 Poster: A snowHead
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| Mollerski wrote: |
| As a demonstration. Our daughter's long term B/F also qualified as an L2 ski. He worked one winter with https://www.leselfes.com/ and that was it. He then spent a further 6 years earning very good money as a barman in Verbier with accommodation provided, skiing as much and as often as he wished. Was his qualification a waste of money? It was his ticket to Verbier which opened other doors for him. |
thats also my point. Do an instructor course, work a little ob fit and then check out what you want more , and how you get it
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| turms2 wrote: |
| Mollerski wrote: |
| As a demonstration. Our daughter's long term B/F also qualified as an L2 ski. He worked one winter with https://www.leselfes.com/ and that was it. He then spent a further 6 years earning very good money as a barman in Verbier with accommodation provided, skiing as much and as often as he wished. Was his qualification a waste of money? It was his ticket to Verbier which opened other doors for him. |
thats also my point. Do an instructor course, work a little ob fit and then check out what you want more , and how you get it |
Yeah, except you don't have to drop lots of money on an instructor course to live in a ski town and network. You want to network get a job in a bar or with ski patrol. You also don't have to work as a ski instructor to work out what you want. Again it's not a hard question - do you really enjoy teaching and are not bothered about sacrificing personal ski time - instructing may be for you. Do you just want to ski as much as possible and/or don't have a strong desire to teach - there are lots of other job options.
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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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| Quote: |
do you really enjoy teaching and are not bothered about sacrificing personal ski time - instructing may be for you
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That’s the key!
For thos enjoy teaching, that’s a satisfying job. Moreover, once you get up to a certain standard of teaching, you may get to roam the mountain with your clients. That’s both skiing for yourself and seeing your client enjoying it as well. I’ve known a few instructors who really enjoy it. And I must say I enjoyed it when I did it.
But, having to be out on the nursery slope when there’s powder up high, because your client don’t know how to ski powder just yet, that can be frustrating. And, having to be out there even when it’s pissing rain because you’ve got a lesson booked. Those are the lower points.
On the balance, I gave it up. (Having already a “proper career” that pays was also part of it)
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@swskier, yeah we're looking at those euro options but tbh l think my son's language skills add a further challenge. I have heard from a couple of people with positive experiences of the Japan and Canada options. Thanks for your note.
@Kenzie, thanks for the link -- will definitely check that out!
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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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@daleh,
Plenty of roles in Europe where the only language skill required would be English.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@daleh, Interski in the Aosta Valley is built purely on teaching English schools groups.
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@daleh, I've forgotten if it was mentioned earlier, is your lad planning on doing the BASI L1 or L2 course?
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Read some of this, i started out teaching then realised a) I didn't enjoy it and b) I wasn't patient enough to persevere with it. I shadowed on Patrol for a week, loved that as the clients tend not to complain hahaha and then did 5 seasons back to back as a ski patroller. Plenty of ski time, lots of new skills etc so that's another avenue to explore.
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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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My daughter did the RYA sailing instructor training at 16 and was really dedicated to instructing. Now a senior instructor. She was not interested in dinghy racing, fine tuning rigging etc, much preferred to take out a nervous child who had been pushed into it by a pushy father, and bring back a child who'd been out on a trapeze for the first time. Or a nervous adult. She's had a career in education ever since. There are several ski instructors on SHs who really are dedicated teachers and take huge pride in the strides made by their charges, even if by their own standards they've had a very limited day, in poor conditions. I've skied with two of them.
I don't much like the implied scorn here for people for whom that makes for a thoroughly satisfying day! Even if you just do it for a bit, then go on to do a degree or some skills training and get a "proper job", it's worthwhile.
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| Origen wrote: |
| I don't much like the implied scorn here for people for whom that makes for a thoroughly satisfying day! Even if you just do it for a bit, then go on to do a degree or some skills training and get a "proper job", it's worthwhile. |
Agree totally. It IS a proper job and those who are gifted at it and derive genuine satisfaction from helping the rest of us progress are a blessing.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Origen wrote: |
| I don't much like the implied scorn here for people for whom that makes for a thoroughly satisfying day! Even if you just do it for a bit, then go on to do a degree or some skills training and get a "proper job", it's worthwhile. |
The “implied scorn” is reserved mostly for the parents, I think.
