 Poster: A snowHead
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From time to time someone posts that they are off to do an instructors course and needs suitable skis. Judging by the responses I am given to assume that the various courses require skis which are within the limits of a certain spec.
I have been sitting here wondering why? Surely if you are a skier decent enough to be contemplating an instructors course you must be able to demonstrate most things to a pupil on any familiar pair of skis, or is this not so? I can understand perhaps a wider ski if you are going to do lots of off-piste stuff, but there does appear, from what I read at least, to be quite a defined ski range for specific courses and I found this puzzling. Is what I assume correct and, if so, would someone like to explain the 'why' thing for the uninitiated please?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Some of this discussion was prompted by BASI initially stating that they were going to introduce a minimum radius (18m IIRC) for any course above a Level 1. The reason they stated for this was mainly one of safety I think, arguing that a very tight radius ski, say 11m, can result in a huge amount of pressure on knees if you are doing high speed short radius turns (which you do a lot of on the instructor courses). These high pressures can easily lead to blown knees if you get things wrong. After a lot of discussion it seems to have been decided to make this a guideline rather than a rule. A number of instructors, me included, weren't very happy with the proposed rule because it meant buying/renting another pair of skis, rather than using whatever we have already. So now the only exception to BASI giving a ski guideline is the rule that you must use a race ski when doing the Level 2 race coach assessment.
As for general discussion about "suitable skis" for an instructor course, most of us prefer to use something which is a bit of an all-round ski rather than a specialist off-piste or a specialist piste ski. This is because we are assessed in a wide variety of conditions and terrain. A ski which is very fat might be easier to use in the off-piste, but it makes it more difficult for the on-piste work we do. Similarly a race ski will be great for on-piste, but will make the off-piste a bit harder. So a 'jack-of-all-trades' ski is a good idea for instructor courses IMO.
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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 think the imposed guidline is a good idea. It seems importrant for me that an instructor is able to bend a ski and not just rely on putting on an edge to carve also they should have some idea what a faster ski should feel like maybe not so much for the level 2 (as this seems to still be demonstrating a basic all-round comfort) but certainly for 3 and 4 (forgot the acronims for them) this always seems to be a bit of an issue with british instructors especially those who learnt on dendex (me included)
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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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dulcamara, I think that was more likely to be the thinking behind the decision to impose a rule/guideline, rather than the safety angle.
Level 3 (ISIA) and Level 4 (ISTD) seems to be the preferred nomenclature these days.
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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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so can i ask, how do people feel about the new level one only on artificial rules???
I really don't like it. It just seems to make getting to snow longer and way more expensive, surely it would be better to have the option to go straight to snow or do a short course for indoor etc? is it just a way for basi to make more money and pull in more semi-serious instructors?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 8-09-09 23:06; edited 1 time in total
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dulcamara, ? I did my Level 1 in Val d'Isere. Has this been stopped?
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| dulcamara wrote: |
so can i ask, how do people feel about the new level one only on artificial rules???
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Quick check on the BASI website shows you can do Level 1 in Courchevel, Morzine, Hintertux, Val d'Isere and Zermatt.
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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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actually i meant you can only teach on artificial snow with your level 1, you need the level 2 to teach on a mountain, But gonna leave this conversation here
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dulcamara, how weird. What, like plastic's easier to ski on than snow? I'm confused. Mind you, as a lay bystander, a couple of BASI thing reported here have confused me.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think it is simply that the course doesnt cover all the mountain specific things like safety etc. You can use it in the snow domes as well. But in order to teach in resort you need your level 2 at least.
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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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dulcamara, BASI Level 1 replaced the old BASI 3 Training course. Under the old system you shadowed the lessons of qualified instructors before taking the BASI 3 test, now you are also allowed to teach beginners indoors during this period.
I'm not a BASI member but I can't see any downside of the change.
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| rjs wrote: |
| I'm not a BASI member but I can't see any downside of the change. |
I think that's right. No real difference if you want to teach on a mountain, but it now gives you a licence to teach indoors and plastic.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Megamum wrote: |
From time to time someone posts that they are off to do an instructors course and needs suitable skis. Judging by the responses I am given to assume that the various courses require skis which are within the limits of a certain spec.
I have been sitting here wondering why? .... |
Likewise I have been wondering why you are wondering. Are you thinking of becoming an instructor?
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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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rob@rar, rjs, ok, that makes sense.
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Poster: A snowHead
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achilles, Nope, no intention whatsoever, I was just in a pondering mood  They question is often asked and it just seemed an odd requirement, to me at least.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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erm, actually the old basi 3 is now the level 2 FYI.
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