Q: Your site which says that you offer the cheapest instructor course around. I am looking to gain my qualifications for as little money as possible (being a student) i do not mind where i do the training i was really just wondering what sort of package you guys can put together. Any more info would be greatly appreciated.

A: You are correct that taking your exams in Canada would work out more expensive overall than Andorra- especially if you are planning to travel alone and not for more than a few weeks.

We could certainly help train you towards your level 2 also but please do bear in mind that it is not easy to pass both levels without a considerable amount of training- 8 weeks minimum to be realistic. Unless you're REALLY good already. The reason it's hard is that they want you to snowboard a particular way. They don't care if you can pull a backflip or even a 360. What matters is your demos. Particularly carving and short radius turns on black runs. They aren't TOO fussy for level 1 but for level 2 you have to be very tidy and really clearly understand what you're taking about and demoing.

Next season's exam dates have not yet been set but this season the dates in Andorra were :

CASI Snowboard Level I SBI-24/03-3 24 Mar - 26 Mar 3 €375
CASI Snowboard Level II SBII-31/03-4 27 Mar - 30 Mar 4 €450

For more info on the other dates from last season and to check for next year's dates when they come up (probably not for another 4 or 5 months at least) Click here: http://www.instructor-academy.com/datesandprices.htm

With regards to WHEN we can offer you your training in Zakopane, Poland with our Pro Team. It's whenever the snow lands for next season. We could even do it between now and the 4th May when the last ski area here closes!

It's generally a safe bet from mid December onwards though if you do want to wait until next year.

Q: Thanks for the swift reply again, you guys by far have been the fastest to respond and most helpful out of the companies i have contacted. I do think 2 weeks would be enough to get me up to standard and the package for £500 sounds perfect, i am guessing to go to canada would bump the price up considerably and as the season is drawing to a close i have no worries waiting till early next season. Any info about the dates etc for next season would be great? also do you offer a level 2 package?

A: The last CASI level 1 course of this season in Europe finished on 26th March so you would have to wait until next season (unless you catch one of the end of season courses in Canada).

Based on your experience we may even be able to get you up to standard in just a couple of weeks which we could offer you for just £500 including accommodation lift passes, training and return airport transfers!

Q: I have been snowboarding for 12 years and have completed 4 seasons on the snow. I have been teaching on dry slopes in england for about 7 years now and its finally time to get the real qualifications that count. I really am looking for a budget package (i am a student) to get me to the canadian qualification level 1 and then look to progress to level 2. I was just wondering if the courses are popular or would i be pretty much going out there on my own?, also would the course have to wait till next season? . Sorry for all the questions i am looking into a few companies.

A: We can certainly help to train you and even organise your exams for you to pass your instructor's qualifications.

If you are already a fairly strong snowboarder (comfortable linking turns on a black run) then we can easily get you to level 1 CASI Snowboard Instructor with just 4 weeks training. We can organise a four week package for as little as just £1,000 including accommodation, training, lift passes and return airport transfers from Krakow! Your exams would be extra and the total price would vary depending on your desired method of transport, accommodation etc but you should expect to part with a further 1000 Euros (for everything including food) or so for your expenses in Andorra where the exams are held.

If you are not comfortable on black runs already we can organise longer courses too - anything from 2 weeks to 18 weeks!