Switzerland: Zermatt Ski and Snowboard Instructor 10th Jan - 21st March 2009*

Zermatt - the best European ski resort in 'Where to Ski & Snowboard 05.' Zermatt has an "unbeatable combination of scenery, extensive high snow-sure slopes and wonderful mountain restaurants."  The Zermatt course has been endorsed by BASI and the local official ski school to help create a pool of instructors for future employment in Switzerland. Ralph Schmidhalter, ski school manager, selects his top instructors to coach Peakleaders’ trainees.

You'll also have a highly qualified, Peaks' mentor on site with you throughout - their job is to ensure that you get the most from your course through regular meetings with you and your local providers and instructors. Whatever your reasons for coming away with Peak Leaders, be assured that by the end of the course your skiing or riding will have improved dramatically and you will be able to tackle terrain you wouldn’t have believed possible! Along the way, you’ll have plenty of time to party with people who’ll become friends for life.

*Dates to be confirmed

Switzerland is the birth place of winter sports and carries a strong tradition of skiing. Going to Zermatt / Switzerland means experiencing a stunning and efficient journey; starting with the train to the resort and ending with the peak gondola at the top of the mountain.   Furthermore Switzerland and especially Zermatt is an international place with people from all over the world coming to experience the iconic Matterhorn. It has, however, still managed to maintain its Swiss-like mountain-village atmosphere. You have the optional extra of taking German language classes.

Course Outline - 11 weeks

• Welcome talk & mountain familiarization tour & team building  

• Personal Development planning
  

• Instructor level 1 preparation & video sessions

• SNSC Award
  

• Level 1 exam
  

• Tuning Clinic
  

• ILM Module
  

• Freestyle Introduction

• Ski  Patrol introduction
  

• Avalanche Awareness

• Backcountry introduction
  

• Level 2 prep
  

• First Aid Course

• Ski School Shadowing (on selection)
  

• Advice & help on Job seeking
  

• Level 2 exams
  

• End of course party

Hotel & Food

Trainees stay in comfortable studio apartments within easy reach of the lifts and town centre. The two person accommodation includes kitchenette and ensuite facilities.  Weekday evening meals are provided but breakfast & lunch are not included.

Qualifications and Certs

The British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) qualifications are offered. BASI is a dynamic, foreword thinking, members’ association whose Snowsport Qualifications are recognised world-wide. BASI qualifications are amongst the most respected and in-demand qualifications in the world. The BASI Mission is: “To create a National and International reputation for excellence through the provision of the highest quality of training and support services for Ski and Snowboard instructors." BASI offers a full range of training courses in all disciplines. The Leader Training module is designed to help everyone improve their performance either in charge of or with a team. Whatever you choose to do in the future, this module gives you skills to enhance your C.V.  Other certifications are avalanche awareness, a backcountry introduction, first aid course, team leading course and the Snowsport’s Scotland Award (SNSC). There is also an option to take German language classes.

The Mountain

Skiing in Zermatt is on a vast scale. On the way up the mountains, you are surrounded by fantastic scenery - 29 peaks over 4000m. All three of Zermatt's ski areas soar to at least 3100m (10,200ft). This translates into excellent snow conditions and long runs to the village (8 to 13km). Zermatt is the largest Summer ski resort of the alps with skiing & riding available every day of the year. On top of that you have the option to ski over to Italy, go for a pizza for lunch and ski / ride back in a day. The resort also has various areas that are superb for free riding. You can take the t-bar and gondola to 3500m to the Stockhorn-peak.  Zermatt also offers two different parks and a Half pipe, with a progression from beginner features to massive pro-size kickers and rails.

The Resort

Zermatt offers an endless variety of activities for weekends, see zermatt.ch. Some highlight are sledging, curling, ice-skating, concerts and spas. As evening activities go, Zermatt has plenty of bars and an endless number of restaurants that serve food ranging from traditional Swiss meals up to crocodile steaks with a pint of Guinness!  Zermatt is absolutely car-free which means that only electric cars and horse sledges cruise around the town. Peaks trainees favourite bars are the Puberlapub and the Schneewitchen. They attract young locals and tourists and have special events every night of the week. As well as these there are numerous other bars and venues that offer all kinds of music and prices.

Job Opportunities

In 2008, some new Peaks instructors loved Zermatt so much that they stayed on over summer to work in a hotel and started working in the ski/board as instructors in the winter. Others went on to get jobs in New Zealand, Andorra and on dry/indoor-slopes in the UK. Whilst the course is on, it is possible to get a few paid hours in the ski school over the busy Easter holidays.