Basecamp

Program Reviews

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Holly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience of my life!

The 11 week snowboard progrme with basecamp was defiantly the best decision, we had great instructors who really knew what they were talking about. I have grown very much as a person and as a snowboarder the basecamp course really helped me with that! Of course there was some down times coming up to the exams but everyone is very supportive and looks out for.

What would you improve about this program?
If I was to have something different it would be the facilities ee have in the hotel, although going out for dinner every night for 3 months sounds good, would be nice to be able to cook some meals at home and not worrying about going out all the time.
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Brad
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Probably the best way to spend a winter season

If you're looking to become a ski instructor, or just to massively improve your shredding skills, I couldn't recommend Basecamp enough.

All our trainers were either CSIA level 3 or 4 instructors, many of which were actually the CSIA Course Conductors too, so they know exactly what they need to teach to get you at, and far beyond the standard.

The quality of the training speaks for itself when in both our level 1 and 2 assessed training, all 25 skiers achieved a pass, and most with flying colours.

The in-resort team is equally as awesome. Our resort manager works at the ski school and is always a great port of call for anything related to your training. We also had a professional cinematographer living with us in the hotel, documenting each day of the trip and pumping out some sick weekly videos and plenty of gnarly photos to make friends jealous on Facebook.

I think the great thing about the basecamp courses is quite a lot of ex basecampers go on to work in the resort, and they are always happy to show you around and even organise a bar crawl across town.

We get to eat in most of the restaurants in banff as part of the course sunday-thursday which means good food all season

What would you improve about this program?
The accommodation is a pretty basic hotel room based on a 2 queen bed share. Some of the rooms can be a bit small so it can get a bit tight, but you don't spend much time in your room so it is manageable.

You do have a fridge and microwave in the room, but it would be nice to have cooking facilities for days off and preparing food to take up on the hill, but this is the trade off for living in a hotel where you get fresh towels and sheets each week I guess.
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Kate
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

2014 Experience

I participated in the 11 week programme in 2014, just a life change from the mundane post university life, and was thoroughly impressed with the whole package. With the four day a week training, and private one on one sessions with some of Canada's best instructors.

Not only do you get fantastic training, time off the hill is spent doing fun activities like heli skiing, snowmobiling and going to watch NHL games in near by Calgary.

And if all that doesn't get you excited, there's the amazing wildlife to spot whilst roaming through town, and charging through the amazing pow.
Not only does the base camp course set you up to be a better skier or instructor, it also sets you up with great life skills, and even gives you a chance to work closely with some of the great instructing that happens at Lake Louise, and sets you up well for a job in the upcoming seasons.

After three months out here in Canada's best ski resort, you'll find it hard to ski any where else. I know I have. I'm now fully employed by the resort and working in Canada's best office space.

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Gavin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

If You Want To Become A Ski Instructor, This Course Is For You...

So I did the 11 week training program in Banff, AB, Canada in 2013, once I had booked on the course and payed my course fees, Basecamp sent me tickets to the Ski and Snowboard show in London. They had a stall, I turned up and was greeted by some of the boys from Basecamp, we had a little chat. I had a wonder around. Then later that day, Basecamp put on a party for us at a local bar, so we could meet people from the course before we went. I thought this was excellent, as I got to talk to some of the people i would be spending the next 11 weeks with.

The actual program was well planned and organised, I felt the training was more than adequate for the Level 1 exam. I felt a better skier than the pass standard. The training was broken up by having different instructors through out the weeks and different activities put on through the course such as a hockey game (to see Calgary Flames V Vancouver Canucks) and tubing at the local resort. through out the 11 weeks I felt like any direct issues I had were addressed quickly and promptly.

4 days of training a week i felt was more than enough during the 11 weeks, and i found the 1-1s very helpful with my own skiing, also the small group sizes made the tuition more personal.

The accommodation i thought was perfect for skiers and snowboarders. It was close to town, with other like minded people from the group staying close to us so we always had people to venture in to town and see the local sights. It made things a lot better as we had breakfast included every morning and 5 meals at night provided. The accommodation had a kitchen so cooking was easy.

What would you improve about this program?
not too sure really, well thought out with all bases covered.
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Andy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best 11 weeks of my life

There were two main parts to the Basecamp experience; skiing at Lake Louise and living in Banff. Lake Louise was hands down the best resort I've ever skiied at. The trees, the terrain park, the powder...awesome. Banff was also incredible as being a secluded mountain town, it is a very close community which makes the social life way more fun. Basecamp made sure that everything from the accommodation, to food and any little problems you had were sorted out very efficiently. A great company and a great 11 weeks.