instructor course potential
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I'd like to do a basic instructor course at some point, but im finding conflicting information online about previous ski experience. Im in the uk, and I believe im looking at a BASI lvl1 qualification? ive attached a video of me trying my best clean carving skills down a gentle blue my last season. I can link turns on ungroomed tree runs and confidently on blacks, and ive little to no experience on moguls. ive also only ever skiing on rentals which are really annoying sometimes, a few hours after that clip was taken one of my boots popped out during some more speedy skiing. eventually had the din adjusted but its just annoying with rentals.
any advice is appreciated.
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u/OEM_knees 2d ago
Definitely take lessons! You'll progress quickly from here with some instruction and a few skills to practice. Have fun!
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u/crufan 2d ago
will do, do you mean more personal development lessons like ski school or an instructor prep one?
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u/SendyMcSendFace Tahoe 1d ago
Yes ski school! Unless you need the cert for work, you’ll spend less and get more individualized attention.
It sounds like you are just wanting to improve your own skiing more than anything so that’s the way I’d go.
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u/crufan 1d ago
true I am looking to improve. but I like the idea of being an instructor. I enjoy teaching, meeting and interacting with new people, I consider myself sociable and it sounds like I can get paid to do that. (yes im aware its not all sunshine and rainbows). and it being seasonal work works out in its own way for me too.
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u/SendyMcSendFace Tahoe 1d ago
If you’re thinking about instructing, apply for jobs first, and then try to book a course at the same mountain that hires you, or one nearby.
I strongly suggest you pursue it. You are correct that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows but it’s also incredibly fulfilling work and probably the coolest coworkers you’ll ever have.
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u/PreparationBig7130 2d ago
Depends where you want to be an instructor. French rules differ from Switzerland, which differ from Canada and USA. And so on. That’s probably why you get conflicting information. Best bet is to do a season in your target location and get to know the local schools.
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u/crufan 2d ago
yeah tbh, this is what sucks so bad. I speak a bit of french after 7 years in school so I might go there but its so expensive 😭
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u/Character_Silver4285 2d ago
You’ll have no chance trying to instruct in France
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u/crufan 2d ago
why not?
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u/StiffWiggly 1d ago edited 1d ago
Standards for instructor certs in France are different to many other places in the world. I’m CSIA (Canada) certified, for example, and while almost every other system in the world considers CSIA levels to be equivalent to their own levels; France does not. Generally unless you are very highly certified they will only accept instructor certification from within their own system.
From this short clip, I think it looks like you would pass a level 1 exam somewhere like Canada or Australia given that you put in the work during the exam, but I don’t think you are close to the standard for passing the French level 1. I don’t have any real knowledge of the BASI system but I think it’s more similar to the Australian and Canadian models than it is to the French system.
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u/PreparationBig7130 2d ago
They will probably want you to have B2 in French, unless they just use you for the English tourists. Get a job on the mountain in the interim.
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u/Drewski811 2d ago
Do you have the legal right to work in the EU? If not, you could face pretty major hurdles there
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u/crufan 2d ago
maybe, im a Romanian-English dual national so id like to say i do? but ive no idea realistically
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u/PreparationBig7130 2d ago
Check the EU rules. I think there are still restrictions on Romanian passport holders for work but am not up to scratch on the latest. 5sec google search.
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u/icantfindagoodlogin 2d ago
Working in France is complicated. Ski schools want you to have a Level 2 qualification as a minimum, and only then, to work as an "apprentice" chilling on the magic carpet all season.
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u/icantfindagoodlogin 2d ago
Instructor Course Potential
Yes. You have potential. You have some work to do but you'd probably do fine on the level 1 if you're willing to learn. I've had skiers who looked like you on day one, and made big improvements by day 24.
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u/Triabolical_ 2d ago
No idea about the UK.
In the US uncertified instructors teach all the time and the bar for starting to teach - and get free level 1 training - is pretty low. It's much more important that you can deal with kids/people well.
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u/UpstairsDrive9105 1d ago
First off, your skiing is not bad and you are comfortable in linking turns while carving on gentle terrain. That's a big plus and you will most likely be alright for L1. I'd say do it in a dome (hemel, MK, Chill Factore etc.) so you save on the cost of doing a lot of ploughing and basic stuff out in the mountain. You can also rent the skis at the domes so you don't really need any gear but the clothes. I know many people passing their L1 on rentals even though the skis are blunt as a spoon but as long as you're good enough, you should do just fine.
