ABOUT US At New Generation, we’re passionate about delivering incredible mountain experiences. We’ve 23 years’ experience helping people develop technique, build confidence, and have fun. In that time, we’ve learned what makes a good trip great, and know it’s the little things that count. So whether you’re just starting your journey into the world of Ski Instruction or have already explored other options our team are here to make sure it goes without a hitch. We know that you are going to pick just one course, this should be the one that is right for you and we understand it may not be us. We do want you to make that decision armed with all the correct information. Every course and company has different strengths and weakness’ each different qualification path will open up different doors and present you with varying opportunities. We will do everything in our power to give you impartial advice, after all, you are our future. We don’t just train instructors; we are an awardwinning ski school with instructors in 18 resorts across three countries.
BASI 1 & 2 COURSES INTRODUCTION Taking a ski instructor course is a great way to spend a ski season. Whether you plan on becoming an instructor or not you will have the time of your life and learn valuable skills that are relevant in any industry. Choosing a ski instructor course though is easier said than done. While they all may look similar on paper the small advertised differences can add up to some big variations in resort. We are first and foremost a Ski School. When you book a course with us we arrange every aspect of that course in house. That is not the case with every provider. Many are in fact Tour Operators, they package together travel, accommodation and instruction from multiple companies, add a profit margin and sell it to you. So, how do you choose a ski instructor course and what do you need to look out for?
CHOOSING A COURSE - CAREER STEP 1 - DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK Choosing which country you want to work in as a ski instructor is where it all begins. It might sound like we have this all in-reverse but there is a very good reason for this. Every country has its own qualification system, some countries even have more than one. Those qualifications are not always recognised by other countries. So, you need to ensure you choose one that is recognised by the country you want to work in, or at the very least one that is well recognised across the globe. Having to retrain is expensive and time consuming. For example, if you only ever want to work in Canada, then choosing a CSIA qualification could be your best bet. This is their own qualification and one they are proud of so getting a job will be easier. The downside of this is that CSIA qualifications are not well recognised in Europe so you would not be able to work as a ski instructor in French, Austrian or Italian ski resorts. On the other hand you have BASI. This is recognised across Europe and will allow you to get a job in Canada, although you will need to spend a little longer on your CV. This gives you far greater flexibility.
STEP 2 - CHOOSING A SKI INSTRUCTOR SYSTEM Once you have decided where you want to work, it is time to choose the best ski instructor training system for that area. We mentioned two earlier BASI which is the British Association of Snowsports instructors and CSIA the Canadian Ski instructors Alliance. We have a detailed page on our website explaining where each qualification system lets you work, but in general; the Austrian, British, French and Italian systems give you the greatest amount of freedom with unrivalled international recognition. The American or Canadian systems give you the highest chance of gaining employment in those respective countries but can be severely limiting in Europe. The Southern Hemisphere systems are well recognised in Australia, New Zealand or Japan. Although you are unlikely to find the same level of local favouritism as you would in Canada or the US. The Australian system can be used in parts of Europe but is not viewed with the same level of prestige as many European qualifications and will never allow you to teach in France or Italy.
STEP 3 - CHOOSING A SKI INSTRUCTOR COURSE Once you know which system you want to train in, then the process gets much easier. Most systems have training partners who offer courses at every level of the qualification and are monitored to ensure quality stays high. We for example are a BASI business partner. Your chosen system will be able to point you towards these providers, a quick google search will do the same. Now that is done your main focus is choosing a course that fits your needs. Some courses include more training, some will include jackets, some will be shorter, longer, or run through the summer. The options are almost endless. Beware of hidden extra charges - All course providers will have similar costs that they need to cover. If one course is dramatically cheaper than another, there will almost certainly be a good reason for this. Do a detailed check to find out what if anything is missing. Have they left the exam costs out (A common error in BASI courses is that they don’t include the BASI level 2). Is the accommodation any good? How much food do you get? We have put a blank checklist at the back of this booklet that you can use to compare all providers on the things that matter.
CHOOSING A COURSE - YEAR OUT STEP 1 - DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE If you are taking a year out the qualification may not be the most important thing to you, or important at all. Instructor courses can help you develop a variety of skills from leadership and public speaking to accident management and first aid. Additional qualifications also never hurt. If improving those types of skills appeal to you then it is worth choosing a course that focuses on the training and qualifications. If your aim is solely to improve your skiing it is worth questioning whether an instructor course is the best option. Becoming an instructor involves time spent practising snowploughs, shadowing lessons and learning technique. It will improve your skiing endlessly but in a very particular way. A performance course with out the exams may be something you would enjoy more and could be cheaper.
