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CSIA 1 + Snow Park

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followCam
Posts: 1907 - Karma: 446
So next season (08/09) i'm thinking of going to Canada and getting my CSIA Level 1 and then the snow park qualification, so as i could hopefully teach freestyle and live out there for a while.

And i was just wondering if this is enough to get a decent instructing job?
Or should i do CSIA 2 aswell?
Sep 5 2007 3:19PM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
What exactly is CSIA? I've only heard of PSIA and ASIA.

Are you east coast/west coast?

There's so many factors to take in, that it's hard to say whether it's worth it or not (the freestyle). If you want to stick with teaching, yes get your Level 2. It's always best to have the highest certification possible. Better chance of getting the job, possibly more money.
Sep 5 2007 3:34PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
CSIA is the Canadian equivalent of PSIA. It's a ski instructor's qualification.

I'd go for the 2, if you know you can get it. Better pay does happen, but you have to have the money to pay for the test in the first place (like $400 or something). I'm not sure what the pay increase is, but I know at my local mountain it's not very much (like $2 more an hour or something), so a lot of ski instructors don't take it, due to the price.

I'm looking into this too...
Sep 5 2007 3:39PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Oh, and I imagine you are going to take clinics out there, not just go for it straight away, right?

I'm not sure how much piste skiing you've done (I'm assuming you live in Scotland), and although it's the most basic of the 4 levels, is still technical.
Sep 5 2007 3:43PM
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followCam
Posts: 1907 - Karma: 446
thanks you two

yeh it is a tough choice to spend that much money on another exam that i may or may not get.
I think i may try to get my 1 and Freestyle 08/09 then possibly my 2 later in the year or the next season, because i'm only 16 right now so i would be more mature and hopefully understand how to teach better.
Also i'll be coming back to the U.K and probably try to get a job teaching on dryslope for a while, so i'll gain teaching experience for that then go for my 2!

Sep 5 2007 3:46PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
I dunno. It may be a good idea to stay after you gain your Level-1 and train for your level 2. I havent yet taken a qualification (Im only 14), but Ive skied with a lot of CSIA 3+ and CSCF instructors, and by not carrying on training you could lose a lot of the areas which you have fine tuned. I imagine the same would happen from skiing on dryslope, where, because the different surface may alter your technique.

Only listen to this if you want to though... Im only a 14 year old, no matter how much I know. It may be a good idea to wait for someone qualified, or maybe post on somewhere like EpicSki?
Sep 5 2007 3:52PM
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followCam
Posts: 1907 - Karma: 446
yeah, i think i'll go out for a couple weeks before i do it and do some training.
i know someone thats a csia 1 or 2 but i havent asked them about it yet.
thanks for the advice though
Sep 5 2007 3:58PM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
That's a good idea. And keep with it because of course the Level 2 is going to be much harder. More technical. I have to study for my AASI Level 2 and I'm nervous as hell. I know so many people who have taken the exam and failed. And when you fail, you don't get your money back. Bullshit!
Sep 5 2007 4:02PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
What the hell is AASI? Haha. Its probably better to invest the money on kids, lol.

Good luck with it. And same to you Cam...

Level 2 CSIA is much harder, they expect a lot more from you, and little mistakes arent an option.
Sep 5 2007 4:05PM
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manzear
Posts: 843 - Karma: 849
i would reccommend that you look into CFSA....the program in my opinion is better...you can get more than a level 1...it has been developed by freestyle and freeride skiers...check it yo...
Sep 5 2007 4:06PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Yeah, I was thinking about CFSA too. It may be good to get CSIA 1 and CFSA 1... or CSIA 2 and CFSA.

Sep 5 2007 4:07PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
I meant Ive been told about CFSA, but havent really looked into it. Im not sure how it would cope as a qualification on its own, but again, I havent rerally looked into it.

This is sad, shows how bad school sucks, Ive resorted to correcting myself on NS
Sep 5 2007 4:10PM
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manzear
Posts: 843 - Karma: 849
whatever you want...i have taken the CFSA program level 1 and 2...and have been very pleased...they are both coach courses as well...but whatever you want...
Sep 5 2007 4:10PM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
AASI is the snowboard equivalent to PSIA.

I agree that it's a waste of money on my part. It should go to better things. Which is why I have put it off for so many years. I have been making bank with just having my Level 1. It's like what you said, getting the 2 will only give me about a $2 raise. But being a senior instructor at my mtn, they are pushing me to get my Level 2. There is a way to get a sort of "scholarship" , so hopefully I won't have to pay for it.
Sep 5 2007 4:13PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
You know, I'm gonna look into this. I live in Vancouver, just looked on the CFSA site and theyre based in Vancouver. Ill have a look.

