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big mountain pathway

The groundbreaking PSIC Big Mountain Pathway is designed to improve the skills of ski instructors who want to advance their skiing in double black terrain, coach freeride athletes, safely guide their students though extreme and steep terrain and further instill the adventure of skiing into advanced skiers. 
 

The Big Mountain pathway starts at Level 2. Entry into the pathway works as follows:

  • PSIC Professional Ski Instructor Level 1, 2 or 3 all enter the pathway at Level 2. Certification from other organizations must be a minimum of Level 2.  

  • PSIC Professional Ski Instructor Level 4 or equivalent enters the pathway at Level 3.
     

The Big Mountain Course Schedule is now available for winter 2024/25 including courses at Whistler Blackcomb, Fernie, and Castle Mountain. Additional resorts and course dates will also be added. 


PSIC membership is required to register for any course.

This program is developed in collaboration with
Derek Foose, a member of the PSIC's leadership team, and some of Canada’s leading big mountain ski coaches. View more details in the press release.

level 2 big mountain coach certification

The following information provides an overview of the PSIC Level 2 Big Mountain Coach Certification Course (equivalent to Level 2 PSIC Instructor certification). 

 

Purpose of the Level 2 Program:

The purpose of the Level 2 Big Mountain program is to introduce coaching and guiding in Big Mountain Terrain. Big Mountain Terrain is a general term used here to describe steep, black diamond and double black diamond, off piste terrain. This terrain is ungroomed and is typically found at treeline and Alpine elevation.


Duration:

  • 3-day SKI Course (Skier Development & Terrain Exploration)

  • 3-day TEACH Course (Coaching and Guiding Development)

 

Program Summary:

View Level 2 Detailed Program Summary

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Price:

$504 to $555 (location dependent) per 3-day course

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level 3 big mountain coach certification

The following information provides an overview of the PSIC Level 3 Big Mountain Coach Certification Course (equivalent to Level 3 PSIC Instructor certification). 

 

Purpose of the Level 3 Program:

The purpose of the Level 3 Big Mountain program is to leverage the practical experience and exposure to real-life skiing, coaching and guiding in big mountain, off piste terrain. The goal is to refine the versatility and adaptability of your skiing, coaching and guiding. Big Mountain Terrain is a general term used here to describe steep, black diamond and double black diamond, off piste terrain. This terrain is ungroomed and is typically found at Treeline and Alpine elevation.


Duration:

  • 5-day Training Course, including both Skiing (Skier Development and Terrain Exploration) & Teaching (Coaching and Guiding Development) skill development

  • 3-day Evaluation Course

 

Program Summary:

View Level 3 Detailed Program Summary

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Price:

$889 for 5-day Training Course / $515 for 3-day Evaluation Course

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level 4 big mountain coach certification

To be announced.

 

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