STEP 2 - CHOOSING A COURSE Once you know what you want to achieve choosing a course is far easier. All you need to do is find one that meets your financial requirements, in a resort you are excited by. We recommend that you still choose a course with plenty of training with fully qualified instructors and coaches. Otherwise you may as well just do a ski season. It is worth asking when you will be skiing with your coach. Make sure at least 50% of your sessions are scheduled in morning slots. This will mean you can make the most of the quietest pistes and when you are lucky beat the queues on powder days. We will take this opportunity to say that at the start of our Instructor Courses we ask students who plans on working as a ski instructor in the future. About 30% say they are. By the end of the course this is closer to 70%. Most of us never planned on becoming instructors. With this in mind if your course does include qualifications it is worth making sure they are ones you can use, in a country that you want to work in.
Courchevel BASI 1 & 2 - Our original course, often imitated never replicated. We love it for it’s mainly north facing mountains, hidden tree runs and because the rich and famous don’t ski very much, it’s quiet pistes. Think about the terrain of your dreams and this resort will probably tick all of the boxes. Meribel BASI 1 & 2 - If you fancy more of a party atmosphere Meribel could be for you. Famous for its vast ski area and lively parties, the resort blends world class skiing with a unique apres ski scene. This is the quintessential ski season town and one of our most popular programmes.
Verbier BASI 1 & 2 - A unique course for those among you who want a little more freedom. With accommodation included for the entire season and a reduced catering package you will get a true sense of life as a Ski Instructor. Verbier is famous for it’s off-piste playing host to the final round of the Freeride World Tour.
COURCHEVEL BASI 1 & 2 RESIDENTIAL This is where it all began, and was the home of our first BASI 1&2 course 15 years ago. The Resort - Despite being internationally known as one of the most exclusive resorts in the world, the local community is incredibly welcoming. The resort will quickly become your second home and chances are you will never want to leave. New Generation opened our first school in Courchevel in 1998, and it is still home to our head office. Best known for it’s wide, perfectly maintained pistes you would be forgiven for thinking that Courchevel is best suited for families and less experienced skiers. The truth though is that Courchevel is home to more challenging, steep, pisted and off-piste terrain than you will have time to fully explore in an entire season. From classics like the Grand Couloir to lesser known areas like Dou des Lanches and Equinox the resort has everything from wide open powder bowls to narrow couloirs and tree runs. Your coach will show you where to find them. When not skiing the resort has plenty to offer, including swimming pools, climbing walls and of course plenty of bars and restaurants.
Apres Ski & Nightlife - The town boasts a huge selection of international cuisine, with everything from Sushi Restaurants to Curry houses. You will also find a number of busy Clubs, bars and Pubs that would not be out of place in any city. Our Coaches - Our instructor courses coaching team are headed up by Ale Cambon. Ale is a BASI trainer, who is also qualified in the Italian, Swiss and Canadian instructor systems. Ale designs and oversees our programmes supporting the coaches in each resort. Our Verbier coaching staff include BASI Trainers Rob Wilhelmson, Tom Waddington and Jon Ahlsen and BASI Level 4 Coach Andy Hind. The team are incredibly experience and know precisely what you have to do when the exams roll around. The team will put you through your paces and during the
course, you will become versatile all-mountain skiers capable of tackling anything the mountain throws at you. Your training will develop your skiing in all areas from Piste Performance to freestyle, building your technical understanding and honing your teaching skills. The Food and Catering - Our Verbier course operates on a Meal Voucher basis. For the 10 weeks that you train with us you will be provided with 50 Meal Vouchers. These must be used during the 10 week training period and are accepted by a number of restaurants around the resort.We work with a variety of partners to ensure you get a varied diet and never get bored. It is worth mentioning that Verbier and life in Switzerland in general can be expensive. If you are on a restricted budget this may not be the course for you.
THE ACCOMMODATION Our Courchevel programme is based out of Chalet La Pierre located in the heart of Courchevel Le Praz. Courchevel Le Praz - Le Praz or Courchevel 1300 as it is sometimes called is the lowest of the 4 Villages. It is home to the majority of the resorts seasonal staff meaning the atmosphere is far more vibrant than the higher less inclusive villages. This atmosphere combined with a multi million euro investment in new lifts, bars, restaurants and parking is making Le Praz increasingly popular with holiday goers. Chalet La Pierre - This large chalet houses just 10 students in 5 twin rooms. 3 of the 5 bedrooms have large ensuite bathrooms while the final two bedrooms share a large bathroom on the top floor. On the middle floor there is a large open plan living/dining room and huge south facing balcony. On the ground floor there is a large boot room with boot heaters and space to service skis. As with all our properties there is WIFI and a TV with access to Netflix. Once the chalet is full so is the course.
