NZSIA Ski Instructor Qualifications

The New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA) has been certifying snowsports instructors since 1971 and has an excellent international reputation.

SITCo.'s programs train you for two skiing qualifications, the NZSIA Level 1 and the NZSIA Level 2 certifications.

NZSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor Qualification

The Level 1 qualification focuses on the introductory levels of teaching, with emphasis on class handling abilities and presentation skills, and with a specific section on children's teaching. The Level 1 is a 5 day exam and is a prerequisite to the Level 2 qualification.

NZSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor Qualification

The Level 2 qualification is run over 7 days and examines both your own skiing technique and your ability to develop beginner and intermediate skiers.

You will be tested in, and must pass, three areas:

• Free skiing (at your own level / ability).
• Demos: Wedge, Wedge Christie and Basic parallel turns.
• Your teaching ability: an on snow teaching presentation and a test of your skier analysis / lesson planning.
  

All SITCo. training programs will help you understand "the movements of skiing", which will help you develop your own skiing and teach you how to apply these movements to the instruction of less experienced skiers.

All your SITCo. trainers will be qualified NZSIA instructors, working independently of the NZSIA. Some trainers will also be involved with your final exam, and will at that point be working for the NZSIA.

After you have successfully completed your NZSIA Level 2 there are plenty more opportunities for further development:

• NZSIA Level 3 (the ISIA level of New Zealand certification).
• NZSIA Trainers Cert. (the trainer certification).

NZSIA Level 3

The Level 3 qualification is run in two parts. First you must attend the Level 3 Pre-Course which is ran over 5 days, and then you are eligible to move forward towards the Level 3 exam which is ran over 4 days.
Normally the Level 3 pre course is a good number of weeks prior to the Level 3 exam giving you time to work and develop in the areas that you need to improve.

SITCo will be running a Level 3 training course, inbetween the pre-course and the exam to check out the details - SITCo Level 3 Ski Training

Level 3 covers

• beyond a basic parallel skier
• how to teach dynamic skiing
• how to teach situational skiing - bumps, powder, variable snow, steeps, ice etc.

You will be tested on

• Your own skiing ability in all situations and on all terrain
• Your ability to performa all levels of demonstrations
• Your ability to teach all levels of skiing
• Your ability to analyse and improve skiers in all situations

Other NZSIA courses and qualifications

The NZSIA has a range of other course and qualifications that you can be involved with

• Childrens Certification
• Freestyle Coach

The NZSIA also has a very active Snowboard and Telemark divisions.
Visit the NZSIA website for more information.