The kids probably know if they like or dislike teaching. But since Mom/Dad is paying, why not? They get to ski one way or another.
Those who enjoy teaching is going to have a whale of a good time. And they’re most likely the ones who got job offers at the end of the course and continue down that road. The rest, they got free skiing holiday at the minimum. Mom and Dad also have a fixed budget instead of an open-ended expense account if their kids gone to some other kind of holidays for a year.
About the only “false advertisement” is probably the ski improvement part. It’s not the best way to improve. But improve they will. So let it be.
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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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@daleh, You seem to have your heart set on the gap year programmes but as a ski instructor who has helped dozens of skiers through their instructors exams I would highly recommend having your son do an L1 course in the uk or alps before he goes off for a season. Will give him a good flavour of what is to come and he will get an honest appraisal of his current skill level. Listen to the folks on the thread who have had their kids do the training and ignore the ones saying that teaching kids is a rubbish "baby sitting" job as many on this thread would indicate... It's great fun and very rewarding... My daughter did her L1 at 16 and L2 before Uni, decided not to pursue more instructing courses but it was the catalyst for her to live in the mountains now permanently.. Couldnt think of a better thing for an 18year old to do for a year !
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@skimottaret I actually don't see the point in bothering with L1, why not just do L2 from the get go? Is it significantly more expensive?
My daughter worked as an L1 ski instructor for 2 seasons in Verbier. I'll add that she is also L2 snowboard qualified, but the L1 ski gave her more work. Certainly she taught little kids to ski and there were a lot of loo trips also. However, she had 4 years experience as an instructor under her belt before she became L1 ski qualified, working for the school which trained her for L1 with the promise of continuous work.
A newly qualified L1 gappie is going to be the 'floor sweeping' apprentice, IF they manage to secure any paid work at all.
Your daughter's career path sounds similar to mine, but is that not now much more complicated post Brexit etc.?
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
ignore the ones saying that teaching kids is a rubbish "baby sitting" job as many on this thread would indicate... It's great fun and very rewarding
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It's great fun and very rewarding if you enjoy teaching and have the skills to be good at it.
For me teaching kids would be an absolute nightmare, and I'll happily admit I don't have the patience or caring side to do it and would be terrible. I would spend the day looking agonisingly at all the slopes I couldn't ski. I'd honestly rather work a dead end evening job and ski all day.
I've seen enough 18 year olds (mostly guys) finish their course to then be extremely disappointed they are stuck on a nursery slop "babysitting" kids. It wasn't what they expected and frankly most didn't have the interpersonal skills or even really the desire to teach. Which is my point, some honest reflection and thought and they could have realised it's not the best choice for them and saved them time and money. Unfortunately many had to stick it out as their employee lift pass was tied to their job and it was too expensive to buy a new one (this getting "trapped" working for a resort is definitely not uncommon in Canada).
I don't think anyone has said teaching is an awful job nobody should do. Simply you need the right skills and personality for it. Depending on circumstances (i.e. wanting days free to ski) there are potentially better suited jobs for many.
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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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| Mollerski wrote: |
| @skimottaret I actually don't see the point in bothering with L1, why not just do L2 from the get go? Is it significantly more expensive? |
Because without a L1 you can't do a L2??
Or am I misunderstanding the way you've written that sentence?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@swskier, You're correct. Sorry. Milli did her 1 and 2 in a 10 week block and I'd forgotten that one had to follow the other. It was 10 years ago. 
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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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@Mollerski, yes, a L1 pass plus subsequent shadowing/teaching hours are required before a L2 course can be taken.
Which is why doing a L1 in a snowdome is so worthwhile, as you get it done cheaper and get it out the way, plus you get an idea whether or not teaching is for you, albeit in a controlled area, snowdome or dry slope, and then a pre season L2 course before working the winter.
The gap courses provide a good structure, and hopefully the coaching means you improve enough to pass a L2, but if you're already a good skier that could pass a L2, in my opinion they're a waste of money.