MERIBEL BASI 1 & 2 RESIDENTIAL The Resort - While only a 30 minute drive or two chair lifts away from Courchevel the resort is quite different. It is known for it’s lively party atmosphere and there is no doubt that this reputation is well earned. Meribel sits in the middle of a V Shaped valley with the majority of the skiing on either East or West facing slopes. Allowing you to move around the resort following the sun. This set up means you can always find good snow no matter the time of day on any day of the season. Based at the heart of the 3 Valleys Meribel gives you quick and easy access into the entirety of the other ski areas. You can be in either Courchevel or Val Thorens in just 2 lifts. The resort boasts one of the best parks in France, which is sculpted and managed by the DC team. There is also some great off-piste skiing, you do need to be more cautious though. All the sun can cause extreme warming of the snowpack making it less stable if you ski the wrong section of off-piste at the wrong time of the day. Away from the snow you will find an Ice Rink, Gym, pool and cinema.
Apres Ski & Nightlife - Meribel is renowned for its Apres Ski, the two most popular bars are the Folie Douce and Rond Pont du piste but there are plenty more to choose from. As day turns to night and the sun starts to set you will have plenty of choices on where to head next. The resorts bars host a variety of live bands and DJ’s with several playing host to international artists across the season. The younger skiers in Meribel have driven demand for greater variety in the food served by the bars and restaurants. You will find everything from Tapas to Poke in addition to the mountain staples of Raclette and Fondue Our Coaches - Our instructor courses coaching team are headed up by Ale Cambon. Ale is a BASI trainer, who is also qualified in the Italian, Swiss and Canadian instructor systems. Ale designs and oversees our programmes supporting the coaches in each resort.
Our Meribel coaching staff include BASI Level 4 Coaches Josh Madisson and Sam Taylor. They both know precisely what you have to do when the exams roll around. Dan is a versatile park and Freeride skier who will push you to your comfort limit. Josh will focus more of your piste performance. During the course, you will become versatile all-mountain skiers capable of tackling anything the mountain throws at you. Your training will develop your skiing in all areas from Piste Performance to freestyle, building your technical understanding and honing your teaching skills. The Food and Catering - Our Meribel course includes fullboard catering (Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon tea and Dinner) 5 days a week. Cereals will be made available for breakfast for the remaining two days of the week.
THE ACCOMMODATION Our Meribel programme is based out of Chalet Casse Noix located just below Meribel Centre in the village of Nantgerel. Nantgerel - A small village just outside of Meribel Centre Nantgerel boasts great connections into the resort. There is a lift directly into the base station as well a bus stop that can take you up to Meribel Centre or down to Les Allues. Les Allues is a small town a further 10 minutes down the mountain that is home to many seasonaires and a handful of small bars. Chalet Casse Noix - This large chalet houses just 10 students in 5 twin rooms. All 5 bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and plenty of storage. There is a large open plan living/ dining area which is the perfect place to unwind after skiing. The east facing terrace and balconies provide the perfect spring chill out area. There is a large boot room with boot heaters and space to service skis. As with all our properties there is WIFI and a TV with access to Netflix. Once the chalet is full so is the course.
VERBIER BASI 1 & 2 RESIDENTIAL The Resort - Verbier needs little introduction. One of the most famous ski areas in the world, the resort is popular with both serious skiers looking for challenging lines as well as those seeking a lively nightlife. Home to the final stop of the freeride world tour and many of its athletes it is an off-piste mecca with everything from wide open powder bowls to endless tree runs. It is dream terrain for serious skiers. The pisted terrain is not as well linked as in some of our other resorts but our coaches will quickly show you the best way around. Verbier is less a ski resort and more a fully formed town that just happens to be at the foot of some of the best mountains in Europe. The town often buzzes with excitement and regularly comes together to celebrate big occasions and world events. To complete its metropolitan reputation you will also find multiple hot-desk spaces and a community of young and exciting start ups that hope to shape the industry.