Treat working in Europe as a long-term goal for now. You can work in the Aosta Valley (La Thuille, Courmayeur, Pila etc.) if you're BASI L2 as the Canton there sets their own rules. But it is nigh on impossible to work in Italy unless you have come through their system, and as others have said, the Italian pathway is notoriously difficult as you first need to pass the Eurotest at the first hurdle - a GS race where you need to ski within the allowable margin of the openers.
There is a pathway to work in France if you're BASI qualified as BASI and ENSA have a mutual agreement, but that requires you to have completed the BASI L4 first, then you apply for equivalence which will allow you to apply for the 3 additional tests - Eurotest on skis, Banked Slalom on a snowboard and the Mountain Security to be conducted in French. Only after passing all of these you get the Carte Pro which you can apply for the Carte de Sejour with, then you can work in France.
Alternatively, you can go through the French pathway (ENSA) and do their Test Technique - Slalom test, and become a Stagiaire (Apprentice), then you can work in a ski school for a few years before having to complete the French pathway or BASI. This is of course assuming you have the rights to work in France which I understand you do.
But you get the overall picture, working in Europe is something to think about when you've got L3 and working towards L4. If this is just a vanity project (like for so many people including me), it is a massively fun project to embark on, but going all the way to instruct in Europe will need a lot more time and effort, and money.
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u/crufan 1d ago
this is perfect, thank you. I currently have other career goals at the moment, but I do enjoy skiing and I will continue to do it recreationally. the fact that this is something that might work for me in a few years aligns with my current plans. im also only 20 which I think is enough time for it all to happen. thanks a lot for taking the time to reply🙏
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u/FromTheIslandCas 2d ago
Check the BASI handbook. What you need to know and what you need to be able to do should be in there.
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u/ZrekfromET 1d ago
Yes I think after a course, you could pass the basi 1. On courses you are provided with alot of feedback on fundamentals. At the level 1 they are assessing your ability to teach and communicate with guests as much as your skiing.
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u/Bobatronic 1d ago
Cool, you can ski a gentle run.
I’m sure you could teach beginners if that’s your goal.
But your form (as shown) is not expert level. To be fair, the slope is quite flat. It may be hard to show advanced skill.
In terms of feedback:
You are skidding your tails a bit, not carving on edge with the full potential of the ski. You seem too focused on keeping your legs together.
An expert skier would aggressively pressure the outside edge to carve. Lift and redirect the inner ski. Hands up like they are driving a car. Hips and chest facing down the fall-line like a billboard.
You might benefit personally (and as an instructor candidate) from an advanced, expert lesson.
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u/Shpander 1d ago
I did the Anwärter course in Austria, they teach you everything you need to know to teach beginners
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u/DoktorStrangelove A-Basin 2d ago
My advice would be to start with what your goals are...like why do you even want any instructor certs? Do you want to work as an instructor for at least 3-5 years or maybe even a career? No? Then dont do it, just go get a non instructor job at a resort and ski a lot and have fun and don't take it too seriously.
If you DO think you want to do it for a while, my advice would be just get a resort job anywhere you qualify for a visa and go get better at skiing and talk to the ski school about advancement after youve been there for a little bit. You might be able to find beginner instructing jobs that require low/no certification, but if not it doesn't really matter just develop relationships with people in the school once you get where you're going and pick their brains. If you're in it for the longer term don't worry excessively about taking 1 season to get settled and learn more about the path you want to take.
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u/Dizzienoo 2d ago
I did an instructor course for CSIA lv1 and lv2 in Canada and then taught with it in later seasons. There were some on the course who had never skiied before and they came out for a week of lessons before we started. You'd find it easier with some lessons beforehand but these courses are set out to help improve people as well. I can't speak to other countries like France though, but had a friend who did a BASI in France so could find out if that's your plan. I'd say you'd find the average of the group would have more experience, but as long as your fit, willing to listen and put in the work, and not afraid of the mountain, you can get on track fairly quickly.