BASI level 1 wtf????

A snowHead

stab, yeah 50 CHF per night isn't bad at all. Is it near to where all the restaurants are? Didn't you get it through a mate though, not through the tourist information website or anything?

I am sure that you will be fine. I didn't realise that you were completely self taught. Do you know any BASI L1's out in Switzerland at the moment?

A snowHead

Wayne november.

VolklAttivaS5 I dont know anyone basi anything, maybe some of the english ski teachers are but like I said before, skiing pfft. Actually I forgot, I've been telling a lie, I did have a one hour lesson years and years ago, maybe 97 or something on a dry slope, wasnt fun.
That apt was through the website, quite a few in that price range, I just chose close to the lift for convenience.

This thread is awesome, it answered everything I was spazzing out about.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Ok. If you did know one I was gonna suggest that he/she just quickly ran through what sort of things are taught "the BASI way" so to speak so you could get a heads up like before the course. Probably similar to what you do on your board anyway I'd have thought....dunno.

Glad we have all helped to alleviate your concerns Toofy Grin

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stab, fret not! Laughing

Now I hope you don't think I'm being patronising here, because I can tell you're a good boarder and all that, and I'm no expert meself mind, I only just started boarding recently, but a BASI lady taught me who was L2 I think....anyway she was very good. In my quest to find you some info on what sort of thing they might be looking at for you to be doing I found this:-

http://www.snowboardcoach.co.uk/firstpage.htm

This company is owned by Ash Newnes who is a snowboard BASI Trainer and, he could well be the chap who will be taking your course, I don't know who's running it. He can ski as well because he is ISTD (International Snowsports Teacher Diploma) but boarding was his thing from the start rather than the other way round, or so he told me anyway, I asked him that when I saw him at Tamworth Snowdome recently.
If you have a look at the first page, there is a diagram in the top right corner of the Fundamental Elements. I couldn't see the writing so well, but you might be able to magnify it or something on your pc. It says the sorts of the things that the Fundamentals are so you can compare with your own riding and what you do now, I expect that is what you do now anyway, so you might be surprised.

Hope that helps, it's not a lot just a straightforward diagram but thought it might help a smidgen and give you a slight insight.

Oh, go goofy if I was you if that's your natural stance. Then you can start as you mean to go on.

Oh by the way what was the name of the apartment you found off the tourist information site then?

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Besides, we don't know it is Ash who is going to be running your course. It will be somebody though..... Laughing

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stab, cheers. Will have a look at that one as well then.

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stab, oh. So are your feet like practically near the ends of the board? Are you duck as well? What angles?

cant remember, 18 - 15 I think, my feet are as close to the ends as possible.

You know it makes sense.

stab, ah ok. I've set mine as +15 -15 for the minute, I haven't used my board yet and didn't care what the angles were when I was being taught on the rental board, they were duck though, probably about that I expect. Am trying board on 30th Nov Toofy Grin

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

stab, isn't it uncomfortable having your legs that far apart when you bend your knees? I can't imagine it feeling comfortable unless my binding positions are set as if I was a goalie ready to catch a footie if you get what I mean?

A snowHead

How the heck can you read the stuff on that picture? I've tried all sorts but can't make any of it out apart from "Fundementals" and "head in direction of travel".

A snowHead

Swirly, I've got a job to read it too so that's why I said to stab to magnify it on his pc or something. I think I can guess what it says though from my BASI workbook which lists the fundamentals in there so I will have a look tomorrow, it is probably similar I'd have thought. Will post then. Going to ski show now.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I blew it up and potatoshopped it, I cant make it all out but from what I can I know the style of riding they mean.

VolklAttivaS5, I dont find it uncomfortable at all, I even think it's better for ice and all that, more pressure on the edge but that's just my personal theory. The only downside is powder but real powder days are so few it doesnt bother me to have a hassle for those few days a season.

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stab, I tried that still can't read it. Right I'm guessing (clockwise from bottom left):

Weight on balls of feet (not toes)
Knees, (something head???) over toes.
Head in direction of travel
WTF
WTF
WTF

I am kind of interested in this thread as a change in direction and complete waste of the PhD. Laughing

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

3 days to go Shocked

This 35 hours thing is still bugging me. On the pre course bumpf I got it says ski school experience can range from observing lessons, taking bookings or admin to equipping clients with clothing/skis etc.
What kind of ski school supplies equipment? I've never heard of it. I wonder if I could combine my normal winter job (rentals, eating cake, services, smoking around the back, abusing people) and somehow get it signed of by ski school? Would that work? Obviously combined with some lesson observing with the ski school, I will find it hard to do 35 hours of observing with a full time job as well. My plan is L2 by next winter.

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stab, The ski school at snowdomes all provide kit. I know at least one 'proper' ski school in France also hires kit (regardless of whether you take lesson with them). I found the shadowing really useful, although at the start it did seem like a monumental pain in the proverbial.

