Want to ski for over half of the year?

With International Academy you can start you season in July and teach on the slopes of the Alps for the winter in Europe or North America.  International Academy has been offering ski instructor course of the highest standard for over 15 years.  With courses operating through July in Cardrona, New Zealand, there’s the chance to become qualified over a 10 week course allowing for a whole winter enjoying the Alps or Rockies whilst earning as a ski instructor.

International Academy was one of the first companies based in the UK to offer ski instructor courses and therefore has built a great reputation amongst ski schools in the best resorts around the world.  In 1997 International Academy began providing courses in New Zealand enabling keen skiers to gain a qualification out of the usual season and in unrivalled locations in a beautiful country.  Summer ski and snowboarder instructor courses in New Zealand present a great opportunity to be in the best place possible to secure an instructors job for the winter season. 

Cardrona, in New Zealand, is the highest resort in the Southern Alps and allows for great ski or snowboard instructor training and exploration of the Wanaka area.  With two basins Cardrona has plenty of wide open pistes which are ideal for practice and learning the best teaching techniques.  With a variety of black runs and a freestyle park there is the potential to progress through the weeks and gain those vital freestyle skills.  The NZSIA/SBINZ qualified instructors and examiners are experts in their field and dedicated to ensuring participants are in the best position to secure employment in the Northern Hemisphere.  There are sessions on the subject of gaining further employment on the other side of the equator allowing for networking with key employers in premier resorts.  Shadow lessons allow for real experience of teaching others and the processes involved adding essential knowledge when applying for Northern Hemisphere jobs.

Accommodation is in the resort town of Wanaka within easy reach of shops, restaurants, bars and the stunning vistas of Lake Wanaka.  It’s the perfect base to rewind and chill out after an intensive day’s skiing or boarding and learning with your fellow instructors in waiting.  New Zealand, as we all know, is one of the greatest countries to explore, beginning in Wanaka you can tour other areas of the South Island and NZ easily before or after your training course.

James Hopkins, 19, said of the course: “In one word, immense! I had the best 10 weeks of my life doing what I love every day and it allowed me to take these skills into a season in the Alps. Everyone’s skiing improved in all aspects of the sport; on piste, in powder, steeps, moguls and in the park.”

A place on a 10 week course beginning on 13^th July 2013 in Cardrona, NZ, costs £7950 and includes accommodation at the Apollo Lodge with breakfast and weekday evening meals.  Return flights start at £1500 from Heathrow to Queenstown.

For more information call 02380 206977 or visit www.international-academy.com

Get licensed to thrill with an IEC!

If you’re looking for the best instructor programmes that lead to exciting jobs in skiing and boarding, International Academy is your number one destination. And with this month seeing the opening of the International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit applications, now is the ideal time to make your dream of a working holiday come true.

Working in partnership with resident ski and snowboard schools, International Academy (IA) offers a wide range of programmes across the world, including Canada’s renowned Whistler Blackcomb, widely regarded as one of the finest ski resorts on the planet.

Combining IA instructor qualifications through the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance or Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors with the 12-month IEC permit opens up a world of work and travel opportunities in this beautiful location.

If you’re a UK citizen and aged between 18 and 30, having the IEC means you can tour Canada and fully immerse yourself in its culture. The work portion of your trip will allow you to earn cash so that you can fund your travels and adventures during your extended stay.

But best get your skates, skis or board on! Not only does International Academy attract students from all over the world, but there are a limited number of IEC permits available each year.

International Academy has been offering instructor courses in the Canadian Rockies since 1997. It now offers a range of courses: from three-week programmes to intensive 11-week instructorships. Not only will you gain your Level 1 and Level 2 instructor qualifications, but there are also ample opportunities to stay on and work after you have completed your course.

The Whistler Blackcomb University Program (WUP), for example, is a new four-week ski or snowboard instructor training course where you can gain a Level 1 ski (CSIA) or snowboard (CASI) certification and then step into a guaranteed job offer from Whistler Blackcomb once your program is completed.

International Academy also offers great value accommodation packages with all of its courses, with options to suit all budgets.

Its 11-bedroom Alta Vista Chalet can accommodate up to 24 people undertaking the courses all together. Located next to Whistler's Alta Lake, and only 2km from the Whistler Gondola Building, the chalet boasts spacious living and dining areas, a Jacuzzi hot tub on the front deck and fantastic views from the upper BBQ deck. All bedrooms are en suite with comfy furnishings and heated floors.

Here’s what former students have to say about International Academy courses.

I am definitely going to be recommending this programme to my friends and anyone else who asks about my qualifications and where I got them. I would give your programme a 10 out of 10!
Pete Ledger

This course exceeded my expectations. Whistler is awesome and better than I thought.
Seamus Kay, age 20

I decided to go on an International Academy course as part of my gap year. I can definitely say this course exceeded all of my expectations and I’ve had more fun than I could’ve ever imagined with people I didn’t know before. Whistler is an amazing place and has some of the best skiing and snowboarding you will find anywhere.
Daniel Calvert, age 18

For more information on International Academy courses, and how the IEC work permit can help you work and travel around Canada, call 02380 206977 or visit the website at www.international-academy.com

Let the experts help you reach the top!

To be the very best, you have to learn from the very best. That’s why International Academy (IA), with more than 12 years of experience, offers only the highest quality instructor programmes in partnership with resident ski and snowboard schools in selected world-class resorts.

