GAP SKI INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM

2008 GAP Ski Instructor Course Review

Andrew Warren, 46 Head Teacher, Stoke-on-Trent After 14 years of being a Headteacher in 4 schools, I felt I needed a sabbatical.  The Warren Smith Ski Academy GAP Ski Instructor course had great write-ups and it looked just the ticket for a relaxing 3 month winter break from inner-city schools.  How wrong I was!

The whole experience was much, much more demanding than I had anticipated and so much more fun!  Warren introduced the course by saying that for the next 9 weeks we would be “athletes”.  As the weeks wore on and the aches and pains increased, we would often remind ourselves of these words as we struggled to walk down stairs or dress ourselves.

As a keen student of teaching styles I was intrigued by how the instructors work.  For starters, their level of skiing is awesome and they are passionate about their sport with an enthusiasm which is infectious, even when they are asking you to do things you don’t want to do. 

Their coaching skills are of a very high quality and it was privilege to be on the receiving end of such expert tuition.  Mind you, I didn’t always like what they said.  I started the course thinking I was a good skier and the first few weeks felt like a body blow as they patiently (in the main!) tried to help me undo bad habits and build from a firmer foundation.  It was a humbling experience, at times, though the sense of achievement and joy when a target was met was great – hugs and high-fives all round!

The course not only improved my skiing beyond my wildest expectations but it also prepared me well for the BASI 2 qualification.  There were lots of opportunities to practise teaching a lesson as well as 1st Aid and avalanche training courses.

All in all it was a great way to spend 3 months with a BASI 2 badge being the icing on the cake.  I also got to teach with the Swiss Ski School and pose around in their uniform.  My wife tells me that I occasionally wake up in the night mumbling things like: “More flex … stronger arm carriage … central theme …secure your core …”  Other than that I have a whole host of happy memories of new friends made, beautiful surroundings, great skiing and a fantastic team of coaches who will do anything to help you develop.

 

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