9 Week Instructor Training Verbier – Mid Season IASI L1 & L2 course

Seasonal + Instructor Training
Verbier, Switzerland
05/02/2023

£7,999.00 pp

About the Course
We run two instructor courses during the winter in Verbier, an early season course and a mid season one. This gives the opportunity for those wanting to qualify early and/or make the most of being out for the season have this opportunity but also for those tied to starting later in the year or who have less time available you have options now too!

The Academy is famous for its level of experience at training ski instructors and performance skiing athletes. Over the past 18 years, more than 500 ski instructors have benefited from coaching at the Academy. The Ski Instructor course consists of nine weeks residence in the prestigious resort of Verbier, Switzerland. The course includes both the Level 1 and Level 2 IASI ski instructor exams. On successful completion, students are qualified as Level 2 ski instructors. The course is designed to develop the following aspects of the students skiing skills:
- Personal Development for Performance Carving, Moguls, Steeps, Freeride, Powder and Freestyle with the Warren Smith Ski Academy Team
- Preparation for Level 1 Ski Instructor Course
- Understanding and effective use of the Core Skier Development Stages (the teaching fundamentals to take a skier from complete beginner to Parallel skier)
- Level 1 Instructor Course – 6 Days
- Emergency First Aid Course – 2 Days
- Avalanche and Mountain Awareness Training
- Ski Servicing and Maintenance Training
- Sport Psychology and Science
- Ski Biomechanics and its importance with Ski Instruction
- Professional Video Filming and Analysis
- Teaching practice and shadowing experienced ski teachers
- Core and Ski Specific Physical Training
- Level 2 Ski Instructor Course – 6 Days
Course Fees: £8,999 (early season) or £7,999 (mid-season) (With Half Board Accommodation)
About the Qualification

The level 2 qualification for the course is with IASI (Irish Association of Ski Instruction) and regarded very highly with Europe and internationally.

The Level 2 qualification will enable you to work in most ski schools in Europe, Canada, America and most of the world. All ski schools in Verbier accept the Level 2 qualification for full or part time employment opportunities.

To obtain the level 2 qualification as part of the Instructor training program you will complete a 6 day Level 1 Ski Instructor Course and a 6 day Level 2 Ski Instructor Course (week 9).
Typical Week

During the course of a typical week, you will participate in several daily activities from aspects of athletic skiing to video analysis and learning progressions of teaching.

On Snow

Coaching will run 5 days during the week with regular hours starting at 10am and finishing at 3pm. Meeting place for the coaching sessions will be at Ruinettes lift station in the Verbier ski area. After two or three warm up runs we will work through a dynamic warm up routine that will last for about 5 minutes developing mobility in your body and warming up your muscles. During the day coaching will develop your personal skiing level and focus on Carving, Steeps, Moguls, Freeskiing, Freestyle and All Terrain skiing. Skiers will normally work in small groups relevant to your skiing level and ability.

The coaching will pick up and identify your weaker turning direction. Nearly all skiers have a weaker turn direction, and with the Academy Biomechanics Assessment this will be identified, worked on and corrected. It is also treated as an educational insight into teaching your first clients and how to look for weaknesses and check out Left/Right side body differences.

Lunch will be around 12.30 to 1.00pm each day. After lunch, coaching will be developed further and drills that were worked on in the morning will be put into practice on specific terrain. Coaching will finish around 3pm. At this time you can free ski, head down and rest. Lifts in Verbier are open from 8.45am to 4.45pm so there is ample time to ski for yourself.

At least 2 days a week, video analysis will take place during the days skiing. This footage will be analysed later that evening at the chalet or during the day on the mountain. A full analysis will take place on your skiing and any biomechanical issues you have with your skiing will be visually explained with a specific process of how you will change and modify your skiing.

Off Snow

There is much for you to do after skiing. The first thing will be to run yourself through a warm down and stretch routine with the same stretching elements as the warm up routine in the morning.

After that, you should (strongly recommended) make notes from the days skiing on the personal feedback you received and teaching progressions worked on. After you have completed this, you are free to do what you please and in Verbier there is no shortage of activity to keep you occupied.

