I would like to know about being a snowboarding instructor in
Italy.What qualifications are needed,how easy for British citizen to
work there,and lists of contacts etc.What stage 1 instructor courses
are run there
and would I need to be able to speak Italian.

---

Request for Question Clarification by leli-ga on 17 Dec 2002 02:32 PST

Hello

I've found that it is possible to work as a snowboarding instructor in
Italy with a British qualification but it's less easy to find out how
to train within Italy. The training organisations I've found so far
only give address, phone and fax.

Your question is fairly broad. However, we should be able to help if
you're interested in an answer based on:
getting a British qualification, 
how that qualification fits in with Italian requirements
and a few relevant contacts. 
(The contacts could include somewhere in Italy to contact about
courses.)

I realise this doesn't cover everything you included in your original
question, but if you think it would be helpful, please let us know.

Leli

---

Clarification of Question by 1971-ga on 17 Dec 2002 09:34 PST

I am not yet qualified as an instructor.I would prefer to train in
Italy if you have any contacts or information on how to and the
easiest way of accomplishing that,it would be helpful.(what earea's of
Italy,are they english speaking courses,how much etc?)I have looked
into training courses in New Zealand,would I be able to use this
qualification in Italy?Please give me any info you have on getting
trained as an instructor in England(that would be really helpful
too).Whats the difference in qualifications from different countries?.
Any info and contact lists you have on any of the above would be a
help.

---

Request for Question Clarification by leli-ga on 18 Dec 2002 04:18 PST

Well, I've done my best but I've found no trace of any
English-speaking courses in Italy. However, I have found several
addresses and two websites for schools training snowsports instructors
(snowboard not mentioned separately). Everything is in Italian.
Overall, I've found quite a bit of useful information about
international standards for instructors, organisations which could
help, British training, how you might get work in Italy etc.  But
since this does not include courses in Italy for non-Italian speakers,
I want to check with you whether you would find this an acceptable
answer.

---

Clarification of Question by 1971-ga on 19 Dec 2002 23:49 PST

Thank you for your reply.
Any info you have found would be really helpful.If there is no info
for training in Italy then I would really appreciate info on training
in England that you have come across. Italian web sites and addresses
would be good,just anything you can give me.Thank you

Hello again

Thanks for responding to the clarification requests.

After looking into this for you, I can start with the short answer: a
qualified British instructor has a fair chance of getting a job in
Italy, but training there would be difficult without a knowledge of
the language. I'd also add that the British qualification (BASI)
clearly has a good reputation at home and abroad.

First, I'll give you a summary of what I've discovered and then a list
of contacts and links. I started 'backwards' with a look at job
opportunities since I thought this would help establish what was
really needed to get work as an instructor.


JOBS IN ITALY FOR SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTORS

British citizens have as much right to a job in Italy as any other EU
citizen. No problem there.
One easy way in is to get a job with a British travel&ski company.
Since their customers are mostly English speaking, they do not usually
insist on fluency in a European language and certainly not in Italian,
though it might help you get a job.
If you know any German, that would be useful, as there are many German
speaking skiers in Italian resorts. No doubt you would get a lot more
tips on possible jobs in the course of training.
The companies like you to be outgoing and may ask for experience with
groups of people. Sometimes the job includes a 'holiday rep' element.



INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR TRAINING

There is a move towards standardisation in training under the auspices
of the ISIA. This international body brings together all the national
associations for snowsports instructors and is working to make a
qualification in one country acceptable in another. British BASI
qualifications are well regarded and certainly acceptable in Italy. If
you had the New Zealand qualifications that give you international
certification, they definitely should be considered equivalent to
BASI. I think I would double check that by contacting one or two of
the places you might work for eventually. Details on BASI and New
Zealand coming up.


BRITISH TRAINING 

The BASI training is well organised and well respected
internationally. Some of the courses happen in the Cairngorms and some
abroad.
To start training as an instructor:
"Students must meet the following pre-requisites before entering the
training scheme:

# Be 18 years of age or older (16 years for Trainee Instructor course)
# Be a competent or advanced recreational rider
# Meet the self selection criteria
# Join BASI as an Associate member.

[Self Selection criteria:] To apply for a Snowboard Trainee Instructor
course students must:

# Be able to ride confidently on red runs, linking rhythmical small
radius turns close to the fall line at a steady pace.
# Be able to ride black runs confidently in control.
# Have at least 16 weeks’ experience of riding on snow and probably
more. "

You start with a five day trainee instructor course. Completing that
successfully will allow you to take the ten day course which brings
you
up to full instructor level. To be fully licensed you also need some
first aid training. The cost of the full training, including
accommodation for the fifteen days and nights, is about £1350.
You'll find all the details on the BASI links I list below.


TRAINING IN ITALY

I have found addresses and links for you, but most are in Italian and
I suspect you would have to know some Italian to get the most from
this experience. But it is well worth sending out letters and email in
English to see if you can find out more.
Snowboarding instructor training is not listed separately from general
ski/snowsport instructor training. You would have to contact
individual colleges to make inquiries and/or contact the Italian
Snowboarding Federation. My impression is that things are not as well
organised as in Britain and I found mixed advice on whether a would-be
instructor should train with a school (collegio) or with the
Snowboarding Federation (FSI). Although I found one site recommending
someone train with the Federation, the FSI don't advertise courses for
instructors on their site.


