ISIA: TRAINING FOR WORKING INSTRUCTORS

Level 3 Training

Season-long Level 3 Ski Instructor Training Program Verbier, Zermatt & Nendaz  

The ES Academy ISIA program is a season-long training and development program, with the opportunity to also work for one of the largest, most established private snowsports schools in Europe. The program is focused on preparing you for all the ISIA exams and building your experience as a ski instructor.  

The training and development program will prepare candidates for all modules of the Level 3 (ISIA) qualification. All candidates will be mentored through their own individual development and action plan. Candidates will need to join our program with a BASI, IASI, CSIA, NZSIA Level 2 or equivalent certification.  

The course is delivered by current and former BASI, IASI and CSIA Trainers and Level 4s and consists of top quality training towards the key Level 3 modules required to achieve the overall qualification.  

Moving from Level 2 towards Level 3 is hard work but very rewarding and it requires dedication to succeed at this level. Gaining your level 3 along with your ISIA stamp opens a lot of doors within the ski industry. With the expert tuition of ES’s experienced team of Trainers and Level 4 Instructors, your hard work will be channelled appropriately and will give you the best possible chances of success in your Level 3 exams. 

What is Included

  • 165-200 hours of training with ES’ top trainers including current and former examiners with CSIA, IASI and BASI, and ISTD’s. 
  • Formation week with ES Instructors – 5 days on snow formation week to integrate Trainees into the ski school 
  • Personal action planning and mentoring with your principal coach.
  • Regular video analysis.
  • Regular off-snow fitness training.
  • Race Training (GS)
  • Ski tuning clinics
  • Optional Second Language Lessons (10 weeks included in Nendaz)
  • ES Academy Branded jacket
  • Second discipline training (snowboarding)
  • Mountain Safety and off-piste training with ES’ experienced off-piste spialist.
  • Taster sessions in telemark, adaptive and freestyle
  •  A paid job ski instructing this winter with ES (subject to interview) 
Course Content Level 3 - (sample for Zermatt)

How we train

ES Academy Ski Coaches and Ski Instructor Trainers train together to develop ideas that will improve not only the instructors’ performance but the experiences and lessons delivered by ES on a daily basis. 

In addition to the experienced trainers outlined below, we have many other talented pro’s including Italian Maestros, French Nationales and Swedish Examiners. 

Talented ski instructors build quality ski schools which greatly enhance the skiing experience of those who have chosen Switzerland as their destination. 

Verbier, Zermatt and Nendaz have competitive and highly regulated ski school environments. ES prides itself on being the best quality ski school in the best Swiss resorts. Achieving this goal requires a constant investment in staff training and development.


Work Opportunities 

Whilst we do not guarantee peak week work with us during your training season, we will offer you the opportunity to interview with us either before arrival or once you have arrived in resort. Upon successful interview, you will be able to teach with us over the Peak weeks. Teaching can range from between 4 – 10 weeks of work, depending on your schedule and our requirements. 

The ES Academy provides you with a unique opportunity in these resorts to train and work within the same ski school, so that you can earn money whilst you train. Working for ES is optional and we are also happy for instructors to join the ES Academy who would prefer not to teach and focus on exams only.  

ES is a highly professional and very well regarded school with top clients who come back year after year. We have a great team of talented instructors and see the Academy programme as the way to add selected instructors to our full time team. So it’s a foot in the door too which bodes well if you are looking for full time employment in the future.  

The aim of the ES Academy, from our perspective, is to produce a supply of high quality instructors to be part of the team from the beginning of the season. That is why the courses starts with the ES Instructor formation week early in December. This training week takes place with the full team and it gives you the chance to get to know our team and become a part of the resort community. The Academy instructors become a part of the ski school in every respect. There is a really strong feeling of camaraderie and being part of a team on the course.  

You will of course have to meet all of ES’ standards of professionalism and behaviour in order to teach. We have a high profile clientèle with high expectations. This teaching component of the course will allow you to gain crucial experience inside a busy snowsport school.  


Dates and Prices

200 hours coaching, 2nd December – 26th April, Zermatt £ 2350  

165 hours coaching, 9th December – 12th April, Verbier £ 1950

200 hours coaching, 16th December – 12th April, Nendaz £ 1950  

The Level 3 instructor (ISIA) training will run throughout the season, taking into consideration any exams trainees have booked onto for the winter. The training calendar is set, but is then re-evaluated and can be adapted as and when trainees book onto exams. Our trainers will recommend and will help you decide which exams to do and when, and will ensure that your training towards these exams is appropriate and maximized.  

This price includes all training, on and off the snow. It does not include your lift pass, travel, accommodation and insurance. Once you are a member of the team, you will be eligible for a reduced season lift pass and we will assist you in finding accommodation alongside our instructors.  


Coaches

  • Julian Griffiths ( Verbier ) ES Founder and Director BASI ISTD Swiss Snowsports Brevet Federale Former BASI Trainer (10 years)  
  • Sarah Norton ( Zermatt ) BASI ISTD
  • Ex FIS Athlete Swiss Snowsports Brevet Federale
  • Jamie Kagan ( Nendaz ) ES Nendaz Director CSIA level 4
  • IASI Level 4
  • IASI Head of Education IASI Examiner Swiss Snowsports Brevet Federale 
  • BASI Tech & Teach