BASI level 4 ISTD - Teaching around the world

My life continues on in the States, but what few people know about me is that I continue to pursue my European ski qualifications. The US is one of the few countries where you do not have to be qualified to teach skiing. Most countries have minimum certification criteria, and some countries standards are higher. France is the country that has set the bar the highest, and there are only a few other national bodies that have a standard that France will accept. They are France (of course), Austria, Italy, Germany, Britain, and Switzerland.

For two years I have been completing my British Association of Snowsports Instructors (BASI) level 4. There are 8 components

• Technical (Skiing) Module - 5days
• Teaching Module - 5 days
• European Mountain Safety training - 4 days
• European Mountain Safety assessment - 3 days
• 6 logged back country tours
• European Speed Test (timed GS race)
• Written Project
• Interview

That is a total of fourteen assessed days and many more spent training to the standard. To put this into context to be fully certified through the American system it takes nine days, three of which are assessed.

I traveled to Hintertux, Austria to take part in the level 4 technical skiing exam. It was a hard week of skiing. There were 30 candidates spread over four groups. Everyone in the exam fell at least once, including the examiners. I had some mighty bruises on my legs and one of the girls on the course had a chance of making the standard until she hurt herself at the end of the first day. We skied so hard that we had a GS ski break in half!

I was successful and am very glad to have finished my BASI level 4. It allows me to establish a ski school anywhere in the world, which means I can now take my guests skiing around the world. I look forward to taking you on a world tour soon!

Best Powder of the Season

The lifts at Winter Park may have stopped turning, but that is no excuse to stop skiing.

Chris Hoffbauer is the J5 Development Coach for Aspen Valley Ski Club and we went powder skiing after a big dump on Berthoud Pass near Winter Park. Can you believe that at the end of April it would be possible to ski waist deep snow? If not watch the video.

We took precautions on our small trip. This season there have been two avalanche related fatalities on Berthoud Pass. Both could have been avoided if those involved had respect for the mountain environment and taken steps to protect themselves.

Chris and I were both wearing avalanche transceivers,  carrying probes, shovels, a small shelter and the knowledge of how to use the equipment. We had read the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website to get the snow forecast. We talked to the CDOT representative on the pass and asked about the avalanche mitigation that they were conducting on the other side of the pass. I am a certified mountain guide, and although Chris is new to skiing in the backcountry, he is an experienced mountaineer who has climbed almost all of the 14,000ft peaks in Colorado.

Spring Skiing

While Europe is winding down their season with muddy slopes ad big piles of slush, Colorado is ending its season in style. Most Colorado ski areas shut their doors on April 24th, with a base of 2.8m, 20cm of fresh snow overnight and and a total of 10m+ snow throughout the season.

The video below is of my father and my friends skiing at Aspen Highlands three days before their season ended. We were greeted with no lift lines, first tracks and 7 inches of powder.

UK School Groups

The English schools have arrived! Every year at this time we have schools from the UK descend upon Winter Park for their Easter vacation. This spring Winter Park is hosting over 800 school children.

This year I am skiing and snowboarding with three schools. I spent a week riding with Stanbridge Earls. We had quite a wide range of abilities but we all rode around as a crew and had a good time.

I spent a week skiing with a group from Roundwood Park. All of the kids were great skiers on groomed runs and we ripped around for a week.

This week I am skiing with some first time skiers from a school called Polesworth. We started from scratch and were skiing blue runs comfortably by the end of our time together.

First Tracks

First Tracks are now only $125!



March and April are the snowiest months of the season. First Tracks allows you and up to two others to eat up all the powder before everyone else. First Tracks start at 8 and lifts open to the general public at 9 on weekdays.

First Tracks are also a great way to get yourself warmed up the right way, and give you a focus that will make the rest of your day enjoyable.

Call 970-531-1554 to book or email me at tomgulden@gmail.com

Winter Park Masters take medals at NASTAR Nationals

March 25-27 - Winter Park Resort, CO

 

NASTAR National Championships are the national recreational skiing championships. Winter Park was fortunate to host them this year and I hope that Winter Park can host them again.  At the end of the day I coached 6 people to the podium.

John Rice - 1st - Gold Division - Male 45-49
Bob Sommars - 3rd - Bronze Division - Male 55-59
Polly Crowninshield - 2nd - Platinum Division - Female 60-64
Sharron Sherman - 1st - Platinum Division - Female 65-69
Honor Ulveling -3rd - Platinum Division - Female 65-69
Nancy Abens - 3rd - Gold Division -  Female 65-69

Below is a video of our NASTAR clinics that we did before nationals

Goodys Athletes #1

Sean Horner and Nick Stenicka took home medals at the Rocky Mountain Junior Championships.

Sean Horner - GS 1st, SL 2nd, Overall 1st
Nick Stenicka - GS 7th, SL1st, Overall 2nd

Both Sean and Nick have been long time Winter Park Athletes and they have been funding their race training by working at Goodys.

Goodys is proud to support the comp center, not only by providing top athletes the opportunity to fund their dreams, but by being the title sponsor for the Goodys Ragin' Age Class race series as well.