Ski le Gap

SKI AND SNOWBOARD

INSTRUCTOR COURSES

BECOME A SKI AND SNOWBOARD PRO

www.skilegap.com

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 CONTENTS
02 Welcome to Ski le Gap
03 Programme options
04 Our history
06 Our location – Mont-Tremblant
08 Home away from home!
10 Ski and snowboard programmes
12 Skiing programme certificates
14 Snowboard programme certificates
16 Gap-Extra: 2-week extended play
18 The Dream Team
20 Teaching experience
22 Trips and activities
24 Après Ski
26 4-week intensive training – (Nov – Dec)
27 Teaching for the winter
28 What the parents say

“Ski le Gap was definitely the best

part of Holly’s gap year. She made
so many good friends and had an
absolute ball. Now she is back to
work doing the long grind as a
medical student – and fully relaxed.”
– Sir Richard Branson

The holidays in this brochure that combine

air flights and packages are ATOL protected
by the Civil Aviation Authority.

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 WELCOME TO
Ski le Gap is the ORIGINAL ski/snowboard instructors
course specifically designed for gap year students from Britain.
Created in 1994 by Beryl Puddifer, it aims to provide young people
with the ultimate gap year experience. Now more than ten years
later, Ski le Gap sets the standard. We are the original and the best.
Beryl worked as the Principal of a private British college for 15
years and has been organising trips for British students visiting
Canada for over 25 years. She lives in Canada and actively manages
and supervises the programme. Ski le Gap is a family-run business
renowned for the high quality of its client care.
Ski le Gap is based at Mont-Tremblant, a beautiful national park
in the French speaking province of Québec, Canada.
Spending the winter season at Ski le Gap provides the opportunity
to gain practical qualifications whilst experiencing a new culture and
learning a second language – all this in a Canadian winter wonderland
of blue skies, six-foot snow drifts, ice palaces and carnivals, and
temperatures that can dip below -30 degrees centigrade…

WHAT MAKES US SO SPECIAL?

You’ve decided to take a gap year, you love winter sports, you want
to have the experience of your life, but you need to know where to go…
and now you’ve found the answer: Ski le Gap.
• We have the most highly qualified instructors and they work
exclusively for Ski le Gap – we are not just a branch or department
of a general ski/snowboard school: WE ARE THE DREAM TEAM!
• We have the most extensive and fun-packed residential programme
– a real ‘Gap Year Experience’!
• Our programme is designed specifically for gap students from
the United Kingdom: this programme is all about you
• We offer the chance to gain more qualifications than any other
ski/snowboard school
• Over 70% of our registration is through family or friends of
former ‘Gappers’

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 PROGRAMME
OPTIONS

THE PROGRAMME – TWO OPTIONS:

Two exciting choices: the Ultimate Experience (Jan – Mar) and the
Intensive Training (4-week course).

Ultimate Experience (Jan – Mar):

The main programme runs from January through March and
students spend a winter season gaining the experience of a lifetime.
We put as much emphasis upon developing exciting and dynamic
après-ski activities as we do upon offering the most innovative and
challenging snow programme in Canada. Students participate in
French conversation lessons; play ice hockey on their own outdoor
rink; extreme snowshoe down mountainsides; visit Québec City,
Montreal & Ottawa, and much, much more…
All activities offered in the main programme are included in the
cost of the course.

Intensive Training (Nov – Dec):

The 4-week intensive course is for students with prior ski
or snowboarding skills who want to gain certification and then
have the opportunity to work as an instructor for the season.
Enrolment is limited. This is a highly focused course: it is fun,
intense and exciting, but it is not for complete beginners!
Ski le Gap SETS THE STANDARDS
Ski le Gap has been honoured with both the ‘Prix d’Or’
and the prestigious ‘Grand Prix’ Québec business awards.
For the past eight years, Ski le Gap has been recognised
by the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing for their
‘exemplary caring, support and initiative’. Ski le Gap
is the main sponsor of the ISCO magazine and has
written articles for The Independent, The Daily
Telegraph and gapyear.com.

