British Ski Center - English Tuition

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Tuition With Ski Center - Private Tuition - Group Tuition - Guiding

Sierra Nevada is a unique resort in that it has around 30 independent ski schools. The Spanish Ski School, (Escuela Española de Esqui), was the first to be established in 1962. Since then, individuals or groups of instructors have peeled away and set up for themselves.

Most Instructors are trained and qualified to the requirements of the Spanish ski federation, the Real Federación Española de Deportes de Invierno, (RFEDI). In spite of the numbers of schools, the number of good English speaking instructors is very thin on the ground compared to the number of UK and Irish visitors. Native English instructors are even more scarce. For this reason, my colleague, friend and fellow ski instructor, Jonathan, & I have set up "British Ski Center".

British Ski Center was established in the Winter of 2002-3 and became a registered tradename in October 2006. The business now operates under the company name of "Sierra Essence Ski & Mountain Center 2006 S.L." as a legitimate entity dedicated, among other things, to the instruction of winter snow sports.

We are both fully qualified to the highest level of "Diplomado", through the Spanish Ski Federation and well reputed within the resort. Our aim is not to set up just another ski school but also to offer a more personalised service to our clients...

First, A Bit About Us...

I, (Giles), have now worked each season in Sierra Nevada since the winter of 1996/7. Since December of 1998 I have worked as a ski instructor. My ski experience stretches back to 1982, when I first started as a child on family holidays to the small Spanish Pyraneen resort, Panticosa.
In November 1991 I lived and worked for a year in the French resort chain, Serre Chevalier. Three years later, in 1995, I started working for the ski Tour Operator, Neilson, which ultimately introduced me to Sierra Nevada. A great part to this job was my duty as a Ski Guide. It was here that I met Jonathan and the tempting notion of ski instructing became ever more prominent.

Three years on I went for it and qualified for the job of ski instructor with the Escuela Española de Esqui here in Sierra Nevada. I have since succesfully completed a series of training courses with the Spanish ski federation, RFEDI, (Real Federación Española de Deportes de Invierno), qualifying initially, in 2001, for the "Técnico Deportivo de Invierno en Esqui Alpino Nivel 1" course, previously know as "Auxiliar".
In April 2003 I successfully completed the higher level "Diplomado" qualification. This is effectively the highest level qualification issued by the Ski Federation before furthering on to become a "National Trainer", (Entrenador Nacional).

This dream come true has provided me with a great sense of purpose and motivation not only for instructing but also in using my knowledge and experience to helps those who are less familiar with the ski and mountain scene. It is rare for someone to find a "job" that they thoroughly adore and live for, but I am now one of those people.

My partner, Jonathan, has worked consecutive seasons as ski instructor in Sierra Nevada since 1991, 11 of them with the Escuela Internacional de Esqui. His ski experience also goes back many more years including 6 years living and working in the Italian resort of Sauze d'Oulx. He too has successfully completed several training courses with the same ski federation, RFEDI, and has been qualified as "Diplomado" since 2001.

Teaching skiing and snowboarding is not just about getting you to the bottom of the ski run. Safety is always the biggest concern of the instructor. Secondly comes your personal enjoyment. If you can't enjoy the sport we see little reason for practicing it!
With this in mind, each class that we give we view the following: You are on holiday. You are here to enjoy yourself. You want to return in one piece!
Therefore, we will explain and demonstrate the essential techniques required for skiing/snowboarding in a caring manner, (without shouting or yelling impatiently), aiding you to reach your OWN personal goals instead of solely our own.

In this way you will be able to appreciate the incredible fascination and exhiliaration of what we personally consider to be an ultimate winter pastime. Please do not hesitate to contact me or call me on (+34) 646 178406 for any further information you may require.

Tuition With Ski Center

British Ski Center is now a registered trademark and officially listed with the local tourist authority, the "Junta de Andalucia", and has also been granted status within their "Turismo Activo" segment as an active tourist entity. All our instructors are aptly contracted, comply with the necessary training and experience for ski instruction, and are covered by our Public Liability Insurance as an obligatory requirement established by law.

We not only offer professional tuition but are available to assist our clients in getting to grips with the resort, where everything is, where the popular sites are, the Spanish tapas bars etc.,etc.. We are generaly around for a time both during the mornings, (in our shop Rio Sport), before our first classes, and in the afternoons after skiing to assist with ski and boot hire if required.

Sierra Nevada is still a very Spanish resort which is a hugely contributing factor to it's special relaxing aire. It does however mean that English speaking is relatively limited. Both Jonathan & I speak Spanish fluently and wish to use this to everyone's benefit to aid towards a stress-free time.

We offer and guarantee that any UK client taking a lesson through British Ski Center, will have either a native English speaking instructor or at the very least someone who, not only speaks English fluently, but is also used to using English on a regular social basis. It is possible to find "English speaking" instructors through the other schools but very often the problem arises whereby their knowledge is very much limited to just the technical vocabulary needed.

High general conversation levels are essential for building up client/instructor relations and of course quality of tuition, particularly when the client requires more in-depth explanations. This is where we always come out on top!!

