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For me, skiing is more than just a pastime! As for many others, it's an inspiration for a life journey and an aspiration for a career. It's simply a joy to wake up every morning with beautiful mountain vistas and the chance to share with others, something that you love. The fresh mountain air provides a safe haven to escape to; a landscape to appreciate the world around you; the chance to reflect, to learn new skills, to enhance your self-confidence and to make new friends.
I had the privilege of spending last week in Zermatt completing a Level 3 BASI Teaching course. The exam is part of the ISIA qualification - the highest national qualification of its kind. It comprises of seven modules, 200 hours of teaching experience, Mountain Safety level 3, BASI Coaching course, Second Discipline (Level 1), Second Language test, Level 3 Technical course and the Level 3 Teaching course. The teaching exam was assessed over four days, with only two out of the four of us who attended, passing on this occasion. It wasn't easy (!) and I am proud that I managed to work hard enough to succeed.
Zermatt, the famous resort in Switzerland, is a wonderful place to ski, with its high altitude and large glacial terrain. Skiing over the border into Italy with the backdrop of the famous 'Matterhorn' is a truly unique experience which can’t be replicated anywhere in the world. The thrill of travelling somewhere new and to ski in a whole new destination is something very special. It reminded me why I work at Absolute Travel. I know that school ski trips changed my life for the better! Being able to share my passion and to pass on my knowledge and experiences now, is a really wonderful opportunity.
The course taught me new skills, primarily my communication skills if I'm honest - learning that I need to be more concise and clearer when I'm teaching. This feedback is invaluable and extends beyond the mountain as a ski instructor. It's a development point which will be carried in my life moving forward in the different areas in which I work. It also gave me the chance to make new friends, whether that was with the other candidates on the course or chatting to some nice American tourists on the gondola ride up the mountain. Skiing (and sport in general of course) allows us to meet new people, expand our horizons and to realise that we are all more alike than perhaps first we thought.
I look forward to attending more courses over the coming years as I attempt to reach the BASI Level 4 ISTD qualification. I love the sense of achievement, of escape, of reflection and of a connection with the natural world. But it's also a joy and a passion and one that I love to share. If you'd like to find out why school ski trips are so important then please don't hesitate to call as I'd love to chat.
You can ski across to Zermatt from Italy from our school trip base in Valtournenche. For details on this resort and all of our school ski trip destinations, please click here for more.
Happy skiing!
Ed
Ed Lunn
Absolute Travel and Tours School Ski trip Operations