My first season with Altitude (ISIA Level 3 training) by Luke
Having just completed my BASI Level 2 course and spent two and a half months in the mountains I wanted to make the right choice to grow into the role of a ski instructor and carry on improving my skiing and teaching. I loved my level 1 and 2 training and I wanted to learn more.
So what next? I had several options and luckily for me I picked the right one. I chose to join ALTITUDE in Verbier to have my first season as an instructor and be trained at the same time for the BASI Level 3. The season has been unbelievable and we have had the best snow, since I arrived on December the 2nd.
TRAINING ON THE ISIA COURSE
From the moment I arrived I knew I got it right. I was met and introduced to the Ski school team and we were straight into level 3 training. During the season I have had over 200 hours of instruction with a great group of people. The trainers are awesome! they were patient and experienced and I definitely feel that I have improved in both skiing and teaching. I can honestly say that their enthusiasm for skiing, the mountains, teaching, and having a lot of fun, has sold the winter in the mountains life to me.
I am now at home in the Altitude family. More importantly though, I know I can be a great instructor. They have taught me that everyone learns at different speeds and reacts to different coaching. I love this, as they have really managed to understand what makes me tick and how to best improve my performance.
Below is a photo from one of the best days of the season – One piece decent day (an excuse to dress up and ski round all the bars with all your friends).
TEACHING ON THE ISIA COURSE
During the season I have also had loads of time to improve my teaching. The ski school have been very generous to me with clients and I have had a mixture of children and adults all with different abilities. It is amazing to think that at 19 years old I am getting the responsibility to teach young children how to ski! I love it! What a buzz to see how they improve from the start to the end of their weeks. Sometimes it was tears and tantrums but smiles and fun have always won! Watching people enjoy themselves has been awesome.
SOCIALS IN VERBIER
Ross, Sammy and Harry (our coaches) also took their training responsibilities in pub Mont Fort very seriously. After a large amount of training and practice I now feel very capable of heading to the pub without the trainers and even helping others from the ski school on how best to enjoy the Après/Nights out.
I am working over Easter and then I will have to leave Verbier. Luckily, I have improved enough to head to Austria and do my level 3 exams with BASI. I hope to return to Verbier next season as a Level 3 instructor and continue the mountain life. ( WHICH HE PASSSED BTW – EVEN THOUGH HE WAS INURED – MASSIVE RESPECT!)
Thanks to everyone at Altitude
