Minimum Standard of the Ski Instructors’ Training for a Membership of the ISIA

All member states of ISIA and their ski instructors training concept must comply with minimum standard of ISIA.

1. Preamble

• These guidelines count as the minimum standard for the training of ski instructors within the memberassociations of the ISIA
• A national ski instructor association can be a member of the ISIA if it fulfils this minimum standard in its training of the ski instructors
• The ISIA standard does not claim automatically the mutual recognition of the respective national professional training
• The ISIA standard involves for the ski instructor also a personal professional liability insurance
   

The candidates who have completed the training for the ski instructors and who have passed successfully the required final examines corresponding to the ISIA standard and who can work in their home country as professional ski instructors with commercial interests have the right to get the ISIA stamp (badge)
 

2. Aims of the training

The professional training must enable the candidates to give commercial ski lessons under the consideration of the following contents:
 

2.1. Technique

They must to be able to teach all guest categories (children-seniors) in group or private lessons. They must be able to teach the respective disciplines (downhill, snowboard, cross-country etc) within generally recognised security standards and technical-methodical-didactical principles.
 

2.2. Alpine dangers

The ski instructors must be able to judge correctly the hazards of the winter and mountains (weather/avalanches and the respective terrain), to behave in the right way and to take immediately measures if accidents occur.
 

2.3. Marketing

The ski instructors should know the principles of marketing, especially those of the winter tourism, and should be able to place the activities of ski teaching and ski schools within the chain of services of the tourist industry and to understand their connections.
 

2.4. Languages

The ski instructor should be able to teach in at least a second language beside his mother tongue.
 

2.5. Laws and regulations

The ski instructor must know the laws and regulations of the country where he teaches and has to respect the respective standard of his social standing.
 

3. Minimum requirements and exames

The candidates who take the training for ski instructors have to be already very good skiers and have to master the respective equipment in conditions of native and prepared skiing slopes. The established minimum requirements shall be tested in every discipline.
 

3.1. Technique-practical exams

The candidate must master, show and teach the following exercises.
 

Elements of the examinations: downhill/cross country/snowboard
 

3.2. Methods/didactics

Teaching of at least two lessons, of which one in foreign language. Duration of the exam approximately 30 minutes of teaching in presence of clients.
 

Elements of the exam

3.2.1. Personality (appearance, leading, organisation)

3.2.2. Technical ability (technical knowledge and explication of a lesson)

3.2.3. Teaching skills (subjects, use of learning aids)

3.2.4. Global impression (teaching atmosphere, achievements, foreign language)

3.2.5. Eventually practical training in a recognised institution
 

3.3 Theoretical exam

3.3.1. Theoretical exam of technique/methodology

Orally and/or written the candidate must have the opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge in the following subjects.
 

Elements of exam

3.3.1.1. technique
3.3.1.2. biomechanics
3.3.1.3. motion science
3.3.1.4. material and equipment
3.3.1.5. methodology and didactic
3.3.1.6. security
 

3.3.2. General training

The exam of general knowledge can be given orally and/or written. The following areas have to be considered:
 

Elements of exam

3.3.2.1. marketing (to place ski teaching within tourist attractions)
3.3.2.2. communication (group, press, reports of accidents)
3.3.2.3. local history (culture, history, geography)
3.3.2.4. nature/environment (flora/fauna, ecology)
3.3.2.5. history of skiing
3.3.2.6. national and international laws and organisations concerning ski teaching
3.3.2.7. material knowledge (components of the ski, bindings, tips etc)
3.3.2.8. nutrition
3.3.2.9. prevention of accidents
 

3.4. Variations and avalanches

The ski instructor must be able to guide safely and assist guests on variants (open down hill out of pist). He should be able to judge and decide in dangerous situations such as avalanches and bad weather conditions (prevention of avalanches, interpretation of their preview). In case of accidents he should be able to install immediate measures, to co-ordinate rescue activities and first aide.
 

Elements of exam

3.4.1. judgement of the danger of avalanches (formula 3*3), reduction methods

3.4.2. guiding a group outside the pist

3.4.3. use of search devices for avalanches

3.4.4. orientation (reading of maps, compass, altimeter)

3.4.5. avalanche accident (initiate the rescue, alarm and first aide)
 

4. Length of training

Since a high standard is required from the candidate, 450 hours of training should be enough to meet the minimum standard of ISIA requirements. These should be divided as following:

• 2/3 practical training on snow
• 1/3 theory
   

5. Controls

The ISIA keeps the right to visit training institutions of member associations, to control and verify if the minimum standards are met and if training courses are implemented.

ISIA should have the opportunity during membership renewal to visit for at least three years training courses before requests for membership will be handled. During this period the applicants will have within ISIA the status of an observer.
 

6. Further training

To keep their status and to be able to receive further their ISIA stamps, the ski instructors have to take part in the training courses organised by their national associations. The attendance to these courses has to registered in the identity card of the ski instructor by the respective association.

The training course is lasting: for one day every year, for two days every second year, etc.

Who does not attend the training course gets the inactive state as a professional ski instructor and has no right to get the ISIA stamp.

To be again an active professional the ski instructor has to attend the training.

7. Legitimisation

Ski instructors who have successfully finished their respective national training and exams required as the minimum standard, receive the ISIA badge and an identity card by their respective member associations where the achieved ISIA standard is certified and the ISIA stamp registered.
 

8. Foundations

Transitory regulations

Following art. 18 of the ISIA statutes, any member not in possession of the minimum standard at the time of activation of these regulations will have a time period of two years for conformity. If the conformity has not been achieved within this time period the member will lose its right for voting and for obtaining the stamp.

The regulations concerning the minimum standard will come into force after its adoption trough the meeting of delegates.