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15 years old

As almost of you know, the minimum age to take a CSIA level 1 course has been lowered. Following a vote at the Annual General Meeting held at Tremblant on December 4th 2003, the minimum age required is now 15.

The CSIA Level 1 course is still 4 days (26 hrs). The course was made longer in 2002 in response to the well-voiced demands from Ski School Directors, and the industry across Canada, requesting the CSIA provide better training to entry-level ski instructors in the realm of customer service and age-specific teaching.

When the CSIA decided to introduce the guest experience component to the level one, and to expand on the age-specific teaching to better focus on children, it became very apparent that the Level 1 candidates would be far too overwhelmed with the amount of information in the course. The result would create a lesser quality of Ski Pro and would not satisfy the publics' demand for better and safer instructors; hence, the introduction of a 26 hour course. This new format will provide enough time for the candidate to absorb the information and provide a better delivery to your ski school clientele.

The beauty of a 4-day (26 hr) course is how flexible it is. Ski Schools in BC have been running 4-day Level 1 courses for several years and have experienced great success. They have found it to be beneficial to creating better Pros. Here are some suggested course-breakdowns that can be used to train the new Pros:

The course may be held:
- 4 days in a row
-4 days over 2 weekends
-3 night and 2 days
-6 nights (3 nights per week)

Ski Schools that provide a 12 hour training sanctioned by the
CSIA and the regional Level I Coordinator will receive credit for that training and will be able to offer a 3 day Level I course. Please ask your Level I Coordinator for the details. Working on the possibility of on-line course material.

This truly is in the best interest of the Canadian ski industry. Everyone in the industry is fully aware of the competition for leisure time, and are striving to create the ultimate experience for the public. The CSC Futures Committee Executive Summary and Recommendations recognizes that a better job needs to be done with beginner/first-time skiers in order to retain more participants in our sport. The Futures Committee also recognizes the fact that the CSIA has a very important role to play in this retention process. The new 4-day Level 1 course develops stronger Pros who will provide skiers with an ultimate experience to keep them active in the sport. Through better education we are creating solid Pros, which results in happier skiers and returning clients.


"For the benefit of its members and partners the CSIA provides education and leadership that contribute to a vibrant mountain experience for the skiing public."

Should you have any questions or comments regarding the new Level 1 format, please contact the National Office at 1.800.811.6428 or via email at national@snowpro.com.

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