Snowboard Level 4 ISTD Qualification

Modules required for Level 4 Qualification:

  • Snowboard Level 4 Teaching
  • Snowboard Level 4 Technical 
  • IMS (Level 4) - Training
  • IMS (Level 4) - 6 Logged Days Touring
  • IMS (Level 4) - Assessment
  • FIS Competition
  • Professional Development Portfolio (previously the Written Project)

  • ISTD Qualification will not be awarded unless all ISIA modules are completed


    Snowboard Level 4 Teaching

    Course Price: £479
    This is a 4-day on-snow training and assessment course. 

    At the end of the course students must demonstrate the necessary knowledge, ability and understanding to teach snowboarding to the highest level.

    Through the course the student will be better equipped to make a difference for learners. The course will help the instructor recognise the needs of learners, their preferred styles of learning, their perceptions and the issues that need to be considered in order to help them improve their performance and reach their goals. 

    By focusing on the learner throughout the course the instructor will learn to use appropriate teaching strategies, drawing from a range of teaching tools to help get the most out of the sessions that they deliver. In preparation for the course we recommend revising the teaching sections of the BASI manual to ensure familiarity with the content and terminology. 
     
    Our aim is to assist the students to gain the maximum from the training. The Trainer will act as your guide and mentor throughout the course. Elements of the course will be challenging and sometimes difficult. Nevertheless, please remember that you have a dedicated team supporting you.

    Members that passed the Snowboard Level 3 Teaching course prior to 01/10/2022 will be exempt from the Snowboard Level 4 Teaching course. 

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    Snowboard Level 4 Technical

    Course Price: £499
    This is a 5-day on-snow training and assessment course with video feedback. The aim of the course is to increase the students technical competency and understanding of snowboarding.

    Equipment

    Please ensure your board is fully serviced prior to the course. Remember you can use more that one board during the course, equipment is an important factor when riding in different strand.

    Please bear in mind you are free to use whatever board you want on the course. You should focus on performing to the required level in all the fundamentals rather than producing a form based performance for each strand. It is the fundamentals that are important. The strands are merely a stage where the fundamentals can be tested.

    You will need to bring a transceiver, shovel and probe (plus a small backpack to store them). You should ensure they are serviceable and you have the skill to use them.

    These items will also be used during the variable strand and storage is available on the Mountain. You will be advised by your Trainer about the use of all the above equipment at the start of your course.

    Members that passed the Snowboard Level 3 Technical course prior to 31/12/2021 will be exempt from the Snowboard Level 4 Technical course. 

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    Course Price: £479
    This is a 4 day training course which progresses on from the BASI Mountain Safety course. It trains the student to lead tours out with the ski area boundary and deal with all the hazards which can be encountered while on day tours. Very little time will be spent revising ISIA material, so come prepared. The course can contain long days on the hill with big ascents carrying a rucksack. It may be necessary to be on steep, exposed terrain. A typical ascent may be up to 1000m. 

    The full equipment list is included in the pre course email. 

    Level 4 International Mountain Safety Log Sheet Click Here, for Log Book Guidelines Click Here and for the Log Book Policy Click Here

    The course will train candidates in the following: 

    • Snow & avalanche hazard management, including multiple burial search techniques 
    • Advanced navigation and map work 
    • Incident management 
    • Route selection including kick turns & setting a skinning track 
    • Mountain awareness i.e. Flora, fauna, glaciology, etc

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    Before attending the 3 day assessment course, students must have completed a minimum of 6 days of quality day-touring where students have been practising the role of leading, decision making and navigation. Map reading, snow profiling, transceiver searching and the use of ropes must already be very competent. This logbook must be given to the Guide on the first day of the Level 4 IMS Assessment Course.

    Level 4 International Mountain Safety Log Sheet Click Here, for Log Book Guidelines Click Here and for the Log Book Policy Click Here

    Important Note: 
    Members will be able to book onto the assessment course without having completed the 6 logged days touring, but proof of the 6 logged days touring must be given to the Guide on the first day of the course. 
    If proof of the 6 logged days touring is not given to the Guide, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £200. 
    If the 6 logged days touring are not to a satisfactory standard, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £100.

