Skiing with Nonstop in Fernie: the lessons
My only prior experience of ski lessons before I came to Canada had been in France. The course to qualify as an instructor in France is infamous as the hardest ski exam in the world to take. Why? Well, there are the three to four years of exams, sure. There are mandatory speed tests as well, I guess. But from my own personal experience, the two skills that my French instructors were most qualified in were (1) chatting up my friends' mothers (successfully) and (2) trying as hard as possible to not speak English while shouting instructions (I think) at me.
Therefore, it was with some trepidation that I signed up to 4 whole weeks (Monday to Thursday) of lessons with Nonstop as part of the 5 week instructor course. After all, just because I could understand what was being shouted at me, it wouldn't necessarily make it easier to take.
I've now finished the 4 weeks of lessons and I can happily report that they have been much, much better than my expectations. Not only have I not been shouted at once, but I've been fortunate enough to be in very small groups (between 2-5 people depending on the day/lesson) and with two of the best instructors around (Dwight and Wendy) who are the most highly qualified coaches in the Canadian system (levels 3 and 4) with over 20-40 years of coaching experience between them. Most importantly, my skiing has changed completely.
(Wendy and I on a sunny day)
(Dwight talking us through our Level 1 training)
Despite a range of abilities (from some people with multiple seasons under their belt, to me with just 6 weeks) our instructors tailored each class to suit all abilities. This put me at ease, as I didn't want to be thrown off a cliff on Day 2/ever, nor did I want to hold anyone else back.
So what have I learnt?
When I arrived, almost everything I did on skis was wrong.
When you ski incorrectly, your whole body burns and aches.
The instructors quickly re-train and drill you in to the right habits.
When they do, skiing feels completely different in a better way.
When Wendy asks you 'do you want to go on an adventure run' either say no or prepare for a hike, tricky traverse, off-piste between narrow trees, a double black (steep) diamond run, deep deep powder or a combination of all the above. Fun and memorable!
Watching yourself back on video is a great tool for learning how to improve, even if you realise you look like Will Ferrell on ice.
The springs at Whiteswan are the best to go to (thanks Wendy) on a road trip. Highly recommend (see photos in other post).
Everything depends on the conditions: snow, terrain, visibility.
I had no idea how different snow affected your skiing. I have now learnt to adapt to wet snow, icy snow, soft snow, hard snow, sticky snow, fast snow.
How to train a complete beginner all the way to parallel turns (I sit my CSIA Level 1 instructor exams next week!)
Most importantly, how to assess and analyse other skiers to see what areas they need to work on to improve. This has come from Wendy and Dwight pointing out and asking us how skiers are performing as we go pass them on the chairlift.
Everything about skiing feels completely different to what I had known 4 weeks ago. It feels great. It now makes a little more sense as to why people want to do it all day (though I still retain my love for sun/drinking/eating/sleeping breaks). I've still got a long way to go to get to where I want to be ski-wise but I feel like I'm on the right track and that's what I wanted to get out of this course. Boom.
So while I may struggle to shout expletives in French or to chat up your mother, I will (fingers crossed) be able to help beginners stand a little more balanced with good stance, to pivot, edge and to apply pressure and to ski with timing and coordination.
Level 1 CSIA exams here I come!
(On a Wendy adventure. The slope you can see by her hand is actually in the distance. We're about to drop down a very steep section!)