summer training / autumn training / winter training...

Podium is the longest running and most successful training group for the Eurotest. Since 2002, 74 people have trained with Podium and passed their Eurotest!

With a coaching team of experienced FIS coaches [many of whom have also done the BASI system or are trainers], you have coaches who have a depth of experience way beyond the Eurotest but at the same time can relate well to the trials of a ski instructor having to become a racer, albeit, temporarily.

We really aim to give you the full backing of our knowledge and expertise to make your preparation the most thorough possible and 'leave no stone unturned'. Before the on snow work we are always on line to offer you advice and information on equipment and physical preparation and then we try and prepare each skier individually whatever stage of development they are at. Technical and tactical preparation is offered in a constructive and logical way to make you feel you are always working towards your goals.

At first you will need to adopt a number of routines to make your training effective - warm up, hydration, stretching, cool down etc... After this we will set about going through basic skiing skills and seeing where you can improve. From here we can start to 'individualise' your training into regular drills and routines that will tackle your particular issues. Beyond this we will use gates for tactical and technical aims and to ultimately, put your technique into carrying a lot of speed and race.

Training for your Eurotest inevitably takes time and commitment. We often build up a really good rapport between coaches and trainees over successive camps and work together with ideas and objectives to get the most out of every camp.


Podium runs numerous camps throughout the year and would advise you to think of your preparation at least over the space of a year. In this way you can attend different camps with a different focus and really have effective training. There is more about this on the 'training tips page'.

We run camps on the following periods of the year.

 

Autumn Camp: Tignes 31st October 2011 - 10th December 2011

Foundation training : Weeks 1,2,3 [31 Oct -18th Nov]

Full GS: Weeks 4,5,6 [21 Nov - 9th Dec]

£180pw/210€


For both slalom and GS camps in the autumn we are running a new format: We have

i. foundations blocks

ii. GS and SL blocks

After years of running this training we think there is a better and more effective way of preparing yourself for these exams. It is commonly the case that jumping straight into GS or SL courses and racing is unrealistic and a hard path. There needs to be a 'stepping stone'; something that comes between recreational skiing and racing. This is the Podium foundation block. We already did try and prepare people in the best way possible but we are going to make it more explicit.

What is a foundation block?

The foundation blocks are the essential, introductory preparation blocks for being able to perform well in a race course. They will involve both slalom and GS type skiing and will look at all the fundamental areas that you will need to develop. Specific drills and courses will be set for speed of movement, lateral balance, fore aft balance, agility edging, separation etc. Competitive skiing and attitude will also be introduced at this stage. We would advise you to bring both SL and GS type skis if possible. This will also ideal 'core training' for BASI exams.

Who is it for?

A foundation block is for everybody but you must attend foundation training as a priority before going straight to GS or SL ie it is not an option to go straight into SL or GS if you haven't done any foundation training before. You may want to spend several weeks doing 'foundation training' to get ready for the GS or SL and you may want to spend a season or two concentrating on building your foundations before stepping into the GS SL arena. The difference is...when you step in you will be ready.


Summer Camp: 2 Alpes / 19th June - 1st July 2011 [on snow dates with 12 days on snow and one rest day]

Click here for summer info 2011.

The summer camp is a brilliant camp. We have been running it in 2 Alpes since 2001 and we've never thought of going anywhere else. The terrain is perfect for working on technical changes and the atmosphere is second to none. The afternoon activities keep us coming back year after year with everything from golf to white water rafting. We're well established in 2 Alpes and so are able to get the best training pistes and be well looked after! To see some pictures from the 2007 camp click on the link below.

The summer camp makes a massive difference to your success rate the following year. Far away from the pressure of the test, you can make the technical changes on a brilliant summer glacier in hard snow so that you can concentrate on speed during the autumn.

http://web.mac.com/alplifestyle/iWeb/Site5/DeuxAlpes.html



Check out the coaches regularly used by Podium over the past few years...

