Whistler 11-Week Ski and Snowboard Instructor Course ’09 – Week 5

Week 5 – Level 1 week

Monday – Thursday: Level 1 exams.

We were all assessed on our Level 1 CSIA this week, and it was pretty intensive. We were constantly assessed on our skiing, and our teaching was rated on days 3 and 4. It was a very tiring process as you really had to keep your concentration levels up.

This became increasingly difficult as time went on and you found yourself in your third snowplough turn lesson of the day. But all of our house passed, got our instructor badges, and headed off into town very pleased with ourselves! And it was a big night with most people merry, to say the least, before we made it to the club (for free, nice one Ben) and things got messier still.

On Friday, the brave went bungee jumping (on Friday 13th ?!?), some went to a nice, relaxing yoga class and others, myself included, didn’t make it off the sofa.

The weekend brought blue skies and a chance to ski as qualified instructors for the first time. A big gang of us were up in the Symphony Amphitheatre in the bumps and in the trees having a wicked time. On Saturday night the Sundance house hosted a great party complete with barbecue, mojitos and tequila.

On Sunday, more than half the Nonstoppers went cat skiing with Powder Mountain Cat-skiing. It was one of the best days any of us had ever had, on skis or otherwise. We had perfect blue skies all day, stunning views wherever you looked, and plenty of powder to play in.

We were guided through some amazing terrain, some steep, some more mellow, but all of it had us laughing out loud. Some were screaming for more when the day had ended, others were happier to call it a day and sleep in the cat on the way back home. A truly memorable day, and a great end to our first weekend as ski instructors.

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