Having suitable kit is essential if you want your skiing to develop, it is not all down to which pair of skis you are using. Below is a look at what other kit you will need to consider if you are looking into taking an instructors course.
Good fitting is essential and custom foot-beds greatly increase the response from your equipment. Make sure you carry out a shell size check to make sure you are in the right size.
We would recommend that you wait until you arrive in resort to purchase your boots. In Courchevel and Meribel we work alongside professional boot fitters ‘The Boot Lab’ who will be able to fit your boots perfectly to your feet and will be on hand throughout the season to help with any problems that occur as you wear and ski in your boots.
We generally find that boot fitters in the UK are less experienced at fitting boots, having had students on the course with boots that are for example, 3 sizes too big for them! They also may not have as many or sophisticated tools. A lot of our instructors buy their boots from boot fitters in resort.
Quick Check:
With the inner taken out of the plastic shell, place your foot in the shell. Place your toes to the front and you should not have more than 1 to 2cm of space between the heel and the shell.
Helmets are not compulsory but are strongly recommended. It is your individual choice whether to wear one during training. If you are wearing a helmet make sure your goggles fit your helmet well. Avoid embarrassing tan lines by having no gaps!
If you choose to ski in sunglasses for those bad weather days you will need goggles with lens Index 2 or less. If you choose to ski in goggles it might worth investing in a good weather and bad weather lens. Where students wear helmets, they must be worn with goggles and not glasses.
After the Official BASI GAP Course if you decide to carry on with your instructor training there will be various items that you will either want or be required to purchase one of which is: Avalanche Safety Equipment – You should NEVER go off‐piste without it:
If you already have any of this equipment please bring it along. If not, do not worry as many shops hire avalanche safety kit and also do some deals if you choose to purchase this whilst in‐resort.
In the past a number of students have arrived with older ‘carving’ skis. If the ski is more than 3 seasons old or has been skied for 8+ weeks you should definitely consider a new set. Ski geometry and technology is constantly changing.
During the course you will be skiing in a range of temperatures from ‐26 to +16! You will need to make sure that you have a good layering system so you can adapt your clothing whatever the weather. When shadowing lessons you may wish to follow the instructor’s example and wear warmer clothing than you would normally, as you will probably be less active than if skiing for yourselves.
Having a good season and enjoying your course is not just down to the time you spend on the snow. We have put together a short list of other essential items to make you feel relaxed and at home.
Personal Clothing
Bring as much as you see fit for 10 weeks. Remember ski resorts are casual. You MUST bring a second jacket. The jacket provided by New Generation is for training purposes only. In some resorts there are swimming pools so you may wish to bring swimming kit. Please bring your own swimming towel. There will also be opportunities to join in fitness sessions so gym/sports clothes should be bought with you.
Not all of our Gap chalets have washing machines in them but those that don’t have washing machines are situated close to a launderette so you will have no problems in doing you washing whilst in resort.
Footwear
In the past most students have got by with a pair of boots for snowy days and trainers the rest of the time. Make sure that your outdoor shoes have a good tread on the sole.
NB: You will not be able to wear outdoor shoes in the chalet so bring some slippers or indoor shoes.
Toiletries & Medicines
You can buy all of the essentials in the local supermarkets. But if you have any products that you can’t live without, then you might want to bring a supply. Towels in some chalets are supplied but best to bring a towel with you as well just in case.
If you take any prescription medication on a regular basis please ensure that you have enough to last for the duration of your stay plus some spare. Please mention this too your mentor as
soon as you can, if you feel it necessary. You may wish to pack some other medicines such as Paracetamol, Lemsip, Strepsils as these can be quite expensive to buy in France.
In addition to your insurance you MUST have a European Health Insurance Card: You can apply for this online at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en
or you can pick up a form from the Post Office.
Mobile phones
To make calls home you can buy phone cards from the local newsagent (for varying values, with a scratch off strip, enabling you to use a pay phone without having to carry lots of change. You can also look into buying a French sim-card for whilst you are in resort.
If you have a UK mobile that is unlocked then you can just insert a French SIM into your phone so your parents can call you on that and it won’t cost you anything. It is also useful when calling your fellow gap students during the course.
Something a little extra
There are always a couple of extra things that really help you trip:
Do I need to Join a fitness session?
The Gap course is a very intensive course and so a good fitness level is essential. Last year our Gap students had the opportunity to join in fitness sessions with our Level 3 Trainee instructors. In these sessions the students did anything from circuits, running, gym sessions to cross country skiing. Many of the Gap students that participated said that it had really helped them with their fitness levels and also allowed them to get to know the Level 3 trainees a lot better.
Do the chalets have internet?
Possibly our most asked question…
And “Yes – Of course they do!”
All of our Gap chalets will have free wifi for our students to use, there will also be many cafes and bares in town that will offer free wifi access.
Becoming a ski instructor may seem a daunting task and the variety of courses available certainly does not make it any easier, but here at New Generation we have over 10 years experience of running ski instructor training courses and during that time we have come across most situations, problems and variables.
We are available 7 days a week and will be able to guide you through all steps of the BASI system, at every level. So contact us today and find out more.
Note: If you contact us regarding a specific course we can also send you a full brochure, so don’t forget to enter your address details.
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