CADS NCD Instructor Training 2024 season

Here is a list of the training opportunities we plan to provide to our volunteers this season. These are open to all volunteers within the NCD area, irrelevant of their location. They are optional and beyond the new volunteer & refresher training provided by each program.

Each of these will appear in Snowline as Training events and you must register for them in advance. These events are all free, except for the official Certification events.

Ski Teaching Methodology

This is aimed at volunteers who want to learn to teach skiers to ski, and to improve their skiing. This is the skill where volunteering with CADS moves from Assisting or Guiding to Ski Instructing. This training is also referred to as “CSIA Methodology”, (CSIA is the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance, the professional body that sets standards for Ski Instructors for the able bodied in Canada) . Attendees will learn CSIA terminology and concepts. Attending this is highly recommended for volunteers who are aiming for CADS Level 1 certification. Knowing this material is required to pass your Level 1 certification.

This training will start with a conceptual discussion over Zoom on December 14^th in the evening.

Then the training will continue with Carolyn who will provide a one-day on snow session, December 16^th at Mount Pakenham.

Carolyn is the coordinator for this series and can be reached at cmitrow@gmail.com. Please contact her with any questions.

Pre-Certification Training Levels 1 & 2

This is training aimed at volunteers who want to become CADS Level 1 certified instructors. And those who have Level 1 certification and want to get Level 2 Certification. This includes both skiers and boarders. Much like “Driver’s Ed” this training doesn’t guarantee that you will pass certification, but it will get you ready for the test.

The training will take place on Tuesday evenings, starting January 2nd. Sometimes at Mount Pakenham, sometimes over Zoom

The coordinators for this series are Tim Fitzgerald for skiers and Neil George for boarders. Please contact them with any questions.

Certification Events Level 1 & 2

We plan to offer Instructor Certification events, including Ski Instructor Level 1 and 2, and Snowboard Instructor Level 1. You are not required to have attended the pre-certification training before attending these events, but it would probably improve your chances of passing.

These events typically take two days and will be organized for a weekend late in March. We have yet to pick exact dates and locations.

Please contact Colin Moden if you re interested, so we can predict the number of attendees.

Tethering Clinic

This is aimed at volunteers who want to learn how to tether a sit ski. This isn’t specifically related to any CADS certification level.

The training will take place over two days, at Edelweiss, between Christmas and New Year.

The coordinator for this series is Jeff Boucher. Please contact him with any questions.

Sit Ski Progression Clinic.

This is aimed at volunteers who want to learn to teach sit skiers to ski independently. This isn’t specifically related to any CADS certification level.

The training will take place at Calabogie, between Christmas & New Year.

The coordinator for this series is Christopher Holden. Please contact him with any questions.

Pre-Certification Training Level 3 & above

This is training aimed at volunteers who Level 2 certification and want to get Level 3 certification. And those who have a Course Conductor certification and want to get a higher-level certification. This will probably include a lot of learning together rather than one way teaching.

The training will take place on Monday evenings at Edelweiss, starting on Monday January 8th.

The coordinator for this series is Christopher Holden. Please contact him with any questions.

Certification Event Level 3

The CADS National Festival is in the NCD area this year, at Calabogie. Instructors who want to get certified at Level 3 or above are encouraged to attend CADS Festival and sign up for the certification courses there.

Online Training

In addition to the above we have a set of training videos and documents available from our web site.
These are available any time and are recommended as introduction or refreshers. Topics include: