Course Features
- Training 5 days per week
- BASI level 1 exam
- BASI level 2 exam
- BASI child protection module
- BASI membership fees
- 2-day outdoor first aid course
- Freestyle training
- Race training
- Off-piste coaching
- Avalanche safety training >>
- Off-snow theory sessions
- Video analysis
- Breakfast five days per week
- Two-course evening meal five days per week
- Support team on and off snow
- Return transfers from Geneva Airport
- Les 3 Vallées full season lift pass
- Ski school shadowing experience
- Pre-course fitness programme
- Employment opportunities after the course >>
- Discounts on ski equipment
The Accommodation
Chalet Casse Noix in Meribel is designed to be the perfect retreat after a day on the slopes. The chalet is thoughtfully equipped. It has everything you need to relax, recharge, and share stories of your day.
Each of the 5 twin rooms comes with an ensuite. The chalet has modern appliances. These include a dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble dryer. The kitchen has all you need to cook and share meals on the chalets hosts day off. The ski room has boot heaters to keep your gear ready.
You’ll start your mornings with a hearty breakfast 5 days a week. And, you’ll unwind in the evenings with a two-course meal, also 5 days a week.
The chalet is 100 meters from the nearest bus stop. It offers easy access to the centre of Meribel within minutes. And, when the snow allows, nothing can match the joy of skiing back to your doorstep.
- Twin rooms all ensuite
- TV
- WiFi
- Dishwasher
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Washing machine
- Tumble dryer
- Ski room with boot heaters
Your Coaches
Course Structure
Week 1 and 2 - Fundamentals
Key focus – introduction to course content, personal performance
Central theme:
- Understanding the central theme and its importance to your skiing and teaching
- Analysing the principles of skiing and their practical application
Fundamental elements:
- Developing balance, agility, and coordination on skis
- Improving edging, rotation, pressure control, and timing
- Understand the relationship between outcomes and inputs when skiing
Performance templates for teaching
- Understanding and demonstrating performance templates for various skiing abilities
- Teaching the templates to students and analysing their technique
- Understanding the difference between, development activities and assessment (outcome) activities
Week 3 - BASI level 1 exam
Key focus – attend the BASI L1 exam
L1 assessment
- Understanding the BASI L1 assessment criteria
- Demonstrating the required skiing and teaching abilities for the L1 exam
Technical and teaching
- Further developing a technical understanding of skiing concepts and their application
- Improving teaching techniques for beginner and intermediate skiers
Week 4 and 5 - Development
Key focus – personal performance, off-piste and mountain safety skills
Increase speed
- Developing techniques to increase speed and control
- Understanding the effects of speed on skiing
Terrain change
- Learning to ski on different terrains, including bumps, moguls, and steeps
- Adapting skiing techniques to different terrains
Teaching sessions
- Developing teaching skills for different skiing abilities and terrains
- Planning and delivering effective ski teaching sessions
Mountain safety
- Understanding and practising mountain safety techniques
- Developing awareness and strategies to minimise risks on the mountain
Week 6 and 7 - Shadowing
Key focus – observation, developing teaching skills, structured practice
Group lessons
- Shadowing experienced instructors in group lessons
- Observing and learning effective teaching techniques
Private lessons
- Shadowing experienced instructors in private lessons
- Developing communication skills and personalised teaching techniques
Group management
- Understanding group dynamics and effective group management techniques when teaching skiing
- Developing strategies to engage and motivate students on the mountain
Training plan
- Developing a personal training plan to improve skiing and teaching abilities
- Identifying areas for improvement and setting achievable goals
Week 8 - shaping
Key focus – personal performance, delivery, exam preparation
Refine movements
- Refining skiing movements and techniques
- Developing precision and finesse in skiing skills
Accuracy
- Developing accuracy and consistency in skiing
- Understanding the importance of accurate movements in skiing
Consistency
- Developing consistent skiing techniques across different terrains and conditions
- Practising effective self-evaluation techniques in ski teaching
Exam preparation
- Preparing for the BASI level 2 exam
- Practising skiing and teaching techniques required for the BASE level 2 exam
Week 9 and 10 - BASI level 2 exam
Key focus –time to get serious
Under the watchful eyes of a BASI trainer, you’ll navigate technical and teaching assignments over this eight-day exam. The trainer will evaluate your ability to teach skiing to beginners and intermediates on marked and open runs, as well as teaching within the structure of a ski school. Every turn, and instruction you give will be observed so your trainer can provide constructive feedback in the form of a written action plan intended to help improve your performance as a ski instructor.
The course covers a variety of subjects over the eight days, including:
- Central theme, piste performance, bumps, steeps, variables and freestyle
- Technical understanding of the central theme and beyond
- Performance analysis of the central theme and beyond
- Communication skills
- Developing performance
- Match teaching to guest needs
- Teaching principles
- TIED and the use of teaching tools
- Lesson flow and content
- Climate setting
- Reviewing skills
FAQ’S
How good a skier do you need to be to join the course?
Any skier on the Meribel ski instructor course should be able to make linked parallel turns on a steep red in a three metre wide corridor while controlling their speed and be comfortable on all marked pistes.
Which is the best Airport to fly to?
Geneva Airport is the best airport to fly to as the transfer we’ll provide will pick you up from there.
How do you get from Geneva Airport to Meribel
Don’t worry, we do this part for you. We organise transfers from the airport directly to Meribel. We group students based on arrival times, so please note that you may have a short wait at the airport.
Do you need to be able to snowboard?
No, you do not need to be able to snowboard to pass this course. You only need to worry about skiing for your BASI Level 1 or 2. However, with this being said, most BASI instructors will also learn to snowboard as you have to complete a 2nd discipline as part of your BASI level 3 if you choose to progress with your ski instructor qualifications.
Does the course include a ski pass?
Yes, your lift pass is included in the cost of your Meribel ski instructor course, meaning no hidden costs.
Do you need Avalanche Safety equipment for the course?
Yes. To ski off-piste safely, you must carry a transceiver shovel and probe. If you don’t purchase avalanche safety equipment, you must hire it for the off-piste days. These aren’t included in the ski instructor course but can be added as an optional extra, or you can provide your own.
Do you need to speak a second language?
This course will be delivered in English. However, the better your language skills, the easier it will be to find work immediately after the course and in the future.
Will you get a job after the course?
Employment opportunities are subject to where your qualifications are recognised as well as your rights to work. Some ski nations accept lower qualifications than others. We run employment seminars to help you gain valuable insights into how to secure a job as a ski instructor. Once you pass your BASI level 2 exams, you’ll have the chance to interview for a position on our instructor team, with the possibility of working in our ski schools during the busy periods of Christmas, Half-Term, and Easter.
What Qualifications do our coaches have?
Our coaches are all fully qualified instructors. We use a mixture of BASI trainers and specialist coaches to prepare you for your exams fully. You’ll also spend time shadowing other BASI instructors.
What is meant by "the central theme?"
The central theme is BASI’s term for the stages of development used by ski instructors to progressively assist learners in their journey from beginner to advanced parallel skiers. You’ll learn about this development model in more detail with us out on the mountain.
Reserve Your Space
10 Week Course
Next Winter: 04 JAN 2025 – 15 MAR 2025