One of the best ways to get an idea of what goes on day to day on the course and generally get a feel for the course is to check out our youtube blogs from previous courses which you can see by clicking here.
Teaching Content
- Instructor specific course content
  Included in the Cost of the GAP Year Ski Instructor Course
  - 6 weeks Personal Ski Development and Performance Coaching with the Warren Smith Ski Academy Team (4 if doing the fast track programme)
  - Preparation for Level 1 Instructor Course
  - IASI Level 1 Instructor Course – 6 Days
  - Emergency First Aid Course – 2 Days
  - Avalanche and Mountain Safety Training
  - Sport Psychology and Sports Science
  - Ski Biomechanics and its importance with Ski Instruction
  - Professional Video Filming and Analysis
  - Core Strength Building and Ski Specific Physical Training
  - IASI Level 2 Instructor Training Course – 6 Days
  - 1/2 Board Accommodation for 9 weeks in Verbier (Cervinia courses don’t include accom)
  - Full Season Lift Pass (Nov to April) for Verbier and the 4 Vallees Resorts or Full summer season pass for Cervinia/Zermatt on the summer course
  - Manuals & Course Material
  - Biomechanical Assessment on Skier Symmetry and Alignment
  - Video Analysis at least 2 times a week
  - Ski Servicing and Maintenance Training
Available Group Levels
- 3: Advanced
  
  Confident parallel skier on all gradient pistes. Starting to create dynamics in your skiing and challenge yourself in harder non-pisted terrain.
- 4: Instructor
  
  Consistent in all terrain, rarely losing accuracy and pushing their speed whilst keeping a high degree of ski performance. Able to transition from piste to off-piste with no hesitations or issues.
- 5: Expert
  
  Comfortable and at ease in all terrain. Able to transition from piste to off-piste with no hesitations or issues. Starting to use the terrain and features to be inventive and add an element of style to their runs.
- 6: Athlete
  
  Skiers who are actively competing in selected disciplines including Alpine Racing, Freeride, Moguls or Freestyle events. These skiers will be wanting to push themselves to their absolute physical and psychological limits by skiing in the most challenging terrain. These skiers may also be training to acquire their level 4 ski instructor qualification.
Accomodation Information

The Academy have teamed up with The Tai Pan chalet, an independently owned and run chalet just off the Le Rouge ski slope (ski-in/ski-out).

About the Tai Pan:

The Tai Pan is a homely five bedroom chalet ideally located beside Le Rouge piste for easy ski in ski out access. Split over two floors with two kitchens, two bathrooms and a bunker where ski equipment can be stored. Fast Wi-Fi + UK TV channels available.

A short walk away from the free bus shuttle from which all areas of Verbier can easily be accessed.

Great food, a great location and a fantastic host make the Tai Pan the perfect partner for our instructor courses.

If the Tai Pan reaches full occupancy we will arrange alternative accommodation for some students. This accommodation will be to an equal standard (or higher) than the Tai Pan and group meals and general social activities at the Tai Pan will always be very inclusive for all.
Pricing Information

Course Fees: £7,999-£8,999 (With Half Board Accommodation) (course fees are exempt from VAT)

Price includes all the bullets in the above content section. Once in resort you’ll have to pay an additional 100CHF resort tax and 200CHF deposit directly to Jo who runs the Tai Pan. The deposit will be returned at the end of the course and is just to cover possible breakages.

Recommendation

If choosing to join the early season course why not stay on after the course and continue your training. We’d be happy to cater a course to your demands be this for specific skills/areas (such as freestyle, moguls of powder) or to continue training toward your L3 instructor qualifications.

If choosing to do the mid season course and you’d like to get warmed up and bolt on some extra training weeks before the course officially starts – we run a technical training weeks before the course at cost for anyone on the 9-week gap (£500). If you’ve not skied in a while or would simply like an extra week to get your legs ready for the intensity of the 9 weeks we highly advise booking on this.

If you wish to have further information on this course please drop us an email (theteam@warrensmith-skiacademy.com) or discuss with Rob during the phone interview/conversation.

A Strong recommendation from the Academy team would be to stay until the end of the season if you can. Your ski pass is valid until the end of the season and many of the students from previous years decided to finish the ski season either working in ski schools, free skiing or continuing to train with us. Other students had booked flights back at the end of the course, and had said to us they would have preferred to stay, therefore we would strongly suggest this if it’s possible for you.

Payment

Payment for the deposit (£2000) will be made upon booking. You’ll be contacted after booking to arrange payment for the remaining balance of £6999/£5999 which can then be paid off in 1 instalment or 2 equal instalments – one on or before the 15th August and the balance on or before 30th October.

Alternatively if you’d like to pay the total balance in one instalment this is an option when booking and we can arrange the date for this. You will be contacted for each instalment. For any payment queries please drop us a email.
Booking Information

All applicants will need to go through a telephone interview with Rob Stanford before receiving a placement on the course. The aim of the interview is for Rob to assess your skiing standard, experience and general attitude towards the course. Contact Rob to arrange a convenient telephone interview time on +447747 809545.