Qualifications
Our associated professionals hold the following qualifications and association memberships. In this section of our site we hope to give you an insight as to what each association stands for:
STAATLICH GEPRUFTE SKILEHRER
The Staatlich Geprufter skileherer or State qualified ski instructor is the name given in both Germany and Austria to instructors qualified at the highest level. The qualification is awarded once all modules in the qualification pathway have been passed. The qualification is awarded in partnership with an an educational authority and regulated by the state.
Instructors at this level can teach all aspects of skiing including off piste ( non glacial terrain).
Lead coach Pete Gillespie holds this qualification through DSLV (Germany) and Snowsports Academy ( Austria).
British Association Snowsport Instructors.
BASI in the national training and awarding body for snowsport instructor qualifications in the UK. Instructors can qualify in 5 disciplines, Alpine, Snowboard, Telemark, Adaptive and nordic. Instructors begin with a level one award and progress over many years to the international awards (level 3 and 4). At this point instructors become members of ISIA International snowsport instructors association and can teach skiing both on and off piste to the highest level.
Irish Association of Snowsport Instructors (IASI)
IASI is the national awarding body for snowsport instructors in Ireland. IASI has a 4 level Alpine system with the top levels recognised world wide. IASI qualifications are recognised by the EU delegated act protecting the title professional snowsports instructor.
International Snowsport Instructors Association (ISIA)
International Snowsport Instructors Association (ISIA) is the world body of professional snowsport instructors. As an organisation it sets minimum professional standards that a snowsport instructor needs to meet to be a member. ISIA set high standards of technical, teaching and safety levels including off piste snowsports.
Off piste mountain security Qualification
The ISIA qualification is a six day training and assessment course attended by ISIA level instructors. Instructors are taught and assessed in leading groups away from the security of marked pistes. Training covers safe travel in the mountain environment, avalanche awarness and snow craft, navigation, performance off piste, and competent use of equipment and skills required for off piste skiing (avalanche beacons, probes and search organisation). Instructors holding this award can lead and teach off piste within a resort boundary ( Non glaciated off piste routes)
Level 2 Back Country security (Euro Off Piste) Award
The Euro off piste is a back country and mountain safety qualification that is mandatory for level 4 instructors. Instructors with the Euro Off Piste qualification can teach off piste snow sports and lead day tours in the high mountains within and outside a ski area boundary. Instructors with this award have undergone tough assessment and training in high mountain safety and awareness off piste. This award is part of the Common Training Test (CTT) which is mandatory for professional snowsport instructors in the EU.
AUSTRIAN REGISTRATION
Our snowsports school follows the official registration process in the state of Tirol / Austria where we are legally permitted to teach, coach and guide as part of an agreed framework. Our team are also registered in Tirol with their professional qualifications ( Diploma schilehrer / Landeschilehrer).