BASI Level 1
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:42 pm

BASI level 1

Everyone on the course was pretty nervous at the start of the week as they prepared for their first test – Level 1. The exam format is continual assessment meaning that they have the whole 5 days to show that they are at the level. This is a great way of running things as everyone has bad days and gives the trainees the confidence to push themselves and try new techniques.

Buster, our BASI trainer had come over fromItalyfor the week and was living in the hotel with all the guys meaning they could pick his brains in the evenings. However all the talk was f the weather as the forecast did not look good! Sure, enough we woke on Tuesday morning to mountains shrouded in cloud with high winds at the top and a ski area “geschlossen”!

However, there is quite a lot of theory to get through on the BASI exams so it was a good opportunity to get ahead and hit the books. With a day on the mountain lost Buster very kindly arranged to stay an extra day. So set for a Saturday finish the Friday night celebrations where put on hold but not for long and everyone got the good news by midday.

First tick in the Box

Welcome to Saas Fee
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:39 pm

The September start for the Peak Leaders course in Saas Fee  But the timing of this course gives the trainees the best chance of going on to find a job for the coming winter.

For the first two weeks of the Peak Leaders course it still felt very much like summer. In the town temperatures reach mid twenties by the afternoon, which means there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy all the summer activities available in mountains. The mini golf seems to be the favourite at the moment, which brings out everyone’s competitive streak!

However, each time you go up in the lift it is like jumping forward a few months to winter. September seems to be the tipping point in the mountains here, as the freeze/thaw cycle of the summer gradually gets buried under fresh snow.

The ski training first concentrates on creating good foundations, from which to build up to the more high performance skiing – the goal for the end of the course. Because the group has a wide range of abilities and experience, everything needs to get stripped back to basics. It can sometimes be hard to unlearn bad habits but it’s a process which soon shows signs of paying off.

Next week the trainees will be undertaking the BASI level one exams. This is a standalone qualification for teaching in the indoor and dry slopes in theUKhowever most people (and certainly our guys) are using it as a stepping-stone to the level 2, which is widely recognised throughout theAlpsand the rest of the world.

They will be asked to demonstrate their teaching skills on the basic progression needing to guide first time skiers up to parallel turning. New snow this week has made conditions on the perfect and we are hoping for a clean sweep!

Plenty to inspire…
Posted on October 31, 2010 at 11:02 am

Training has begun for the BASI Level 2. This next level will qualify the trainees to teach in most resorts throughout Europe and around the world. The focus shifts from teaching at a beginner level to higher end teaching and personal performance. With all the other training going on in Saas Fee at this time of year there is no shortage of inspiration to draw from. A fare amount of the slopes on the glacier are given over to race training, with teams from as far-flung as Kazakhstan coming to train. There have also been a few celebs from the ski world spotted, including Olympic gold medalists Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn. Saas-Fee has to be the only place I’ve ever been where wearing a cat-suit is cool!

For us Snowboarders and the freestyle skiers, there is also plenty to inspire (or demoralise, for those of us reaching our plateau!). Gone are the days when you could turn heads with a 360 or 540 – it seems these days you need to do a 1080 whilst going upside down ….twice!

Last week we had the Europa Cup Half Pipe event. This is probably Snowboarding’s 3rd division of events but the level was still incredible with teenagers throwing down runs which would have put them in contention for an Olympic medal just a decade. Next week we the FIS event (snowboarding’s 2nd division) is coming to town, which will no doubt be mind-blowing!

Kids these days…!

Powder!!
Posted on October 26, 2010 at 4:58 pm

Another powder day in Saas Fee for the Peak Leaders Instructor course.

This is the 3rd dump and its not even November yet. Good way to kick of the winter.
The group were studying their first aid course today so the instructors got a little free time to check out the F.I.S Halfpipe competitors in training.

and then get a few runs in the knee deep pow on the sides of the main pistes on the Saas Glacier.
At 3600m it will stay cold enough and the conditions here really couldn`t get any better.

Thanks to Craig from gitgo.ch for being on hand with his camera.

BASI level 1 complete and relax…
Posted on October 26, 2010 at 3:33 pm

The trainees have now completed their BASI level 1. The course is carried out over one week, with performance assessed over the duration – so, unlike some of the other instructor examination systems, it never comes down to a one run pass or fail situation. This gives plenty of time to work on personal goals and everyone showed real improvements throughout the week. The BASI examiners all remarked what a nice bunch the trainees were and what commitment they showed in trying to reach the mark.

When the results were in, 18 passed with 3 narrowly missing out. The unlucky 3 will now do a one-day re-sit in a few weeks time, which I have no doubt they will all pass with flying colours!

However, whether pass or fail, Friday night was time to celebrate! Everyone obviously had a bit left in the tank after a tiring week, as the well renowned Popcorn bar witnessed some pretty interesting dance moves! Needless to say the breakfast room in the hotel was deserted on the Saturday morning, everyone preferring a lie-in instead and/or nurse their hangovers!

The weekend off, gave some time to relax before stepping things up a notch, in preparation for the level 2. On the Sunday we had a little trip to Adventure Park which is still open at this time of year (at least until the snow arrives at resort level). This basically involves climbing around in the trees and swinging from ropes, before the finale: a zip line over the 200m gorge. Preston managed to capture the action on his iphone, which I’ve made into a little video.

Winter is approaching…
Posted on October 4, 2010 at 8:58 am

The end of the first week here in Saas Fee and ski and snowboard groups are making good progress. Often the first week can be the toughest as lungs get used to the altitude and legs get used being on skis again. But with a week to go untl the BASI level 1, things are looking pretty good!

We are in a strange kind of limbo between summer and winter at the moment. On a sunny day its still possible to get in a bit of sun bathing  (a popular afternoon activity with the group) and most of the summer activities are still available, mini golf be the favourite at the moment!  However as you go up the hill it soon becomes white, with the snowline already a lot lower than a week ago. This is great for conditions on the glacier which has already got a decent cover of snow after a hot summer.

It seems the groups’ thoughts are also turning to winter, with some of the guys already looking for instructor jobs. And there’s been some positive responses from Zermatt, Canada and even as far flung as Japan!  It seems the Peak Leaders office could be adding to their postcard collection this winter!