British Association of Snowsport Instructors

The British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) is internationally recognised by the International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) as the certification organisation of professional snowsport instructors in the UK. The BASI Mission is

to create a national and international reputation for excellence through the provision of the highest quality of training and support services, for snowsport instructors

BASI courses are delivered by trainers who have been specially selected for their skills, knowledge, experience and teaching ability. Each Trainer leads a group of trainees through a course syllabus which includes lesson planning, personal performance, technical evening workshops, video feedback both on and off the snow. Throughout each course there is an emphasis on practical 'on snow' instruction and demonstration.

Qualifications

BASI offers qualifications in alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark, nordic skiing and adaptive skiing. Like most snowsport certification organisations worldwide, it offers different levels of certification based on the instructors qualification progress. For example, in alpine skiing it offers four levels, namely:

* Ski Instructor Level 1 aimed at those instructors wishing to work on UK indoor or dry slopes
* Ski Instructor Level 2, previously known as BASI 3, aimed at those wishing to work in a mountain environment such as the Alps
* Ski Teacher (ISIA), informally known as BASI 2, and is the standard formally recognised by the ISIA
* International Ski Teacher Diploma (ISTD), informally known as BASI 1, and is the standard formally recognised by the Eurogroup (France, Italy and Austria)

There are similar certification levels across snowboarding, telemark, nordic skiing and adaptive skiing.

The Alpine and Snowboard Level 1 can be extended to a "Senior Instructor UK" qualification via a shortened version of the mountain environment Level 2 course. The Senior Instructor qualification is targeted at those who only intend to work on UK indoor or dry slopes.

BASI also provide their own set of alpine ski racing coach qualifications, known as the Alpine Development Coach Level 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Level I is a dual qualification which, providing CSCF membership fees are paid, can grant the holder a similar certification in the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation (CSCF) system.

External links

* [http://www.basi.org.uk www.basi.org.uk] - Official BASI Site
* [http://www.snowpro.com/cscf/e/ www.snowpro.com/cscf/e/] - Canadian Ski Coaches Federation English site

History

As BAPSI (British Association of Professional Ski Instructors), BASI was founded in 1963 before changing its name to BASI in 1967 to more fully reflect its membership profile. In 1964 it was invited to join the International Ski Instructors Association. In 1985 it took over the training of Nordic Ski Instructors in the UK from the Association of Nordic Instructors (ANSI).

It has grown to over 6000 members who work around the world. Initially BASI's courses were mostly held in Scotland, later moving to Tignes and eventually to Zermatt in Switzerland. BASI now runs courses in many locations worldwide including New Zealand, Argentina and the USA.