We provide instruction primarily on a one-to-one basis, (private tuition), although we are able to organise group courses, (subject to demand), especially during the holiday & half-term periods.

In addition to the two of us our full time team for Winter 2005/6 consisted of our English Gentleman skier, William, our chatty Argentine Mika, our Norwegian lass, Karina, ever willing Swedish Jonatan, ("isn't he lovely"), and once again our faithful ever smiling English Snowboard Instructor, Steve all of whom were supremely aided by our newly appointed boarder secretary, Tess, (ooharrr!!).

As a rough guide, ski standards are generally divided into the following five main groups:

Whilst requests can be made for specific instructors, it may be necessary, in particular during high season, to allocate a different instructor in order to cater for everybody's requirements in as efficient and professional a manner as is possible. For this reason we prefer not to confirm this until the day of the lesson.

Private Tuition:

These will cater for a maximum of 4 people in any one group. It is important to note that the standard of skiing must be roughly equal between each member. Failing this, the more advanced skiers will not benefit so much from the class.

We recommend that children and adults are also taught separately due to differences both in teaching technique and general learning capabilities. Children also often require much more personal attention and care which can take away time spent on others in the class. The length of class depends on you, the skier, but the usual amount of time for any class is 2 hours in any given day.

The only real exception to this rule applies to very young children, (4-6yrs), who would normally do better to start initially with a single hour to see how they adapt to the climate, altitude and the sport itself. If all goes well they may well be able to take further tuition on a 2 hourly basis.

Group Classes:

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON OUR CURRENT GROUP AVAILABILITY.

Group tuition offers the opportunity for people to learn to ski & board with others of similar standards creating a fun environment to the learning process not to mention introducing people to others with whom to continue skiing throughout their stay.

It also offers a more economical way of learning although the disadvantages sometimes occurs whereby, due to the the number of people in the group, (usually 8-10 as a maximum), levels of progression will be slower than with private tuition because the instructor has to spend time with more people. Also, it is worth bearing in mind the situation whereby people advance at different levels often resulting in split levels within the group. When this occurs, the instructor can only teach to the level of those going slowest, (primarily for safety reasons). Where possible, if there are other groups, it is feasible to move people up, (or down), a level as long as this does not result in "over-crowding" of groups to numbers above our preferred limits. If in doubt please ask before booking!!

All group classes will run subject to demand. With the correct number of people, (minimum 5 people required), we are able to tailor make your group course according to your needs. Generally this will involve 3 hours of tuition per day over the course of 3, 4 or 5 days.

During the holiday and half-term periods we generally have a number of different groups running catering for adults and children alike of varying standards. Use the above link for information on current spaces available. These courses will run from Monday to Friday starting at 10am on each day for 3 hours.

To make an advanced booking for your stay and guarantee the standard of tuition you expect, please click here for details about our rates.

Ski/Snowboard Guiding

We also offer a guiding service to skiers & snowboarders with a minimum ability to cover blue runs and perhaps the odd easy red. Skiers & boarders of a higher standard can group together for our advanced guiding sessions.

Guiding will be taken by an experienced skier who knows the resort well but will not necessarily be an instructor.
No tuition is given during the guiding sessions although in certain situations it may be necessary for the Guide to lend a hand. Groups will consist of a minimum of 4 people. We will take you off for 2 hours during a dedicated guiding afternoon, usually from 3pm - 5pm. Skiers & boarders should be confident on blue runs, (middle intermediate upwards), in order to make the most of this. Click here to view the rates.

!!...FIRST TIME SKIERS & SNOWBOARDERS READ BELOW...!!

If you are a first time skier or snowboarder you should always consider taking tuition from a very real safety aspect. It is generally recommended that you begin with a 2 hour private class for 2-3 consecutive days and then review the situation afterwards regarding further tuition.
You will initially spend time in a flat area where you will get to grips with the basics of putting on and taking off your skis/board and then getting used to the sliding motions. Slowly but surely, you will move to a very gentle slope to learn the basics of controlling your speed. As a very rough guide, (and this can vary from person to person), you can expect the following from a one-to-one private lesson:

1 Hour - To have a basic understanding of controlling your speed down a very gentle slope, and perhaps to have briefly touched on turning.
2 Hours - With reasonable confidence, you will be linking basic turns down a gentle slope, (better one way than the other more than likely!!). You will also have essential experience in using the lift systems.

! NOTES FROM THE PROFESSIONALS !

NEVER rely on friends or family to teach you unless they are qualified & experienced themselves!! A high percentage of ski accidents, (not to mention arguments!), occur in these situations whereby basic safety procedure and technique are instructed incorrectly or not at all!

DO REMEMBER that Sierra Nevada is one of the highest ski resorts in Europe. The altitude change can cause some dehydration and weariness. For this reason we recommend a maximum of 2 hours unless you are partaking in group courses of 5 people or more. Very young children, (4-5yr olds), on their first skiing holiday should consider a single hour to begin with to ensure they are enjoying themselves and to aclimatise.

As the resort of Sierra Nevada becomes increasingly popular with the English speaking skier/boarder, demand has increased significantly for English speaking ski instructors. Ski Center can guarantee you this in a way that no other ski school in resort can!!