Q. How good a skier/snowboarder do I need to be?
 
A. Please see our prerequisites section.  In summary you need to be fit, with the ability to ski/board all pistes with good speed control and ski the fall line on red runs, and have a positive willing attitude to new ideas and learning.  If you’re not yet at this level, we do provide a personally-tailored intensive one or two week pre-course training programme with our ski school.  Please contact us for more information.
 

Q. How much spending money will I need?
 
A. At minimum you’ll need enough for your lunches, a few coins for washing your clothes, the occasional drink, and any toiletries you might need. We’d reckon it’s possible to manage on about £50/week, but in all fairness that would be a tight budget.  More realistic would be around £100/week.
 
 
Q. Do I need to bring money for anything else?
 
A. If you need to replace any equipment or clothing you’ll need money for that, plus if you decide to travel around Switzerland at weekends you’ll need to pay for that as well.  Otherwise, we can’t think of anything, but it’s always advisable to have something put by for ‘emergencies’.  We have tried to make our course as ‘inclusive’ as possible, so please see the full list of what we include and don’t include.
 
 
Q. Is it all a wild party time?
 
A. The course is intensive, and if you want to make the most of your time with us you’ll not be overdoing the nightlife during the week.  Nendaz nightlife is at its most busy on Friday and Saturday nights anyway so it’s best to save your energies the rest of the time!  It’s a 9am start every weekday, and we’d prefer you to be there, fit and ready to make the most of it.
 
 
Q. What’s the prospects of getting a job with you at the end of the course?
 
A. To get a job as an instructor, we require that you pass your BASI Level 2 at the end of the course, and we’ll be looking for a mature, reliable attitude.  It then depends on job availability, so we can’t make any guarantees other than if we’ve got jobs available, we’ll give first option to our BASI students.  We also have jobs in the other parts of our business from time to time, and the same applies plus we’ll require a reasonable level of spoken French.  We then have jobs available in subsequent seasons, and can often work round university vacations to provide work, or for a full season if that’s what you’d like to do.
 
 
Q. Is it expensive in Switzerland?
 
A. Contrary to popular expectations, Switzerland is not particularly expensive compared to the UK, particularly the South East of England.  For many years through to mid 2008, when the exchange rate was around CHF 2-2.2 (swiss francs) to £1, then we reckon there wasn’t much in it. Now the exchange rate is more like CHF 1.6 to £1, and a similar situation with Euro/£ exchange rate, the whole of Europe has become a bit more expensive than it was.
 
 
Q. What happens if I’m sharing a room with someone I don’t get on with?
 
A. This doesn’t happen very often at all, because there’s a phenomenal team atmosphere amongst all our BASI students who share a passion for skiing and snowboarding and, usually, have many other shared values.  Nonetheless, it can happen, and that’s where our BASI course mentor will help out and move people around as necessary.
 
 
Q. I understand that I can stay on after the course has finished until the end of the season, but can I also arrive earlier and stay in the accommodation?
 
A. Please let us know if you’d like to do this, and we’ll check availability and prices of accommodation for you.  It may be that you would need to stay in another apartment until the course accommodation starts.


Q. Will I need a work permit if I work for you?
 
A. Yes. According to the Swiss law you will need a work contract and work permit. We will make all the necessary arrangements for you.


Q. I’d like a career as a ski/snowboard instructor.  What are the prospects of employment from May to November i.e. outside of the European winter season?
 
A. In over 20 years in the sports business we’ve naturally built relationships with many other similar organizations, and can help you with opportunities such as:

- Ski schools and travel organisation in Argentina and Peru.

- Ski schools in New Zealand.

- Rafting and canyoning companies in Switzerland.

- Adventure parks in Switzerland.