UK push to lift barriers faced by ski instructors

Date: 25/02/1999

By Renée Cordes

BRITISH ski instructors are stepping up pressure on the European Commission to resolve a long-standing dispute with France and other Alpine nations over obstacles faced by foreigners who want to teach on their slopes.

The British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI) has sent a letter to Internal Market Commissioner Mario Monti expressing disappointment over French-led resistance to the mutual recognition of teaching qualifications.

The dispute is likely to come to a head at a meeting with Commission officials in the coming weeks, with the British and Danes lining up against Italy, Austria and France, which have restrictions on foreign instructors.

British ski instructors who want to teach abroad claim they still face enormous hurdles in France, which only recognises one type of instructor certification earned in the UK and usually requires foreigners to take an aptitude exam on its slopes. Austria and Italy also impose restrictions.

"The French are protecting their own jobs and they do not want to see foreign instructors in their country," claimed Bob Kinnaird, chief executive of BASI. "But any ski school director in France would give his right arm for a good English-speaking instructor."

The newly formed Danish Association of Professional Ski Instructors is also pressing the French to lower barriers for foreign teachers, although it is not asking for mutual recognition.

France argues that since skiing conditions differ from resort to resort, it is essential for foreign ski instructors to take an extra aptitude test before they start teaching to ensure safety.

But British ski instructors claim that instead of assessing teaching skills, the French examination tests skills such as speed which would be more appropriate for athletes competing at international level.

In an effort to appease the British, the French have suggested a uniform test which would be required by all the Alpine countries including France, Italy and Austria.