The Edge Clinic – Austria
Technical Ski Improvement Courses, Ski Instructor Training Courses & Assessments
The Edge Clinic – UK Snowsport ASCL
UK Snowsport Alpine Snowsport Course Leader Award – Overview
Snowsport England offers a comprehensive training package for teachers who wish to run educational visits abroad. This course is designed to give teachers, youth leaders and other competent persons the skills necessary to organise a Snowsport course for groups including young people in recognised Snowsport resorts in the UK and abroad.
The Alpine Snowsport Course Leader [ASCL] award is a 6 day on-snow course held in a complex Alpine resort and accredited by the National Governing Body [Snowsport England]. The course involves training and assessment in all aspects of leadership, navigation and personal performance on the piste, together with knowledge of the mountain environment.
The awards are primarily aimed at teachers, youth group leaders and other responsible adults wishing to encourage and supervise young skiers and snowboarders.
The course will focus on helping leaders make professional judgements in relation to the safety, learning and enjoyment of the group they are working with.
Holders of the award are accredited to lead groups of skiers or boarders with whom they have a pre-existing relationship [fellow members of a recognised club or organisation, youth groups with which they hold leadership qualifications, students from an educational establishment within which they are employed, etc].
Snowboarders can attend the ASCL, but the majority of candidates attending the course must be skiers. The maximum group size is eight candidates.
The course is delivered by appointed tutors who hold the highest NGB coaching qualification [Alpine Development Coach], an International coaching license [IVSI] and have a substantial educational background and experience.
Pre-requisites. To gain the award, the candidate must:
• Be over the age of 21.
• Be a qualified schoolteacher, youth leader or appropriate other.
• Be a full member of Snowsport England or Snowsport Wales
• Have completed the Snowsport Course Organiser award*, have a 2-day HSE approved First Aid qualification, completed a Child Protection course and be CRB/DBS checked.
• Have organised or assisted in the organisation/leading of at least three alpine school/youth Snowsport courses.
* Only the SCO award delivered by Snowsport England is acceptable to attend the ASCL course
The ASCL course is continuously assessed throughout the six days, with the assessment based upon the following four areas:
1. Personal performance:
Candidates should be able to perform rhythmically linked steered turns in control, showing appropriate balance and technique, and appropriate use of the equipment. ‘Rhythmically linked’ means that one turn will flow directly into the next without any traverse or undue skidding.
2. Leadership:
They should show choice of line, speed and terrain appropriate to the prevailing conditions. This will be shown on a variety of runs and in varied snow conditions and appropriate to leading groups down a slope. In the case of skiers, the skis will be parallel throughout the majority of the arc.
3. Navigation:
Candidates will demonstrate their knowledge of navigation while leading the group around the mountain using the resort piste map. This will be assessed in the prevailing weather conditions and visibility, on a variety of runs and in varied snow conditions.
4. Mountain knowledge:
Sound knowledge of the material covered in the Resource book. This will be assessed by means of a written paper, which is ‘closed book’ and will be completed at an appropriate point during the course.
It is unlikely candidates will have reached the required level of performance with less than six weeks experience on snow, with tuition.
Candidates must be able to ski/snowboard for around 6 hours a day for 6 consecutive days. This is to ensure that they have the ability and fitness to complete the practical part of the course satisfactorily and meet the international protocols for ‘coaches’ working abroad.
A typical day will involve being on the mountain for the majority of the day, followed by theory sessions and reflections back in the hotel before the evening meal.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Arrival day:
Your course trainer will introduce you to the course content and programme for the next 6 days.
Day 1 on the mountain – Orientation
Tutor led day learning exploring the fundamentals of navigation, leading and mountain skills whilst improving technical skills whilst improving technical skiing or riding skills. The Tutor will set the outcome standards for the award.
Feedback and Appraisal.
Tutor to discuss current skiing/riding skill.
Day 2 on the mountain – Training & Practice
Half the candidates to navigate and lead on predetermined routes the evening before.
Skiing/riding technique.
Feedback and Appraisal..
Day 3 on the mountain – Training & Practice
Half the candidates to navigate and lead on predetermined routes the evening before.
Skiing/riding technique.
Feedback, Appraisal & Mid week review.
For the following 3 days of the course content will become more specific to the individual candidate’s needs.
Day 4 on the mountain – Training, Practice & Assessment
Candidates will start to navigate and lead on pistes that have not been previously covered/skied/navigated. Navigation will start to become more complex.
Technical input given into skiing/riding skills.
Emergency “off piste” travel. This element may be changed to an alternative day and/or covered over several sessions.
Feedback and Appraisal.
Video Feedback. This may given for self-assessment or with the Tutors feedback/comments.
Written Exam. Usually completed on the evening of day 4.
Day 5 on the mountain – Training, Practice & Assessment
Candidates will be given more complex navigation and lead on pistes that have not been previously covered/skied/navigated.
Technical input given into skiing/riding skills
Feedback and Appraisal.
Video Feedback. This may given for self-assessment or with Tutors feedback/comments.
Day 6 on the mountain – Training, Practice & Assessment
Candidates will be given more complex navigation and lead on pistes that have not been previously covered/skied/navigated.
Technical input given into skiing/riding skills
Feedback and Appraisal.
Video Feedback. This may given for self-assessment or with Tutors feedback/comments.
Post Course – Course Feedback.
*Please note that the program is subject to weather conditions and may have to be changed.
*The ASCL award is not designed as a Snowsport teaching or instructing qualification and may not be used as such.
*To remain current, the award must be refreshed every 3 years.
Contact
The Edge Clinic (Austria)
Nigel + Karen Thompson
Altenmarkt im Pongau
5541 – Austria
MAP (.pdf):
https://www.theedgeclinic.com/Map.pdf
MAP (.doc):
https://www.theedgeclinic.com/Map.doc
GPS – SAT NAV coordinates: 47.2992853572463 (Latitude), 13.4576296806335 (Longitude).
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