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 OUR HISTORY
OVER 13 YEARS AND 2,000 SMILES

1994
1995

2000 2001
1999

Founded in 1994 by super-mum Beryl examples. And because we were the

Puddifer, and now joined by her daughter first, any other course is just a copy!
Amelia, Ski le Gap provides the ultimate
Our students have the time of their
gap year experience. Since then
lives, and you can see it on their faces.
we have grown in leaps and bounds
It’s because our track record of over
– and still provide that personal touch
13 years running these programmes
to every student every year.
means we know how to create the
Not only have the fashions changed perfect experience; the best instructors 2004
– we have too! We have constantly in the world, unbeatable gap year fun,
improved and extended our programmes a personal touch with loads of TLC
to always offer the ultimate experience, and a close community of great people.
both in quality instruction and pure fun!
These 2,000 smiling faces are our
Innovations like our 4-week intensive
biggest reward, and your guarantee
training programme and ice skating along
of an ultimate gap year experience!
the Rideau Canal in Ottawa are just a few

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 Ski le Gap is the
ORIGINAL ski/
snowboard instr uctors
course specifically
designed for gap year
students from Britain.

1996
1997 1998

2002 2003

2005 2006

2007

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 OUR
LOCATION
The village of Mont-Tremblant is
a bustling resort – packed with
bars, cafés, cinemas and clubs.
Voted the number one resort in
Eastern North America for the
past five years, Mont-Tremblant
is a world-class resort. Host to
international ski and snowboard
events, Mont-Tremblant has one of
the largest halfpipes in the world
– 425 feet long and 17 feet high.
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HOST TO THE WORLD:
MONT-TREMBLANT,
QUÉBEC
The highest peak in the Laurentians at 3,001 feet,
Mont-Tremblant will tempt you with over 2,000 feet of vertical
pistes including 121 acres of the best glade skiing anywhere.
Come to the mountain for the adrenaline rush and in
the evening experience the ‘joie de vivre’ of this exciting
French-Canadian mountain village.
STATISTICS:
• Elevation at the summit: 3,001 feet
• Vertical drop of the south side: 2,116 feet
• Annual snowfall average: 382 cm
• 625 acres of skiable ground
• 464 acres of fabricated snow
• Up to 7 months of skiing per year
• 94 trails
• Total length of trails: 75 km (46.6 miles)
• Longest trail: Nansen – 6 km (3.75 miles)
• Glades: 121 acres
• Snow Parks: 2
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 HOME AWAY
FROM HOME!
THE LODGE
For your stay in Québec, ‘home’ is a lodge on the edge of the most
beautiful lake in the Laurentians. Accommodation is campus-style with
three main residential blocks – all within a short walk of the restaurant.
Students share bedrooms and all rooms have en-suite bathrooms.
After a day on the slopes:
• Spend some time in the computer room with free
Internet access; keep in touch with family and friends
• Kick back in the relaxing atmosphere of one of two on-site bars
• Tune out and couch surf in our TV lounge – movie marathon on
Sunday night complete with popcorn and sweets

STAFF
“Super-mum, The key to Ski le Gap’s success lies without
we love you.” doubt in its superior staff. During the winter
– Gapper Yearbook season, Ski le Gap has a team of over 60
members of staff to tend to your every need.
Meet a few of them:

Beryl Puddifer – Founder and President (Super-mum!)

Born in Liverpool, Beryl obtained her B.Ed in Cheltenham and
then set off to teach around the world. She worked in England,
Yugoslavia, Turkey and finally Canada. She obtained an MA from
Concordia University and taught A level English Literature for 25 years.
She worked in an international residential sixth-form college and
was the Principal for fifteen years – so by comparison Ski le Gap
is a piece of cake!
Amelia Puddifer – Programme Director
Amelia has a degree in Psychology (always useful!), First Aid qualifications,
outdoor sports certificates, and over 8 years experience at Ski le Gap (plus
she is the boss’s daughter!). Amelia maintains the high standards set by
Beryl. Her number one priority is always the care of the client – from home
sickness to hospital visits, she’s always there for you.
The Residential Team
Top: Beryl Puddifer Headed by Jason Irven, this dynamic team has on board a party animator
Bottom: Amelia Puddifer
(yup, he does just what the title says), a number of residential coordinators,
and a lady whose sole job is TLC.

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 “Norm is a star and his
daily jokes are legendary
– amazing food, it’s worth
the trip just to munch on
his après-ski chocolate
FOOD chip cookies!”
Ski hard, play hard and eat well – David Evans
The most important factor after the instruction – good food!
Chef Normand trained in both France and Canada and has
had more than 15 years’ experience catering for young people.
Full breakfasts include everything from pain au chocolat to
bacon, eggs and pancakes. His suppers are legendary with
various theme nights (Mexican, Italian, Chinese etc.) and
Friday steak nights. Eat as much as you can, try to break
the record of eight steaks in one night! At Ski le Gap we
can guarantee that you will not go hungry!

