J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by jonah690

I did the Basi Gap in Andorra in 2001. At the time there were not many about and it was pretty good value considering we got daily personal tuition from Basi Trainers who are some of the best teachers in the world.
We stayed in a 5 star Hotel skied every day and have both personal performance and ski school experience teaching and shadowing.

Since then every man and his dog have jumped on the band wagon with Basi and the Canadians franchising out the courses. The prices have more than doubled and im not so sure you are gaurenteed the quality these days as its a business and there to make money rather than create the instructors of the future.

I spend around six grand over three months but that iincluded gear, course and an so much alcohol I feel sick just thinking about it however it is still the best six grand I have ever spend.

Would I do the same thing again probably not.
I would take my six grand book accomadation for a full season not just 3 months. Approach the ski school about shadowing. (most run there own personal performancce throughout the weeks FOC) and then just ski ski and ski then do the week induction and then the 2 week exams like the people that dont do a gap. You get double the amount of skiing,twice as much direct shadowing / teaching experience plus probably paid for the busy weeks helping out. Should work out cheaper as well. Which ever way its a fantastic and life changing experience. Good luck to him. Make sure he gets a proper qualification though i sat on a chair lift last year with a guy who had shelled out 8 grand on a course in canada and he came out with a canadian 1. make sure its at least a basi 2 or canadian 2 that they get at the end or its no use without doing more qualifications.

Im out on the 9th Jan and then Half Term.

You got it in One get some decent tuition before it becomes habit.
You will probably find its something very simple and the instructor will give you things to work on to sort it out.

ClipperJon wrote:Well, i think its the one- seeing as you absolutely begged me,

My mate was in his first week of the season teaching in Andorra and a snowboarder took him out in exactly the same way as the leg breaker right in front of his class.

Hit him so hard it knocked him about 50 metres down the hill snapped a ski in half and broke his coller bone. But lucky to be alive.

Ruined his season as well.

snowb4ndit wrote:Les Trois Vallees...5 weeks exactly to go!

Are you there over crimbo and New year?
I will be in Brides for 2 weeks.

Avoriaz normally opens a week or two weeks earlier than the 19th.
Its just accomadation that starts on the 19th.

Just think of it this way if it cost you £70 each for transfers thats only about 3 beers in the three valleys. :)

I would suggest checking out these companies.
They run specific off piste courses and personal performance courses with Basi Trainers.
You will be skiing with a small group of like minded people with some of the best personal instruction avaliable.
Cant recommend them highly enough.


http://www.inspiredtoski.com/


http://www.snoworks.co.uk/