Level 4 ski instructor

What is a level 4 ski instructor and why you should always book one at the ski school!

In most ski schools worldwide, you pay the same for lessons with a level 1 ski instructor as you do for a level 4 ski instructor. A level 4 instructor is the highest qualified instructor you can get. This is often wasted money. As an ordinary guest, it’s hard to tell the difference, even though there are significant differences in quality, technique, fun and experience. As a result, fewer and fewer guests are booking lessons at ski schools, as many ski schools hardly employ any level 4 instructors.

There are two main reasons for this: firstly, only around 70 new level 4 ski instructors are trained each year. Secondly, many ski schools want to save costs and pay Level 4 ski instructors too little. Many experienced ski instructors therefore decide to become self-employed or go abroad, where they are better paid.

Due to the lack of experience and technical knowledge of level 1 and 2 instructors, ski schools often offer boring and meaningless exercises and lessons. There is too much talking and too little skiing. Feedback is also often unhelpful and hardly any video analysis is used.

In addition, most group courses in ski schools these days are beginners’ courses. Most beginner courses are taught by level 1 or 2 instructors, although experience is particularly important in beginner lessons. Many beginners therefore give up and never return to a ski school. We are losing future ski school guests.

We want to set an example and set ourselves apart from this trend. Our philosophy is to stop using Level 1 or 2 instructors and to bring back the high quality of Austrian ski schools. Our goal is to once again be one of the best ski schools in the world.

The differences between Level 1 and Level 4 ski instructors:

Level 1 and 2 ski instructors:

• Training: Basic training covering basic teaching techniques and safety aspects.
• Duration: 10-day training only or even less
• Contents: Teaching basic skiing techniques such as the plow and first parallel turns.
• Experience: Mostly at the beginning of their career, often as a year abroad.
• Focus: Mainly children’s lessons
• Didactics and feedback: Not very pronounced
• Exercises: Often boring and monotonous exercises

Level 4 ski instructor:

• Training: The highest level of training, combined with a very intensive and demanding examination. Includes advanced movement analysis, in-depth understanding of technique and professional teaching skills.
• Teaches: Beginners, intermediate to experts. Can also teach specialised programs such as race training or freestyle. Often able to train and examin ski instructors.
• Experience: Many years of experience and extensive knowledge in all areas of skiing. Level 4 ski instructors are often managers or examiners in ski schools.

Always book and ask for an experienced level 3 or 4 ski instructor! The costs are the same, but you actually get the quality you pay for. No more disappointments and wasted money.