Instructor FAQ’s

London Track 3 offers a six-week adaptive teaching program for its ski, sit-ski and snowboarding students.

For volunteer instructors this is preceded by an orientation/refresher training session on the same time slot as that chosen for your student. You can choose the times for your weekly session with your student. The times available are Monday – Friday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Instructors need to commit to at least 1 session a week for the 7 weeks (1 orientation session without your student and six instructional sessions with your student). There is also a mandatory training program for all new instructors that is given prior to the start of the student session (see What sort of training will I receive?).

Adaptive ski instruction uses common teaching aids such as tethers and hula hoops to more advanced adaptive equipment such as outriggers and sit-skis. Outriggers are crutches with skis attached (for an amputee this makes 3 tracks in the snow – hence the name Track 3); a sit-ski is essentially a wheel chair on skis that can be skied independently by a student possessing the necessary upper body strength, or guided through turns by an able bodied instructor with the use of tethers attached to the sit-ski.

Some students require no adaptive equipment and the instructor teaches basic skiing skills while providing the cognitive support required for safe skiing.

Snowboarding is offered at London Track 3 and students are evaluated to ensure that the added strength and skill requirement for snowboarding is met.

The London Track 3 Ski School is located at Boler Mountain on Griffith Street in Southwest London. The Track 3 building is an accessible ski chalet located near the main ski building at Boler Mountain. Students are able to meet their instructors, put on their equipment and leave and return to the Mountain as well as socialize with their instructors, family and other students. At Boler Mountain, the Snow School lift lines are for the exclusive use of the Boler Mountain Snow School, not Track 3 students – the only exception being for Track 3 sit ski students. Track 3 students and their instructors will use the regular lines at all times.

To achieve your Level 1 certification you must be at least 16 years of age at the time of your training. However, if you are 14 or 15 years old at the time of your training you may take the training and qualify as an assistant instructor.

In addition anyone 16 years or older that does not successfully complete all of the training components may, depending on their ability, qualify as an assistant instructor.

No. To be a Level 1 Instructor your skiing ability must ski at or above CSIA Adventure 2 – Silver. To be an Assistant Instructor you must be at or above CSIA Adventure 1 – Bronze.

CSIA Adventure 1 – Bronze

• Demonstrates a centered stance & balance at start of turn

• Turns both legs while putting pressure on downhill ski

• Makes round and gradual parallel turns

• Plants poles on correct side

CSIA Adventure 2 – Silver

• Initiates the turn with both legs

• Balances on the edges of the skis towards the end of the turn

• Controls speed and maintains turn shape

• Demonstrates timing & coordination of the pole plant

Don’t worry if you do not know what specific level you are currently skiing at, your skiing ability will be assessed by a qualified CSIA ski instructor during your training session.

Instructors can be level 1, 2 or 3. New instructors start as Level 1, or assistant instructors, and progress as their desire and skill set permits. Training for Level 1 instructors and assistant instructors has two main components – Off-Hill and On-Hill training.

Off-Hill Training:

Off-hill training has two components, on-line self-learning modules, and an in-class session.

On-Line Self-Learning Modules

The on-line self-learning modules are designed to provide you with a basic knowledge of the program and familiarize you with the Instructor Handbook and the equipment and techniques used to help our students learn to ski and snowboard.

In-Class Session

The in-class session is a three-hour classroom session teaching about abilities/disabilities (including Autism, Down syndrome) as well as instructor training based on the Instructor Handbook. There is an open book quiz at the end of the classroom session. You will also have an opportunity to tour the building and see the adaptive equipment used in our program.

On-Hill Training

The on-hill session is an all-day session that is broken into two half-day segments; progression training and adaptive training.

Progression Training

Progression training is taught by a qualified CSIA ski instructor who will evaluate your skiing skills and ensure that you meet the minimum skiing ability for the level you are training for. You will also be introduced to the CSIA methodology of how to teach another person to ski and progress in their ability.

Adaptive Training

Building on the foundations of the CSIA methodology taught in the progression training, adaptive training will teach you how to adapt the methodology used by the CSIA to the special needs of our students and how to use the training aids available to Level 1 instructors. These aids include the common teaching aids; tethers, hula hoops, and long and short poles. To use the more advanced equipment such as outriggers and sit skis you must qualify to be a Level 2 instructor.

