Testimonials
"I got to ski in several of the most spectacular ski regions of Switzerland - if not the World (Saas Fee, Gstaad and Zermatt).”
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Ski Academy Switzerland - About Us
Our coaching team possesses great dedication and ability with experience teaching and examining at the highest level in Europe, North America, New Zealand and Australia. We work closely with the United States Ski and Snowboard Association ( who in turn coach the USA Ski team ) whose philosophy is more about 'doing' and experimenting rather than standing around and talking. We bring these methods into the world of ski instructing and the results students have achieved has been second to none. Over the past eight years students have managed to acieve a 98% pass rate on the level 1 instructor courses and an incredible 100% on the ISIA technical module.
SAS is proud to be associated with BASI ( British Association of Snowboard Instructors ), PSIA ( Professional Ski Instructors' of America ), USSA ( United States Ski and Snowboard Association ) and SSS ( Snowsport Scotland ).
The coaches employed by SAS are English speaking: BASI, PSIA, USSA, APSI, NZIA, SSS qualified and are members of the ISIA AND IVSI.
James Wilkinson - james@skiacademyswitzerland.com
Director
James has been in the Snowsport industry for over 15 years and has built up a worldwide reputation for his first class coaching and examining. He possesses international race coaching and instructor qualifications through USSA, SSS, BASI and PSIA. James specialises in coaching the ISIA and ISTD students.
Jenna Barron
BASI Instructor
Jenna works for summit ski school during the season, but will be around to help out with the autumn SAS courses. She has been in the Snowsport industry for the last 10 years teaching at the highest level both in Europe and New Zealand. Jenna will be focusing on the instructor and internship courses.
Iwan Fuchs
PSIA and Swiss Instructor
Iwan run his own ski school, Severn Springs, which is located on the eastern side of the States. Iwan, who is orginally from Engleberg in Switzerland, is a highly regarded professional in Switzerland and USA where he has taught and coached instructors over the last 15 years. We are excited to have Iwan on board as he brings a very high quality of coaching and experience as both a coach and ski school director. Iwan will be showing SAS students the Swiss way to teach and ski which will be an extra asset when taking any PSIA or BASI exam.
Max Cook
APSI Instructor
Max will be working part time for Ski Academy Switzerland and for the Swiss Ski School in Gstaad. Max has done the last 6 seasons back to back spending winters in Europe and New Zealand and Australia. He is a top certified Australian ski instructor and will be stepping up to trainer status next year. Max will bring a whole new wealth of knowledge from down under!
Regina Wilson
Office Manager
Reg handles all the office administration. Reg has been working in the snowsports industry (also as a ski instructor) for over 8 years and pretty much knows everything about the SAS programmes!
About BASI, PSIA, USSA and SNOWSPORT SCOTLAND
The British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) and Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) are recognised worldwide as a provider of training and assessment of Snowsport instructors from all over the world.
BASI and PSIA qualifications are of the highest quality and they are part of the International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) which sets the standards for the training of Snowsport teaching professionals.
We are also proud to announce that SAS and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) will be working together to allow students the opportunity to take race coaching qualifications. USSA is the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding, and the parent organization for the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding. USSA Education is responsible for providing educational resources and opportunities to over 3,500 member coaches. A multi-level certification program provides training in sport-specific techniques and tactics, sport sciences, and sport management.
Snowsport Scotland (SSS) is the National Governing body for all Snowsports that take place on snow and artificial slopes in Scotland and the UK. SSS awards form part of the UK Snowsports Pathway. This exciting new development means that the same awards are given by the home nation governing bodies' across the UK and awards are valid throughout the UK.