British Association of Snowsport Instructors

The British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) is internationally recognised by the International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) as the certification organisation of professional snowsport instructors in the UK.

Training

BASI offers qualifications in alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark, nordic skiing and adaptive skiing. Like most snowsport certification organisations worldwide, it offers different levels of certification based on the instructors qualification ProgresS. For example, in alpine skiing it offers four levels, namely:

• Ski Instructor Level 1, previously known as Trainee Instructor, aimed at those instructors wishing to work on UK indoor or dry slopes
• Ski Instructor Level 2, previously known as BASI 3, aimed at those wishing to work in a mountain environment such as the alps
• Ski Teacher, known as BASI 2, and is the standard formally recognised by the ISIA
• International Ski Teacher Diploma, known as BASI 1, and is the standard formally recognised by the Eurogroup (France, Italy and Austria)

There are similar certification levels across snowboarding, telemark, nordic skiing and adaptive skiing.

External links

• www.basi.org.uk - Official Site

History

As BAPSI (British Association of Professional Ski Instructors), BASI was founded in 1963 before changing its name to BASI in 1967 to more fully reflect its membership profile. In 1964 it was invited to join the International Ski Instructors Association. In 1985 it took over the training of Nordic Ski Instructors in the UK from the Association of Nordic Instructors (ANSI).

It has grown to have over 6000 members who work around the world. Initially BASI's courses were mostly held in Scotland, later moving to Tignes and eventually to Zermatt in Switzerland. BASI now runs courses in many locations worldwide including New Zealand, Argentina and the USA.