SAFETY
You are out here to have the time of your life, not to worry
about injuries and illness. So we provide a complete safety
programme for you including:
• All residential staff trained in First Aid
• 24-hour on-site staff
• 24-hour emergency student phone
• 24-hour emergency vehicle
• Two medical clinics within five minutes drive
• Emergency safety education for students
• A professional nurse is available to see students with
minor ailments – colds, sore throats etc.
• Loads of TLC

Our philosophy
For most of our students the gap year is the transitional time
between school and adulthood. The team at Ski le Gap understands
the delicate balance between encouraging independence and
setting common-sense limits and expectations. All our regulations
are based on responsible community living.

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 “It is the ski programme
that sets Ski le Gap apart
from other ski schools – for
the instructors are not just
teachers but friends too.”
– Andy Wheeler

SKI AND
SKI PROGRAMME
The aim of both courses is twofold: to take you

SNOWBOARD
to the limit of your personal skiing ability and
to prepare you for your examinations.
Intensive instruction is given by top-level ski

PROGRAMMES
instructors from the Canadian Ski Instructors
Alliance (CSIA). This is not a ski holiday; the
emphasis is upon working towards a CSIA
qualification. The average CSIA pass rate is
60%; the pass rate for the Level I certificate at
Ski le Gap over the past ten years has been 100%.
The reason for this outstanding achievement is the
quality of our instructors’ coaching combined with
the intensive structure of the teaching programme.
The lift pass is valid for 7 days a week; students
receive instruction during the week and freeski
on the weekend. Weekly videos, clinics, seminars,
technical lectures, individual daily goals and
targets ensure that we stretch students to their
maximum potential.
After completing this course, qualified skiers have
taught at ski schools in Europe, Australia, Canada
and the USA.

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 “The instructors were absolutely
awesome: they were friends as
well as teachers. Eric, who took me
through Level II, was an absolute
legend, and it was really sad to say
goodbye to him.” Following his
time at Ski le Gap
Pete College taught
– Ed Wethered in the Andes.

SNOWBOARD PROGRAMME During the first week you are put in a ‘mentor’
group and although your teaching groups will
The passion to ride change, the coach who is your mentor will
stay the same. The aim of the mentor group is
The way to improve your riding skills is to ride to create a special bond with a small group of
with the best of the best! Our coaches are at the people. The mentors become friends; they check
top of the snowboard world in both qualifications on your progress; they introduce you to the local
and skill – they are riders…riders who love to share nightlife and they know how to have fun!
their passion, their knowledge and their enthusiasm
for this sport.
Our full-time snowboard instructors programme
began in 1997 and our pass rate since then has
been 100%. The lift pass is valid 7 days a week;
you receive instruction during the week and ride
free on the weekends.

WHAT MAKES Ski le Gap GREAT?

• Individual treatment
• Small class sizes
• Unbeatable pass rate (100%!)
• World class instruction
• 7 day lift pass
• State of the art teaching techniques,
including video seminars, technical
lectures and individual daily goals

