It’s, understandably, a really difficult time for ski instructors still working their way through the system to decide if they should keep on ticking off levels when working rights are still not fully understood – will the hard work, time and money pay off???
Three reasons you should continue with your goal of completing your ISIA/Level 4;
1) If you are looking to make a career out of ski instructing/coaching then there are still opportunities if you finish your qualifications. In Switzerland you can continue to work towards getting your level 3/4 qualifications recognised as a Brevet which offers a great rate of pay, and gives you the opportunity to work 90 days self-employed, without the need for a permit. It also gives you better chances of getting a permit for longer than 90 days if a ski school is structured in a particular way. There have been adverts from America with H2B visas being offered for level 3/4 instructors and you are more likely to get sponsored visas and higher up the priority list in the Southern Hemisphere and Asia.
2) If you have ambitions of being a trainer for future instructors, either assessing for an association of just delivering training privately the more qualified you are and stronger your skills set is the more opportunities will be available. Qualifications will also open up more opportunities in the ski industry globally, year round through clubs focused on competition, performance clinics for ski/board enthusiasts and other specialities such as touring. Finishing your qualifications will more than likely be necessary to put yourself in a position for these roles.
3) As Europe and the UK continue to decide and negotiate around new ways of working together, we are confident that there will be new pathways to recognition, and ways to pursue your career as a ski instructor. Putting your training on hold while you wait for clarity could make your journey more difficult in the long run, as you will need to train more to make up for the gap in training, skill regression from your previous hard work and getting started again may be more difficult with other life pressures and new commitments from being away from the industry.
If you have the commitment, ability and means to complete your qualifications, then now is the time to level up on skills and qualifications, so that when the doors open again YOU are at the front of the queue. There are no guarantees, but if you want to continue down the qualification pathway, then arguably, you should take advantage of fewer current working opportunities, in order to train and up-skill in order to make yourself more desirable for those that may lie ahead.
Why is this season an awesome one for you to level up?
* We can offer you a structured program with continuity and training weeks from November all the way through to the test date.
*It is awesome for you because it gives you the time to work on the fundamental changes you need to make, with practice time and technical sessions, whilst still getting the same volume in gates
* Exam dates are perfect this winter for you to take a structured approach rather than having to settle for a condensed program on the glacier this Autumn. Coaches can work with you to make significant changes that are less likely to be achieved lapping for a few weeks.
*You will be able to ski the areas where the race is taking place, in gates, in all conditions
*You can now truly combine your race training and technical training in one season and the two fully complement each other
*You can make your training more cost effective
How is this any different? …… Reduced time on the glacier
Glacier training provides you with an awesome opportunity to work on your fundamentals before the rest of the mountain opens up and makes complete sense in small doses or with an exam just around the corner.
With dates available later in the season it makes sense to spread your training to allow for more practice time in-between valuable training blocks with a coach or in the gates. You can keep continuity and consistency in your training right up to test day.
This season you can take more of your training to lower altitudes, and varying terrains, to accompany the fundamental skills and race fitness that you worked on up at 3,800 metres. The first Eurotest of the season was generally always in December meaning longer programs on the glacier were a necessity, but did come with their downsides;
* Higher altitude reduces volume and quality
* Less choice of terrain and means training can be repetitive (this is also a positive for foundation work)
* Big gaps between training and test dates leads to skill regression
* Missed training days are more likely
* Jumping into the gates at full pelt at the start of the season’s training can lead to higher injury rates
PDS program to pass – Zermatt 22/23:
Test dates targeted;
*ISIA speed test 26/01
*Level 3/4 tech 21/03
With the dates for the ISIA speed test being launched, we have assessed our program, and made the changes necessary to give you the best chance of success this winter. You now have the opportunity to join a team that will be working hard within a program designed to give you ongoing success, in both the speed test and technical exams. This program is designed to have you peaking at the right time for your exams with an appropriate amount of glacial training pre season to set the foundations for a program with strong continuity through each month of the season. You have the option of a 5 or 8 weeks program and these courses offer the best value and structure to give you the the best chance of succeeding.
Individual weeks Zermatt 22/23:
It is still possible to book individual foundation or test ready weeks if you are just starting out and want to try gates for the first time or you have already put in the ground work and you need an extra boost to get you across the line.
If you are keen to get involved in our structured 5 week race training program, and 8 week technical course, or you want to learn what we are doing week by week, then get in touch to chat around how we can develop a program that suits you. We also offer free strength and conditioning advice to ensure that you are ready for your season, and can get the best results.
