Ski Trainer Certification

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Summary

Length: four-day workshop, three-day exam

Certification resource: The NZSIA Ski Instructor’s Manual is required reading for this course.

Pre-requisites:

You must be an associate member or full member. Instructors wishing to enter the Ski Trainer Certification process need to be fully certified with NZSIA Ski Level Three Certification or have another country’s highest national ski instructor level together with a current ISIA card. (view the complete prerequisites and equivalency doc here)​

In order to attend the Trainers Certification Workshop, you must:

• Complete two of the following: Childrens Level One, Freeski Level One, Race One, a second discipline level one qualification (i.e., snowboard/telemark/adaptive/cross country), or foreign equivalent. Please note, only one second discipline is counted toward the qualification.

• Complete the current eLearning for the NZSIA Ski Level One and Ski Level Two Certifications.

Assessment Process

This qualification is split into a 4 day workshop with a 3 day assessment. The workshop includes modules on technical knowledge, clinic leading and analysis skills, teach-to-teach class levels one and two, trainer-level demonstrations and personal skiing improvement. Candidates are expected to present two clinics during the workshop and will receive peer and trainer feedback.

Assessment of candidates’ skiing includes all levels from straight runs, wedge, wedge-parallel, basic-parallel, advanced-parallel, dynamic-parallel, short turns, on and off-piste free runs, and varied all-mountain tasks. Candidates’ teaching and clinic leading skills are assessed via five separate means, this includes; a minimum 30-minute teaching progression presentation to the other candidates, a minimum 30-minute teaching models presentation to the other candidates, a minimum 30-minute personal skiing development clinic, a two-hour (approximately) skiing development coaching session and a skier analysis assessment session from video. The audience varies for each one of the 3 clinic presentations.

Testimonials

Name: Ashley Murphy
Course and Resort: Ski Trainer Certification at Coronet Peak

“Participating in this year’s exam was definitely a career highlight for me. Starting as a rookie taking my first instructing exam at Coronet Peak in 2004, I would never have believed I would be in the position I am now. The first day of this year’s exam the scene was set; good heavy Kiwi powder! This proved to be rather testing conditions by the time a drop in temperature firmed it up nicely. Luckily everyone was in good encouraging spirits. The Examiners did an amazing job of ensuring we were all as relaxed as we could be for the three days. I am definitely looking forward to being a Trainer and all the challenges and responsibilities that come with it, not to mention examining Level One in the near future.”

Name: Kirsty Hole
Course and Resort: Ski Trainer Certification at Coronet Peak

“I sat this exam with only three other candidates so the whole thing was shortened to just two days – what a relief! I think I was the most nervous I have ever been in my life leading up to the exam. But when it all finally started everything went smoothly because Gavin and Steph were really good, making the atmosphere as relaxed as possible. I’ve been working at Cardrona for the past four years and now I’m looking forward to taking CSI exams there next season. Woohoo!”