Professional Ski Instructors: 5 Pet (Mega) Hates!

TDC ski coaches are on the hill practically every day of the season; it’s fair to say that we see our fair share of nonsense, please enjoy these 5 of Kieran’s pet hates!

Childrens Ski Lessons
“I know you don’t want to go down in the bubble Daddy, but I think La Face is a bad idea”
      1. Parents of small children, taking them down a steep red/black run when they are clearly too small and inexperienced to cope!  Small children have big heads, add a big helmet to that, and I think that’s why most little ones ski in the ‘back seat’.  There is no rush to get a 4 or 5 year old to ski steep slopes, let alone when they still have a big pizza!  Keep them safe, make it fun, and they will learn, trust us, we know!

      2. If I have just spent the morning with a nervous skier, I will have been working hard to build confidence; confidence in themselves, and confidence in their ability to control their speed and direction.  Skiing therefore becomes enjoyable, rather than a stressful experience where they fear they will hurt themselves.  It’s a Holiday!  Having just had a hugely successful breakthrough in a morning session.  What happens after lunch?  The other half (usually the boyfriend/husband!) says “come ski with me, you will be fine!”  By 4pm the same person is now in bits, confidence ruined, and has un-learned the whole morning.  Very frustrating when you have to start again the next morning.  (Not to mention the arguments it can cause!)

      3. Skiers who ski at a speed way beyond there capability – this is probably my biggest pet hate of them all!  It never ceases to amaze me how many skiers hurtle down the hill, with no awareness, consideration for others, or just general safety common sense.  You can probably picture the type – usually male, 15-40 years old, off balance, jacket undone, goggles all squinty, in a racing snow plough with no turns, doing about 50 mph!! When these people get close to us ski instructors and our lessons (especially little ones) we get infuriated!  And boy, if we catch them on the lift, we sure let them know, politely and professionally of course, which is rather difficult!  FIS ski code/rules

        Off Piste Ski Lessons
        Off Piste with all the Gear….
      4. Skiers or snowboarders off piste with no safety equipment – Transceiver, shovel, probe is the minimum.  When I am coaching my groups in off piste private lessons or off piste clinics, I often see others near us with absolutely no safety equipment.  They are usually thrashing around all over the place, all on the same slope at the same time, charging over convexities and showing absolutely zero off piste safety knowledge or etiquette.  It infuriates instructors and mountain guides when we see these people!  The main reason for this is that they may start something (ie an avalanche) above you, and put your group in danger.  As coaches we are very aware of this, we always try to ensure we are never placed in this position.

      5. Massive ski school groups snaking across the piste!!  We have all seen it, an instructor, with about 10-15 people snaking down behind them (sometimes even more!) taking up the entire piste. There is nothing wrong with skiers following an instructor down a run, as they may be working on line, or turn shape, or speed control, but 15 people!  How can anyone in a group this size receive any individual attention or feedback, it is practically impossible for the instructor to develop peoples performance in groups this big.  At TDC, we never take more than 6 people in a group, maximum feedback, development, safety and enjoyment per person!

Kieran is normally an entirely positive guy and absolutely loves: Really big dogs, Savoyade Food, Good Whisky, Powder Snow and Working lots of hours. [ed]

Snow Conditions in Val d’Isere

Snow Conditions Val d'Isere
Snow Conditions Val d'Isere 6th Dec 2012

After a slow start that had many of us very nervous about the up and coming European ski season. The snow dances and prayers have been answered and the snow is falling in abundance.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

Keep in touch with us and we will keep you updated in the latest conditions, in Val d’Isere, Tignes and Meribel.

Join us –

www.facebook.com/tdcski
www.twitter.com/tdcski

Tignes Glacier skiing

Whilst the final touches are being made to the renovated chalets and Hotels in Val d’Isere and Tignes, the glacier is being put to good use. Not only are TDC coaches running pre-season BASI prep courses and slalom training, but national teams have been up on the hill making their final preparations for the World and Europa cups.

See how the slalom training is getting on at: http://www.youtube.com/thedevelopmentcentre

All our coaches regularly use video analysis as a tool for teaching and all you need to do is ask you coach. You may even feature on this site!

tdc early season clinics

Once again in December 2009 tdc will be running the very sucessful and popular early season clinics.

tdc‘s early season ski clinics are a great way to get yourself up and running for the season.

tdc early season clinic - Fri 12th Dec 2008

Val d’Isere and Tignes early season snow has been amazing the last few years, and this is the perfect opportunity for keen skiers of all levels to take a week out at low peak time and get the best tuition, in a fun and friendly enviroment.
The early season clinics have been very popular and are at discounted prices.

Get the best ski improvement courses early in the season, improve your ski technique so that the rest of the season you are at your best.

