A. wrote:
Hi,

I'm a computer developer in my early 30's and have become a keen skier
over the last few years. I read about the BASI GAP course a year or
two ago and became very interested in it. I've recently returned from
a week in Soldeau and had a chat with my instructor about the course,
which he strongly recommended, albeit he thought it was an expensive
option!

Okay, not to put you off but I would suggest that you not skiing
anywhere near enough to become an instructor. I've done the foundation
course. You have to be able to ski and demonstrate various manoeuvres
correctly from side slipping to snow plough to stem and parallel turns.
The exact techniques and methods vary as BASI develop their process.

Now lots of folks here will say, “hey, I can do all that and more”.
Well I can too, I can ski 50 degrees couloirs with sauté pedale turns,
powder snow and crust. Big deal, the BASI said to me, you cannot
demonstrate the above to the required standard… you will need a season
on snow practising these skills on a regular BASI, preferably with
regular reviews with a BASI trainer or instructor. There were other
people on the course, including a couple of Ski Club reps (who generally
are at the advanced end of skiing) and we, the better skiers, were all
told we needed a lot more time. Some guys who thought they could ski
were told much worse.

During the week we also had to demonstrate skiing and turning on one
foot on the outside edge, klammerswung and other turns. Now you have to
remember that you will really need BASI I to teach in Europe and earn
anything like a decent wage – between 15 to 20 K in a big resort with a
long season. BASI III will leave you taking kids classes during school
holidays, that kind of thing and you might be stuck in Andorra.

Okay so I’m sounding negative, well it is nothing compared to the
commitment you will have to put in to become a real instructor at your
age. It is not impossible but don’t forget that 97% of fully qualified
ski instructors (Eurotest standard) raced as children.

So what would I advise? Get 10 grand together and share a flat with
some people in a resort with a long season. Don’t become a ski rep or
chalet bunny because you won’t have the time. Get the BASI handbook.
Go out with a BASI instructor and get him to demonstrate the basic moves
needed for BASI III. Go out every day, have fun but practise what the
BASI handbook says. Next season, go on the BASI gap year course.

You will find that a lot of the people on the Gap year course are rich
kids who have been on skis since they were kids.

Other courses, well BASI is not an easy option. The Canadian and New
Zealand basic level courses are much lower stanards. We had a Canadian
'basic' instructor on our foundation course, she was told to have
another season on snow.

[r.s.a X-post removed.]