GAP SKI INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM

2008 GAP Ski Instructor Course Review

Guy Dean, 39 Software Engineer, Edinburgh I have been a keen skier for quite some years now and have spent a number of holidays with friends who often are the classic intermediates and never really improving.  So I have been interested in ski instruction to help these people in some way.  I have also been working for 17 years and found that I was needing a break from it all. I got a four month sabattical from work and decided I would do an instructor course with the time.

So after speaking to a friend from Edinburgh who had done the Warren Smith Ski Academy GAP Ski Instructor course and recommended it, I decided to go with them.  Since the Academy course covers a good bit of freeride and off piste training I hoped that as well as getting an instructor qualification I would also benefit from being a better off piste skier.  

The course itself has about 30 people of all ages and almost all from the UK.  The youngest being about 16 and the oldest about 55.  So its good for all.  The level of ski ability at the start of the course was also pretty broad, with some already excellent skiers and others who had only done 2 weeks skiing before the course began.

From a ski technique point of view, I was already a reasonable skier to start with but by the end of the course I would confidently approach any off piste situation be it bumps, powders or simply crud.  My confidence levels are considerably higher than before and this experience has injected a new enthusiasm for skiing, so much so I am now thinking about the next ski qualification up, the BASI 3 ISIA.  The Academy coaches are a brilliant bunch with so much enthusiasm and professionalism.  They all offer a skillful input to your skiing.  During the course we rotated around all the coaches getting each of their different teaching styles which is really interesting both in learning how they each teach as well as their fresh input to my coaching. 

From a ski instructor point of view, I now have my BASI level 2, in fact everyone on the course managed it this year which was an amazing achievement by all.  I did have some reservations about wether I wanted to give up a number of weeks in my sabattical learning to teach folk snowplow turns, on a nursery slope and sometimes in the rain!  Something that was mooted by others on the course from time to time.  However, come the end and a pass it was thoroughly worthwhile and I am glad I have a qualification to show from the experience rather than being just a ski bum for the season.  It is a qualification that I was able to put to good use with the Swiss Ski School.  In fact all that passed, that wanted to, could then go on and work for the rest of the season with the local Swiss ski school.  This was a brilliant opportunity for us all to put into practice what we had just learned.  It is also worth noting that once you have the qualification you will have no difficulty getting work for the season or just a few weeks.

Why Verbier, why not.  There was something rather special about doing a season of skiing in Switzerland and in one of the best resorts the country has to offer.  The ski area is large and provides some of the most challenging off piste itinerary routes around.  If you want to take things further there is a lot of truly off piste adventures to be had.

The town life is also legendary.  It has one of the wildest Apres-ski bars(the Farinet) I have known and the parties are something to behold.  You will be dancing on the tables or better still the bar at least once on your trip, guaranteed.  Its a very cosmopolitan place and you can often rub shoulders with some surprising people.  I shook hands with Richard Branson at one point.

Warren makes a big effort to ensure the accomodation is in Verbier town proper.  So you dont have to walk far to get to the lifts, bars or shops.  I think this is an important feature and does significantly impact the course cost but its well worth it as the course can be tiring and you dont want to have to travel a lot each day. 

The course is now finished, the BASI exams are now over and passed.  I have done two weeks of ski instruction dealing with kids and adults of various standards.  I have worn the instructor uniform.  I have skied every on and off piste run that Verbier has to offer.  I have met some fantastic people and had some wild moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.  What a great experience.

In Association With :

Site Design & Photography:
www.melodysky.com