Instructor Training
Level 3 ISIA courses
Over the past 15 years Warren Smith has been training athletes and ski instructors to achieve the required level to perform in competition and pass ski instructor qualifications in a variety of difference ski systems.
Over the past 10 years the volume of skiers attending the Warren Smith Ski Academy specifically to train for ski instructor Level 3 (ISIA) and Level 4 (ISTD) technical exams has increased significantly. For this reason and due to recent requests, the Academy will now be running a specific ISIA Level 3 training program in Verbier this coming season.
The Academy is running fixed and flexible ISIA training programs to suit people with different time availability over the winter season. The Fixed ISIA Level 3 training course will run from early January until mid March 2012 and will give you a minimum of 5 weeks on mountain coaching time for technical skiing, several weeks of teacher training and development and off-piste mountain security training.
The Flexible program is designed for University Degree students and skiers that still have work commitments not allowing them to be based in Verbier for a continuous period of time. This program is an addition to the Fixed and will offer skiers training for their Level 3 a much bigger time window with several weeks running from 26th November until the15th April 2012. During this flexible time window, Level 3 trainees will be able to book individual weeks to suit their schedule. A minimum of 5 weeks during this period is required.
The requirements for Level 3 compared with Level 2 are a big step up and a specifically developed program is made looking at your technical skiing with the mentality of performance and athletic skiing. The preparation for the teaching module of Level 3 is developed between how you are coached by the Academy pro team and also shadowing the Academy pro team coaching other high end recreational skiers. The Off Piste Mountain Safety training will be covered over specific days of your course taking into account weather and snow conditions. Here’s an overview of the content.
Technical Skiing
In preparation for the BASI Level 3 ISIA technical course, participants will cover:
Piste Performance, Variable + Steep Terrain, Moguls, Freestyle and Race Training. The full content of the Level 3 technical module can be found on the BASI website on Page 30 of this link.
Teacher Training
The teaching training follows the syllabus of the ISIA teaching module and will progressively build a good use of a variety of teaching tools and techniques, management of a group, essential safety code and skier development beyond the Central Theme. You can view the Teaching Module for Level 3 on Page 32 of this link.
Off-Piste Mountain Safety Training
Your ISIA Off Piste Mountain Safety course is an excellent element of the Level 3 that allows you when you complete the Level 3 to teach skiers in off-piste environments (marked and open itineraries). For this exam you’ll need to learn about avalanche awareness, how to effectively use rescue equipment and deal with a rescue scenario, map reading, touring and competent skiing off piste. You can view the Mountain Safety course information here.
Dates & Costs
Period – Winter Season 2011/12 (25th November 2012 to 14th April 2013)
ISIA Level 3 – 5 week fast track flexible course – £1,399 (minimum 5 week cost, additional weeks – £280)
Training will be on an ongoing basis throughout the winter on flexible days.
Please note that lift pass, travel, accommodation, food and insurance are not included. These are the training costs for the Pre Technical Module, Pre Teaching Module and Pre Off Piste Mountain Safety Module.
Work Opportunities
During the winter season ISIA Level 3 trainees will have the opportunity to work for the Academy during busy periods of the season. Volume of work will depend of demands during the winter season.
Future Opportunities
The reputation of the Warren Smith Ski Academy is highly regarded across the world. The Academy Pro Team is not that of a typical ski school. We have always prided ourselves on keeping our method very specific and non diluted through volume. The Warren Smith Ski Academy receives several hundred job applications each year from many ISIA and ISTD instructors looking to work 10 months a year on the Academy program. For this reason the Academy Pro Team is a highly sought after position in the world of ski teaching.
Two of our current Academy Pro Team, Jordan Revah and Stefan Nilsen, have worked their way through our GAP Level 1 and Level 2 Ski Instructor program and also our Level 3 ISIA training program and are now current Warren Smith Ski Academy – Pro Team Members working with 12 month Swiss employment contracts, sponsorship from Scott Sport and various other privileges via the position.
Our ISIA Level 3 program is not only the highest form of pre Level 3 training but also an in road to possible employment with the Warren Smith Ski Academy full time. We are one of the only ski instruction companies in the world that can boast a 10 month a year coaching program. We look forward to meeting future employees of the Academy Pro Team on this years Verbier course!