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 SKIING PROGRAMME
CERTIFICATES
Ski le Gap is the only snow school to offer the opportunity to gain so
many qualifications. The more you achieve, the more you feel good
about yourself (and the better your C.V. looks!) On average over 95%
of our students gain 4 or more qualifications.
Jonathan Wareham achieved 7 qualifications: CSIA Level I, Level II
and Level III, CSCF Level I Coach, CADS Level I and CSIA Level I
Freeski, French conversation – and he still had time to party!
CSIA Level I:
Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance
The aim of the Ski le Gap ski instructors programme is to prepare
students for the Level I examination. This level of certification covers
techniques and strategies for teaching beginners of all ages. The CSIA
Level I certificate is the stepping stone to other qualifications offered in
our programme.
CSIA Level II:
The Level II qualification enables you to instruct at the intermediate
level. The course is much more demanding. Over the past five years
approximately 40% of students have entered for this 5-day evaluation
and the pass rate has been an incredible 95%.
CSIA Level III:
Join the legends of the ski world. Only the very best of the best can
enter for this qualification. Training for this level of certification is
given by our most highly qualified course instructors and it is only
offered in the Extended Play programme.
Park and Pipe Certification:
This programme will teach you switch skiing, grinding the rails,
jumps, how to attack the mogul fields and how to ride the super pipe:
YOU’LL LEARN HOW TO DEFY GRAVITY!
Come ski with the best: they’ll teach you all about adrenaline-rush riding.
CSCF Level I:
Canadian Ski Coaches Federation – Level I Race Coaching
The goal of this course is to teach the components of race coaching for
children aged 6 – 11 at entry-level in the racing world. You will be taught
ski techniques, coaching tactics and aspects of sports psychology.
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CASI Level I:
Canadian Association of Snowboard
Instructors – Crossover to CASI Level I
Students who achieve their CSIA Level I within
4 or 5 weeks can opt to make the switch to Ride
le Gap, training with the best snowboard instructors
in Canada.
CADS Level I:
Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing
This course trains instructors in the latest
methods of teaching people with a disability
how to ski; students will be taught by Henry Wohler
(President of the Canadian National Olympic Team)
and his team (all members of the national executive
– what an incredible opportunity!).
Snow Patrol:
Emergency Mountain First Response –
For Skiers and Snowboarders
This course has been specifically designed for
Ski le Gap students. Certified instructors from
the Mountain Snow Patrol train students to prevent
and treat injuries and accidents on the mountain.
After gaining this certificate, students have the
opportunity to join the Patrollers on the mountain
at weekends.
This means getting up early (always a bit of a
challenge!) and being the last to sweep the trails
at the end of the day. The experience of being part
of the first response team is unique, challenging
– and unforgettable!
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 “Ski le Gap is a
great contributor
to the development
of ski professionals.”
– Normand Lapierre,
CSIA Executive Director

18 acres of ramps, rails

and jumps, as well as
an Olympic calibre
super-pipe!

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 The early part of the
programme focuses on
training for your Level I
certificate; once it is obtained,
you can choose to go for your
Level II or Freestyle certificate.

RIDING IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS

Air Force – The Air Force programme is focused on freestyle
manoeuvres, snow park awareness and sky-high doses of
adrenalin. This programme is about developing your personal
skills and no teaching certificate is involved.

Ground Patrol – Ground Patrol is for those who enjoy cruising

around at high speed in the glades while going backwards.
You keep your board on the ground and push your riding skills
to the max. Again there is no teaching certificate involved.

“Ground Patrol was easily the best

experience I ever had – mornings
carving through waist-deep powder,
cliff drops and a big smile…”
Robert Mackie

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 SNOWBOARD
PROGRAMME CERTIFICATES
CASI Level I (Canadian Association “Take on Gravity Park,
of Snowboard Instructors – Level I)
rip through the glades
Level I is an entry-level programme designed
to introduce snowboard instructors to the basic or watch Brian fly in
teaching and riding skills used at the beginner, the half-pipe – sweet.”
novice and intermediate levels of riding.
– Guy Henderson
CASI Level II
Level II focuses on the intermediate level of riding
skills; the goal is to experiment, exchange and learn
about technical and instructive strategies in order to
teach intermediate to advanced boarders.

Basic Coach Level I

This is an introduction to the competitive side of
snowboarding – Freestyle.
The candidate is introduced to the snow park zone
and will develop skills for air awareness, strong switch
riding, 180’s and 360’s rotations and half-pipe riding.

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 “These two weeks were the
perfect way to finish a brilliant
three months.”
– Rosie Phillips
GAP-EXTRA:
2-WEEK EXTENDED PLAY
At the end of the season many
students do not want to go home!
They want to get the most out
of spring skiing, sunny days &
sunbathing weather…so they
stay for another two weeks
– the Extended Play option.
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This is what to say to persuade your parents:
WE CAN:
• Gain more advanced certificates – the success rate for
those who decided to take their LEVEL II CSIA in this
session has been 95%
• Cross-over and perfect a new skill – ski or snowboard
• Train for LEVEL I Freeski or Freestyle
• Spend the time riding the glades and soaking up the
Spring sun
• Teach for the Tremblant Ecole de Neige
OR
• Outstanding skiers: take the opportunity to train for
your Level III
There is a limited number of places for the Gap-Extra
programme. You get the best of both worlds: the high
energy and sheer excitement of partying with other Gappers
combined with the relaxed focus of these two special weeks.
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 “I had an unforgettable
time on the Gap-Extra
option, best powder
of the whole season...”
– Emma Boon

