 Poster: A snowHead
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11 years since I did this course!
I have also done 2 'fresh-ups' which I think I have written about.
BUT..... Now.... The BIG NEWS.... I finally had time to do the part 1 of the next level 'Landes 1'... I'll update this with details further along the post...
Of course, there are some updates to the Anwaerter. A lot of terminology has changed (but I mention that on a post after a freshup) Since the pandemic all classwork and written testing is now online. These are a mix of live and pre-recorded via Zoom... and were not particularly impressive of captivating!
Now I can continue to take on the 'Alpin' off piste course and the 'Landes 2' - which I will fail!!! 
Quite a few people have asked about this course so I thought it might be quite a good idea to make a blog... so here goes!
Course Austrian Ski Instructor Level 1 (Anwaerter)
Aim To be able to teach for any Austrian Ski School (plus others that accept this qualification), from beginners up to carving turns (unlinked) on piste.
Organisation The Salzburgerland Berufsschilerher & Snowboardlehrer Verband http://www.sbssv.at
Pre requirements Over 16 years and to be able to carve both short and long turns.
Basic German (so they say)
For non Austrians, a proof of future emplyment at a ski school within the county you are being instructed by.
(some counties eg. Steirmark require a first aid certificate)
-----INTRO-----
I have lived in Austria since 2006 but still have very basic German.
This had been my main reason for not taking the course sooner.
On the http://www.sbssv.at website there is an advert for a pre Anwaerter German course. http://www.everything-english.at
Although no group courses were available I attended seven and a half hours of private tuition. This was excellent and I recommend it to anybody considering taking the Anwaerter.
-----DAY 1-----
16:00 start in the conference centre.
Quite an informal feel. Many Dutch and Austrians in attendance. About 150 in total.
We were then split into groups of approximately 10 people per group with one instructor.
My instructor speaks very good English and is very understanding to my lack of German. I have asked him to not translate anything and he has invited me to ask any questions I may have in English.
19:00 - 21:00
Evening lecture on Children's ski school.
This was in German 100%. Without the pre-anwaerter german course I would have been stuffed. I recognised a lot of vocab and even slides that we used in my german lessons. The lectures are directed by one instructor to the whole group in the conference hall in quite an informal style.[/b]
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 5-08-22 10:13; edited 4 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Nice one, will follow with interest. I was skiing with some kids today, one of them you may know, so was it okay to say to them "that if they don't keep their hands forward, that they'll always be crap skiers". On reflection I thought maybe I was a bit harsh,with your new found knowledge what do you think?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I like it!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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-----DAY TWO-----
This was the first practical day of the course.
The on-snow tuition was based around Ski Kindergarten.
Topics covered were:
Meet and greet (specifically for kids)
Schussing
Breaking
Snowplough
Snowplough turning
All of these were accompanied by many drills and games. The teacher spoke in German throughout and checked my understanding at times (in English).
The day also included the ‘competence test’. This was slyly done by our teacher when skiing to our teaching area and when skiing to lunch.
The first time he was just ahead of us and looked up to se what we were up to.
The second (on our way to lunch) he gave us some simple drills. These were mainly based on short radius turns.
At the end of the day we drilled linked snowplough turns and the kiddy games to help with this (Indians, planes, rowing with poles etc... etc..)
Lectures
The first lecture was about equipment, types and designs of ski and bindings. It was hinted that these would feature in the written test.
The second lecture was about weather, snow types and avalanche types/casues.
This time I had taken my laptop with me and had a wi-fi connection.... I am so glad I did as there was no-way that I could cling on to the german as so many new technical words were thrown about.
By using a bit of google translate and wiki (plus others) I kind of did my own research based on the topics (which I translated). This will certainly be the way forward for me!
Yesterday we were issued with a very thick folder for the lectures. For those that don’t know I used to be a teacher in the UK and know a bit about teaching and learning.... I wish these guys did!... tons of unused pages, no index, not in the order of the lectures, pointless images that are over copied, animated text on the power-point projector which bares no visual resemblance to the page in our book.
