A ski instructor course through the eyes of a student.

If you are looking at taking a Gap Course you have probably done lots of research and spoke to lots of providers about their courses but i’m sure a lot of you still have your worries about whether you are choosing the right course. The best way to find out about what a course really entails is from the people that have been there and done the courses themselves; our ex-Gap students. At the end of last winter we chatted to lots of our students to see why they chose our course, what they liked best and what set us aside from other Gap providers, this is what they said.

Vance Gardner Courchevel Gap Student 2013

Why did you join the GAP course?

I joined the GAP course after researching which was the best way to go about doing an instructor course as I had wanted to be a ski instructor for many years. The GAP course appealed to me in terms of how long the course was; knowing that there would be plenty of training but also the opportunity to live in another part of the world for a good amount of time to experience it. I also had friends that were ski instructors so i was able to ask them plenty of questions on the best way of getting into instructing.

Unlike many people on the course i hadn’t come straight from education so this wasn’t a break from going to university, this was me training for a new career that I fully intend to keep doing. Prior to the course i had been out of the military for a year and since the military ski instructing was my next goal in life, and i’m happy to have now achieved both.

What did you enjoy most – on snow and off snow?

The best thing was that every day I woke up to an extensive back garden which would become our playground for the season. There was plenty of time to spend exploring the great off-piste Les Trois Vallees offers as well as homing in on our individual piste

Robbie Black Courchevel Gap Student 2013

performance. In addition the notorious rutlines provided great entertainment and challenges. These are essentially luge tracks for skis where you slide faster and faster down a predefined track through moguls.The fact that our chalet was only five minutes walk from the lifts was hugely beneficial and meant our journey to the slopes was not difficult and we could pop back home for anything. It was also centrally located in town, so Les Peupliers’ infamous vin chaud was never too far away. The chalet was better than I expected with every twin room having an en suite bathroom. There was a great mix of people on the course and the way New Generation mixed the groups of people worked well. I shared a chalet with one set and trained with another group making socialising easy.

Would you recommend the GAP to others / and why?

If you see yourself doing more than sitting in an office at a computer, want a season on the mountains, and want an insight into another career and life as a ski instructor, then

Emily Loomes-Vrdolijak Courchevel Gap Student 2013

go for it! If you’re not a fan of skiing, or snow it might not be for you! A ski resort must be one of the few places where everyone is there for the same reason: snow. There is always something to do – ski – and on the Gap course you have a ready made group of friends and ski pros for support, advice and those all important encouraging words when you need them.

I was slightly hesitant heading out on the course having been working as an IT professional for a few years – I didn’t know what to expect, but imagined that most of the course would be made up of 18 year olds and I’d be the grandma! There were 18 year olds, but age didn’t matter. We were all there to ski, to work hard and to have fun.

To get the most out of it, be prepared to work at it and make changes. Take-up every opportunity you’re offered to train and ski with the pros, and get chatting – it’s all about networking!

What makes New Generation stand out from our competitors?

George Variava Courchevel Gap Student

First of all, the location of the GAP course could not be any better. I was in Courchevel which is a lively resort with extensive pistes and not a boring moment. However the biggest factor that makes New Generation stand out is how well they look after you. I had nowhere to stay in resort before the start of the course and could not find anywhere as it was new year week, but Nicki managed to find me a flat and stop me from having to go home for a few days. I also had a suspected broken foot mid-course, and Nicki was more than happy to take me to and from the hospital when she was really busy, far beyond what she had to do. They really do go the extra mile.

What did you do after the course? Did you go and work? What did you do in the summer?
New Generation went beyond the training required to pass the BASI exams and provided invaluable support in getting jobs after we passed our level 2. The careers talk during our

Amy Wardman Courchevel Gap Student 2010

training provided information for whatever your aim was within the ski industry and covered options all over the world. After passing my Level 2 exam in March I was lucky enough to go straight to Italy to teach for the last three weeks of the season. I’d definitely recommend trying to gain experience straight after the course as it allowed us to build our confidence in a real teaching environment. New Generation also provided an invaluable reference that resulted in a job at Cardrona Ski Resort, New Zealand for the summer. It was a great experience to work for the season so soon after

Amy in New Gen Orange!

gaining my level 2 and it allowed me to commit to a full seasons training during the next European winter.

Amy is now part of our Training Team in Verbier training for her BASI Level 4 and when she isn’t training you can find her teaching for our Verbier Ski School!

To take a look at this years Verbier Gap Course brochure click here.

To take a look at this years 3 Vallee Gap Course brochure click here.

To book on to one of our Gap Courses click here.