For December 2009 the early season clinics in Val d’Isere and Tignes are;

Mon Nov 30th – Fri Dec 4th 2009
Mon Dec 7th – Fri Dec 11th 2009

The early season clinics are 5 half days – Monday – Friday 9am – 12noon or 1pm -4pm
Cost – 250€ – 280 €

If you are looking to improve your skiing technique, in a fun, friendly and challanging way then tdc‘s early season clinics are ideal

The early season ski improvement clinics run at the same levels as our normal coaching clinics

discovery – discover your talent, ski with confidence …for strong blue run skiers…

development – develop your performance, feel your skiing flow …for strong red run skiers…

development Plus – take on steeper and varied slopes …for strong red run /ok black run skiers

challenges – take on new goals, challenge yourself …for strong black run skiers…

At 250€ – 280€ for 5 days of high quality coaching these clinics are very popular and excellent value.

Email us now to book your place, for you and your friends.

or call +33 6 15 55 31 56 or book online

tdc coaches play with the stars…

IMG_2087
Paul going head to head with French International Basteraud
IMG_2090
Szarzewski and Marconnet look on

It was the annual beach rugby tournament in Tignes last Saturday. Wall to wall blue sky and the hot alpine sun made sure there was a real beach atmosphere despite being at 2100m above sea level! Val d’Isère won the amateur competition in the morning, conceding only one try in 5 games. Giles and Paul combining nicely to score the winning try in the final.

IMG_2091
Paul distributes watched by Italian legend Bergamasco
IMG_2088
tdc linking nicely watched by Basteraud

The pro-competition was to take place in the afternoon and as amateur Champions Val d’Isère were asked to join them. Fortunately we were playing touch rugby not full tackling otherwise things could have ended very differently! The motivation to run around for another spell of matches came in the shape of Stade Français. 13 times French champions and Heineken Cup regulars their squad is packed with Internationals and we were to play in their group. This was a warm up for their summer training camp that happens every year in Tignes, for us we were on our last legs, but how often do you get to play against so many legends of the game? A once in a life time opportunity.

IMG_2089
Dupuy, ex-Leicester & French International scrum-half
IMG_2096
Gi poised to make a move

Motivation was high as we lined up against a team that were practically all international stars. If you know your rugby these names should mean something to you: Julien Dupuy (Leicester scrum-half last year), Sylvain Marconnet (French prop), Mauro Bergamsaco (Italian back row), Mathieu Basteraud (French centre), Christophe Dominici (ex-French wing), Sergio Parisse (Italian back row), Roncero Rodrigez (Aregntinian prop), Dimitri Szarzewski (French hooker). They all played and we even managed to score two tries against them! Lewis and Garner are still waiting for a call from the Stade Français coach such was their performance on the day.

tdc ‘s BASI prep courses 2009/10

tdc have been running BASI prep courses very successfully over the last number of years. We would like to say congratulations to all those who have then gone on to be successful at their BASI courses. We are running BASI prep courses throughout autumn 2009 and winter 2010 so let us know when you want to book.

These courses are designed to help you get ready for any forthcoming exams or BASI courses. With 5 BASI trainers within tdc‘s ranks these courses provide an ideal opportunity to prepare for success.

All courses include in depth video analysis.

NEW for Autumn 2009

BASIlogoOctober Courses – why wait until the onset of winter and the November storms. Enjoy the longer days and warmer conditions of skiing in October on the Tignes glacier. Very often the afternoons in October can feel really summery, training feels very different at this time of year.
Cheap accommodation and equipment testing at the Melezes Hotel in Tignes les Boisses. The guys at the Melezes run a ski and board camp where you can test all the latest kit the prices for accommodation and airport transfer have to be seen to be believed, check out the deals at:
http://www.skiandboardcamp.com/

Course Details

basiprep1
tdc BASI trainers

Autumn Weeks – Monday to Friday

Prepare for BASI Levels 2, 3 & 4

5 – 9 October
12 – 16 October
23 – 27 November – Train for your teaching course
Cost 200 €

Winter Weeks – Monday to Friday

Prepare for Levels 3 & 4

18 – 22 January

basiprep2
be ski ready

Winter Cost Options

  • 350€ full week
  • 200€ 5 half days
  • 50 € per half day

There will also be training throughout the winter season for those people in or near the resort, with less regimented timings – same winter costs apply.

BASI Level 1 & 2 Prep

If you are new to BASI and are thinking of embarking on your first course this level is ideal for you. Equally if you have completed the trainee instructor module and need to brush up your technique before you undertake the Level 2 Instructor Training assessment this is the perfect way to ensure success.
This is best suited for those going for Level 1 Instructor and Level 2 Instructor Training modules.

tdc basi prep courses
tdc basi prep courses

BASI Level 3 Prep

This is for people who have successfully completed the Level 2 Instructor assessment and feel they need some training before they take the next technical or teaching level.
Prepare to be at the level before your assessment.

BASI Level 4 Prep

This is for people preparing for their final technical and teaching level. These courses will be run by BASI Trainers who are involved in trainer education and who regularly deliver the BASI ISTD technical and teaching module. With a proven track record for helping people pass their final test this course is a valuable option.

book you tdc BASI prep course now

email or book online

If you need help with accommodation or transfers please let us know and we will do our best to help.