I have with me a beautiful book from the Steirmark region that a friend gave me.... it may be a good idea to nationalise the publication!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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flangesax, sounds pretty intensive. google translate is great. did you ever doubt Steirmark wouldn't be better at everything, Sie Ausländer!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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flangesax, bookmark www.leo.org probably the best technical and up to date dictionary on the net for German. The forums are great for discussing the "feinheiten" of nuance and appropriateness of specific translations. It is permenantly open in the background for me.
waynos, Google translates bloody sucks - it is horrendous as it does not analyse the character strings in context nor does it "learn" so each string is treated as a new job. Luckily so many non-specialists rely on it I have plenty of work to do
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flangesax, Can I suggest you make sure you make note of every time they hint that a list "may be in the exam" usually the final exam is just a selection of a standard few lists i.e. learning progression, FIS rules and environmental rules etc..
Also the Tirol Anwaerter only covers up to Plough - parrallel turns and it's left to the discretion of the ski school to let you teach higher levels. Carving may be a new thing, though at least a third of those on our anwaerters can't carve anyways.
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Samerberg Sue, can't use that whilst sitting in the back of a lecture theatre and trying to work out waht is going on on the bg screen!..... probably best for more 'static' translation though (although google is much, much better than it used to be... it actually compares your written text to books that have been translated by a human!)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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If it's anything like the anwarter I did last year in St. Anton, they give you a list of all the questions in the exam during the last lecture. Disappointingly no section on apres-ski though ...
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-----DAY THREE-----
The main focus of the practical today was the same as yesterday but based at adults.
Techniques and drills up to linking turns in snowplough.
The order of the day was...
Adult based warm up excercises.
Shussing
Snow plough position (stepping, jumping and sliding into it whilst static)
Shussing with snowplough brake.
Snowploughing in a straight line.
Big and small snowploughs.
Snow plough with a sudden stop.
Snowplough turn.
Linking snowplough turns.
At times we are also 'encouraged' to improve our own technique.... lots of short turn drills!
Lectures
The first lecture was about teaching and learning, group dynamics, pace etc.. etc..
The lecturer was very good and had lots of supporting video of teaching practise (good and bad).
Again the language is a huge issue (ie. my lack of it) and the lack of supporting documentation in this HUGE folder of ours is a bit stupid.
The second lecture was the second section to children's courses. I can't commednt too much about this as I skipped it due to a very, very active stomache and lower intestine!
I have mentioned that the projector screen goes so low that nobody but the first 3 rown can see it.... but TBH I don't think they really care... it seems they have to do their bit and present a lecture... you have to do your bit and turn up to the lecture (even if you don't understand it) and then you get your test.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The exam is pretty much pure common sense (at least the Tirol one was).
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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flangesax, sorry to hear you're not too well. "Kleine Ben" took a 20 minute dump in the skate park porto-loo this afternoon.
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waynos, nice!..... I wish mine would last that long!
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You know it makes sense.
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-----DAY FOUR-----
Today was the dreaded... Alpines Fahrvahalten (sp)...
This is the alpine basic position.
Stand ready to move in all directions
Parrallel stance
All joints (ankles, knees, hips and shoulders) are parrallel.
Ankles, knees and hips are curved inwards.
Upper body and shoulders are facing down the mountain.
In this position we then traversed in a curve dictated by the ski radius (if you got it right).
Then various drills based on this... lifting the uphill leg, sidestepping as you go, dragging the tip of the outside leg etc...
We then moved on to side slipping in this position, then traverse and slide.
Late morning was spent drilling linked snow plough turns for adults and a few 'teacher' drills for us... jumping short turns with your ski tips always on the snow.
The afternoon was spent doing teaching practise. A few members of the group directed shussing, snow plough and snow plough turns.
At lunch I had to explain the benefit of waxing and servicing your skis.... in German!!... this is classed as the 'entertainment' part of the course. These include group management at lunch time, warmup games, knowing the mountains around you etc.. etc..
Lectures
The first lecture was the second part of teaching and learning... more vids... more Deutch and more confused looks from me!
The second lecture was much more interesting... it was about nature and the impact of skiing and climate change.