Apres Ski & Nightlife - The town boasts a huge selection of international cuisine, with everything from Sushi Restaurants to Curry houses. You will also find a number of busy Clubs, bars and Pubs that would not be out of place in any city. Our Coaches - Our instructor courses coaching team are headed up by Ale Cambon. Ale is a BASI trainer, who is also qualified in the Italian, Swiss and Canadian instructor systems. Ale designs and oversees our programmes supporting the coaches in each resort. Our Verbier coaching staff include BASI Trainers Rob Wilhelmson, Tom Waddington and Jon Ahlsen and BASI Level 4 Coach Andy Hind. The team are incredibly experience and know precisely what you have to do when the exams roll around. The team will put you through your paces and during the
course, you will become versatile all-mountain skiers capable of tackling anything the mountain throws at you. Your training will develop your skiing in all areas from Piste Performance to freestyle, building your technical understanding and honing your teaching skills. The Food and Catering - Our Verbier course operates on a Meal Voucher basis. For the 10 weeks that you train with us you will be provided with 50 Meal Vouchers. These must be used during the 10 week training period and are accepted by a number of restaurants around the resort.We work with a variety of partners to ensure you get a varied diet and never get bored. It is worth mentioning that Verbier and life in Switzerland in general can be expensive. If you are on a restricted budget this may not be the course for you.
THE ACCOMMODATION Our Verbier programme is based out of Chalet Racoon located in the heart of Verbier. There is no need for buses, lifts or any other means of transport. Just walk out of your door and you are in the resort itself. Chalet Racoon - There is no point in hiding it, Chalet Racoon is not as smart or spacious as many of our other properties. Verbier is a very exclusive resort and the cost of accommodation here is astronomical. In addition to this we provide the accommodation for the entire season not just the duration of the course. Providing this at no extra cost is unique to us and this course. It saves those of you who wish to do a whole season (why wouldn’t you) around £800 a month in rent for the remainder of the season. Chalet Racoon is made up of two 4 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom apartments. There is a small kitchen that is perfect for cooking the meals not covered by the meal vouchers. It is not luxury, but it is home.
Resort
Courchevel
Meribel
Verbier
Price
£8550
£8550
£9000
Course Dates
9/1/21 - 20/3/21
9/1/21 - 20/3/21
9/1/20 - 20/3/21 Accommodation Available 20/12/20 - 20/4/21
Accommodation
Twin Rooms
Twin Rooms
Twin or Triple Rooms
Catering Package
Full Board 5 Days a week. (Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon tea and Dinner) Cereals available on days 6 &7
Full Board 5 Days a week. (Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon tea and Dinner) Cereals available on days 6 &7
Meal Voucher System. 50 Vouchers provided to be used over the 10 week course period
Full area, full season pass. Available early if requested.
Full area, full season pass. Available early if requested.
Full area, full season pass. Available early if requested.
BASI Level 1 & 2 Exam Fees 2 Day First Aid Course Child Protection Module Ski Servicing Training Airport Transfers Race Training Avalanche Safety Training 24/7 Off Snow Support Team Type of Lift Pass included
INCLUDED IN EVERY COURSE YOURS TO KEEP Avalanche awareness and emergency rescue training is a core part of living in the mountains. Most courses include a brief training session on this. We go far further. We deliver multiple on-snow and class-room based training sessions. Giving you the knowledge to ski offpiste safely is incredibly important. But it is no good if you don’t have the right kit. We also include a Transceiver, shovel and probe as part of every course. This vital safety equipment combined with the correct training may save your life. It is also required if you plan on continuing with you instructor training. The kit is produced by Black Diamond and some of the best available on the market today.
BUY ONE, GIVE ONE We want to create a team where people are willing and able to share and combine their talents and passions. We do this by embracing the daily highs and challenges of running our business and fostering an environment of development and growth. This drive for development and positive change is at the heart of everything we do. From working with Ski School clients to Ski instructor training programmes. But it goes beyond this, we also want to make a positive change in the world around us. We believe that business’ have the power to create positive change if they integrate charitable giving into their daily activities. That is why we became a livelong member of B1G1 an NPO which links us to over 600 charities around the world. These charities are
small grass roots organisations, doing amazing work in some of the poorest countries in the world. 100% of the funds we donate go directly to the people on the ground. We link the amount we donate to the number of lessons we deliver. For every hour one of our instructors spends with a client on Snow (that includes you) we donate the equivalent of one days worth of education for a child in Chennai India. So far we have donated over 150,000 days worth of education. Or put differently 1 full years worth of education for 411 children. We also support additional charities based on unique triggers like a client returning for 3 seasons in a row. You can find more details on our website
