CSIA - Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance
Founded in 1938, the CSIA has been responsible for the training and development of ski instructors across Canada and around the world. The CSIA system has 4 levels of certification, with each stage becoming progressively demanding.
Level 1
CSIA Level 1 is the entry level certification and focuses on skill development and instruction methodology for teaching beginner to intermediate skiers. You must possess competent parallel skiing skills to undertake this course.
The course covers:
- Safety rules in ski teaching
- Analysis and development of ski movements
- CSIA organisational structure
- Lesson planning
- Christie progression and fast track to parallel
- Age specific workshop for children
- Guest experience workshop
The exam
The CSIA Level 1 exam takes place over 4 days and you do need to pass both the technical and teaching aspects.
Upon successful completion of a Level 1 course, instructors should be able to:
- Understand the mission statement of the CSIA
- Define goals and objectives of a ski lesson
- Plan the organisational needs of a lesson
- Demonstrate an understanding of the 3 basic skiing competencies and the skill system of the CSIA
- Know the structure of the CSIA
Level 2
CSIA Level 2 the next level up and enhances your skiing ability, understanding of ski technique, effective communication, group dynamics and teaching skills. You must have passed your CSIA Level 1 to take part in the level 2 exam. The Level 2 exam fee (approx $500-600) needs to be paid in resort.
The course covers:
- Terrain identification and interpretation
- Pressure control mechanisms
- Finding balance
- Involvement and movement of centre of mass
- Skiing vocabulary and terminology
- Movement and motion
- Preparing a ski lesson
- Christie progression and fast track to parallel
- Familiarising with the equipment
- Rhythm, timing and coordination
- Fast track to parallel concept
- Safety rules in ski teaching
- Defining and understanding a ski radius
- Maintain leg independence
- Identification of the fundamental skiing skills
- The role of the ski instructor
- Organising a class
- Analysis, development and drills
- Mechanics of movement
- Organisational structure of the CSIA
The exam
The CSIA Level 2 exam takes place over 5 days, and once again, you need to succesfully complete both the technical and teaching aspects in order to pass.
Upon successful completion of a Level 2 course, instructors should be able to:
- Define goals and objectives of a ski lesson at this level
- Identify teaching strategies to be developed in order to ensure significant learning abilities
- Anticipate and plan the various elements linked to the organisation of a lesson
- Demonstrate a good understanding of the 3 basic skiing competencies and the skill system of the CSIA
- Understand strategies needed to teach children
Snow Park Qualification
The CSIA Snow Park Certification course is designed for competent parallel skiers with some park experience who want to develop their freestyle technical and teaching skills.
The course covers:
- an introduction to teaching snow park skills
- practical ski improvement and teaching methods with a technical understanding and development of the guest experience
- safe teaching and safety in park and pipe
- skill development on park features: switch skiing, jumps, rails, half pipe
- park and pipe teaching progression
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be certified to teach snow park skills up to and including intermediate skill levels.
CASI - Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors
Formed in 1994, the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors trains and certifies snowboard instructors and coaches, ensuring that a national standard of safe and efficient snowboard instruction is maintained.
Level 1
CASI Level 1 is the entry level and covers skills and teaching progression for introductory snowboarding. The course is designed to introduce prospective snowboard instructors to the basic teaching and technical skills from beginner to intermediate level. You must be able to demonstrate competent and safe riding skills on intermediate terrain to do this course.
Level 2
CASI Level 2 focuses on more advanced snowboarding skills and introduces the skills concept and progression for intermediate level snowboarding. The course will further strengthen your technical and teaching skills, and you must be able to ride on advanced terrain and carve controlled turns on intermediate terrain. You must have passed your CASI Level 1 and the Level 2 exam fee (approx $500) will need to be paid in resort.
CASI Park Qualification
The CASI Park Instructor certification course will enable you to spend time exploring snowboarding technique and teaching methods as they relate to introductory terrain park and freestyle snowboarding.
The course covers:
- the skills required to introduce students to the terrain park and freestyle snowboarding safety
- progression-based teaching methods
- an understanding of basic freestyle techniques
- lesson planning and communication skills
You will receive coaching on your snowboarding, as well as feedback on your teaching skills, with the goal of reaching the Park Instructor standard in both areas. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be certified to take students into freestyle terrain, and teach introductory / basic manoeuvres on beginner terrain park features.