I spent ages translating tons of words and phrases but it is pretty common sense stuff!
One interesting thing is that the snow machines cost €5 to make a square metre of snow that is 30cm deep...and 350ltr of water to make 1 cubic metre! So next time you see a mound of the fake stuff you can work out how much it cost!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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flangesax in response to the dry season Lech Zurs produced an extra 100,000 cubic meters of artificial snow over the season according to Osterreich (admittedly probably not the most authoritative Austrian journal... But I'd guess they got their figures from the resort).
About E1.5m extra on artificial snow? I imagine scale brings cost down slightly.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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clarky999, counter is facing OUTSIDE the turn with upper body/hips... this varies between uphill/sideways/downhill depending on where in turn you are and turn shape....
anticipation is facing downhill at end of turn so that legs will unwind as you said....
AIUI flangesax was doing the 'austrian position' thing in a traverse anyway... where the face downhill is same as "counter" (ie it is effectively teh bottom of the turn).... hence his description of traversing a "curve"
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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little tiger, cheers.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
AIUI flangesax was doing the 'austrian position' thing in a traverse anyway... where the face downhill is same as "counter" (ie it is effectively teh bottom of the turn).... hence his description of traversing a "curve"
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spot on... it is a position used to start in to traverse before a turn . start in APFH then straighten up lean forward and form a snowplough to the fall line, then bring up-hill ski in to make a traverse in the APFH again
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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also... it is not the whole upper body (poor description from me). Your ankles to your hips are curved inwards. Your shoulders and upper body is not directly facing down the mountain but is angled in the direction of the valley.
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----DAY FIVE----
Today represented quite a ground breaking epiphany for me.... I didn’t feel like absolute hell with upset stomach lvedetc.. etc.. and after begging for a fan heater for the room I slept well too!... why is this worth mentioning?.... because it meant it was the first day on the slopes with me in a confident and positive position!!
Yesterday we used the Alpine basic position (Alpines Fahrvahalten) to traverse.
This morning we were focussing on the carving grundstuffe (basic position) and from kurven to carving (from turning to carving).
We extended yesterdays excercises by standing forward to transfer weight back to both skis, slide the uphill ski out to snowplough, transfer weight to the outside leg until you are with the fall line and then keep the weight here and slide the inside ski back to traverse in the AFVH.
This maybe be known as Stem Christie turns but there was absolutely no stepping involved. Infact we were reprimanded (nicely of course) for lifting the uphill ski at all.
So those of you fearing the ‘Austrian traditions’ I think they may have been quashed.
We were not told to mention the specific weight division of the skis (except for 50/50 when in snowplough to meet the fall line). The main focus was to keep that outside leg weighted as much as possible and to let the uphill ski drift in whilst still grounded.
We then linked these turns together.
Time was also taken to teach how to get on and off the button lift. This excited me a little as we got the chance to talk to the lifty and get a couple of the practice button lift things (i am easily pleased).
We then practised this whole process with a member of our group being teacher, talking to the lifty and getting us all on the lift.
We also had ‘first aid’ today. I have put this in inverted commas as it was not really first aid at all.
In some counties it is a requirement to have a first aid certificate before doing the course but not for Salzburgerland (as the course description includes this). I am not sure if there is more to come but we were given a demonstration by the mountain rescue team.
They removed a boot, wrapped a leg, then the whole person in an inflatable splint. Then said that first aid packs should have a foil blanket in..... and that was about it.
This may have been new for some people but having been up a mountain with a bloke with a broken leg I have seen it all before
The rest of the day was spent with group members being teacher.... and I volunteered!
I demonstrated snowplough for kids from 4 – 7 years... all in German... and it seemed to go well! My instructor then gave me a quick Deutch test by getting me to make a pretend emergency phone call.
He said I passed the German – Hurrah!... but he won’t be testing me!
Lectures
Only one today. The second part of mountain awareness and avalanche risks and dangers. A pretty good video was used which I will try to hunt down. All pretty common sense stuff (to those weird enough to have any).
So all in all a positive day for me – I think I might get through this afterall!
