Sit Ski Skier Qualifies as Ski Instructor

A man who is usually confined to a wheelchair has qualified as a ski instructor in Argentina.

German Vega is based at Cerro Cathedral, South America's largest resort.

A spokesperson for the resort said they believed Mr Vega is the first sit ski user in the world to qualify as a ski instructor, however it later transpired that others in Europe have qualified as instructors.

Mr Vega is registered with the Argentina Association of Ski and Snowboarder Instructors and Rescuers (AADIDESS).

Must be an exceptional communicator and perhaps now with use of video etc. the ability to physically demonstrate a position is less important. Wouldn't be for me though.

Being able to demonstrate helps but teaching/coaching does not require the teacher to be great at their sport (also applies to other things) but does need to be able to communicate with their pupil how to become proficient.

In my experience one of the problems with a lot of ski instructors is that they are good skiers but are not good teachers.

andymol2 wrote:Being able to demonstrate helps but teaching/coaching does not require the teacher to be great at their sport (also applies to other things) but does need to be able to communicate with their pupil how to become proficient.

In my experience one of the problems with a lot of ski instructors is that they are good skiers but are not good teachers.

I agree. On my very first ski trip, we had a young Austrian instructor. He was a brilliant skier but not a great instructor. In my view this was because he has no memory of not being able to ski and did not understand the incredibly basic mistakes that most of us were making (like trying to turn facing up the hill!). For the latter part of the week, we had an older Australian who was much more tuned in to our limitation because he had learnt to ski at an older age.

Since writing this piece I've been told he's not the first sit skier to qualifier as an instructor as closer to home Paralympian Jo Willoughby is qualified as a level 2 instructor and as a level 3 coach:

http://standardissuemagazine.com/health/this-girl-bloody-can/