GAP SKI INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM

2008 GAP Ski Instructor Course Review

Ken McNaughton, 55 Bank Manager, Edinburgh The reason that I chose to attend the Warren Smith Ski Academy Gap Ski Instructor course in 2008 was that unlike other Gap Courses there was a wide spread of age and background of course participants.  I had recently taken early retirement from my job and with my new freedom came the opportunity to ski for a season, but I didn't want to be sharing a room with a teenager,  (I could stay at home to do that!).  I needn't have worried as the group of Gappie's were great and we quickly settled in together.

I have skied for most of my adult life, but of course I had several bad habits in my skiing and these were quickly identified by the team of Academy coaches.  It had been several years since I had last received ski instruction and as the technology of ski equipment has changed so too has the skiing technique.  I now feel confident in skiing all types of terrain, 'though because of the lack of new snow for most of the duration of the course, it was not possible to spend a great deal of  time skiing off-piste.

The day usually began at 9.30am on the slope when we would try to get in a few runs before we met the Academy coaches at 10.15am.  We then skied to the stretch area where we spent around 10 to 15 minutes on warm up exercises.  We would then be briefed on the activities for the day and then split up into our groups.  Lunch was usually taken at 12.30pm over about 30 minutes, and the day ended at about 3.30pm with warm down exercises.  Most of us suffered aches and pains at some time during the course but I am certain that I avoided major injury because of these exercises.  It will certainly be part of my daily skiing routine in future whether as an instructor or just free skiing.

There was video analysis sessions twice a week, so we had to return to the chalet in good time to be ready for the constructive criticism!  Also, there was a number of occasions where we had to read our BASI Manuals in the evening to prepare a lesson for the following day, but in between we could always find time to visit the Apres Bar at the Farinet where the jugs of lager flow freely and where singing and dancing on the table or on the bar to one of the live bands is all part of the fun.

Throughout the 9 weeks we attended several valuable external courses; a First Aid course that was run by the British Association of Ski Patrollers, an Avalanche Awareness course that was run by a local Mountain Guide who is based in Verbier, and a Child Protection course that was run by one of the BASI Trainers.  Of course the BASI Alpine Level 1 and Level 2 Instructor courses are a combination of training and continual assessment by the BASI Trainers.

The accommodation that I was allocated was excellent, probably the best of all of the chalet accommodation, but in truth most of the Gappies will have to be prepared to live closely with their room mates as not all of the accommodation was as spacious as mine!  But I didn't hear too many complaints from the others in my chalet.  The food in the chalet was wholesome and plentiful and Rick, our chalet host, often asked us to give him suggestions for the evening meal.

We all spent a week shadowing a Swiss Ski School Instructor with a class, and the reports of our commitment and enthusiasm during that week led to an offer of a job with the Swiss Ski School in Verbier for all of us after passing the BASI Alpine Level 2 Instructor Examination.  In hindsight I was sorry that I didn't stay on in Verbier to take up the job offer but the guys who did looked pretty cool in their red Swiss Ski School uniform.

I have now returned to Scotland and I have applied to work as an instructor at my local dry ski slope, but I intend to apply to teach with Interski in the Aosta Valley in Italy next year. Additionally I have applied to join the British Association of Ski Patrollers as I was impressed by their skills.

I had a great time on the Gap course in Verbier and I'd recommend it to anyone who would like to combine a season skiing with training that will lead to an internationally recognised ski instructor qualification.  Thanks to everyone who was part of my experience.

In Association With :

Site Design & Photography:
www.melodysky.com