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-----DAY SIX-----
Thngs are gettiong very, very 'springy' up at Leogang now. we only have about 1 hour of a compact piste. So this was when our instructor thought it would be a good idea to work on basic carving using the Alpines Fahrvahalten (as mentioned yesterday)....
This is quite hard work to meet the Austrian seal of approval. Any semi-experienced skier probably uses all of the techniques that this particular excercise (except the short period of snowplough) but when you break it all down to ensure a proper demo things get much more difficult.
The rest of the morning was spent focussed on kids drills for 'from turning to carving'.
We did so many little drills and games that it would take me ages to write them all down (and I can't be bothered... you'll find out why in a bit).
The focus with the kids was to get them skiing faster with shorter turns and teaching and then incorporating a hockey stop.
After drilling a hockey stop we started with a tight dual slalom.... then with a shorter slalom with a mound of snow at the end to hockey stop parrallel with.... in this excercise there was a fire at the end so we carried a snowball down, short turned in the course and then hocken stopped at the end to sprinkle all of the snow over the wide fire. This created the Alpines Fahrvahalten quite naturally.
We chased chickens....avoided wolves.....played statues.....put out fires.....were bulls.....steered a police car and then had lunch!
After lunch was a practice teaching test for 2 members. Adult Alpine basic position (AFVH). APFVH, then side-step in this position, then traverse, then traverse with little side steps up the hill, then traverse lifting the uphill ski. All done on both left and right hand downhill skis.
The second student taught the next progression of introducing the AFVH after a snowplough.
This was using a fan technique, so starting quite shallow in snowplough then riding out in APFVH.. then getting a bit steeper until skiing the fall-line.
Then start with APFVH meet the fall-line in snowplough and APFVH out to make a curve (traverse, turn traverse)..... this is what we were stuffing up ion the morning when linking them together!
Lectures
the first lecture was the order of tuition for adults. We have this massive folder and have also been given 2 very nice pocket books. These pocket books outline the Salzburgerland teaching progression.
The lecture was a bit wasted on me as it seemed just to read out and add commments to what was in this little book although it was re-printed in the folder....
I was a bit annoyed though as the teacher had an amazing piece of sofware that is from the official Snowsport Austria.
This software has all of the excercises and in what order they should be taught all with video support and fantastic simple german explanations in the video..... erm... hello... has anyone thought that it might be a good idea to sell this to idots like me?.....
The second 'lecture' was The Flower Party!!!
I don't get the name but it is was a lecture dedicated to the kiddies ski school award ceremony... including a dino mascot!
My group were chosen to have certificates issued for a fictitious slalom race (which i LOST) and went to the front of the hall to get our certificates etc.. etc... all this was accompanied by the expected music and celebrations.
We were also given a ticket to a free beer in the bar at half eight that night....
Well.... i guess they are being thorough in teaching all the students the art of apres ski!
All the old faves blaring out... schnapps everywhere.....alcohol poisoned 16 year olds falling their way though the bar to get to the loos....cowboys....swimming....bears and roads that lead to the country all features heavily....in fact I have escaped to write this!... sorry if it is rubbish... night night!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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flangesax,
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I was a bit annoyed though as the teacher had an amazing piece of sofware that is from the official Snowsport Austria.
This software has all of the excercises and in what order they should be taught all with video support and fantastic simple german explanations in the video..... erm... hello... has anyone thought that it might be a good idea to sell this to idots like me?..... |
Want me to ask my mate if he can get me a copy - I won't tell him its for someone else?
You may well have seen him, if not met him on your course - he's the Obmann for the SBSV Gerhard Sint.  Worth a punt I reckon as he keeps trying to get me to repeat my course cos they want me to run the ski kindergarten.
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Samerberg Sue, I'd be interested in a copy (if it's got pictures !)
flangesax, Sounds an interesting course. Is that job done or do you have another week ?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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the course ends on monday with the final ability tests... which may be a little interesting with the 'snow' conditions at Leogang!
Samerberg Sue, you may have to do a bit more than the Anwaerter to 'run' the kindergarten - I guess it depends what he wants as he is the boss!. I think he is about every now and then, in the mornings at the ski lift maybe, possibly.... e did introduce the course though.