TRAINING IN NEW ZEALAND

Since this is in the Southern hemisphere, there should be training
opportunities in 'summer' 2003 to prepare you to work in Italy for the
2003-4 season. Unfortunately they haven't put the 2003 courses up on
their website yet.
For internationally valid ISIA certification in snowboarding
instruction, their association says "International Ski Instructor
Certification is achieved in New Zealand with Snowboard Stage Two,
Elementary Coaches and Alpine Skills."
It crossed my mind that one disadvantage of training in New Zealand
might be that you wouldn't meet so many people with knowledge of the
Italian snowboarding scene.



                    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 




JOBS

snowsport recruitment
http://www.snowsportrecruitment.com/Directory.htm

winter sports jobs
http://www.wintersportsjobs.co.uk/

Fresh Tracks
http://195.224.175.139/voovs/voovs/voovshomepage.htm

Downhill Travel
http://www.downhilltravel.com/work.htm

Training school parties
http://www.snowsportrecruitment.com/ski_class.htm



INTERNATIONAL SKI AND SNOWSPORTS ASSOCIATION

They say:
"The ISIA is to be recognised as the global ski and snowsport
instructor organisation. To be known for setting the highest standards
within the ski and snowsport teaching profession and continually
developing to meet the needs of clients and the ski and snowsport
industry
worldwide."
http://www.isiaski.org/edit_site/mission_statement/mission_statement.asp

ISIA links page
http://www.isiaski.org/edit_site/resources/links.asp




BRITISH TRAINING

British Association for Snowsport Professionals
http://www.basi.org.uk/

Snowboarding course information
http://www.basi.org.uk/sbrd_inst.htm

BASI training in Meribel
http://www.basecampgroup.com/index.html



ITALY

As I warned you, most information is in Italian!

Collegio Regionale dei Maestri di Sci del Veneto
http://www.maestrisci.com/index.php

Associazone Valdostana Maestri di Sci - Collegio Regionale
Professionale
http://www.maestridisci.com/

Other schools training snowsports instructors:

· Aosta       
- Collegio Regionale Maestri di Sci della Valle d'Aosta, via Monte
Emilius, 13
- tel. e fax 0165/262543;
· Aprica (So) 
- Collegio Regionale Maestri di Sci della Lombardia, via Roma, 234 
- tel. 0342/745280; fax 0342/745466;
· Belluno     
- Collegio Regionale (e Nazionale) Maestri di Sci del Veneto, via
Mezzaterra, 70
- tel. 0437/950018; fax 0437/948222;
· Bolzano     
- Collegio Provinciale Maestri di Sci Alto Adige, via Leonardo Da
Vinci, 15
- tel. e fax 0471/977917;
· Genova      
- Collegio Regionale Maestri di Sci della Liguria, via Brarello, 1/8 
- tel. e fax 010/590565;
· Pian degli Ontani (Pt)
- Collegio Regionale Maestri di Sci della Toscana, viale Beatrice, 39
- tel. 0573/673048; fax 0573/673324;
· Sestola (Mo) 
- Collegio Regionale Maestri di Sci dell'Emilia Romagna, via Piscina 
- tel. e fax 0536/61520;
· Torino      
- Collegio Regionale Maestri di Sci del Piemonte, via Grattoni, 7 
- tel. 011/5619261; fax 011/530743;
· Trento      
- Collegio Provinciale Maestri di Sci del Trentino, piazza Centa, 13/2
- tel. e fax 0461/826066;

The site with these addresses seems to have a lot of technical
problems so I'm pointing you to the version stored by Google:
://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:RiJSbKf14uUC:www.studiando.it/usweb/Guide/Dettaglio.asp%3FCodiceGuida%3D45%26NPagina%3D10+studiando+sci+collegio&hl=en&ie=UTF-8


Association of Italian Ski Instructors:

Associazione Maestri Sci Italiani
20124 MILANO - Via L.RAZZA, 3 - TEL. 02/66983997 - FAX 02/66985175

At their website, there is information about qualification
requirements if you click on 'Ufficio Stampa'. In 1999, they were
saying they wanted professional instructors to be able to work in any
EU country without hassle.
http://www.amsi.it/associate/index.html

Italian Snowboard Federation -  'affiliazioni' tells you how to join
Federazione Snowboard Italia
http://www.fsi.it/index.php

'Maestro di Sci' is the Italian for ski instructor, by the way.
'Maestri di Sci' is the plural.



NEW ZEALAND

The New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance
http://www.snow.co.nz/nzsia/webintro.html

NZSIA courses
http://www.snow.co.nz/nzsia/courses/webcourses.html



I wish you the best of luck with your plans! 
If you would like further explanation or help with any links, please
feel free to 'request clarification'.


Regards - Leli




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