Ski and snowboard instructor education in Greece: February 19 - March 1, 2024
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Sun, sand, and sea – these are the images that come to mind when you think of Greece. But this beautiful and welcoming country also has a lot to offer skiers and snowboarders, as Colin Biribauer, Anita Schwarzer, and Stefan Wallner discovered in the Parnassos region. On their exhilarating road trip, the instructors from the Snowsports Academy held courses in English – and experienced firsthand just how essential good snow sports instructors are on-site. Another Snowsports Academy training course in Greece is scheduled from February 19th to March 1st, 2024.
At check-in at the airport, we were met with quite a few amused and questioning glances. "With winter sports equipment heading to Athens. Are you sure?" we were asked not only at the baggage counter. "Yes, definitely. Ski and snowboard educaiton in Greece – in an area called Parnassos." With a somewhat hesitant nod, we were finally wished a good trip to a country much more popular for leisurely summer holidays. But at least it was February, and we were on our way to one of the harshest winters in Greece in decades, as we would later experience firsthand.
Even at customs in Athens, everyone was astonished as we marched through with our extensive gear. But everything was fine, so we moved on to the car rental: "Winter tires? We don't have them." "But we specifically checked that box when we booked," we explained. "Right, that little box in the booking tool – it doesn't mean anything," we were told with a friendly, ironic tone. The search for snow chains also proved fruitless and was abandoned after half an hour. So, we set off with our summer tires towards Arachova, where the ski resort's center is located. The snow conditions couldn't be too bad, surely.
The Ischgl of Greece
Arachova is a beautiful village nestled in the Greek mountains, very close to the legendary city of Delphi. The numerous sports shops hint at the popularity of winter sports here. Arachova is something like the Ischgl of Austria: largely affluent, with sophisticated hotels and a palpable sense of luxury. It should be noted, however, that the Parnassos ski resort is a further 30 kilometers from Arachova.
However, there's still not a single snowflake in sight. So we decide to cover this last stretch in our rental car. But a few Greek locals say, "That's impossible, the conditions up there are completely different. Come with us!" We let ourselves be persuaded and set off in a four-wheel-drive vehicle with winter tires. And sure enough, from the last bend before the Parnassos parking lot at 1600 meters above sea level, it's suddenly deep winter. The mountain station of the area is at 2250 meters. Huge grins spread across our faces.
Total interest
The resort boasts 17 lifts and 36 kilometers of groomed slopes, plus several off-piste routes. The temperature on the first day is an incredible -9 degrees Celsius. The snow conditions are fantastic; it hasn't snowed this much in decades. In fact, there's been more snowfall here in recent weeks than in Austria at the same time of year. The conditions for the practical training of future ski and snowboard instructors are therefore perfect. With the exception of one participant from Ukraine, all the course participants are from Greece. Initially, they are a little nervous and apprehensive about what lies ahead. But the ice is quickly broken, and we find them all to be very open-minded people who are highly motivated, not only during the practical sessions on the slopes. They also prove to be extremely inquisitive and detail-oriented during the theory sessions. Effective practical days often end with wonderfully intense and fully focused discussions that last late into the night. And all of this is in English – it really keeps us instructors on our toes!
Perfect peace
What's also impressive about the participants is that, on the one hand, they're incredibly enthusiastic, and on the other hand, they approach everything with an inner calm and composure that is truly remarkable. It's enviable. The fact that it takes an hour and a half to finally get the lift tickets – no stress at all. And you can certainly learn a thing or two from their everyday hospitality and helpfulness. This isn't just true on Greek holidays, but it's especially true then. And on such a day, the air is filled with the smell of smoke and meat. All of Greece grills on a holiday – and you're invited into every house. Simply fantastic.
Our final meal after 10 days of training, which flew by, was truly delightful. At the mountain hut, for example, they served spinach pastries with sheep's cheese. And if we were ever unsure what to order in a restaurant, someone was always there to help us. All in all, the people shared their culture with us in a very relaxed and authentic way, which was truly wonderful.
And the course results speak for themselves. The Greek snow sports scene has gained several new ski and snowboard instructors. An incident during the course illustrates just how important it is to have more well-trained staff for the four ski schools in Parnassos. While filming the snowboard group, a kamikaze skier suddenly came hurtling towards the camera with a two percent edge angle. The only option was to jump aside and take cover. Even on weekends, many ski as if they were alone. So the new snow sports instructors certainly won't be short of work. Good luck, guys!
More information about international training programs in English:
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