Course Summary
The Verbier ski instructor course runs alongside our ski school, and on successfully passing your exams, you will have the opportunity to work within our school to put your new qualifications to use.
Altitude is the most established and experienced BASI Gap Course provider in Verbier. Our team lives year round in Verbier and with more than 20 years experience running ski instructor courses in Verbier we are able to provide you with great accommodation, top qualified ski coaches and the best ski teaching job opportunities in Verbier.
Who is the course for?
Designed for skiers who want to experience an incredible winter season in the Swiss Alps, improve their skiing, meet like-minded people and achieve internationally recognised qualifications that allow you to work as a ski instructor in countries across the world.
Our 10-week BASI 1 and 2 ski instructor gap course is ideal for those who are on a gap year, career break, looking to improve your skiing or thinking about becoming a ski instructor as a new career, we can help you achieve your goals.
You must be at least 18 to apply to the course, with no upper age limit. All we ask is you are able to confidently ski a red run and have the desire to improve your skiing, train hard, and have fun!
Courses 22/23
Verbier 10 Weeks
- Qualifications: BASI Level 1 and 2
- Accommodation: Catered Chalet
- Duration: 10 Weeks
- Dates: 4 December to 11 February | 8 January to 18 March | 19 February to 29 April
Price
£8900
Verbier 10 Weeks
- Qualifications: BASI Level 1 and 2
- Accommodation: Course Only
- Duration: 10 Weeks
- Dates: 4 December to 11 February | 8 January to 18 March | 19 February to 29 April
Price
£4900
Grindelwald 10 Weeks
- Qualifications: BASI Level 1 and 2
- Accommodation: Hostel Style
- Duration: 10 Weeks
- Dates: 8 January to 18 March
Price
£6995
Verbier 4 Weeks
- Qualifications: BASI Level 1
- Accommodation: Catered Chalet
- Duration: 4 Weeks
- Dates: 8 January to 4 February
Price
£4995
What is included?
- Full season lift pass
- 10 weeks of training*
- Half Board Accommodation**
- Ski Instructing Job with Altitude***
- Off-Piste Adventure Day
- (New for 2022/23) Bumps, Freestyle, Race & Off Piste clinic’s
- Video analysis sessions on and off snow
- First Aid & Off-Piste Mountain Safety Training
- Optional ski specific yoga sessions
- Optional Fitness sessions
- Airport transfer
- ALL BASI 1 and 2 Exams and memberships fee’s
- BASI Child Protection Module
- 24 hour support in resort
- Ski maintenance clinic
- Career advice sessions
- Altitude Futures hoody
- Regular Team socials
- Ski servicing deals
- Exclusive Verbier Deals on skis, boots, goggles, helmets
- Pro deals with Rossignol UK
- Welcome drinks
- Team Photo
- Optional ‘Add On’ Heli Ski trip
- Option to extend the Course for non EU students wishing to stay beyond 90 days.
- * See our Typical Day for a breakdown of hours
- * Includes 70 hours of Ski School Experience
- ** Food 1/2 board from Monday to Friday
- ** Hostel Style in Grindelwald excludes Half Board Option
- *** Subject to an interview and EU passport
Anything else not included?
- Flights to and from Geneva Airport
- Insurance for your time in Verbier (including winter sports cover)
- Lunch each day
- Ski Equipment including boots, skis and poles (click here to find out what you will need)
Verbier
Accommodation
Grindelwald
Resort Information
Accommodation
a Weekly Breakdown
Week 1
Team building, assessment of your skiing and creation of an individual action plan.
Meet the Altitude Ski School team and settle in.
Week 2
First aid course and technical skiing development.
Improve your skiing in piste, moguls, steeps and off-piste
Week 3
Level 1 BASI Instructor Exam
Week 4
Ski the 4 Valleys
Off-piste training and technical development
Week 5 & 6
Practical ski school teaching experience working with instructors and clients from our ski school. In the case of a Pandemic these hours may be replaced with developmental tasks, and challenges to aid ski improvement.
Week 7
Work on your individual goals set by your mentor
Week 8
Final training before the level 2 exam
Psychological exam preparation
Week 9 & 10
BASI level 2 Ski Instructor Exam
Skiing Level
How good do i need to be?
If you’re considering joining our Level 3 or 4 work and train programs the minimum requirement is to have passed the technical level (or equivalent) of the below qualification. If you are looking to join our BASI 1 & 2 Ski Instructor Gap Courses, you will need to already have some ski experience. As a general rule, you would need to be able ski confidently linking turns down the fall-line of a red run. You also need willingness to try and improve your skiing in bumps, steeps and powder.
How long should I have been skiing for?
Generally speaking, you need to have about 7 weeks of skiing experience as a minimum, but this can vary from person to person. We’ve had people join us who’ve been skiing since they were 3 years old, and some who only started recently as an adult. There is no upper ability level for participating in the course.
Still not sure if you’re at the right level?
It’s normal to be a bit nervous about whether your skiing is good enough as joining the ski gap course can be a bit commitment, but we’re here to help. If you’re able to send us a video of your skiing we can let you know where we think you’re at. If you’re coming from the UK we’re also more than happy to meet you over the summer for a ski in one of the snow-domes or dry slopes and give you some one-on-one feedback on your skiing, with a few tips too!
Typical Day
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM (9am-12pm) | Piste Performance | Piste Performance | Practice / Rest | Piste Performance | Piste Performance |
| Pause (12pm-1pm) | Lunch | ||||
| PM (1pm -3pm) | Off Piste | Bumps | Teaching | Steeps | Bumps |
| Off-Snow | Balance and coordination | Video Analysis | Yoga / Stretching | Video Analysis | Video Analysis |
| Evening | Resort Staff Party Night | Optional Add On | |||
* The precise schedule may change slightly each year due to the holiday weeks and BASI exam dates, but the overall content will remain the same.
** The 70 hours of Ski School Experience might also be replaced in a Pandemic by other developmental tasks and challenges on snow.
What happens next?
Work after completing the course
On successful completion of the course, you will have gained your BASI level 1 and 2 ski instructor qualification.
Are you hoping to get a job after the course?
The Futures course is built by instructors for instructors and operates in conjunction with our ski school. Your coaches also work as instructors within our school, and their expert teaching knowledge is invaluable if you’re thinking of making the jump to ski instructing as your future career.
Unlike other companies in Verbier we do employ our own trainees and prioritize you over other applicants. Each season we receive applications from students who chose to train elsewhere and were disappointed to not get offered any work within the school they trained with.
Altitude Ski School has 7 ski schools in Switzerland and is one of the largest schools in Verbier. This places talented ski instructors who train with us at a huge advantage when it comes to finding employment after the course.
Please note until further notice only students with a valid EU passport will be eligable to be considered for a job after completing the course.
