SnowSkool operates ski instructor courses in two resorts in Canada – SnowSkool Banff and SnowSkool Big White. On these programmes, the schedule is geared towards the Level 1 and Level 2 ski instructor exams of the CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance). The CSIA is an active member of the ISIA (International Ski Instructors’ Alliance) which attempts to provide clarity on the equivalency between the CSIA and the other nation’s ski instructor regulatory bodies. In short, the ISIA tries to tell us whether the CSIA is better than BASI (UK) or NZSIA (NZ) or PSIA (USA) but unfortunately, the equivalency standards only kick in at higher levels so are pretty irrelevant for SnowSkool courses!

CANADIAN SKI INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS WITH SNOWSKOOL

CSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor

This is a four-day entry level qualification. Candidates have to meet the skiing standards as well as the teaching standards stipulated by the CSIA to pass the exam. Holders of the Level 1 are certified to teach skiers up to intermediate parallel skill level.

SnowSkool pass rate: 100%
Available on: All SnowSkool Canada Ski Courses
Employment: In Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Japan, UK (snowdomes & dryslopes) and the USA

CSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor

The CSIA Level 2 exam is also split into two parts – skiing and teaching. It is a five-day exam and, in order to succeed, candidates must show focus and development throughout the whole ski instructor course. In practice, successful Level 2 candidates will be expected to teach intermediate skiers, effectively analyse their own skiing and to work on terrain adaptation (teaching skiing in difficult conditions and on all terrain). The CSIA Level 2 ski instructor qualification represents a significant step-up from the Level 1 qualification.

SnowSkool pass rate: 87%
Available on: SnowSkool Banff 12 Week, SnowSkool Big White 11 Week
Employment: In most countries (ex. France and Italy)

CSCF Entry Level Race Coach

The CSCF (Canadian Ski Coaches Federation) Entry Level Race Coach qualification is open to those that have their CSIA Level 1 ski instructor qualification. It is a three-day exam during which you will work on improving your skills through the gates (both slalom and GS) and learning how to pass on these skills to beginner racers.

SnowSkool pass rate: 100%
Available on: SnowSkool Banff 12 Week, SnowSkool Big White 11 Week
Employment: Along with CSIA ski instructor qualifications.

CSIA Snowpark Certification

This qualification is basically a freestyle ski coaching qualification and so you will be taught how to pull various freestyle skiing moves: switch skiing, various grabs, 180s and 360s and how to grind basic rails. Perhaps more importantly, you will have to demonstrate an ability to teach these skills!

SnowSkool pass rate: 100%
Available on: SnowSkool Banff 12 Week, SnowSkool Big White 11 Week
Employment: Along with CSIA ski instructor qualifications.

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