| Ranked Posts: 204 |
| UK - Northern Ireland |
|
 #18 Re: NZ instructor course! 16/03/2008 @ 20:46:35 |
   |
|
| Revision #1 (Last edited: 16/03/2008 @ 20:49:32) |
| In reply to post #16 ... |
i was of a pretty good standard of riding before i went out so level 1 was a breeze although if youve never done any teaching before its a bit of a struggle to get used to, that was my shortcoming, but you get plenty of practice throughout the course with mock lessons and all that jazz.
alot of the people on teh course were pretty damn shit at riding, and its had 100% pass rate this year so that should give you a bit of a boost 
definitely do the gap course, sure it costs alot but you stand a much better chance of passing because youre constantly being trained so youre prepared for the assessments rather than just doing a season and not knowing exactly what you need to fix in your riding and teaching to pass.
i found the level 2 not too hard because i was trained well by the guys at altitudes and my trainer pretty much told me i had passed on the friday of the first week so it was pretty stress free. for the crappier riders in the group tho it seemed like a nightmare, they were in a right state coming up to the end of the second week of assessments.
one thing i was told is that the NZ assessments are a bit dodgey because of the way theyre carried out. ie. BASI is continual assessment, the NZ one is like 'pull it off this one run and you pass, if not you fail' which seems a bit dodgey to me as you could get totally pressured into fucking it up.
anyhoo, ive got to pay the parents back 3 gs as they lent me half the money for the course and then ive got a years worth of student loans (7 gs) i need to erase aswell so ill be working at home till next season to try get rid of it all so im pretty much free to do what i want. ill be hitting up verbier again or America or Canada and then hopefully NZ in the summers if i can. |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 2988 |
| Sweden |
|
| #17 Re: NZ instructor course! 16/03/2008 @ 15:42:29 |
|
|
| In reply to post #15 ... |
Well done on the 2 matey!  |
 |
| I don't need to shout about what qualifications I have got and haven't got, I know I'm good! |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 39 |
| Northamptonshire |
|
| #16 Re: NZ instructor course! 16/03/2008 @ 15:25:04 |
|
|
| In reply to post #15 ... |
| Cool, sounds like you had an awesome man, so are you gonna be looking to start teaching now? How did you find the exams? What would you say the hardest aspect of the training is? Was there anything you would have done differently if you had the chance? |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 204 |
| UK - Northern Ireland |
|
| #15 Re: NZ instructor course! 16/03/2008 @ 03:54:18 |
|
|
| In reply to post #14 ... |
| yeah man, i just got back from verbier like 3 hours ago after doing a gap course with Altitude, it was a bit of an unorganised affair and it cos a fortune but as of yesterday im BASI Level 2 so im not fussed, i made countless friends out there and just being in a resort for that length of time training for the assessements with mates and top notch trainers is perfect. go for it. |
|
|
|
|
|
| #14 Re: NZ instructor course! 09/03/2008 @ 20:31:31 |
|
|
| Revision #1 (Last edited: 09/03/2008 @ 20:36:31) |
| In reply to post #13 ... |
You should be fine. Before the course I could ride all pistes and powder confidently, but struggled on the mogul steeps and my switch riding was poor. There were also issues with my basic stance, which was widened, lowered, and my highbacks cranked forward to allow me to ride heelside turns with my knees more bent. A couple of guys could ride all terrain well but with bad habits - legs far too straight, bent over posture, and couldn't really ollie - and they had to work really hard to pass the riding.
So the 6 week course is a lot more intense - they really push you in the first week, especially if your switch riding is bad or have problems with your basic stance on the board when you ride. If your legs are in good shape, you should be able to cope fine. The training is so good that I progressed more in the first 4 days than i had in my previous 3 weeks on snow with university trips.
Boy to girl ratio on the course was ok but not high - there were around 10 to 15 i think. Lots more in the queenstown bars though... |
|
|
|
|
|
| #13 Re: NZ instructor course! 09/03/2008 @ 15:00:06 |
|
|
| In reply to post #12 ... |
i'm looking at doing the 6 week NZ course, how good where you and the others who passed when you started the course - i can link turns on all pistes, mostly successfully in deep powder or v steep off piste, and can ollie and nose spin etc. im a pretty fast learner, do u thin kthis wud be a good enough standard?
also, whats the boy girl ratio like out there?
thanks |
|
|
|
|
|
| #12 Re: NZ instructor course! 25/02/2008 @ 12:56:27 |
|
|
| Revision #1 (Last edited: 25/02/2008 @ 12:58:19) |
| In reply to post #11 ... |
11 weeks gives you plenty of time to reach the required standard - if you can ride blacks confidently, and link turns switch at the start, you should be fine riding wise. If you work hard you can finish the course being able to ride switch better than you could ride normally at the start(!)
