Qualifications

“I used my CADS qualification in New Zealand with a man with MS who was unable to use the right side of his body it was so personally worthwhile and rewarding to see the look on his face when he was able to ski with his grandchildren”
— Christopher McMurray

The Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance has been qualifying the best instructors in the world for over 30 years. Through innovation and a dynamic team they offer some of the most recognized certifications in the world.

Ski le Gap Adventures offers a vast range of qualifications, allowing people to focus in on their passion, (be it teaching, racing, freestyle or freeskiing) and gain an internationally recognized qualification to go with it.

Level 1

The first professional qualification that our skiers get is the CSIA level 1- this is an internationally recognised ski instructing qualification.

A teacher with a level 1 qualification will have learnt the following skills:

  • How to assess the safest way down the mountain
  • How to teach someone to stand in their boots!
  • How to teach someone to start, turn and perhaps most importantly STOP!
  • The level 1 instructor will get satisfaction in teaching a complete beginner how to eventually take the next step from snowplough to parallel.
  • The level 1 will spend much of their instructing time on the beginner and intermediate slopes (with a quick stop over on the magic carpet!!).

Level 2

A level 2 qualification is about taking the intermediate skier to the next level. Your clients will be people who can ski but would like to ski better. Someone who has a good basic knowledge but who has been off the slopes for a while will also take a class with a level 2 instructor.

The level of understanding with regards to piste analysis is much more in-depth and the teacher must be able to assess the client within a fast paced environment.

Race Coaching

A race coaching exam allows a teacher to coach a team of junior racers. This course includes learning how to set racing gates as well as being able to demonstrate the best way to tackle the gates. A coaching certification is all about getting the most out of your clients and will include a portion on how to mentally as well as physically prepare someone for racing. People with this certification are attractive for ski schools looking for someone to help coach their junior teams.

Park and Pipe


Learn how to fly … and then teach others to do it too! You get to play on your skis with the Park and Pipe certification, but it is not all fun and games, this certification is particularly impressive to ski schools who are looking for someone to take their clients into the half pipe or on the rails. And of course… this cert makes you look hot on skis!!

Level 3

Undertaking a level 3 exam is only for the best of the best, most Canadians will work in the ski industry for at least 5 years before they feel up to the task of the level 3 certification. The level 3 is an exam that is all about perfection. When you get to this level, your skiing skills are consistent on whatever the terrain looks like (moguls, ice, double black diamonds etc). When you teach at this level, you are likely to find work in the management of ski schools. Only a few people a year qualify to take this 7 day exam and those who do are entering the elite of the skiing worlds.

Crossover

Time to make the jump from two planks to one; after gaining your ski certifications, you can now try out the snowboarding side of things. Our programme is set up to allow you to gain both the ski and the snowboarding certification in one season! Or you can always just give it a try without taking the exam it is up to you!

CADS award

This award is special to Ski le Gap’s heart. Ski le Gap Adventures has been the signature sponsor of the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiers for over ten years. CADS teaches people with special needs to ski. Obtaining the CADS award means that you will be an assistant coach for people with severe disabilities, an extremely rewarding and motivating experience, also one that is well looked upon by many hiring ski schools.

In order to gain this award you must experience firsthand what it is like for some of your future clients; you are blind folded and guided down the slope. You get to ride on a sit ski as well as guide one!

Mountain First Response

Exclusive to Ski le Gap Adventures, this course is to train you how to respond to an emergency situation on the slopes. Once you have this qualification, you are qualified to assist the ski patrol.

Ski le Gap Adventures’ staff and students have been making tracks teaching all over the world. Ski le Gap Adventures can track a student or a pro who has taught in every ski teaching nation!