And now you can enjoy a brand new level of excellence with the launch of IA’s Advanced Ski & Snowboard Improvement Programme. This is the perfect opportunity to develop your skills in varying terrains and maximize your talents. Not only will you become more proficient when skiing or boarding on the groomed slopes, but you will be shown by experts how to perform in powder, master moguls and excel off-piste.

Set against the magnificent backdrop of Whistler and Blackcomb, each week-long programme includes four full days of instruction in small groups – with a maximum of six people in each group, you can be confident you are learning with like-minded people of the same ability level.

Your journey to excellence begins at 8.30am on Sunday at Dusty’s, at the base of the Creekside Gondola, with a guiding day. This is followed by instruction days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, meeting at 9.30am for a 10am start at the roundhouse on Whistler Mountain. Students and instructors enjoy a well-earned break for lunch at noon, with the instruction finishing about 3pm

To help you fine tune your skills, you will also be talked through video analysis of your progress – and when you’ve completed your final day, you will receive a written personalised evaluation of your week, which includes top tips and invaluable suggestions for your future development.

The programme – which includes seven nights accommodation, a six-day Whistler/Blackcomb lift pass, lift line queue priority, and a welcome and farewell get-together – runs from Saturday to Saturday and you can join as many weeks together as you like.

The majority of International Academy students choose to stay two weeks to benefit from the weekend rest and then put all of their newfound skills into practice. This means you can capitalize on your improvements and make greater strides towards even higher skiing levels.

Here’s what former students have to say about International Academy courses.

“I loved the trip, met so many great people and had much fun indeed. The ski instructors were great, had us all in stitches, were very respectful of individual skiing abilities and showed us all a good time. I was very sad to leave!”
Sara Jakubowicz

“I would advise anyone who is thinking about doing this type of course to go for it! You will love it! General tuition and improving my own skiing ability has been fantastic.”
Kate Royle

The price of the exclusive one-week Improvement Programme is £1,070 and the course included accommodation at the 3* Sundial Suites on room only, return resort transfers and the course. Return scheduled flights from London to Vancouver are not included and start from £488 with Canadian Affair The course is available from November 24 until March 30, 2013. For more information call 02380 206977 or visit www.international-academy.com

Guaranteed Instructor Jobs in Austria with International Academy

International Academy (IA) has expanded their program to offer a new course for winter 2012- 2013 to cater for the many students who may find themselves disappointed if they do not get a place at university this year. This course is designed to offer gainful employment at the end of the course as well as a chance to add new skills to the CV.

With over 12 years of experience, IA offer high quality instructor programs in partnership with resident ski and snowboard schools in selected world class resorts. Come August 16^th it will be time for students to work out what they can do before they can either reapply to UCAS in the spring or decide to try a completely different path for their future. Without a doubt it’s time for students to be focused and to show they can act independently, put themselves in different environments and choose to learn skills that enhance their application to university or to enter the work place.

Trainee instructors can head for this new destination: Zell am See/ Kaprun

International Academy heads to Austria for the first time and has joined up with Ski Dome Oberscheider to offer high quality ski and snowboard instructor training courses in Zell am See and Kaprun. Home to some of the highest Peaks in Austria, renowned for Autumn powder snow, challenging runs and panoramic views it’s a great place to study for 6 weeks and gain the Skilehrer Anwarter instructor qualification. This enables a student to qualify and ready to teach from the beginning of the winter season in Austrian ski schools and all around the world. In addition on the course the following jobs are guaranteed for those who make the mark:

1. 10 ski/snowboard instructor jobs will be offered for the full season in the Kaprun area
2. 10 ski/snowboard instructor jobs will be available for the half-term and Easter holiday peak weeks (4 weeks)
3. 20 ski/snowboard instructor jobs will be available for the half-term week   

 www.international-academy.com

Life Changing Opportunities

Harris Holidays Ltd, is delighted to announce the acquisition of International Academy.  With over 12 years of experience, International Academy (IA) offers high quality ski and snowboard instructor programs in partnership with resident ski and snowboard schools in selected world class resorts across Canada, France, Switzerland, Austria and New Zealand.  The Managing Director commented "It is an exciting time for Harris Holidays Ltd, as IA offers us the opportunity to bring our Alpine specialist experience and enthusiasm to this segment of the ski market. Overall we can benefit from joint ventures with our sister businesses, particularly SkiWeekends who see snow fanatics taking two or three trips annually. Many of our customers have children who have skied with us previously and as they finish their A levels or university, they are looking for new career routes which we can now help them fulfil. SkiWeekends has been growing its market share of the European Ski Break market in recent years and this opportunity is a very positive step to us growing our worldwide programme. www.international-academy.com 

IA provides a high quality travel service to students with a unique programme where students can stay in very different locations over three months thus enhancing their overall learning experience in the resorts.

There are short entry level courses where students can gain Canadian Level 1 instructor qualifications which are recognised worldwide to cater for this growing market trend through to three month courses in European destinations.

Whistler Blackcomb, host to a myriad of events at the last Winter Olympics offers a legendary experience with a vast ski circuit and often unprecedented snow levels. As a student everything is on the doorstep. Study on this new four week course starting in November to gain a CSIA or CASI Level 1 certification and then step into a guaranteed job offer from Whistler Blackcomb once the program is completed. Prices start from £3,950.