Méribel, in the heart of the Three Valleys in France, is SnowSkool’s base for its European snowboard instructor courses. On this course, instructor trainees will go for the the snowboard qualifications of the British Association of Snowboard Instructors (BASI). The course provides training up to the BASI Level 2 standard. Armed with this qualification, candidates can teach snowboarding internationally ... and because snow school work experience is a requirement for all BASI courses (even at the lowest level), BASI qualifications are very well respected by the International Snowboard Instructors’ Alliance (ISIA).

BASI Level 1 Snowboard Instructor

This is a 5-day course during which candidates are assessed on both their technical riding ability and their newly acquired teaching skills. Candidates will need to demonstrate that they can plan and teach snowboard lessons to beginner snowboarders ... and in terms of your snowboarding, candidates must be able to ride confidently on all red runs and demonstrate the ability to link small radius turns with good speed and control. If this isn't enough, candidates need to complete the Safeguarding Children Module, a 2-day first aid course and 35 hours Snowboard School experience before they are finally awarded the qualification by BASI. All this is included within the SnowSkool package.

SnowSkool BASI Level 1 Snowboard Instructor pass rate: 100%
Available on: All SnowSkool France snowboard instructor courses.
Employment: On all artificial and indoor slopes worldwide.

BASI Level 2 Snowboard Instructor

The ten-day BASI Level 2 snowboard instructor qualification - a completely different beast to the Level 1!!. This is where you need to be going if you want to make a make a career in snowboard instructing. First of all, you need to do another 35 hours work experience with a registered Snowboard School (this is factored into the SnowSkool snowboard course timetable). You can then take on the BASI Level 2 snowboard instructor course - candidates will need to demonstrate that they can snowboard confidently on a variety of terrain; steeps, bumps, and freestyle. They must also have the knowledge, ability and understanding to teach snowboarding in a variety of situations, adapting the lessons to the varying needs of the client.

SnowSkool BASI Level 2 Snowboard Instructor pass rate: 95%
Available on: SnowSkool France 11 week snowboard instructor course.
Employment: All countries (including France with Test Technique, albeit on skis!)

BASI Freestyle Coach Level 1:

This three-day course allows SnowSkool students to gain their first freestyle coaching qualification - a great additional qualification to have on the CV when applying for snowboard instructor jobs worldwide.

Candidates for this course must be able to cleanly link carved turns on blue terrain, ride switch linking turns, perform good ollies & 180s all ways on the piste, straight air a small kicker (4-7m) and 50/50 a box. By the end of the course candidates will be able to design & deliver a well structured coaching, introduce people to performance snowboarding, understand different methods of rider analysis and be able to prepare people for snowboard competitions.

All in all they’ll be well on their way to becoming a full on shred sensei!

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