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About ISIA

The International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) is the world body for professional ski instructors. ISIA represents the very best in ski instruction around the world. ISIA promotes collaboration in respect to ski technique, methodology, didactics and safety - ensuring the highest standards of professional practice. Only one organisation from each country may become a member of the ISIA.

ISIA Guidelines

1. Preamble

These guidelines count as the minimum standard for the training of ski instructors within the member associations of ISIA.

2. Aims of the training:
The professional training must enable the candidates to give commercial ski lessons under the consideration of the following contents:

2.1. Technique: They must to be able to teach all guest categories (children-seniors) in group or private lessons. They must be able to teach the respective disciplines (downhill, snowboard, cross-country etc) within generally recognised security standards and technical-methodical-didactical principles.

2.2. Alpine dangers: The ski instructors must be able to judge correctly the hazards of the winter and mountains (weather/avalanches and the respective terrain), to behave in the right way and to take immediately measures if accidents occur.

2.3. Marketing: The ski instructors should know the principles of marketing, especially those of the winter tourism, and should be able to place the activities of ski teaching and ski schools within the chain of services of the tourist industry and to understand their connections.
2.4. Languages: The ski instructor should be able to teach in at least a second language beside his mother tongue.
2.5. Laws and regulations: The ski instructor must know the laws and regulations of the country where he teaches and has to respect the respective standard of his social standing.

3. Minimum requirements and exams:
The candidates who take the training for ski instructors have to be already very good skiers and have to master the respective equipment in conditions of native and prepared skiing slopes. The established minimum requirements shall be tested in every discipline.

3.1. Technique-practical exams: The candidate must master, show and teach the following exercises: walking exercises, basic swings, parallel swings, racing techniques, skilfullness, related snow-sport equipment.

Elements of the examinations: alpin downhill/cross country/snowboard.

3.2. Methods/didactics: Teaching of at least two lessons, of which one is in a foreign language. Duration of the exam approximately 30 minutes of teaching in presence of clients.

Elements of the exam:

3.2.1. Personality (appearance, leading, organisation)

3.2.2. Technical ability (technical knowledge and explication of a lesson)

3.2.3. Teaching skills (subjects, use of learning aids)

3.2.4. Global impression (teaching atmosphere, achievements, foreign language)

3.2.5. Eventually practical training in a recognised institution

3.3 Theoretical exam

3.3.1. Theoretical exam of technique/methodology: Oral and/or written.

The candidate must have the opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge in the following subjects/elements of the exam:

3.3.1.1. Technique
3.3.1.2. Biomechanics
3.3.1.3. Motion science
3.3.1.4. Material and equipment
3.3.1.5. Methodology and didactic
3.3.1.6. Security

3.3.2. General training: The exam of general knowledge can be given orally and/or written.

The following areas have to be considered/elements of the exam:

3.3.2.1. Marketing (to place ski teaching within tourist attractions)
3.3.2.2. Communication (group, press, reports of accidents)
3.3.2.3. Local history (culture, history, geography)
3.3.2.4. Nature/environment (flora/fauna, ecology)
3.3.2.5. History of skiing
3.3.2.6. National and international laws and organisations concerning ski teaching
3.3.2.7. Material knowledge (components of the ski, bindings, tips etc)
3.3.2.8. Nutrition
3.3.2.9. Prevention of accidents

3.4. Variations and avalanches: The ski instructor must be able to guide safely and assist guests on variants (open down hill out of piste). He/she should be able to judge and decide in dangerous situations such as avalanches and bad weather conditions (prevention of avalanches, interpretation of their preview). In case of accidents he/she should be able to install immediate measures to co-ordinate rescue activities and first aid.

Elements of exam:

3.4.1. Judgement of the danger of avalanches (formula 3*3), reduction methods

3.4.2. Guiding a group outside the pist

3.4.3. Use of search devices for avalanches

3.4.4. Orientation (reading of maps, compass, altimeter)

3.4.5. Avalanche accident (initiate the rescue, alarm and first aid)

4. Length of training:
Since a high standard is required from the candidate, 450 hours of training should be enough to meet the minimum standard of ISIA requirements. These should be divided as following:

2/3 practical training on snow

1/3 theory

5. Controls:
The ISIA keeps the right to visit training institutions of member associations, to control and verify if the minimum standards are met and if training courses are implemented. ISIA should have the opportunity during membership renewal to visit for at least three years training courses before requests for membership will be handled. During this period the applicants will have within ISIA the status of an observer.

6. Further training:
To keep their status and to be able to receive further their ISIA stamps, the ski instructors have to take part in the training courses organised by their national associations. The attendance to these courses has to be registered in the identity card of the ski instructor by the respective association. Training course duration: for one day every year, for two days every second year, etc. Those who do not attend the training course receive the inactive status as a professional ski instructor and has no right to get the ISIA stamp. To be again an active professional the ski instructor has to re-attend the training.

7. Legitimisation: Ski instructors who have successfully finished their respective national training and exams required as the minimum standard, receive the ISIA badge and an identity card by their respective member associations where the achieved ISIA standard is certified and the ISIA stamp registered.