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stab, Good Luck !

After all it is free

david@mediacopy, thanks, quietly nervous now, dunno why, it's just snowboarding, it's not like it's brain surgery. I'm just packing, figured it better to do now at my pace than doing it like a spazz on sunday. I never realised how much gear you need for a week away Shocked

Maybe I'm going overboard, I can only guess it on what I wear in a week normally, 2 jackets, 3 trousers, 10 socks, helmet, back protector, warm gloves, 4 hats, thin gloves and 2 goggles, not including normal clothes. I'm worse than a woman Laughing

I was taking 2 pairs of boots but thought if I'm getting wet boots in late november then there surely is something wrong with the world and global warming will kill us all.

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skimottaret, I won't take a crap without wearing my back protector, to be honest I don't notice wearing it and it gives a bit of warmth, feels weird without it now, like something is missing. Plus you look Gnar in the pub Laughing

The helmet is coming but might not get used, or maybe it does, I put in stealthy earphones a while back. wink

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stab, You'll be cool. The trick is to listen to the feedback and change your riding "on demand", demonstrating improvement through out the week Laughing

IIRC you get a second go with the teaching session if it doesn't go well 1st time round, but it's pretty straight forward.

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Is it frowned upon to skip lunch and go board on your own? I'd hate to be in zermatt a week and not get any boarding in.

stab, all down to energy... with your age you shouldnt have a problem but it reminds me of a story that my L2 trainer told me last season... she was doing an L2 ski course and had a couple of gung ho young un's who would skip lunch and go ski off piste. While she was eating she got a call as they were "lost" and werent sure what to do but could see the restaraunt. She left her lunch a bit annoyed and had a look. turned out they were down a gully that turns into a several hundred metre cliff drop. she called a helicopter and went back to finish her pasta Laughing

and the lads got air lifted out.... not sure if they passed the bit on adhering to the skiers code wink

You know it makes sense.

skimottaret, hahaha. I won't be doing that, glaciers scare me most of the time just on piste. With my age Laughing

I expect to be the oldest. Embarassed

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

You should only do an instructor`s course if you are committed to teach, and not as a badge to show your ability . If keen to help others learn, join your local ski club , get involved at your local facility and do a Snowsport England Club Instructor course leading to ASSI. It`s not a glamerous as snow teaching but will test your commitment, communication skills , clear demonstraions and inventiveness.If you can consistently get people to have fun, and to learn safely, you have the attributes to go forward.
The BASI system is expensive but is now regarded as one of the best in the world for learning outcomes. If you want to teach in FRANCE go through the french state system , which is cheaper and quicker, but still with the speed test for the top level [ equivalent to BASI 4 ISTD].All the European cartel nations, including Austria, has a speed test. Switz is outside the equivalence cartel.

A snowHead

aaaarrrggghhhhhhhh. I don't really want to slag off basi just before I rock up at one of their courses but aarrrggghhhhh. Getting drunk and brewery spring to mind. If I was uk based I would be exploding at someone right now.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

tbovey, stab lives in Switzerland so doing an ASSI through Snowsports England on a dry slope in the UK is not really the easiest route for him. That's why he is doing the L1, CP module and First Aid course all in Zermatt.

stab, what's the aaaargggghhh and stress about? Puzzled

Just go and do the course and all will become clear! You can probably ask the ski school you work for after you've passed the course if they will count some of your everyday duties you will be doing anyway towards your shadowing hours, because yes, strictly speaking the ski tech stuff etc does count. If you want my advice though, do as much shadowing of proper lessons as you possibly can and try and do some of the teaching yourself (whilst the instructor who you are shadowing supervises you so to speak). It is quite surprising, although it seems like a bit of a pain to start with, just how much you pick up from doing this after you've done the L1.

Could be, you might go on the L1 and afterwards, think nah, it's not for me. Even if you do so it will give you structure for when you teach a friend or relative to board in the future if nothing else, even if you don't pursue it you'll meet other people and stuff, so....

david@mediacopy has good advice. Just do what they tell you to do. Simple. The teaching bit is not difficult, you only have to teach "a bit" of a lesson anyway. Very Happy

Good Luck

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deep breath deep breath, smoke break.

"hi, I sent an email to you but I get an auto response"
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"but I just get an out of office auto response"
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"but like I said, auto response"
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"yeah great, I will, kthxbye" rolling eyes

awesome

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stab, think you're taking more boarding gear for a week than I'm planning for a season!

Good luck and let us know what they expect from you as I'm still thinking of doing it at some point.

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After all it is free

stab, on the first day they will go round the room and ask you all your reasons for going on the course/ask for a bit of background (it's very short though!!) so just tell them that you work in a ski hire shop now or whatever, you've done a bit of teaching here and there for family and friends and you want to find out if teaching boarding long term is for you.

Which is basically it ain't it?

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stab, man, you need to chill and go and enjoy it!

Help!!

BASI level 1 wtf????

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