CSIA Qualifications

Founded in 1938, the CSIA has been responsible for the training and development of ski instructors across Canada and around the world. The CSIA system has 4 levels of certification, with each stage becoming progressively demanding.

Level 1

CSIA Level 1 is the entry-level certification and focuses on skill development and instruction methodology for teaching beginner to intermediate skiers. You must possess competent parallel skiing skills to undertake this course.

The course covers:

• Safety rules in ski teaching
• Analysis and development of ski movements
• CSIA organisational structure
• Lesson planning
• Christie progression and fast track to parallel
• Age-specific workshop for children
• Guest experience workshop

The Exam

The CSIA Level 1 exam takes place over 4 days and you do need to pass both the technical and teaching aspects.

Upon successful completion of a Level 1 course, instructors should be able to:

• Understand the mission statement of the CSIA
• Define the goals and objectives of a ski lesson
• Plan the organisational needs of a lesson
• Demonstrate an understanding of the 3 basic skiing competencies and the skill system of the CSIA
• Know the structure of the CSIA

Level 2

CSIA Level 2 the next level up and enhances your skiing ability, understanding of ski technique, effective communication, group dynamics and teaching skills. You must have passed your CSIA Level 1 to take part in the level 2 exam. The Level 2 exam fee (approx $500-600) needs to be paid in resort.

The course covers:

• Terrain identification and interpretation
• Pressure control mechanisms
• Finding balance
• Involvement and movement of centre of mass
• Skiing vocabulary and terminology
• Movement and motion
• Preparing a ski lesson
• Christie progression and fast track to parallel
• Familiarising with the equipment
• Rhythm, timing and coordination
• The fast track to parallel concept
• Safety rules in ski teaching
• Defining and understanding a ski radius
• Maintain leg independence
• Identification of the fundamental skiing skills
• The role of the ski instructor
• Organising a class
• Analysis, development and drills
• Mechanics of movement
• The organisational structure of the CSIA

The Exam

The CSIA Level 2 exam takes place over 5 days, and once again, you need to successfully complete both the technical and teaching aspects in order to pass.

Upon successful completion of a Level 2 course, instructors should be able to:

• Define the goals and objectives of a ski lesson at this level
• Identify teaching strategies to be developed in order to ensure significant learning abilities
• Anticipate and plan the various elements linked to the organisation of a lesson
• Demonstrate a good understanding of the 3 basic skiing competencies and the skill system of the CSIA
• Understand the strategies needed to teach children

Snow Park Qualification

The CSIA Snow Park Certification course is designed for competent parallel skiers with some park experience who want to develop their freestyle technical and teaching skills.

The course covers:

• An introduction to teaching snow park skills
• Practical ski improvement and teaching methods with a technical understanding and development of the guest experience
• Safe teaching and safety in park and pipe
• Skill development on park features: switch skiing, jumps, rails, halfpipe
• Park and pipe teaching progression

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be certified to teach snow park skills up to and including intermediate skill levels.

Got any questions? Call us on 02380 206 977.