    Course Price: £399
    This is a 3 day assessment course which if successful, completes the Level 4 International Mountain Safety. This qualification allows the holder to lead tours consistent with the laws of the country they are in. These tours must not include glacial travel, the planned use of axe, crampons or rope, any multi day excursions (using tents, snow shelters, bivouacs, manned or unmanned mountain huts or bothies), or setting out with the intention of leading a group in poor visibility. It is a 3 day course which may involve one day using uplift and the other two touring away from the ski area. The tours are big days and may contain up to 1000m of ascent carrying a rucksack. There may also be early starts to make use of winter’s limited daylight and stay safe before the sun warms certain slopes. Ratio 1:4 

    The assessment will include all of the techniques learnt on the 4 day training course. The written paper includes: 

    • Knowledge of safety 
    • Off-piste skiing 
    • Mountain weather and environment

    Important Note: 
    Members will be able to book onto the assessment course without having completed the 6 logged days touring, but proof of the 6 logged days touring must be given to the Guide on the first day of the course.
    If proof of the 6 logged days touring is not given to the Guide, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £200.
    If the 6 logged days touring are not to a satisfactory standard, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £100.
     

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    Students are required to submit a Professional Development Portfolio, as part of the Ski Level 4 ISTD Qualification or the Snowboard, Telemark, XC and Adaptive Level 3 ISIA Qualification.

    The Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) illustrates the process of converting your teaching practice into personal learning and provides evidence of your professional development.

    It is a record of your teaching experience which highlights your own personal teaching philosophies, strategies, and themes. 

    The PDP is a record of your development as a snowsports teacher. Engaging with the PDP will help you be a more successful teacher. The aim of the PDP is to use your teaching practice to think about your role as a snowsports teacher, to think critically about your teaching practice and to use that thinking to demonstrate your learning and development.

    It will be marked on the following areas:

    1. Candidates will
    provide a clear and reasoned discussion of at least 3 learning themes. They will link their learning to real experiences from their personal teaching practice. They will use evidence from their 200 hours and reflective journal to demonstrate inter-personal and intra-personal professional learning and development.


    2.
    Professional Knowledge - Candidates will show an accurate understanding of BASI's technical knowledge. The language used should show that the candidate understands the fundamental elements, the central theme and beyond. There should be evidence of technical knowledge being used accurately within the descriptions of practice to enhance teaching sessions.

    3. Candidates will demonstrate an ability to analyse how their understanding of BASI's teaching concepts informs their practice.

    4. Candidates will articulate their approach to adapting professional knowledge to work with learners to focus on achieving safe, effective teaching within a range of contexts.

    5. Candidates will assess their own strengths and areas for development in relation to effective teaching and learning in snowsports.

    6. Candidates will have seriously considered the presentation of the project and have made some efforts to make it both interesting and easy to read. Projects can be presented digitally. Any standard word processing program is acceptable. Diagrams should be well identified and referenced. Page numbering should be used. The project should be of between 2,000 and 4,000 words or will include the suggested number of videos.

    7. References and Bibliography – Candidates will identify any sources of information you have used in your project: Quotes from and references to books, academic papers, websites or speeches should be referenced accurately and as specifically as possible.


    All the required information to complete the PDP can be found in your Members Area, in the "Workbooks and PIA's" tab.


    Please submit your PDP to BASI via [email protected]
    Verification of your high level performance will normally be based on FIS points from Boarder Cross competition. The FIS competition element is a requirement for the Snowboard Level 4 in order to obtain the ISIA Card at ISTD Level (The ISIA Stamp is awarded at Level 3). Details of the ISIA Stamp and ISIA Card can be found here: http://isia.ski/quality-standards/?lang=en Please Note: Unfortunately, post-Brexit, the Snowboard ISTD is no longer recognised by the French authorities, only the Ski Level 4 ISTD is eligible for Carte Pro applications. As a result of this, we will also accept FIS points from Freeride & Freestyle competitions too, Big Air, Slopestyle, Half Pipe and the Freeride World Tour.


    To gain a FIS licence to take part in competitions contact Alex Bucknall at GB Snowsport by e-mail to [email protected] and [email protected]. You will be provided with a form which must be forwarded to BASI ([email protected]). We will complete this form and submit it to GB Snowsport on your behalf. FIS licences should be applied for before mid August of each year for the following winter. 

    Please Note: It is usually acceptable to attend a minimum of two FIS competitions and generate FIS points from both events however as there is no set level of FIS points as such, each application will be on a case by case basis.

    GB Snowsport, Tel: 0207 842 5764 www.gbsnowsport.com