The first week of the regularly scheduled ski session is reserved for instructors and program coordinators. The week is used to provide refresher training for all returning instructors and acts as orientation and further training for all new Level 1 instructors.

On this first night you will meet the rest of your session instructors. You will find out about your specific student and be able to speak to other instructors who may be familiar with the needs of your student. You will then receive on-hill training specific to the needs of your student. This is also a great night to mingle with other instructors and network for possible ride sharing.

To become a Level 2 instructor:

a) your skiing ability must be at or above CSIA Adventure 3 – Gold:

o Turns legs while edging both skis simultaneously (steering)

o Increases edging from the middle of the turn (fall line)

o Demonstrates mobility in the ankles, knees and hips

o Controls speed while executing shirt radius turns on blue runs

b) you must have taught as a Level 1 Instructor for at least one year, and

c) you must successfully complete training in the specific discipline you are interested in.

The level 2 disciplines are;

a) Vision Impaired

b) 3/4 Track

c) Sit Ski Dual

d) Sit Ski Mono, and

e) Progression

Level 2 instructors are qualified to teach a student in the discipline they have qualified in as well as participate in training new Level 1 and assistant instructors. The Level 3 instructors help train the Level 1 and 2 instructors.

Certainly! You can be an assistant instructor and work with an Instructor and their student. Assistant Instructors need to be minimally 14 years of age. You may be an adult assistant instructor if you wish.

Yes! Not all lessons require strength. There are plenty of students who require little more than a fun companion and encouraging words on the mountain while keeping the student safe.

ABSOLUTELY!! More than anything else we are looking for people who believe that people of all abilities deserve opportunities for learning skiing/snowboarding in a fun and safe environment. We see abilities, not disabilities.

Yes, we have several positions that can be filled by non-skiers including volunteering to help organize special events, fund raising, equipment-room assistance and as a session or an assistant session coordinator.

Go to www.londontrack3.ca and register on the link for Instructor Registration. You will be sent a confirmation email with instructions on completing a Police Vulnerable Screening Check. Please get started on this process as soon as possible. A delay in the turnaround time with the police screening process may result in you not having your completed check back in time to ski with your student. We recommend allowing 3-4 weeks for the turnaround. You will also be sent the dates for the training sessions. We recommend that you register early to be kept “in the know” for the upcoming ski season. You will also need to sign an Insurance Waiver and a Photography Release.

Vulnerable Screening of volunteers is a new reality of our modern society. Although it may pose an inconvenience, the goal of Vulnerable Screening is to protect our students and provide a safe environment for everyone. Your cooperation in getting a completed Vulnerable Screening Check to us “well before” the actual Track 3 ski instruction season starts is greatly appreciated.

All students and Track 3 volunteers (both on-hill and off-hill) are required to have a signed insurance waiver on file prior to their participation in the Track 3 program. Participants skiing at Boler Mountain through the regular ski program also need to complete an insurance waiver. The waiver essentially states that you recognize that skiing can be an inherently dangerous sport and that if you are injured you will not commence litigation.

All instructors are required to supply their own helmet and equipment. Ski passes will be provided for your instruction session when you are on-hill with your student. Instructors may continue to use that session pass for their own skiing once that instruction session has ended. Ski jackets with the London Track 3 logo will be provided.

Students look forward to their weekly sessions with their instructors. If you cannot make your session time, please let your weekly Session Coordinator know well in advance. It is recommended that you make up your session with your student on another alternate Track 3 session on another mutually agreed upon date. We strive to ensure a student receives six sessions each season.

Please come to your weekly session anyway. Your Session Coordinator may need you to help with another student.

Yes, you can commit to more than one session. You may also choose to be a back up instructor when there has been an instructor cancellation. At various times throughout the year local schools bring their students to Boler Mountain for a ski day. Occasionally, there is a need for Track 3 Instructors to assist the regular ski school that day by working with a student with disabilities. Please advise your Session Coordinator if you are interested in participating in this program.

Go into your email contacts and make info@londontrack3.on.ca a contact. Now your filter will recognize this email as friendly.

Please email questions to info@londontrack3.ca. Once you are scheduled for a specific session, you can ask your Session Coordinator more specific questions.