Which school does he run?
The software is from Snowsport Austria but I think you have to phone them and order it when registered as a teacher - not sure yet!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Ta Sue!... I guess that you have a rung up being recognised as an official classroom teacher within the German system.
Don't worry too much - got enough people here to try to get hold of it.... it just seems that no-one actually remembers where it came from!
Gerhard hasn't been here - it was the head of education within the SBSSV that has.
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You know it makes sense.
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-----DAY SEVEN-----
A fantastic start to the day. Nice and sunny, warm and fresh air, busses pulling over to enable hungover teens to spew on the verge..... what more does one need in life?
Today was the start of the 'real' teaching tests.
As usual the first part of the morning was spent taking advatage of the freeze (yes there was a tiny bit). Short turns to warm up and then lots of 'from turning to carving practise' for adults.
I won't explain the APFVH, snowplough the falline, weighten the lower ski, bring the inside leg in and repeat.... again but we were drilling this using some different positions with poles and race gate poles. Putting the race gate pole behind your neck with your arms wrapped over it was an excellent drill. Then this with the pole behiond your back and your elobows looped over it. Using it in front of you etc.. etc... One group used a rope from one hand, over their neck and to the other hand and almost pulled themselves into APFVH position.
Next was the first practical teaching test.
Our group's instructor has now swapped with our parallel group's.
Nice bloke (already had a beer with him earlier in the week).
The first test was for kids. It was to teach Schuss.
A young girl did it (16 yrs) and her Dad is also in our group. She did pretty well being the first. The instructors give a little feedback after the practical but don't give you your score (from 1 - 10 the lowest being the best).
The second test was snowplough for kids - this time her dad did it. This is the one I fancied which worried me that I would get the stinking APFVH... BUT
After lunch there was time for 2 more practical tests. One was the APFVH with traversing. Then drilling on this by lifting skis, adding side steps etc... etc..
The next was Carving Grundtuffe. So starting in snowplough and then moving to APFVH by bringing in the top unweighted ski.
.....I was r4ubbish at this today. for some reason I could not weight the downhill ski enough... bending... pushing....farting... nothing helped!
At first this didn't worry me as it was only for teaching practice so I made a good subject for critique but then I found out that on Monday we have a real technique test.
The tests are:
Short turning
Snowplough turning (linked)
carving grudstuffe (the thing that I kept on spanking up!)
We will all be wearing numbered bibs and 3 teachers grade each run....
Lectures
Our first was in our small group and was just about how to present oneself as a teacher - ie. don't smell (which may be tricky).
The second was about skis school planning and ones rights as an employee etc.. etc...
In general I am still pretty positive. I am having a rather small kitten about the test on Monday but i'm sure I'll sort that out.
I can now also eliminate what teaching practises have been used from one I will be asked...
Tomorrow is written test day so I am going to swat-up on kiddy stuff, 1st aid and alpine awareness (whilst watching the snooker). Night night!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Keep up the hard work.
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Poster: A snowHead
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flangesax, sounds like an interesting course, good luck with the exams!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| david@mediacopy wrote: |
Samerberg Sue, I'd be interested in a copy (if it's got pictures !)
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I would appreciate a copy too (with or without pictures). Das Schilehrerbuch (as used by the WSSV) is quite good, but not all that great on excersizes...
flangesax, Good luck with the course 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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-----DAY EIGHT-----
The ski days are now mostlty dedicated to testing the students' teaching abilities.
TBH there isn't too much new to write... the morning was spent drilling the 3 practical elements (snowplough linked turns, carving grundstuffe and short radius turning).
We used some good techniques using 'stubbies' (hollow plastic tubes about 3 feet long). By using a couple of these and tying a dangling rope to both sides. This was a great drill for traversing and turning in the correct positions (moving one shoulder forward and dangling the other rope on the floor), plus walking the dog with a dangling rope etc..etc...
3 people were tested today (not me!)
The elements tested were Snowplough turning for kids, linking snowplough turns for kids (including the lift) and from turning to carving for kids.
