GAP SKI INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM 2007 GAP Ski Instructor Course Review
Susie Campbell, 49 - School Teacher
I chose the Academy course because all the coaches at the Academy are so bloody goodlooking !! Seriously though,at the ski show the Warren Smith Ski Academy's operation looked professional and I was attracted to the emphasis on performance.
The day starts with breakfast of bacon and eggs (one of Bens most successful dishes!). After squeezing into hefty boots, those aching legs miraculously get you to the warmup area on time to greet your comrades and check out the gossip and hangovers. We might start with some one legged bracage that brings on a full body sweat, a cliff fall or two and a near death deep powder experience later then onto a welcome beer at 1936. 5hrs training a day with super professional and delightfully entertaining coaches is a real treat! The emphasis is most definitely on getting enjoyment out of your skiing. This theme continues on into the evening where we learn more from our coaches who deliver the most unprofessional and hilarious lessons on how to successfully become completely arseholed.
The coaches, well...Super sexy, hugely motivating, fantastic fun and very good at their job of getting you to achieve the seemingly impossible! After 12 weeks of relentless practice I found the penny dropped. A two footed stance, the CORE actually working and leading with that inside knee like the headlights of a car. Sean from BASI stuck out like dogs balls with his fast paced, simple approach. Between him and the Ski Academy boys, we certainly had the best of the best.
The mountain is a dangerous environment and I feel at the beginning of the course we would all be fairly inadequate come a real emergency but with the time given we learned a wide variety of skills in various lectures on mountain safety, first aid etc.
The range of people was one thing that made the course so special. From 16 to 53 years of age it was fully inclusive and in my humble opinion we got on really well considering the stress of aiming for an exam and continuously carrying out a physical and mental activity for the whole 9 weeks. I came out with BASI3 and lots of respect for myself. I feel the follow up for those wanting to pursue a teaching career not easy to find outside the Academy. However, I saw on the net that Non Stop Skiing provide a booklet of useful contacts and info for their graduates and I would love to get my hands on one. I definitely want to use my qualification to teach skiing.
Skiing for approx 90 days in a row is going to improve any idiot to some degree but towards the 10th week I finally felt in control and amazed at how I stopped wanting to shit myself at the top of some of those runs!
I found Verbier to be a very young skillful crowd on and off the mountain! It is not the place to be if you are a shit skier!I loved the accommodation and I was only too aware of the transience of a ski resort as I made very few friends for life. Night life was fab.
Big thanks to Warren and the boys for the most challenging and memorable experience and I look forward to any job possibilities that may result from my achievement.
In Association With :
Site Design & Photography:
www.melodysky.com
