Another off-season is soon wrapping up, and the CASI team has been hard at work since last spring in updating and improving our programs. We’re excited for the coming season!

Read below for some key information regarding technical updates, changes and also a few reminders…

COURSE STANDARDS CLARIFIED & UPDATED

Every year we refresh all of our course guides and add some details about the standards and course expectations in all of our course guides. This year we added a visual reference average number of Meters (M) and Corridor Width (CW) for all of our turns mandatory manoeuvres from Level 1 to 4. 

You can find all the course guides with these new details from your member profile in the section “Resources” under the “Course Resources” option.

NEW! LEVEL 4 COURSE MODULAR FORMAT

We are pleased to announce that our new format for the Level 4 course will now be a modular course, delivered in three separate modules of three days each. The adoption of this new format will therefore include an 18-hour module for each of the assessment components (technical (riding), teaching and instructor training).

This will allow greater flexibility and more training opportunities for Level 4 candidates just starting out in the process, or for those already in the process.

Candidates must register separately for the modules and the exams. 

It is possible to register for a single training module and then register for the corresponding portion of the exam. 

In the event of three consecutive attempts to test the same element at the exam, the candidate will have to repeat the corresponding training module. Anyone who is currently in the process (eligible to attend the Level 4 exams) can carry-on their process and register for the exams or any of the modules that would help them succeed.

NEW LEVEL 4 EXAMS FORMAT

The Level 4 Exams are now run as separate components / exams, with one day allocated for the Teaching and Instructor Training part of the Level 4 certification and two days for the Technical (Riding) part. Candidates will have the option to register for all three components, or just one or two, depending on which parts they wish to be evaluated on. In general, Level 4 exam components will be scheduled together, to allow candidates to complete all three if they wish over a four day period. When registering candidates will need to register for each component separately.

NEW LEVEL 3 EXAMS FORMAT

The Level 3 Exams are now run as separate components / exams, with one day allocated for each part of the Level 3 certification (Teaching, Riding and Instructor Training). Candidates will have the option to register for all three components, or just one or two, depending on which parts they wish to be evaluated on. In general, Level 3 exam components will be scheduled together, to allow candidates to complete all three if they wish over a three day period. When registering candidates will need to register for each component separately.

LEVEL 1 & LEVEL 2 MANDATORY MANOEUVRES REVIEWED

We have reviewed and updated the list of mandatory manoeuvres for the Level 1 and the Level 2 courses.

Level 1
Our goal was primarily safety concerns at busy resorts and allowing a better mobility component assessment. We therefore have modified the “Carved traverse” to “Open Carve Turns” and we also added “Hopping Through Turns” to the list of mandatory manoeuvres that are being assessed during our Level 1 course :

• Beginner Turns - Forward & Switch (Green Terrain) - 3-5 M CW*
• Intermediate Sliding Turns (Green/Blue Terrain) - 5-7 M CW
• Open Carved Turns (Easiest Green or Cat Track) - 3-6 M CW
• Hopping Through Turns (Green/Blue Terrain)- 5-7 M CW

*M = Meters CW = Corridor Width

Level 2
For the Level 2 we wanted to clarify the carving task’s expectations, so we’ve modified the “Basic Carved Turns” to “Intermediate Carved Turns”. We also reviewed the description and expectations of the short radius turns task to emphasize the “dynamism parameters”, or intentions that are expected for this specific task :
Short-radius sliding turns on applicable groomed blue / black* (intermediate / advanced) terrain, demonstrating speed control, round turn shape, intensity, symmetry, rhythm and control of both pressure and edge. *Conditions dependant.

• Novice Turns - Forward & Switch (Green Terrain) - 4-6 M CW*
• Ollie with proper landing on two-feet (Green Terrain)
• Intermediate Carved Turns (Green/Easy Blue Terrain) - 7-10 M CW
• Short Radius Sliding Turns (Steep blue/Black Terrain) - 3-5 M CW

*M = Meters CW = Corridor Width

PARK 1 & PARK 2 COURSE GUIDES

There will be no changes in the course content, standards and presentation of these courses. We are currently reviewing our Park 2 course guide to simplify its reading. If you haven’t seen it already, last season (2022-23) we reviewed our Park 1 course guide to bring some clarifications in the mandatory manoeuvres and features sizes and expectations for the riding standards.

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

TO BECOME AN EVALUATOR
Step 1: Submit a complete rookie application to the Program Director.

Step 2: If invited, participate in a virtual Interview with the Program Director and the Regional Coordinator.

Step 3: Complete the yearly Online Evaluator Update module.

Step 4: Rookie Evaluators may begin the apprenticeship program where they will be invited to join regularly-scheduled courses to continue their training with an experienced Evaluator on the course Level they are shadowing.

Step 5: When apprentice courses are completed (and the rookie is signed off) they must complete the Evaluator Development Module on-snow training within 12 months before teaching their first course (if they didn’t do it already in that season).

*Visit the Evaluator Training section of our website to get more detailed info.

TO EVALUATE AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Step 1: Current evaluators wanting to move up to the next Level of Evaluator need an endorsement from a Mentor Evaluator. They can contact their local Regional Coordinator to arrange for a mentor to visit a course they're scheduled to work.

Step 2: Submit a complete Rookie Application Package to the Program Director

Step 3: If approved, rookie applicants will be contacted to coordinate upcoming courses that are available for them to shadow.

*Visit the Evaluator Training section of our website to get more detailed info.

MEMBER SESSIONS

Resorts' snow school employees will now have priority access for their one free annual member session. We will also continue to schedule our regular member sessions in different locations with our different topics.

For more information, consult the member session section of our website.

SPECIAL LEVEL 4 MEMBERS SESSIONS

CASI Level 4 Members also have the option to take part in special Level 4 members only sessions (riding and informative sessions).

Genevieve Pilotto, CASI Program Director