R-EDHey Anton,
Are you doing a course beforehand or just going straight to the exam? Have you ever had an coaching or lessons before?
CSIA are not necessarily looking for amazing skiers for the Level 1. It qualifies you to teach from beginner to intermediate level. I.e. linked parallel turns on blue runs. If you can perform consistent demos of these turns on moderate intermediate terrain at intermediate speeds with intermediate technique, you will pass the skiing portion.
The more important focus at the Level 1 stage is the teaching/ group management. You must be able to communicate clearly and knowledgeably to a small group usually leading them through a beginner progression (Fast track to Parallel.). I recommend getting a copy of the CSIA Manual and reading it very thoroughly. Its only a basic introductory look at the teaching process and some of its contents are not relevant for the Level 1 but if you can understand the core skills, drills and pathways etc, you will do fine.
Main pointers:
-Don't ever stop under a chairlift with your group during your teach! Guaranteed instant fail.
-Lift up your goggles when speaking to the group/ maintain eye contact. Bonus points!
-Smile!
-Pace your lesson, not too fast, not to slow. Don't feel like you have to show the examiner everything you know by regurgitating every piece of information about skiing that comes to mind. This will get you bad marks. Better to work on one core skill.
Hope this helps!
As others have already said, the examiner want you to pass, we look for enthusiasm above all. They will tell you everything you need to know and help you the whole time. Never be afraid to ask questions, even if you think this makes you look unprepared. it doesn't, it makes you look invested in getting better. You'll do fine! Good Luck!!
**This post was edited on Sep 17th 2017 at 2:26:07pm
Hey, thanks for the elaborate reply!
I'm not doing any other course before the exam. I'm just attending the 3-day Level 1 course (planned for 8.-10th dec) at Mt Seymour.
I've been skiing for basically my hole life, every year a few weeks, minimum 2. Until I was like 12 yo I did lessons for 4 days every year which really developed my skiing, and about at that time my skiing was probably the best, if you take the technical aspect only.
I would still describe myself as a good skier, though a few years ago I sadly got use to the bad habit of skiing with a damn narrow stance - because I thought it was cool or something, I don't know. Last year I started to work on that a bit but I have to say it's quite hard to get rid of thathabit.
Also last year I worked at a ski school for very few weekends (that's also why I got the idea of going to Canada for ski instructing) but I was literally only teaching absolute beginners.
If you mean the pdf you can find online on following link (or could, somehow I get an error 404 if I try to open the link now -
https://www.snowpro.com/en/resources/csia-manual-education-resources) "Canadian Ski instructing" and "Teaching children" I've already worked throught those.
Also, thanks for all the other tips!
**This post was edited on Sep 17th 2017 at 4:03:44pm
**This post was edited on Sep 17th 2017 at 4:04:14pm