Testimonials
"I got to ski in several of the most spectacular ski regions of Switzerland - if not the World (Saas Fee, Gstaad and Zermatt).”
more
Ski Academy Switzerland - About Us
Our coaching team possess great dedication and ability with experience teaching and examining at the highest level in Europe, North America and New Zealand. When you enrol with SAS, you can count on coaching that is customized to teach you the exact skills to progress and fulfil your potential. The coaches employed by SAS are English speaking (British); BASI and PSIA qualified and are members of the ISIA and IVSI.
Ski Academy Switzerland sets a very high standard and over the past five seasons we have mange to achieve a 97% pass rate on all our BASI and PSIA instructor courses
SAS is proud to be associated with BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors), PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors' of America) and USSA (United States Ski and Snowboard Association). SAS has many close links with European and USA Ski Schools and are always looking to improve world wide relations to ensure future employment for our trainee instructors.
James Wilkinson - james@skiacademyswitzerland.com
Director
James has been in the Snowsport industry for over 10 years and has built up a world wide reputation for his first class coaching and examining. He possesses international coaching qualifications and is also an alpine race coach. James set up SAS five years ago and it has gone from strength to strength. SAS is now the market leader for all year round ski instructor training programmes.
Sam Gibson - sam@skiacademyswitzerland.com
Ski Co-Ordinator/BASI Coach
Sam has a wealth of experience and knowledge from teaching all over the world. He has become one of the top coaches in New Zealand and Britain and possesses the highest qualification. Sam is a race coach, examiner and has competed at a high level. Sam will be co-ordinating all our BASI programmes and race training for PSIA students.
Jenna Barron
BASI Coach
Jenna is the newest member to the SAS team. She has been in the Snowsport industry over the last 7 years teaching at the highest level both in Europe and New Zealand. She has recently completed her international qualification with BASI. We're delighted that Jenna has stepped up to the challenge of SAS and brings a wealth of experience which will be of great benefit to the students. Jenna will be coaching the BASI students.
Iwan Fuchs
PSIA/BASI Coach
It's been a long time coming, but we have finally managed to get a Swiss coach on our team! 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.
Duncan Adamson
BASI Coach/Trainer
Duncan has been teaching and examining all over Europe for the past 10 years and more recently working as a ski school director and BASI trainer for one of the biggest ski schools in Europe. Duncan is at the very top of ski instruction and trains, assesses and examines ski instructors through all levels of Instructor qualification. This places him and SAS at the forefront of the coaching world. We are very happy that Duncan has chosen SAS to work for which will enhance the quality of our programmes further!
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. SAS is proud to be associated both with BASI and PSIA.
We will be offering the BASI Level 1 and Level 2 or the PSIA Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications, both of which allows you to work in Europe, Canada, USA, NZ and many other destinations.
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 (SNSC) is the National Governing body for all Snowsports that take place on snow and artificial slopes in Scotland and the UK. SNSC 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 acoss the UK and awards are valid throughout the UK.
The Ski and Snowboard Instructor Qualifications
PSIA
We offer the PSIA Level 1 and Level 2 certification. Each exam can be completed as a fast-track option which varies in length from 4 - 12 weeks. On all our programmes it is also possible to complete the USSA L100 coaching course as an optional extra. The above course will be on offer throughout the year.
Outcomes
PSIA Level 1 - The certification is designed for those wishing to find employment in a mountain environment teaching beginner and intermediates skiers.
PSIA Level 2 - Level 2 certified instructor demonstrates the ability to relate movements and skill areas to movement outcomes and to apply that knowledge to teaching sitiations common to Intermediate to advanced skiers.
BASI
We offer the BASI Level 1 and Level 2 qualification. Each exam can be completed over a 4-11 week period. We will be offering this during summer, autumn and winter.
Outcomes
BASI Level 1 - Successful students will be issued a certificate and be able to work within a controlled environment with novice and early intermediate skiers.
BASI Level 2 - Succcessful students will be able to ski a competent level, and have the knowledge, ability and understanding to safely teach alpine skiing up to and including parallel standard on marked pistes.
Snowsport Scotland
We offer the Alpine Ski Leader (ASL) award and Artificial Ski Slope Instructor (ASSI) which will be delivered throughout the year.
Outcome
ASL – The qualification is widely recognised throughout the UK as the most appropriate award for skiers taken sole charge of groups (often children) in the mountain environment.
ASSI – The qualification is designed to train and qualify responsible skiers who are primarily interested in instructing alpine skiing on artificial skiing surfaces.
Ski Coaching Qualifications:
USSA
We will be offering the L100 and L200 coaching courses during the autumn, winter and spring 2009/10. For more information please look under the 'Performance Courses' on this website.
Professional Development
We offer 1 to 4 weeks training available for ISIA/ISTD qualifications (BASI,PSIA,CSIA etc). Tailored programmes available from October to August:
- Personal Development
- Mogul Development
- Race Training
- Off-Piste Training
- ISIA Trianing
- USSA Level 100 and L200 courses
- PSIA Educational Updates (refreshers)
ASL/ASSI Personal Development Courses
Please look at 'Snowsport Scotland' section.