Results for May 2011
HINTERTUX UPDATE
BASI has just successfully hosted its largest series of training courses yet. Held on the 3,000 metre high glacier in Hintertux, Austria, 31 trainers were actively involved over a five week period delivering a series of coaching and training courses. According to reports, snow conditions were ideal for the time of year and the resort worked hard to provide great support. In parallel with the courses, a members Open Forum was held together with a Trainers Conference and Board Meeting.
Just arrived back from Hintertux to take up his full time post at BASI HQ, Product Manager Roy Henderson commented: “Hintertux in Austria was the scene for BASI’s biggest ever Spring courses with over 500 students taking part from L1 to L4 across four different disciplines. Given the number of courses and all the potentially complicated logistics, the team at BASI has done a fabulous job making it all work and everything has been a big success. We were very lucky with the weather and snow conditions having some of the best snow all season; as I left the resort it was snowing heavily and apparently dumped nearly half a metre that day. Whether you got the result you wanted or not, I think everyone will agree that Hintertux is an awesome place to run our courses and we are looking forward to returning there again next Spring.”
PUBLISHED 27/05/2011
STEVE RICKETTS ON ROAD TO FULL RECOVERY
Following a freak skiing accident during the recent BASI courses in Hintertux earlier this month, BASI trainer Steve Ricketts is now hoping to make a full recovery after suffering three broken vertebrae in his neck and back. Steve had to be helicoptered off the Hintertux glacier and is now recovering at home in Norway following a spell in hospital. Everyone in BASI wishes him a speedy recovery and hopes that he is back on the slopes again before too long.
PUBLISHED 27/05/2011
THOSE WHO CAN, TEACH…
UK snowboarder and X Games winner, Jenny Jones has decided to tackle the challenge of translating her skills as a professional competitive snowboarder to become a BASI qualified snowboard instructor.
Jenny has an impressive catalogue of success, entering big air and slopestyle competitions and winning, including three X-Games gold medals between 2009 and 2010.
Having previously passed the BASI Level 2 qualification, Jenny has just successfully completed a BASI course at Hintertux, Austria, to become a fully qualified snowboard instructor. Prior to Hintertux, Jenny had some experience of teaching on the first BASI course she completed, but Jenny decided to build on her previous training to secure the full international qualification, allowing her to teach snowboarding further afield. Her trainer for both courses was BASI’s Neil McNair.
Jenny intends to continue with her competitive career and her professional success will no doubt be an inspiration for anyone she trains in the future. Good luck, Jenny!
PUBLISHED 27/05/2011
BASI REACHES 15,000 QUALIFIED MEMBERS
Italian skier Luca Cheula is the 15,000th member to qualify through BASI’s training programme. He completed his training this season under the supervision of BASI instructors as part of a Peak Leaders course in Verbier, Switzerland.
Reflecting on his decision to undertake BASI training, Luca, who completed the Alpine Level 1 and 2 courses, commented: “I have always had a passion for snowsports and following university, I decided to leave office work and change my life by becoming an instructor. I had a lot of fun and improved greatly, both in my skiing and my English. I would like to say thank you to my BASI Trainers – they were professional and well prepared, but at the same time very nice people who worked hard to make us skilled skiers and teachers.”
Having completed his BASI training, Luca is now focused on finding a job in time for the next season, as well as working towards completing an ISIA qualification.
PUBLISHED 27/05/2011
CLELAND RETIRES AS BASI TRAINER
Now and then BASI trainers move on in different directions and we take this opportunity to thank Dougie Cleland for all his hard work and effort within BASI as his career takes a different direction. We wish him every success and good fortune in the future.
“Life works in mysterious ways and takes us in lots of different directions. Time has come for me to pass the Trainers jacket onto someone else! I am privileged to have had the opportunity to be involved in the BASI Training body for the last 6 years or so. I have met loads of great people along the way and have loved every (almost every) minute of it! From my Foundation course on Cairngorm in 1996 until my last BASI event in 2011 in St Anton representing the BASI Interski Demo Team, I have learned heaps and enjoyed every single day on the hill. Now rather than spending my time earning a crust on skis, skiing nicely groomed runs, heading off into the powder, I’ll be one of those annoying cyclists commuting in and out of the city to get to the office….. and then skiing like a madman on weekends!” Dougie (Ex BASI Trainer, turned Weekend Warrior)
PUBLISHED 27/05/2011
Available NOW!
The long awaited new BASI manual, the (1st edition) evolving from the BASI Alpine Manual 4th edition – the first for 15 years! Last published in 1996 it has undergone several updates and the new format, containing 439 pages, includes both Alpine and Generic in one publication. Officially launched at the recent training courses in Hintertux where it was selling at the rate of “one a minute” for the first half hour, the new manual has been well received and will be available in the future in a digital format as well.
BASI trainer Paul Garner is credited with being the architect of the latest manual and commented that: "It is focused on outcomes and how a skier can get to where he or she wants to be and it is about understanding, delivery and safety."
Fully illustrated with colour pictures and easy to follow diagrams the user-friendly manual is now available at £25 for members and £35 for non-members. To obtain your copy of the new manual contact the BASI office or log on to the website shop at http://www.basi.org.uk/shop.aspx
PUBLISHED 10/05/2011