Sport
routine. Keen to know how the team train for this incredibly diffi cult performance, I ask Rupert about the process involved. “It’s a bit like the Red Arrows on skis,” he laughs. “T e team members ski at around 40 miles per hour and the routines often involve criss-crossing through each other in choreographed lines at these speeds.” T e selected team will generally train for around three weeks before an Interski Congress, building up the speeds slowly once they are familiar with each part of the run. “At this point,” Rupert explains, “you need to concentrate on the moves that are laid out and the person in front of you. Hitting a team mate crossing through your line with a collision speed of 80 miles per hour is not an option!” T e ability to ski in synchronisation at these kinds of speeds is an impressive skill and this is the kind of talent required of BASI Trainers at the highest level. What, however, of the British Instructors that you might encounter on the slopes during a holiday? How do you know that they are of a high standard? My personal answer would be to look for the BASI
Image provided by Mark Junak,
snowimages.co.uk
badge on their jacket. “BASI has always been proud of its international reputation, which came about in the 90s when the executive body fought hard to gain international recognition for its qualifi cations,” Rupert explains. “It is the responsibility of the trainers who run the courses to coach aspirant instructors to the best of their ability to help them attain the level required but, in the twin role of assessor as well as coach, trainers are also guardians of that level.” It is important for the association to maintain the standards that they have set out for each level in order to keep up the reputation that they have carved (no pun intended) for themselves internationally. “Whilst it is not pleasant to have to tell someone that they haven’t reached the level, it is sometimes a necessity to maintain the standards set,” Rupert adds. “Most people understand this and, as a result, BASI produce very high calibre instructors in both their technical and teaching ability and are well respected as such.” T e International Centre of Excellence (ICE) in Val d’Isere, of which Rupert is a Director, runs instructor training courses that adhere to these strict standards. For recreational skiers seeking a more
adrenaline-fuelled experience, Mountain Masters Ski School is the ideal destination. Here, you can hire a guide to take you off -piste in Val d’Isere, a resort that spoils its visitors for choice when it comes to outback skiing. Here, Rupert outlines the benefi ts of taking a guide. “First and foremost, it minimises the risk that is ever present when skiing off -piste. It doesn’t matter how good you are; unless you know the history of the snowpack for the whole winter, you cannot tell the dangers that lie beneath. Additionally, if you want to fi nd the best snow for any given day then a bit of local knowledge is very handy and you’ll always have a great day out. If you’ve spent thousands of pounds on six days skiing a year, you want to make sure that you get them right!” If you’re not ready for off -piste adventures then Mountain Masters also off er private lessons and use innovative techniques such as video analysis to help clients improve their performance. If you haven’t been skiing before and are
wondering what all the fuss is about then Rupert has a very persuasive argument for giving it a go. “It doesn’t matter how long you have done it for, you still cannot beat the feeling of sliding on snow. Look around the mountain next time you are there and see all the people in the distance that look like ants, sliding around on a white carpet, just sliding about and loving it! And the beauty is that you can slide about at any age and whatever speed you like, which makes it an all-encompassing family holiday, stag weekend, racers camp, student trip, school trip or World Cup Race! I can’t think of many other sports or holidays that can cover such a
Image provided by BASI
wide spectrum of interests.” As our conversation draws to a close, I ask
Rupert for his top tips for the perfect skiing holiday. “Firstly, get fi t before you come,” he starts, “it is a sport after all. Secondly, ski within yourself and look out for others and, lastly, apply the sun cream and drink plenty of water. T e mountains are a dry environment and there’s a good chance you will have had a couple of drinks the night before...” Oh yes, and there’s the après ski to think of too. If the great outdoors can’t persuade you to take up this exhilarating sport then a few glasses of vin chaud and a boogie in your ski boots surely will!
* British Association of Snowsport Instructors
For more information on becoming a Ski Instructor with ICE visit
www.icesi.org or for skiing lessons and off piste skiing in Val d’Isere visit
www.mountain-masters.com
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