GAP SKI INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM 2007 GAP Ski Instructor Course Review
Kay Leggott, 34 - Artist
Gap course...........If you are reading this you are either booked on, or thinking about doing one. I remember when I signed up I was met with mainly confused looks by my mates who related skiing to bad experiences on T bars, or lusty feelings towards Bodie Miller. ‘Gaps' were post school opportunities to pack a rucksack and avoid the hairdressers for a few months. The latter statement is relevant. As a guy you will be infinitely more popular with the ladies if you have hair poking out from under your bobble hat.
I had previously skied with Warren and his Coaches on the Academy courses, and that made it a ‘no brainer' as to who I wanted to continue training with. There had always been a good mix of quality skiing, and ‘down time' which made me confident that 9 weeks of that was going to be cool.
I was working as an Artist in the Uk, and since leaving school had combined that with Pro sports. I wanted to continue working outdoors in the sports industry, involved in a job that would motivate my artwork.
Once I signed up I got tunnel vision in the months leading up to going. If you've got enough imagination it is actually possible to ski moguls in your armchair whilst watching Neighbours. However, when you take the course and regain peripheral vision you will see that there is a lot more going on. What ever you need, you will find.....jobs, contacts, parties, mates, cool ski pants, wide screen football, cheese, scenery, Jack Bauer, roads trips, fat skis............... Ok, so...........on the evening of the first official day we all met up in one of the accommodation chalets. About half of us had already met, as we'd come to Verb early to get in some skiing pre course. All I really remember is a mass of blank faces, that, in hind sight gave no indication to the madness that prevailed therein. I mean this affectionately.
The bonding between the group happens fast, usually after the first lengthy session of Braquage. You will find that you have inherited a new family of 30. Gappies like yourself, 4 Coaches, and Warren and Melody. Like most families it will consist of Father figures, Mothering types- (who are excellent at patching you up/ or sorting out your love life), and annoying Brother/ Sisters. And yes, there will be hook up's! We all hung out together, no one was left out. I was beaten in Casbah dance offs and drinking games by people nearly twice my age and for that they have my eternal respect.
I reckon it is fair to say that everyone no matter what level of ability has their issues or insecurities in the initial stages. (Unless you are ‘The Swede'. The Swede is a real life super hero who protected his super identity by attending the Gap course. From day 1 there was nothing this dude could not ski, and when ever someone in the group fell he swept in and stood guard against avalanches and giant Marmots whilst they untangled themselves from shrubbery, skis and poles etc).
Soon enough, the training becomes familiar and you find yourselves cruising through situations that once made you swear and cry. All this is helped by the fact that the Coaches are Fab. If you are a girl you will definitely fancy at least one of them. If you are a guy, you will want to be one of them- but secretly of course, because Im sure you guys would not admit this publicly. Again there is some supersonic power drifting about in their orbit. No one has ever seen them on a gondola, it is rumoured they levitate up the mountain. When you see them ski you will understand this. The ace thing for us mortals though is that they are amazing teachers who relate all their skills into you. The training is cool. The guys are basically ski nuts, and even if you try to trick them, they will always have solutions and answers. It has to be said that they are also the nicest guys you will meet and you will also automatically become cooler by association with them....an excellent advantage for pulling. We would train, and freeski all week. Practising stuff for BASI and go off on adventures with our transceivers, shovels, and ‘Kicker building B*tch'- (Me!) The cool thing is when you start to achieve things you only dreamed/ or had nightmares about doing. People who once admitted to letting out abit of wee when faced with a moguls field, were soon jumping off chalet roof tops, and sporting shovels and probes...laughing in the face of avalanche danger signs!
Everyone merged and hung out at each others pads. The chalet stoppers would have BBQ's and obscenely themed parties! (Kidding....kind of). And I spent many an hour eating my weight in chocolate bunnies whilst watching Anchorman at my friends apartments. This time off the hill you will make your own. Verbier has many props like abandoned shopping trollies, to influence your fun.
I hope that this little story radiates between its lines how much love there is in the Warren Smith Gap Course, because people, it's true. You will be a mess when you finish and have to go back home. You will need to be surgically removed from your skis. You will find you like some of your new friends more than your existing family members. And you will spend the whole summer trying to reiterate to people back home how a jacket potato party could be so entertaining it ends up on UTube??? Amongst other stories.
There are no hidden shenanigans with the accommodation or resort and the amount of ski brain content is unrivalled. Basically you are on to a winner.
I passed by the way! Yippee!!! X
In Association With :
Site Design & Photography:
www.melodysky.com
