EVC Spring 2026_magazine_AWdigital - Flipbook - Page 42
Snowsport visits
Is your
ski team ready?
As the ski season draws to a close, it’s a good time to evaluate your visits and plan ahead
for next year. Among your top priorities should be your visit team. EVOLVE Advice’s Andy
Smith offers advice on picking and preparing your staff for next year’s ski trip.
1 EXPERIENCE
3 COMPETENCE
4 QUANTITY
Snowsport Visit Leaders should
have recent and relevant experience
of snowsports and overseas visits.
Relying on one highly experienced
Visit Leader can put your longerterm plans at risk. Create a clear
pathway for teachers to build up
their experience.
Snowsport visits have unique risks
and requirements. Visit Leaders
should have an appropriate level
of training on managing snowsport
visits. If leading snowsports
activities, staff should hold a
valid Alpine Snowsport Course
Leader (ASCL) or locally
recognised snowsports
instructing, guiding
or coaching qualification.
Check your numbers – do you have
enough staff? Group management is
very different on a snowsport visit;
you’ll have a complex mix of direct,
indirect and remote supervision
throughout your visit.
Appoint Deputy Visit Leaders
and provide training to get
them to the right level to lead
visits in the future.
2 CONFIDENCE
Choose staff who enjoy snowsports
and know their way around a ski
resort. Inexperienced skiers can
find it difficult to support students
in these specialised environments.
Staff should know how to adjust
boots and helmets and get skis on
and off, how ski lifts work, and rules
of conduct on the slopes.
Practice sessions at artificial
ski slopes in the UK are a great
way to prepare teachers and
students for a ski visit.
GUIDANCE AND
RESOURCES
42
Training includes dynamic risk
management, supervision and
dealing with emergencies in
what can be a challenging
environment.
EVOLVE Advice runs
Snowsport Visit Leader
Training between September
and March – learn more at
→www.evolveadvice.co.uk/svt.
Varied abilities may mean your
group could be split across different
areas of the resort. Add crowded
public transport and ski lifts to the
mix and you’ll need to plan carefully
how to distribute staff.
Have contingency plans in place in
case of an injury to staff or pupils.
A lot can happen between now and
your next ski trip. Staff changes,
availability and fitness to travel
could all disrupt your plans. You may
need to substitute staff at the last
minute or during the visit.
Have staff in reserve in case
you need them, and make sure
they’ve had the same training
and briefings as the team that
are travelling.
Snowsport visits are fantastic
experiences for staff as well as young
people. With good planning and
preparation, your team will be ready
to hit the slopes with confidence.
See National Guidance at →oeapng.info: 7.1v Snowsport Visits
Snowsport England →snowsportengland.org.uk/schools
Watch the ‘Skiway Code’ →youtu.be/NeS3ZRhemP4
