BASI is an Exciting, Vibrant and Progressive Members' Organisation. The BASI Team strive to be the best in their chosen disciplines.

The BASI Mission is to create a national and international reputation for excellence through the provision of the highest quality of training and support services, for snowsport instructors.

Providers of Ski and Snowboard Instructors Worldwide. Welcome to BASI.

As an Association we welcome you to our year 2008/2009 website, which will provide you with information to update your knowledge and guide you through training courses for the season 2008/2009. For those members already qualified we ask you take time to update and familiarize yourself with the new information, qualifications and courses.

Whatever your plans, BASI wishes you the greatest success in your endeavours and BASI offers its support in your quest to progress towards your chosen goals in your snowsport career.

Snowsports is an exciting, very demanding and ever-developing industry to work within. BASI recognises and values the importance of encouraging an individual's enjoyment of skiing and snowboarding and values individual strength of feeling and passion for a broad range of approaches to snowsports.

BASI provides courses in five disciplines: Alpine, Snowboard, Nordic Cross Country, Telemark and Adaptive. Qualifications within each discipline are available and BASI is now encouraging members to cross-over from their favoured discipline and to investigate and experience other disciplines.

International and worldwide recognition of qualifications.

For the 2008 - 2009 season BASI is progressing with its new Alpine qualification system. This is a fantastic development for the Association and is as a direct result of international agreements in Europe, and the establishment of minimum standards for the ISIA licence by the International Ski Instructors Association. The BASI qualification is a worldwide passport for employment in the snowsports industry.

Students applying to attend the Level 1 Instructor are requested to join the Association as an Associate member. Students wishing to progress to Level 2 Instructor must be current members. Once this training has been successfully completed, you may upgrade to full membership of the Association. The membership fees are renewable annually on the 1st October.

Training synopsis

The courses are delivered by the BASI Trainers who have been specially selected for their skills, knowledge, experience and teaching ability. Each Trainer leads a group of trainees through a course syllabus which includes, lesson planning, personal performance, technical evening workshops, video feedback both on and off the hill. There is an emphasis on practical 'on snow' instruction and demonstration.

All BASI Trainers are qualified to the highest International level with the ISTD (International Ski Teacher Diploma) and the ISIA (International Ski Instructor's Association) qualifications.

The Trainers must be up to date with all the latest developments and techniques. Each Trainer is involved in regular workshops and training sessions plus an annual Trainers' Conference which is held specifically as a 'think tank', giving all staff the opportunity to be involved and to help develop the BASI courses and specifically the quality, delivery and course content and structure.

The BASI Course Directory is published annually and sets out full details of the criteria and syllabus for all courses. It is a handy ready-reference document for checking course dates and for accessing the various members' benefits available. Published annually in early summer, updates to any of the information are presented in the subsequent BASI News magazine which is sent out to current members, at present on a quarterly basis..

What else happens in BASI? ... loads of exciting activities and events.

For example:

The Annual BASI Equipment Offer
Every year full BASI members are given the opportunity to purchase the very latest equipment from major suppliers such as Salomon and Rossignol. In addition, a large number of nationally recognized suppliers come together to offer our members a broad range of clothing and outdoor equipment at fantastically competitive prices.

Membership Cards

As a full member you will receive an annual BASI membership card. This will contain details of your current level of qualification and details of recent refresher courses and will hold an up to date photograph. This card is recognised throughout the Snowsport Industry. Associate members will receive an Associate member's card on completion of their Trainee course.

ISIA
The International Ski Instructors Association was formed in 1957. Here's an excerpt from the ISIA mission statement:
"ISIA is to be recognised as the global ski and snowsport instructor organisation, known for its highest standards within the ski and snowsport teaching profession and continually developing to meet the needs of clients and the ski industry worldwide."

Today there are over over 30 different member countries around the world. All the main skiing nations are current members and BASI is represented on the ISIA Board by Vittorio Caffi, our International Director.

ISIA IN THE FUTURE

In the past the ISIA has struggled to make significant political decisions. The recent developments and agreements should be seen as a big step forward now that a minimum standard has been agreed upon. This will mean that an ISIA badge is an ISIA badge no matter which country you're from.

The future hopefully means that the ISIA will move onto sharing and developing technical, teaching and business ideas to benefit everyone within the organisation, including BASI members.

For more information on ISIA see their website on www.isiaski.org 

BASI News & other publications
Throughout the year BASI produces various publications to keep its members up-to-date and informed of all developments within the Association.

BASI News is the primary mouth piece for this information and all members, full and associate, receive their own copy of the magazine, which is published quarterly.

Over the past years the magazine has developed from a simple news sheet to the current style. Members are encouraged to contribute articles, letters and photographs to the magazine. Many of the technical articles published are in fact submitted by members who wish to share their own viewpoint, experiences or knowledge with other members of the Association. Such sharing is invaluable to the success of any organisation.

BASI also produces its Annual Report in advance of the AGM. This official document openly reports the activities of the Association in the various disciplines throughout the year along with the audited financial accounts.

We welcome you to BASI and invite you to participate in our association.