“I had never been on a

snowboard; I thought
Boarders were bizarre
baggy panted weirdos
with poor hairdos and
now I am one!”
– Penny Morris Level I
snowboarder, Level II skier

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 THE DREAM TEAM
World-Class instruction –
this is what makes us unique
All our instructors have the highest Canadian
certification and are professional coaches and
course examiners. As well as being demo members,
some of our instructors have represented their country
at Interski, and others are ex-World-Cup! They are
passionate about their sport and are dedicated teachers. Gilles Daigle, Marc Legros,
Ski Director, Level IV Snowboard Director,
The top instructors across Canada travel to this area course conductor/examiner, Level IV CASI, Level I
to work for Ski le Gap. Level II CSCF, Interski Freestyle, Level II
– Canadian delegation, course conductor
THEY ARE THE GODS of the ski and snowboard world.
Technical Director – Canada, Marc is one of the top
Technical Director – Level IV CASI coaches
New Zealand,
in the country. He hosted
Coach – Nancy Green
the national snowboarding
“We had the best Racing League
TV show and he has
Gilles is a legend in the
pros in Canada world of skiing. He belongs
set the standard for
snowboard coaching
– the pros were to the small group of
in Eastern Canada.
course conductors who
out of this world.” actually train and examine
– Nick Pratt Level IV instructors. He is
a trainer of trainers. His
knowledge and experience
in training instructors
has made the Ski le Gap
programme unsurpassable.

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 OUR MENTOR PROGRAMME

To ensure intimacy and to create strong group

dynamics, every student is allocated a ‘mentor’
instructor. The mentoring system makes sure that
students immediately feel comfortable with a small
group of people. The mentor will arrange activities for
his or her group ranging from bowling to go-karting!
Whatever activities you get to do with your mentor,
a special bond is formed between you, your mentor
and the rest of the group that you will always cherish.

Eric ‘Demon’ Demontigny

with his mentor group

“To the entire Ski le Gap

‘Dream Team’, thank you
for giving me the most
amazing experience of
my life. There is nothing
else that could be quite
as incredible.”
– Katy Stokes

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 TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
LEARN...TEACH...SHARE YOUR PASSION...
In February Gappers get to become real
instructors for a week and teach or assist at
Tremblant’s Snow School. It is a very challenging
experience (being responsible for 5 six-year olds on
a mountain!), and gives students the opportunity to
try out their newly acquired skills and get a taste of
what it is really like to be an instructor.
Ski le Gap helps arrange work visas for all students
on the main gap programme.

“Despite the tears and cries

for Mummy (and that was just
from us!) it really was a week
I couldn’t have gone without.
I learnt to love my kids and it
made me realise how much I
wanted to do this as a living.
Long live Ski le Gap!”
– Liz Nagle

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 “Teaching was my proudest
moment! With their safety
helmets firmly attached to
their heads, my 4 and 5
year olds carved up the
slopes. Wherever I went
they followed, and
whenever I stopped
they stopped
(well, most of
the time!)…”
– Michael
Absalom

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 TRIPS AND
“The trip to Ottawa is
fantastic! Go skating on the

ACTIVITIES
canal – it’s totally awesome
and another of those ‘truly
Canadian’ experiences!”
– Kat McKechnie

TRIPS, TRAVEL, FRENCH AND FUN!

You are out here to have fun, to gain the best qualifications and
to see a new world and culture. This is why we have arranged
trips and activities that will allow you to see the best of Québec
and Canadian culture.
All activities and trips are included in the Ultimate Experience
package. Each activity is chosen to add to the excitement of your
once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is what makes our programme
truly exceptional: Ottawa, our nation’s capital; Québec City, historic
French city rich in culture; Montreal, the metropolis; and a trip
into nature on the Outdoor Experience.

QUÉBEC CITY
Carnaval d’hiver
The magic of ice castles, ice sculptures and parades is captured in
North America’s biggest Winter Carnival. Participate in the winter
sports – ice-skating, tobogganing, tubing, or wander around the Ice
Palace and watch the parade.

MONTREAL
Montreal is one of the few really bilingual cities in the world.
After midnight, the downtown core is unsurpassed for its lively
nightlife – up-beat discotheques, jazz bars, blues cafés and
brasseries. Special attractions: Vieux-Montréal, Old Port,
the Underground City (22 kilometres of underground shopping)
and Mont Royal.