I am having pretty silly problems biting my edges in and leaning forward enough in snowplough at the moment. I hope this will shake itself off but I really cannot find more weight to chuck on the outside edge when initiating a turn and seem to accelerate far to quickly (compared to the others) when meeting the fall line in a snow plough.... I know what to do (lean forward...even pressure from toe to heel)... but.t without going all knock-kneed and A-framed to find my edges I am struggling a
So at this point I feel it may be worth blaming my boots,skis, slushy conditions and... and... and....
Lectures
No lecture today but the first of the 2 test sessions.
These are multiple choice tests with 5 options.
You have to choose 2 options. You get a mark for each correct option but loose a mark if one option is incorrect (making that whole answer score a big fat nuffink even though containing one correct answer).
I like this!... certainly stops guessing.
The test was on alpine awareness/safety, first aid, ski equipment and technique with 3 to 6 questions on each.
I passed!.... in fact only about 8 people failed and even these were only one of the subjects listed. They get to re-take them on Monday. The test was pretty easy and in auto-translated English which was a bit confusing at times.
So.... tomorrow I will have my teaching test.
There are not many options left but some groups have repeated the topics so I am still not too sure what may be tested.
I am a little anxious as my German has nearly run out for the topics that remain.... still.... lets see what happens!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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flangesax, Good luck for tomorrow..
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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flangesax, Good luck Ben - hope the snow holds out.
Kitzsteinhorn is looking good but very very crowded mid-morning until around 2.30. Even the run down to Langweid is holding up well (bit stony near the chair back up.
Going back tomorrow for some more punishment! 
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flangesax, Good luck, interesting blog.
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flangesax, best of luck for tomorrow. I'm sure you'll be fine.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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-----DAY NINE-----
So.... today was my practical test day!
We started as yesterday.... a few drills and practises. Due to the high chance of rain we started the first practical test at 11:00am
I have detected a small level of 'gender preference'. It seems that the girls are always favoured for the children's practicals. This is a bit annoying as it is much easier to bluff kiddies German that adult's.
We knew that there were 2 adult tests and 1 kiddies test left to do and the first test was the kiddies one.
Once this was wrapped up it was time for mine!
I knew that I would have an adult test... about 10mins before the instructor let me know that it would be Edging for adults.... this included the dreaded Alpines Fahrvarhalten.
Thanks to the excellent pre-anwaerter German course (www.everything-english.com) I kinda had enough German to scrape through.... when I could remember it under pressure.
My group were excellent and really helped as much as they could. I think I remembered most of the drills and skied alrightish.
at the end the instructor called me over for a bit of a German session... mainly all the names of equipment. I knew most but couldn't remember buckles, baskets and grip.
He said it was Ok though so I think I passed... well I haven't been asked to do a re-test!
In the afternoon we did one more teaching test for the last person which was the next lesson from mine 'carving grundstuffe' basic carving.
This is a tricky one to ski properly as well as demo and teach. The guy did a good job though and speaks great English too.
Then more drills for the test tomorrow.
Lectures
Today was the last test.
It was on Looking after kids, general teaching, apline naturey stuff and safety.
12 questions, multiple choice and stupidly easy.
TBH too easy - which has annoyed me a little due to my masochistic nature!... I am not sure why I spent hours in a lecture theatre... trying hard to understand what was going on whilst flicking through a 400 page folder that will never be touched again just to answer questions like 'how do you ensure children's safety' 1)hit them in the face with a ski 2)stick a ski pole in their eye 3)dance with them in apres until 6pm whislt feediung them flying hirsch 4)take the phone numbers of their parents and inform them of the days activities 5)apply sunbloke and clean noses when required.
So tomorrow is the technical test day.
We all get numbered bibs and are split into 3 groups of about 40 people. Then are tested on snowplough turning, basic carving and short turning. we have to pass 2 of the 3.... I should pass short turning and snowplough turning, bit worried about the other one..... we'll see!
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.... thanks to all for the well wishes!... I hope luck doen't play apart but if it does then I jolly well hope it is of the positive nature!
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FAQ
I'm really looking forward to seeing your folder - have you thought that one of the skills may just be getting that bug sorted out? 
