSIA' or 'CASI' or whatever the fuck you guys call it... It think that you'll find that they are very different qualifications.
I'm not going to take ski instructing on as a career, but i did value the season i spent taking BASI level 1&2.
It took me back to the roots of my skiing and rebuilt them into a level i would never have got too otherwise. Now I am competing in national freestyle and downhill competitions for my university and i would never have been able to do EITHER or them if it wasn't for BASI 1&2.
Now there's a nice little fairytale for all of you single minded fellows...
BASI is an extremely respected qualification in the skiing world and i guess i have a better argument than all of you guys because i have got to level 2 and i am freestyling at a competitive level...
Dix xxx
 
I have CSIA Level 2 and CSCF Entry Level Race Coach. Yeah some of the instructors are a bit cocky and don't like park rats, but even some of those are just really stoked on just skiing normally or racing. Its all skiing. I can agree sitting the courses isnt the most fun in the world but I learnt a shit load of stuff especially on my 2. They are both pretty easy but stuff gets a lot more techical when you get to level 3 and the teaching is a lot harder too.

So bummed I couldnt sit my park course though this year as they coudnt get a course conductor but gonna do it next season. Some of my instructors I had whilst training are the dopest people ever and love to shred park and powder just like the rest of us, like me they do it because they love to ski.
 
I feel the same (although maybe cos I'm a bit bitter i failed my level 1 CSIA's and blame the wanker who was overseeing us heh) Always having to have perfect turns all the time even outside of lessons (so not really getting to freeski unless u get to a level where u get to take ppl for lessons in that), but yea learning alot about technique, the little things you forget when going back to the real basics.

lol @ dziuba
 
it doesn't matter how good you are homie. you gotta have good people skills and you need to actually explain what you're doing. its not as easy as being able to ski.

and trust me, its not all "showing little rippers around the mountain"
 
Gunna claim myself some BASI Level 2 and some SnowsportUK Park n Pipe

I had the BASI freestyle coach at the time Kerr Stewart for 1 course... he was SIIICK

I had Les Ward whos 60 somthing for my level 2, i rocked up on some twins and asked if id be ok on em and he was like "Yeah, they're lovely skis!". He was pretty sorted... smashed his head in a few weeks before whilst down hill biking in the Alps... what a guy!

So as for all the trainers being old guys who are just stuck in their ways thats just wrong, some are, and some are dickheads by the sound of it. But i've never had an uncool trainer on any of my courses :)

Rep'in BASI!!!!! Woop Woop
 
my dad wants me to do it, but at my mountain if your an ex racer then you basicly dont have to do any of the course you just get your level 2 like first day
 
thats the truth. and my god do they hate park rats! i quit the level 1 course because the clinician was such a douchebag to me and my bud. we weren't dressed like thugs, in fact we were in our instructor uniforms. we do have horrible habits. thats what they hate the most.
 
So true... when I did my BASI 2 we had a load of racers who skipped level 1 cos they were good at racing... several failed on teaching and most of the rest were appalling at teaching but somehow passed... several because they can't ski for shit unless its short radius turns.

Being a bit of a park rat (atleast i was before my course) fair enough I had to move my hands up, but that was pretty much it compared to having to totally relearn how to ski :)

I think at the end of the day theres not an organization on the planet that would let you have a level 2 qual after just a day of a course

Peace :)
 
Lies. You will either fail the test or get fired when you start working. The courses actually teach you alot, not only about teaching and working with people, and liability, but also about your skiing, racing background or not.
 
not true at all and do get level 3 you have to be a nasty skier. If you ever wanna inprove you are gonna have to take criticism.
 
not sure about that pal. BASU means absolutely fuck all in france or italy where you've gotta pass a eurotest to qualify. furthermore, in austria and switzerland if you are a good skier and/or know the right people you can instruct at ski schools with no qualification whatsoever. so in that respect, a BASI qualification is pretty fucking worthless in europe. i believe it is sufficient in north america, NZ etc.

i think instructor courses are worthwhile only if you:

A) wanna do a ski season but haven't skied much/at all

B) actually want to pursue it as a profession.

all the guys, particularly in places like val d'isere, verbier, wherever else, that do courses paid for by daddy, at obscene cost, because little johnny either can't or won't get a proper ski job, so they can strut about pretending to be instructors, while learning to teach the textbook snowplow on powder days are, in my view total morons. the number of fucking bellends, particularly from basecampgroup in val d'isere who would challenge people to races and other mindless shit because they grossly overestimated their own skiing ability defied belief when i did seasons in val

if you want to become an instructor, fine do a course, but why commit to a proper course rather than some half-assed BASI bullshit that is fucking pointless? if you don't have any intention to become a professional, why the fuck pay something in the region of £10 000 (living costs included) when you can get a job, ski when you want, and not look like a bellend?

/rant.
 
and to they guy who said you won't improve unless you are paying someone to tell you how, that is also bullshit. skiing with people that are better than you will naturally make you get better unless you are retarded. my friend who i did my first season with had only skied for a day or 2 on a dryslope before our season. by the end he was stomping switch 9s, skiing bumps likea champ and ripped pretty hard all mtn. you don't need to pay to learn, you just need to pay attention
 
I'm gonna have to disagree with you here, instructor courses can really help you step your game up, as can instructors. I've only taken my level 1 but I know with the CSIA a level 3 course is really tech and you have to be a damn good skier to pass it. I worked for/with a level 3 instructor this winter and I learned soooooo much from him it was ridiculous. You would be amazed at how much these guys know.And I'm talking useful stuff too, I ski pow, moguls, groomers, ice, gates, everything better from just learning a few simple tricks. Definitely a worthy investment for anyone who wants to ski at their best.