Dave Morris has coached many of Britain's clubs, teams and racers over the last decade. He is a BASI trainer for all technical levels, former racer and L3 coach. He has worked with many of Britain's prominent alpine clubs, mainly, BSA and has had a hand in producing many of the juniors currently racing for the national team. He is currently training some members of the Scottish team and worked as facilitator for the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation [CSCF] delivering courses within the UK.
  • BASI Trainer [L1-L4]
  • Former trainer to athletes from GB home nations teams.
  • CSCF Canadian Level 3 coach [ and former CSCF facilitator]
  • Former GB children's team coach
  • Trainer British Ski Academy

Agustin Torres skis for Argentina and has skiied in both the World Championships of 2009 and the Vancouver Olympics 2010. he has also skiied as an opener for the Eurotest as well as representing BASI in the 2007 Interski event in Korea. Agustin will be running the SL/ test technique training in November as well as sometimes putting down a GS time for our trainees.

  • BASI Trainer:
  • Eurotest trainer. 6 years experience.
  • Ski Club Trainer Bariloche, Argentina
  • Member of GB/BASI demo team 2007
  • Member of Argentinian national team
Ross Green was a member of the British team for many years and has been one of Britain's most successful racers. His racing career culminated in a 15th position in the combined event at the Olympics 2002 Salt Lake City. He is currently training as an Austrian 'C' license coach and has been singled out as one of the country's future coaching prospects. He is a current Eurotest opener. [GBR]
  • BASI Trainer
  • Austrian C license coach
  • Former member of GB team
  • Eurotest opener
  • Ex head trainer: British Ski Academy
Scott Bryson is head of boys coaching at the British Ski Academy. Following on from a strong racing pedigree with the Scottish Alpine team and British junior team and many titles to his name, Scott is proving himself to be an equally valuable coach. He skiied to 37 points in slalom but then stopped as he was unhappy inside.
  • Former member of GB junior team
  • Former Scottish team
  • Current male head coach British Ski Academy
  • all round good egg

Marc Telling had an excellent record as a racer competing for England and the GB development team, reaching the fringes of the full GB team. He is now forging an equally excellent one as a coach. His hopes for next year are to get a better picture on this website.

  • Former British Development team member
  • Eurotest opener
  • APC 2
  • BASI ISTD
 
Sean Manley is a former FIS racer and one of BASI's best young trainers for ski instructors as well as being an awesome skier. Based in Tignes he runs his own ski school Ultimate. Very popular with trainees for his ability to say and demonstrate what he wants, Sean has become a valuable asset to the Podium coaching team.
  • Former FIS racer
  • BASI Trainer
  • Ski school director Tignes
Jas Bruce is from Edinburgh and has raced for Scotland and the British Development team. He is an ISTD and will be based in Val d'Isere next year. He spends his summers in NZ training and coaching and possibly a little time enjoying the scenery. He is Canadian Level 3 coach and an opener for the Eurotest. What's more, he is a thoroughly nice chap.
  • CSCF 3
  • BASI ISTD
  • Eurotest opener

 

 


Passes who have trained wholly or partly with the Podium team! [Dec 2002- Dec2010]

Rory Burton Roy Henderson Mike Crawford  Brian Dodds Alex Chapman
Scott Hughes Kevin Turner Paul St Romaine  James Darnell Tom Mayne
Jarrod Atkinson Rod Frazer Tom Watts  Dave Mitchell Sam Pickup
Oli Coote Keith Marshall Sally Lee  Fred Diblee Mark Birch
Glen Radford Tim Jackson Tom Kenny  Ben Harris Richard Knapp
Becca Morris Dave Meyer Simon Jones  Dave Preti Blake Williams
Audran Flammier John Nelson  Emily Sarsfield  Caroline Barley Jonathan Lefort
Shona Tate Mark Hollands  Katie Dobson  Kieran Buchanan Dave Walton
Ambrogio McClintock   Nick Quinn!  Rob Watson  Alessandro Cambon James Crompton
Gherardo Gambaro Martin Hemsley  Euan Wright  Jojo O Brien Andy Macintosh
James Lawson Ben Arkley  Nick Fletcher Craig Wilson  Dougie Milne
Craig Conkey Owen Candy  Mike Edwards  Will Roberts Andy Parker
Martin Jeffers Sam Burrows  Matt Tomlinson  Chris Fecher Hugh Bullen
Sally Addenbrook Hugh Pelling  Buster Cheetham Andy Monney Marc Walton
Mark Gear Mark Ryder   Andy Humphries Simon Bates   

Contact Podium for an information pack/guidelines and information on summer winter or autumn camps info@podiumski.com