Morzine Ski & Snowboard Instructor Course – Week 7

Unsurprisingly it’s been another busy week for our skiers and snowboarders in Morzine. Similarly to the previous three weeks the trainees have been working hard on perfecting their technique, getting to grips with teaching and cementing their knowledge of the dreaded BASI manual! They’ve also been shadowing an array of lessons over the busy half term period; which has definitely helped their understanding of being an instructor.

Over the past week the weather has been beautiful and it’s really helped the confidence of both the skiers and snowboarders. Lewis has been busy working on a vast spectrum of level 2 (higher-level) riding from moguls to variable conditions and powder. As with all of Lewis’s lessons ‘fun’ is at the forefront of everything he does so it’s not uncommon for him to take the guys for a lap through the park or through the waste-deep powder in between the trees, just to spice things up.

Lewis Sonvico, Mint Snowboard School, Morzine, Peak Leaders

Lewis keeping his lessons ‘minty fresh’……see what I did there…

In the other camp James has really been cranking up the intensity of the skiers training over the past week. The trainees short turns are now looking masterful and their carving is definitely some of the best I’ve seen in a level 2 training group. When the weather and snow conditions are this perfect it’s difficult not to ski well!

James Crompton, BASS, Morzine, Peak Leaders instructor trainer

James showing the trainees how it’s done!

Off the hill there have been a couple of big nights out on the town. It’s fair to say that the trainees have been burning the candle at both ends……..despite a few stern chats from ‘Old Man Tom’ about the importance of training and getting a good nights sleep.

Over the weekend it was all work and no play for the snowboarders who had their First Aid training. Fortunately James from BASS made it a fun couple of days and it was clear that the guys and girls had definitely taken in as much information as they could. The first day was spent indoors getting to grips with first response and CPR, which as usual had a few laughs…….until James put on a couple of fairly intense Youtube clips. The second day was spent up on the mountain which happened to be one of the coldest days of the season! Needless to say when we went looking for a real-life accident emergency to spectate we found two separate incidents on the same slope at the same time. They turned out to be better demonstrations of how not to do it!

First Aid, BASI, Peak Leaders, Morzine

Johnny checking for breathing.

Both days were really useful and all of the trainees felt much happier being responsible for a group with the knowledge that they learnt. James B was an excellent First Aid trainer and although a BASI level 4 ski instructor he donned a snowboard for our day on the mountain, despite not having snowboarded for over a year. Top lad.

First Aid, Peak Leaders, Morzine, BASS

Stevie, Archie and Jake coming to the rescue of Sammy

Next week the training steps up another notch and shadowing is dropped so that the guys can get everything ready for the level 2 exam.

Peak Leaders, First Aid, BASI, Morzine, James Bennet

James keeping a careful eye on Cookie, John, Jo and Milly

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