Ski Instructor Course Prerequisites
Level 1 & 2 Prerequisites
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You must be able to enter New Zealand on a visitor visa and have a return flight (unless your visa states otherwise or you are an Australian/New Zealand permanent resident).
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You must be a confident and competent skier, able to ski the whole mountain linking parallel turns on blue, red and black runs. Our recommendation is you have a minimum of 6 weeks of ski experience to feel comfortable to ski anywhere at the beginning of training. It is important you are willing to learn how to ski bumps, steeps and powder. If you are unsure if your level is adequate, please talk to us when you are thinking about booking onto the course.
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Important to be fit and healthy to make the most out of the course. We will do some light fitness training on the course and can make suggestions on a pre-season training programme.
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Minimum age 18 years old, we will consider 16-17 year olds on a case by case basis.
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You need to speak English at a conversational level, this is important for you to understand our training and also to be able to teach skiing in during your Level 1/2 exams.​
Level 3 Work and Train Prerequisites
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You must have obtained your BASI Level 2 Ski Instructor Qualification or equivalent to join our Level 3 Work and Train programme.
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If you are wanting to work you must hold a current New Zealand Working Holiday Visa or already have the legal right to work in New Zealand.
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You will have to complete an online interview with NZSki. We will guide you through this, setting you up for success.
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Important to be fit and healthy to make the most out of the course. We will do some light fitness training on the course and can make suggestions on a pre-season training programme.
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Minimum age 18 years old
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You need to speak English at a conversational level, this is important for you to understand our training and also to be able to teach skiing whilst working at NZSki.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
​Alpine Academy aims to make its programmes as inclusive as possible. However, because the courses are based around daily on-snow ski instructor training in a mountain environment, there are certain physical and practical requirements that participants must be able to meet in order to safely take part.
Participants must be able to ski independently on alpine skis and take part in several hours of on-snow training each day. The programme involves skiing on groomed pistes, using ski lifts (such as chairlifts and gondolas), carrying personal ski equipment, and moving around mountainous terrain in winter conditions. For this reason, the programme is most suitable for individuals who are physically able to participate in alpine skiing and who have a confident intermediate skiing ability.
The training also requires participants to practise teaching skiing to others, demonstrate skiing techniques, and take part in practical instructor training sessions. Participants should therefore be able to safely control their speed and direction on a range of pistes and ski for extended periods during the day.
Individuals with mobility impairments that prevent them from independently skiing using standard alpine equipment, including those who are unable to stand and ski, may find that the structure of the programme is not suitable. The courses are designed specifically to prepare candidates for British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) alpine ski instructor qualifications, which themselves require candidates to demonstrate alpine skiing proficiency.
Alpine Academy encourages anyone who is unsure whether the programme would be appropriate for their circumstances to get in touch to discuss their situation before applying.