Fernie 11 week instructor course diary – week 5

Here’s the latest update from Kalpesh on our Fernie 11 week instructor course:

Wow! I can’t believe I’ve now been in Fernie for five weeks and am now a CASI qualified Level 1 Snowboard instructor … and there are 6 more weeks to go! But let’s rewind.

I heard about NONSTOP back in 2009 and after meeting the Nonstop folks in London, decided pretty quickly that their 11 week snowboard instructor camp was how I’d be spending my three month career break. After spending a total of five weeks in Whistler, I also decided that the powder Mecca of Fernie would be my destination.

The past five weeks have been fun, busy, exciting, challenging and exhausting all at the same time – the course really is nonstop! The trip began with an introductory week which included a tour of the town by Jeremy, one of our snowboard instructors and a really great and fun guy – and no I’m not just saying that because he was my Level 1 evaluator!

We were then split into groups of six or seven and assigned to ski or snowboard instructors who spent the first week with us introducing us to the slopes of Fernie Alpine Resort while working on rider improvement. Each subsequent week the groups changed instructors, each had their own way of conveying rider improvement and brought their personality and experience to the mix.

Nonstop’s base of operations in Fernie is the Red Tree Lodge and Restaurant, where many of the NONSTOPers stay and where we all have our meals.

We ride to and from the ski hill on one of the NONSTOP “school” buses. Yes, for every 80’s film geek out there, it’s just like being on the bus in Ferris Bueller!

I became fast friends both with my new housemates and many of those on the 11-week programme with many of us frequenting the local coffee shops, pubs, bars and bagel establishments together.

In addition to the ski and snowboard lessons that take up the majority of our time, there are many other activities arranged for those who wish to spend those out of lesson hours making the most of what Fernie and the surrounding areas have to offer. These range from a photo tour of the mountain by a local professional photographer, curling, street hockey, supporting the local hockey team, visiting the nearby ski hill of Kimberly and road-tripping to Whitefish, Montana.

One of the many highlights of the trip so far for me has to be the weekend in Whitefish. The ridiculously early start wasn’t welcome but three hours later we arrived in beautiful Whitefish, Montana on an amazing bluebird day. A very different ski area to Fernie, it was great to be out tearing up a new mountain with my new friends.

After four weeks of rider improvement, each week with a different snowboard instructor, week five was crunch time – the CASI Level 1 snowboard instructor’s course, and what a week to have it! Ryan, the coordinator for the NONSTOP snowboarding programme and a CASI Level 4 instructor told me that Fernie weather always offers a special challenge during the Level 1 week, and what a challenge it was. Ever tried beginner turns or introducing side-slipping in fresh powder? Well that’s what we got! The heavens opened and each day of our Level 1 course offered more and more fresh snow. But as challenging as it was we made it through, both skiers and boarders, to get our CSIA and CASI Level 1 certification.

And what better way to test out those newly acquired snowboarding powers? Why, a day of cat-skiing/boarding of course! We headed out to the Fernie Wilderness Lodge for some true backcountry riding.

These five weeks really have flown by but I’ve experienced and achieved so much. I can’t wait to see what the next six have in store!

Keep up to date with Kalpesh’s Fernie adventure here.

Find out more about NONSTOP’s snowboard instructor courses and ski instructor courses.