Instructor Courses

I did an instructor course for BASI levels 1&2 a couple of seasons back. I am looking to get into it as a career, however I am also willing to explain to people what its like, where the best places to go are, which companies to go with and any other questions so feel free to write on the forum and fire away!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jameswinter 

I did an instructor course for BASI levels 1&2 a couple of seasons back. I am looking to get into it as a career, however I am also willing to explain to people what its like, where the best places to go are, which companies to go with and any other questions so feel free to write on the forum and fire away!

Hey Jameswinter, Basi instructor course?? Basi seems pretty simple to me. Did you study the Iloco piddig revolt? There are many parallels to our Whiskey Rebellion here in Western Pennsylvania. The occupiers sent in the army with it's famous General Washington to crush the uprising and collect the taxes. One question i have about Basi is when is the best time to add teh duhat??
 

Excuse me i didn't totally understand everything that was being projected out of my computer screen as a result of the 'historical jargon' you just wrote, however I will answer a few of your questions..

BASI- 'British Association Of Snowsport Instructors' is an internationally recognised qualification allow one to teach worldwide to beginners and intermediates

I have personally done 2 out of three levels. Once I complete level 3 this will allow me to teach experienced skiers (such as yourself i'm sure) anywhere in the world. 

Regards

James

James,

Have you thought of doing this through a Wiki entry?  It would make it more accessible and available for future reference.

Um, what what is like? Never mind--just tell me! It's summer (almost), so I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to discuss what it's like. And, like, what it isn't.

Best regards,

Bob Barnes

Quote:

Originally Posted by jameswinter 

I did an instructor course for BASI levels 1&2 a couple of seasons back. I am looking to get into it as a career, however I am also willing to explain to people what its like, where the best places to go are, which companies to go with and any other questions so feel free to write on the forum and fire away!

Welcome aboard jameswinter.

I had a co-worker pass his BASI 2 last year.  I didn't get to hear about his experiences at the exams due to the visa situation.  Hopefully Sam will get to return this coming season and I'll hear that Welsh accent again.  Anyway, he was studying very intently for it.  I'm not sure exactly where he took the exams.   It sounded much less forgiving than the AASI exam system.  

Well I went with a company called Base Camp Group (they are an English company based in London).

They also do summer courses in other extreme sports such as surfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving, sky diving etc. etc...

Whatever anybody says about how forgiving/easy BASI is, I didn't care to be honest because my skiing improved drastically over the course of the season and it has allowed me to teach in snow-domes around England and also I am planning to do some teaching in the Alps this winter. 

It was the best experience of my life- to have amazing fun in a ski resort, whilst skiing 9-5 with some of the best instructors in the Alps. I was doing something constructive at the same time as having incredible fun. 

All I was saying is that I highly recommend it to whoever is wishing to make a start at becoming an instructor. 

You cannot do BASI in Canada, however they have CASI or CSIA- one of the two! This gives you the same qualifications as BASI, but it is a Canadian qualification.

Hope this helps...

James

Hi James,

Welcome to EpicSki!

Where in England were you thinking of teaching?

Up in Wigan as i have a friend up there who i'm going to do it with, but need to see how it all pans out with University results etc!

 Do you teach in England?

I currently live between Hemel & Milton Keynes, but work near Castleford.

jameswinter, How were the BASI technical exams??? What type of things did you have to do at each level? Was 2 much harder than 1? What tips would you give to someone contemplating doing it next season?

Cheers  

James welcome to epicski and best of luck with your ski instructing career!

This is in reply to 'Father Jack' and 'skinerd':

•  The BASI exams were harder than you may think, BASI 1 was more focused on your technique and BASI 2 was furthering your technique as well as learning how to construct and teach lessons.
• For me the teaching module was the hardest part as there were certain ways in which it had to be done.
• The fact that it was a bit harder than i thought it would be made it more comforting in that i enjoy a challenge.
• In level 2 you concentrate a lot on 'central theme' which is snow plough, plough parallel etc.etc.... This was equally the hardest part for me as your balance, your speed, your line etc. had to be perfect. I guess you'll find out for yourself when you do it! 
• So yes level 2 was much harder than level 1. 
• The tips i would give is to listen to exactly what your instructors tell you to do as they were very helpful and knew exactly what they were doing. And of course enjoy it!!! It is a once in a life time opportunity to do an instructor course (depending if you wish to take it on as a career) and you should take advantage of every second of it!
• The reason I chose to do a BASI exam was firstly because I wanted to do a course in Europe and secondly because I am British myself... It is also a world recognised qualification
• The reason I chose Base Camp was because:

- They only had a maximum of 8 people in each class (unlike everybody else who had a minimum of 10)

- They did 30 hours of coaching a week (everybody else had about 20-25)

- They organised nights out and other social events

- They were extremely organised and efficient with replying to queries etc. etc.

- For all of this extra, their price was very competitive.

- So chose Base Camp if you want to do an instructor course in Europe or Canada!!!

Hope this helps

James......

Thats Great thanks James

Think I'll do it if for no other reason than to improve my own skiing although I do enjoy teaching, which I currently do as my main job (not skiing) so if it goes well I might persue it further.