Are you qualified to lead a group on the Piste?
The August 2006 newsletter from the Scottish Schools Ski Association reminds snowsport instructors that their Snowsport Scotland qualifications need to be revalidated every 3 years.
It also states;
"Clearly, for insurance reasons, if for no other, it is strongly advised that Ski Leaders hold a valid qualification. In the current climate, experience is not enough."
Colin MacKenzie from Highland Council's Insurance Section has also made it quite clear that Highland Councils' School Travel Insurance Policy is only valid if a teacher leading a group on the piste has a snowsports National Governing Body (NGB) award.
For details of NGB awards, see below.
Teachers Guide
Snowlife have produced a useful guide for teachers leading or supervising snowsports.
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The Snowsports Leader
Currently there are two award schemes run by National Governing Bodies for people that want to lead skiers or boarders within ski resorts here or abroad. One by Snowsport Scotland; another by Snowsport England & Snowsport Wales.
If you are on piste leading a snowsports group, Highland Council require all leaders to conform to a National Governing Body system.
In addition the leader needs to be familiar with the generic risk assessments for the activity they are supervising and the location which will either be on snow or an artificial surface. Generic risk assessments. are available on the web pages of the Outdoor Education web site.
The Scottish NGB provides the following for skiers;
Alpine Ski Leader (ASL)
The Alpine Ski Leader course is designed to train and qualify responsible skiers who are primarily interested in the encouragement of young skiers and who seek to lead such skiers within the boundaries of snow skiing resorts.
The seven day course contains elements designed to improve the participant's ability to lead skiers in a mountain environment and to introduce skiing to children in a safe and enjoyable manner.
Alpine Ski Leader Refresher (ASLR)
This course will update and inform participants of recent developments in the field of leading and instructing skiers. Additionally it will give participants direction and advice on how to improve their personal skiing performance.
The course (minimum one day) contains practical sessions, supplemented with an evening presentation and discussion. This course may be combined with an additional personal performance day.
Course participants should:
- Possess the Alpine Ski Leader Award
- Be a member of the Snowsport Scotland Coaching Scheme
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Revalidation
The Alpine Ski Leader qualification is valid for 3 years. To revalidate you must:
- Attend the above refresher course every three years
- Possess a valid first aid certificate
- Be a member of the Snowsport Scotland (or ESC, SCOW or NISC) Coaching Scheme (renewed annually).
Note that it does not matter how long it is since you obtained your Ski Party Leader or Alpine Ski Leader award, you can attend a refresher course to revalidate your award.
At the same time as revalidating your award, you will have to renew your membership of Snowsport Scotland at the current rate, there is no extra charge for missed years when you were not a fully paid up member.
Snowboarding
Snowsport Scotland provides the following for snowboarders;
Snowboard Leader
The Snowboard Leader course is designed to train and qualify responsible snowboarders to safely lead groups of snowboarders within ski patrolled areas.
The award is primarily aimed at teachers, youth group leaders and other responsible adults wishing to encourage and supervise young snowboarders.
Candidates attend a six day modular course where the required technical skills, leadership skills and knowledge and understanding will be presented and assessed.
Snowboard Leader Refresher
All those persons who hold the Snowboard Leader award will be required to attend a refresher course every 3 years to revalidate the qualification. This course will update and inform participants of recent developments in the field of leading and instructing. Additionally it will give participants direction and advice on how to improve their personal riding performance.
The course (minimum one day) contains practical sessions, supplemented with an evening presentation and discussion. This course may be combined with an additional personal performance day.
It is worth noting that Snowsport Scotland run Snowboard leader courses in July; on the Glacier at Tignes, so there is scope for courses to be run throughout the year.
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Potential Free Courses
Note the following offers;
From Ski Astons;
"We should be happy to sponsor the full amount of a place on a Snowsport Scotland 'Alpine Ski Leader' course to any party leader booking their first ski tour with us."
From Interski;
Interski run an Alpine Ski Leader course with the following incentive.
"If your school has never travelled with Interski and (a) subsequently books a group, or (b) is travelling for the first time with Interski in 2008/2009, we will refund £250 against your first trip. Should you then book for the following season (ie, two consecutive seasons), a further £250 will be refunded against the second trip. All of the above assumes successful completion of the course and a minimum of 20 full paying passengers per trip. On your 3rd consecutive trip, you will be entitled to Interski plus! status and the many benefits this special status brings.
Interski plus! clients will receive a £250 discount on the cost of an ASCL course"
Snowsport England and Snowsport Wales
There are 2 parts to their system. You have to do the Ski Course Organiser Award before the Alpine Ski Course Leader award will be given.
Ski Course Organiser Award
A basic qualification designed to enable leaders to organise school, club and youth group ski courses, safely, responsibly, efficiently and in such a way as to give maximum educational benefit (in skiing terms) to young people. (One day).
Alpine Ski Course Leader
The ASCL training programme is designed to train and qualify adult leaders; professional teachers, youth workers and club members who seek to introduce and lead young people on behalf of recognised educational establishments or member clubs affiliated to the Governing Body. (Six days)
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Highland Council Snowsport Supervisor
Please contact the OERC to book a place on this course.
The Outdoor Education Resource Centre (OERC) provides and in-house accreditation course for employees that wish to supervise snowsports.
A Snowsports Supervisor is responsible for the participants before, between and after; receiving instruction or being led by, appropriately qualified skiers / boarders.
There are many things to do either side of lessons, preparation, eating, resting and packing up. If there is an opportunity for the participants to have some time to practice what they have been taught, then the Snowsports Supervisor can provide supervision whilst the participants ski/board on a slope/run identified as suitable by a qualified snowsports instructor.
The individual does not need to be a skier, though there are obvious benefits if they are.
It is not envisaged that a Snowsports Supervisor would take a group to a skiing location when no snowsport instruction is featured in the excursion. In fact Highland Councils' ‘School Travel’ insurance specifies that supervised but unaccompanied skiing is only insured if the consent of a qualified instructor is given. This requires the instructor to know the ability of the skiers and to be on site to weigh up all the variables such as weather and snow conditions etc.
Experience required by a Snowsports Supervisor
Each person should have knowledge of the environment that is being used and the associated hazards. Individuals need to be familiar with the generic risk assessments for the activity they are supervising and the location which will either be on snow or an artificial surface. Generic risk assessments are available on the Outdoor Education web site.
Highland Council provide a 3 hour theory session to address the above, this course must be attended by all those acting as a supervisor of snowsports. These courses can be run at any time of the year by arrangement or through dates advertised by the Outdoor Education Resource Centre.
The course covers the following topics;
- Pre-trip planning
- Sourcing weather forecasts
- Hypothermia
- Frostnip / Frostbite
- Sunburn / Snow Blindness
- Suitable clothing
- Warm up and cool down sessions
- Snowsports Safety Code
- Selecting suitable runs, with the advice of an instructor
- Selecting suitable uplift, with the advice of an instructor
- Briefing of participants
- NGB awards for Ski Leaders
It is only necessary to attend this course once. Thereafter it is the responsibility of the individual to stay current and maintain / improve their knowledge.
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