Most of the time is spent ironing out the bad habits. The 6 weeker is quite a strenuous course though - as you have to reach the same standard in half the time. |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 348 |
| Hampshire |
|
| #11 Re: NZ instructor course! 25/02/2008 @ 09:54:13 |
|
|
| In reply to post #10 ... |
its just a tough exam over 5 days.
it looks at both your riding and your teaching ability. you get all the help you can get from the examiners and the trainers on the course.
during the exam they are marking you on everything, and you need to be solid.
dont worry about it now though, 11 weeks is plenty of time, and if you work hard at it then no worries. |
|
| can we jib it? |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 39 |
| Northamptonshire |
|
| #10 Re: NZ instructor course! 25/02/2008 @ 09:45:51 |
|
|
| In reply to post #9 ... |
| yeah cheers, I was planning to get out there for around 14th june as i could do with getting a bit more experience before I start. So what makes the level one so hard then? Is it mainly about your ability to run a lesson or is it more about your riding ability? |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 348 |
| Hampshire |
|
| #9 Re: NZ instructor course! 25/02/2008 @ 09:22:00 |
|
|
i did the same course with those guys as well. they are amazing.
try and get out to NZ a bit before the course so you can get your riding legs back. the course if pretty intense and very hard work.
probably be better to get a board before you go though, there are some good deals around.
lke the guy said below, an all mountain freestyle is your best bet, but if you can afford 2 get a softer freestlye one as well.
the stage 1 exam is really tough. when we did it, less than half the group passed. queenstown has a lot of distractions!
i passed and was lucky enough to get a job in austria, but its tough in europe. it is easier to go work in the states, although there are changes afoot with the amount of foreigners they can take in.
good luck, have fun |
|
| can we jib it? |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 39 |
| New Zealand |
|
| #8 Re: NZ instructor course! 25/02/2008 @ 08:49:11 |
|
|
| In reply to post #1 ... |
This might help...
http://www.sbinz.net/courses/ |
|
Dougie da Freestyler/Freerider/Extremecarver
Swoard Extremecarver 168M
Neversummer Titan 156
Salomon Loft 153 |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 39 |
| Northamptonshire |
|
| #7 Re: NZ instructor course! 25/02/2008 @ 00:00:51 |
|
|
| In reply to post #6 ... |
| the course is around £5500, for 11 weeks. This dose not include flights so all in all it's quite expencive. Check out www.skiinstructortraining.co.nz |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 38 |
| Hampshire |
|
| #6 Re: NZ instructor course! 24/02/2008 @ 22:55:35 |
|
|
| In reply to post #4 ... |
| that sounds pretty cool, how much does it cost to take the course and what level of boarding were you when you started? |
|
|
|
| Ranked Posts: 39 |
| Northamptonshire |
|
| #5 Re: NZ instructor course! 24/02/2008 @ 22:46:08 |
|
|
| In reply to post #4 ... |
| Hey cheers for your advise. Yeah from what i have heard im gonna have a good time out there. I may well buy my board out there, then at least I will be sure to get the right one for me that way. Thats cool that there are job options in th US too, I would be well up for giving that a go should i pass. |
|
|
|
|
|
| #4 Re: NZ instructor course! 24/02/2008 @ 22:34:43 |
|
|
| In reply to post #3 ... |
I have done this very course last season with the ski instructor co. I did the 6 weeker, but took the same exams and modules as the 12 weekers. Your'e going to have a fantastic time!! The coaching, and life style out there is brilliant.
As far as equipment goes - your'e better off with the advice of the courses instructors (Ben and Chris) and buying kit out there - they can take you shopping for the right kit in Queenstown. One of the shops is also demoing bataleon boards in Queenstown too - so i'd demo a few of those for sure before buying...
Resorts are small, so most of the riding out there is slow speed and very technical - at the end of the course you will be tested on types of turns on and off peiste, various flatland tricks, do a lot of switch riding and ride slow speed beginner demos on nursery slopes, which decent freestyle boards are more suited to.
A few people last year arrived with unsuitable boards and ended up getting new ones within a few weeks. I'd avoid Jib or stiff freeride boards. The Uninc and Customs were quite popular - no one rode a longer length than 160 either. I'd get a board which is soft but can carve and still be pretty good in powder - as the heli-ski is the included highlight of the course - and is amazing.
Try to plan to stay on a few weeks after the course ends - if you are unlucky enough to fail the exams (which quite a few do - they aren't easy) at the end of the course you can re-take them at Cardrona the following week after the course finishes.
Once you get qualified - you can get a job pretty easily - loads of guys from the course last year walked into jobs in the states, and a few are now in japan too.
Most of your training should be at Coronet Peak. Youv'e got the remarks across the valley which you can ride on your days off - but i'd really recommend renting a car and getting to snowpark,Treble Cone, and Cardrona on your days off from training - they are really good resorts, with much better parks.
Taking a drive to Milford Sound (one of the most beautiful places you will ever see) is also worth it - especially if you appreciate good scenery. Get out and see as much of NZ as you can - because it's an amazing place - i have a lot of fond memories. |
|
|
|