Just wondering, is it freestyle as in Moguls, Aerials and stuff, or does it have Big Air too? I know Vancouvers freestyle program has recently included a big air program, but I dont know if I want to do aerials and sh1t. Sounds like CSIA + CFSA would be pretty cool.
Sep 5 2007 4:15PM
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MrLevel
Posts: 408 - Karma: 10
Hey cam, where you thinking of doing this? I'm guessing at Alltracks Academy in Whistler, no? Been thinking of heading of there this year to, but going to spend most my time in France this year, so maybe next year, might make a trip to Whistler to check things out this year.
Things you should look into, will you be able to use your CSIA certificate in the UK/France and so on if you want to? Cause maybe if you want to work in Europe to you might be better of with BASI?!.
For me doing the CSIA courses would just be a good excuse to spend a season at Whistler, if I need other certs to get work around here I'll get them, don't mind the little extra money, but when you're younger you might want to look into it a bit more. (although I'm pretty confident Canadian certificates are widley accepted, but not sure).

Then, when you've got a Level 1 you'll only be allowed to teach childeren and complete beginners, with your Level 2 you'll be allowed to teach more advanced courses (don't know the exact details anymore), so what is it you want to do? Teach people and kids the absolute basics, or also teach people to improve theirselfs to advanced skiers? (from my experience in diving, teaching people the basics gets boring pretty quick!)
Sep 5 2007 4:37PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
definately get your 2, if you have no experience no ones going to let you teach park with a 1.
Sep 5 2007 4:40PM
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followCam
Posts: 1907 - Karma: 446
Well i looked at the Alltracks, but it was $7000 for the 11 week course, so i dont hav that kind of money even though it's a really good course and i'd love to do.

Yeh I think I should definatley be allowed to use it in UK/Europe cause some instructors that got a UK qualification that were teaching in France were chucked off the mountain cause it wans't good enough, but all the canadian were fine.

I think i'd want to teach freestyle people that want to improve, not just complete beginners, i'd get bored with that i think. 
So i think i'd rather get the 2 and then atleast have the option of what level i want to teach.

This thread's turned out really useful. thanks alot.
Sep 5 2007 4:51PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Yeah, CSIA is accepted at most resorts, if not, then big ones definitely accept them. French value their ski instructors highly, I think they do like a 2 year course or something, and are valued like doctors. They take their stuff seriously.

I'm not sure about the Canadian standards, I imagine they are pretty high. Techniques differ, for example CSIA is different from PSIA in certain things.

When are you planning on coming over?
Sep 5 2007 4:58PM
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followCam
Posts: 1907 - Karma: 446
Yeh, one of the french exams is you have to be in 2 tenths of a second of a ski racers time down a GS race course or something incredibly stupid like that.

For the CSIA snow park course i looked at it said you had to be able to slide atleast a 3m rail, do 2 straight air tricks, ski switch on an intermediate run and be controlled in a jump of over 1m amplitude. but it's probably actually harder than that.
What's PISA and ASIA?

Maybe January 09 or probably November 08
Sep 5 2007 5:03PM
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olv
Posts: 51 - Karma: 10
I did my CSIA Level 1 and my Park and Pipe instructor course the winter just gone in Whistler.

I'm from the UK too and initially was considering spending £5k+ on one of these 3 months courses that gets you your level 2. Basically it is really not worth the money. You will save a lot of cash and have a hell of a lot more fun if you just do the courses during a normal season. If you are a reasonably competant skier then you will be able to pass Level 1 no problems without any additional training. My experience is certainly true of whis but from what I hear it's the same across canada, in that you get enough tuition from your instructors over the 4 days of the course to be able to pass. It's 50% skiing ability and 50% teaching remember so as long as you are confident and can remember what you are told then you'll have no worries.

Park and pipe course was really good fun, much more so then level 1. We spent a lot of time playing games and skiing switch, doing spins and hitting rails. I'd really recommend it.

I'm going back to Whistler but probably not to instruct, but if i were i would definately do my level 2 as soon as i got out there purely because it'll improve both your skiing and teaching and you get paid a bit more. It probably won't pay for itself in a season but if you want to teach in the future it's definately worth it.

Basically, start saving now so you can just piss about for a winter in whistler without having to work, just doing your courses then return the winter after to work :) that would be my advice.
Sep 5 2007 5:35PM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
as long as you can ski and dont front attitude at all you should get by your level 1 no problem. i had no problem with it and i didnt take any clinics or anything.
Sep 5 2007 5:44PM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
and that was in whistler
Sep 5 2007 5:45PM
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followCam
Posts: 1907 - Karma: 446
Do you have a link to the Park and pipe instructor course, or a link to any info about it?

I am a competenet skier (even though i duno how to spell it) i mean im sponsored so i can ski.

So i was thinking of going out there for a couple months, in that time do my courses then maybe see if theirs any jobs going for a month? but that'll be unlikely?
Or just ski for the rest of the time
Sep 5 2007 5:59PM
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olv
Posts: 51 - Karma: 10
http://www.snowpro.com/csia/e/

all the information on courses and prices there.

i presume you're just waiting to finish school?
I wouldn't bother getting a job for a worth, not really worth it, you've got shit loads of time to save so just put loads of money aside so you can live without working and just ski all day everyday :)
Sep 5 2007 6:36PM
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followCam
Posts: 1907 - Karma: 446
ahh, i've been to that website actualy.

yeh, finish next summer.
but i've still yet to get a job, ive applied just waiting to see.

Sep 5 2007 6:59PM
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