I've written in a few places, you can be L2 qualified for around £3k depending on where you live relative to where L1 courses take place, and then how much you want to spend on hotels and travel for the L2. Or you can spend c.£9k to do a Non stop L1 & L2 gap course.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| swskier wrote: |
| Mollerski wrote: |
| @skimottaret I actually don't see the point in bothering with L1, why not just do L2 from the get go? Is it significantly more expensive? |
Because without a L1 you can't do a L2??
Or am I misunderstanding the way you've written that sentence? |
If you have race experience you can go in at L2 or L3 with BASI.
The french system is the same. Probably other countries too.
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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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@swskier, Going back to my comment however, is does doing L1 and L2 together not make sense? L2 is way more use to a prospective future employer and the additional cost pro rata isn't great.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Mollerski, depends how you're doing it, because you have to do 70 hours shadowing/teaching in between a L1 and L2. So either way there's a gap between courses.
If you live near Hemel for instance, you can do a L1 with BASI or IASI either Mon-Fri, or over a couple of weekends. You've only got the cost of the course and lift pass, plus whatever your commute is. Then between your L1 and L2, you do shadowing, and teaching, and almost immediately start earning money with your qualification, and gain an understanding of whether you like teaching at all. Then do a L2 a few months later in the alps.
It's a much cheaper route than doing L1 and L2 together as part of a gap year course, plus you'll have an idea whether to even bother with the expense of the L2 as you'll have some shadowing and teaching experience.
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How do we feel about coaching qualifications? My son has zero interest in teaching beginners, but seems to enjoy teaching more able people.
He is 14 so could start doing some of the coaching qualifications under the Canadian system, even though he wouldn't be able to coach until he's 16. I think it would be worth him doing the qualifications, even if he never gets to use them, as he might have a use for them one day and if not it would hopefully increase his understanding of the theory and mechanics behind what he does.
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@daleh, the option of doing the Canadian or BASI route in U.K./Andorra and then working there too gets around the need for an EU passport and language problems as there’s enough English speaking guests. Your son could do BASI L1 in England soon and get his shadowing hours in. Then do L2 in Andorra in December before the season starts properly and be working by new year. This option could cost less than £2k in course fees with probably another £1-1.5k for lift pass, accommodation, travel and food.
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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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@doddsie, unless he has done a lot of club racing I wouldn't think he would get much if any work as a young coach. The BASI and Irish coaching modules have been seriously dumbed down. The CSCF is great and if he wants to work in a club environment SSE is good as well.
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| RAHS wrote: |
@Mollerski, No, you seem to think that our children want to be ski instructors. Mine doesn’t. It’s a nice way to do a gap year - nothing more. My son could have chosen to volunteer somewhere or do a scuba diving course, but he didn’t. He chose to spend some time in the mountains. The ski instructor course route enables him to earn a bit of cash whilst he’s on his working holiday visa.
CSA
What is it that I don’t want to hear? |
The thing is, how much did it cost him to do the course and will the bit of cash he earns make a dent in that? I am guessing not and that he will end up very out of pocket?
I did three seasons in my youth (pre Brexit obvs), two as a barman and one as a rep. I got to "ski" far more than any instructors and always felt like I had made the right decision on a powder day when I was ripping it up and friends were on the nursery slope*...... However, i stopped after three seasons as i couldn't see future so "came home for a career", some of those friends are still out there teaching.
When I got back, three seasons was one season too many for a lot of interviewers in the engineering sector and it was harder to get a job than I would have liked (and lead to a summer as a scaffolders lad, quite the eye opener even after all my uni holidays being in a steel fab yard)
*After the first season, I did sign up to the local race training outfit in which I trained a lot with ESF stagiaires going for Eurotest, people going for their test technique, in order to ensure I progressed as after the first season I was "strong" on skis but definitely missed some technique. Despite a lot of my second season being lost to injury, something a lot of seasonaires don't consider, I came out a better overall skier than a friend who did instructor training to CSIA LV2 and taught a couple fo seasons, though he looks better doing drills!
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FAQ
