VERBIER 10 WEEK SKI INSTRUCTOR COURSE 2015: LEARNING FROM LES ELFES INTERNATIONAL (WEEK 4)

Week 4 of the Verbier 10 week ski instructor course and the group are shadowing the instructors from Les Elfes International – seeing what life is really like as a ski instructor. Here’s group leader Charlie with the update…

The real world of ski teaching

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Peak Leaders trainee Fran (green trousers) shadowing a beginner group

Before the trainees are able to begin their BASI level two training and exams, they must first gain experience in shadowing qualified instructors.

Peak Leaders and Element Ski School have teamed up with Les Elfes International for this part of the course.

Les Elfes is a leader in  providing learning and activity holidays for children and teenagers since 1987.

For our group this means invaluable experience and time well spent in the real world of ski teaching with Les Elfes instructors.

Being a ski instructor with Les Elfes International

Les Elfes International is one of the main recruiters for ski school employment once the 10 week course is finished.

This shadowing period for the group isn’t just about how to teach skiing, it is to learn all the tricky parts of real world ski instruction like group management, mountain safety, professionalism and how to interact with customers… like carrying poles to make it easier for them to do the technique drills!

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Peak Leaders trainee Ed (red trousers) carries the poles while Les Elfes campers practice technique

A diverse range of students come to Les Elfes each year from countries such as India, Russia, Africa, Japan, the UK, and many others.

This mix of cultures provides a unique opportunity to experience a broad range of personalities and expectations – which shows our group how much they need to adapt to each learner in order to ensure a lesson is fun for everyone.

It’s just sinking in for our group that to be an amazing ski instructor takes much more than just great skiing – there’s a wide array of social skills that will be forever useful in any future career.

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Peak Leaders trainee Chloe (blue helmet) follows close behind the Les Elfes group

We’re having what for Xmas dinner?

In amongst all this was the training with Jake on Tuesday and Thursday, and by the end of the week, everyone was looking forward to a the welcome break provided by Christmas!

With no shadowing on Christmas Day it meant a long weekend for most, and the trainees took the opportunity for some rest, free skiing, aprés partying, secret santa present buying… and a wholly unconventional Christmas diner: Chicken fajitas!?!

Want to get your ski or snowboard ticket?

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