CSIA is basically the best organization of its kind in the world though, and it doesn't have $10000 courses where you live on site. You have 5 days max to learn all the shit and if you fuck it up then too bad lol. Courses are max $600 or so.
 
i teach skiing for the pass and to be on the slope as much as possible. that being said i am a terrible skier i always ski leaning back and i never poll plant. i only ski "well" when i am teaching. i kinda wanna get certified for a little more money but well see.
 
I teach and its pretty fun, I dont get payed but I get a 50 dollar seasons pass and unlimited lodge use so that's pretty sick. I would say 50% of the instructors at my school are actually really chill 20-30 year olds who would rather be hitting the park, or getting really drunk. Its actually got a really good vibe and I enjoy it a lot.
 
This seems kind of contradictory, if you know whats making your skiing bad why don't you change it? lol.Go for the certification, you'll learn alot.
 
I lol at those groups. The thought of paying sooo much for a course plus living for a few months for a level one or two seems silly to me, but meh its there money, and if becoming a ski instructor is important to them, then all the power to them. It seems like for the most part they are from the UK and dont have the same chance to ski like we do, so props for going out and doing something they love
 
Sorry, but..1) I paid for all of my course AND my living costs when i was in Val2) We couldn't give a shit about u bums so why should u care about us?
It always seemed to bother other seasonnaires when we walked into a bar or whatever- most of us worked before we left so we didn't have to when we were out there. So 'RASTAFARIDER', get off your high horse up there in leeds (chiller) and fill in that chip on your shoulder. It's not your problem how me and my 'fellow basecampers' funded our season. Most of all, its not your business...
I was only taking a year between school and university- so i guess your right in saying that we only want to do one season. I felt i wanted to get something out of my gap-year rather than bumming around. Is that not okay?
I'd actually really like you to reply so i can really get to the bottom of why everyone has got such a big problem? Don't come up with the same old 'cause your all groupies' crap, something sensible, something mature.
regards
Dix

 
Thankyou Mr. Dix...

I'd quite like to get to the bottom of this too...
I'm not gonna do seasons for the rest of my life- I thought it would be good for my CV, because the fairytale of doing seasons year after year after year will end some time.... Then what?
xx

 
haha excellent work sir! i particularly like how you lambasted my sweeping statement about basecamp and then came up with one all of your own regarding my choice of university. being called a chiller by a basecamper is certainly a new one for me though so cheers for that chuckle pal.

i don't judge people from basecamp on principle, its just that almost all of them i've met were/are total bellends. there, i said it. regarding your payment claims, unless you are extremely gullible/ in denial, you can't seriously claim that the majority of basecampers weren't funded by daddy- after all who the fuck has 10k lying around? which brings me to your claim about funding it all independently:

according to their website, a season's accomodation and the 11 week instructor course costs £3195 and £7595 respectively. factor in living costs which for a season must be upwards of 2 grand and you get a total of almost 15 grand, roughly equal to the avergae student's entire loan debt after university (assuming they get a loan). you honestly expect me to believe that between leaving school in july and going to val in december you earned 15 grand? who are you, cristiano ronaldo?

you said yourself you don't plan on being an instructor in future so you leave me with the question, why the fuck do it? you can't honestly believe an employer is likely to give a fuck that you blew 15 grand on a ski season?

to your comment about everyone else not paying for a worthless instructor course being a bum, i'd question your use of the term. i and my friends were working upwards of 50 hours a week so we can ski as much as possible. compare that to having daddy pay for you to be there, only for most basecamp brats to drop out of the course at some point, thus tearing up a £7000 cheque. thanks dad. there was even one girl who used to fedex her laundry back to the uk to have it cleaned. the list goes on.

if you think that's a productive way to spend your season, be my guest. more power to you, but me and anyone else with half a brain will do it another way, laugh at you snaking after instructors on the grand pré on a powder day, and call you out when you start spoting bullshit about your skiing ability.

i'm sorry, i think i may have failed the maturity test. my bad.

p.s. your jackets are gay too.

 
I dont get all the hate man! just chill with it! Those who can... teach... those who cant... take up tobogganing
 
Can you not fucking read?

I was simply stating it seems silly to pay so much for your level 1, when in reality if you're decent skier it takes a weekend tops. Personally, I'd think the money would be better off spent getting your level 1 and doing a season and traveling.I stated my opinion on the matter in a non-offensive way. If you feel you gained a better experience paying a ton to get certified, thats cool but to me it seems like a waste of money.

And if you had actually read what I said, I did not rip on you guys at all, in fact I kinda defended you saying that most of you are from the UK therefore didn't the chance to get your ski instructors locally. And I also gave you props for that.

So sorry if offended you and your 'groupies?'. I didn't mean any disrespect to any of you guys. Like you said its none of my business how you guys can fund it, nor have I ever cared. I've been friendly and became friends those groups, and they seem to have enjoyed. But me personally I could not justify spending so much on a level 1 or 2.

So chill out dude, take a deep breath and maybe re-read what I wrote cause I wasn't hating or ripping you.
 
Hang on a minute,
If you honestly think that doing Basecamp has advanced your CV then you are deluded - why would it be beneficial to potential employers? If you want to improve your CV then why not go to Africa and work with some AIDS orphans - opposite end of the spectrum i know but seriously mate.
I'm not having a go at you for doing it, after all I spent a year in Aus surfing for my Gap Year. But dont think that your CV is enhanced by it.
 
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