Hockey Night in Montreal

Watch a professional hockey match
surrounded by 200 of your friends!
The energy is electric as the home
team scores the winning goal.

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 OTTAWA OPTIONAL
The Capital city of Canada is FRENCH CLASSES
only a 3-hour drive away from
Mont-Tremblant is over 90%
the Laurentians. The Parliament
francophone so you get to
buildings, art galleries and museums
practise your newly acquired
are superb and a visit here combines
(or greatly improved) French in
a taste of Canadian history with
the evenings: “Bonjour, je suis
the opportunity to skate down the
d’Angleterre, voulez-vous coucher…
longest skating rink in the world
no, I won’t go there!”– Rosie Phillips
– the Rideau Canal.
Classes are small and the emphasis
OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE is on conversation…and fun.

An experience like no other! A bientôt!

Learn to build an igloo, and then try
extreme snowshoeing through the
woods. Enjoy lunch out on the trail;
warm up by a roaring bonfire then
star gaze the night away just before
crawling into your cozy snow shelter.

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 Après Ski
… three weeks gone by already. Having the time of my life – and it’s not
just a cliché. It has gone by in a flash and yet I have made friends that I
feel I have known forever. We never have a boring moment, the off–hill
activities are just as amazing as the on-hill instruction.

Monday night: Sports Night

Played a crazy game of hockey on a frozen lake – we are good contenders
for the “Puddifer Cup”. Just got to beat Dave’s team: ‘The Mighty Pucks’!
Last week we took a break from Hockey to play a good old British game
of soccer… with a Canadian twist – three foot of snow!! Extra challenge:
finding the ball!

Tuesday night: Shmores Night

Café le Gap; I sprawled out in front of a roaring fire, listening to the icy
wind blowing across the lake. Had half a dozen shmores – the ultimate
in roasted marshmallows smothered in chocolate – mmmm. Later I rolled
over (too stuffed to walk!) to the other building to watch the new movie
releases on our own giant movie screen.

Wednesday: Pub quiz night a le Gap style

– guaranteed giggles here! Sample question: point to your wenis! A lot of
red faces as many rude gestures were made
– who knew it was on your elbow! Must get
head out of the gutter!! This week we played
Girlz versus the boyz – no competition!!

Thursday: Snowfa Nights

the girls at the ice hockey
Snowfa nights! (yup it is exactly what it
sounds like: sofa + snow = snowfa). We
sat around the outdoor fire pit, someone
brought a guitar and we all sang songs –
sound naff? It was anything but. I took a
moment to look up at the millions of stars
and it took my breath away. This is a
moment that I never want to forget…

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 Friday and Saturday: Party Time
Sorry did not get a chance to write last
night so I am doing a combo! How do they
do it? Every weekend SLG staff come up
with the most exciting theme nights.
Friday night was 70’s night, I rented the
craziest outfit from the lady that SLG
organized to come in just for that (they
think of everything!) for a fiver- groovy!
On Saturday night I decided to head out
to the Dollorama – everything for a dollar
– bought 2 dozen green balloons and a role
of tape: voila! – a five foot something
bunch a grapes! I won the costume prize! pretty amazing backdrop
Sunday: Movie Marathon
…vegged out in front of the eight foot screen, the SLG staff brought us
popcorn and sweets… watched more movies than humanly possible.
Took a moment to smile and reflect – tomorrow it all begins again!!

Skiing and Riding is your passion bu

t
Ski le Gap is about so much more…

t t o w rite
o n ’ t forge
D
b o u t it –
home
a
g h s p eed
o n s ite hi
ten
e r s w ith a
t n
compu i connectio
r e e w i-f
f ps.
l a p t o
for

this nig
me on the slopes ht was a
ce!
2161_SLG_brochure_lr.pdf 27 17/7/07 17:16:47
 4-WEEK
INTENSIVE TRAINING
(NOV – DEC)
Is skiing/snowboarding your passion?
Is becoming an instructor your main focus?
Then this is for you…
A 4-week intensive instructors course with the emphasis upon training,
training, training…
This is not for beginners! This 4-week programme takes place
from late November to just before Christmas.
This programme is a highly focused course that gives students the
opportunity to gain their instructor’s certificate at the very start of
the season. This is a unique opportunity for anybody who wishes to
work in the ski/snowboard industry.
After the programme you can stay in the area and work at one of the
local resorts. We have an excellent reputation in the region and the
schools respect the training that all our students receive. However, no
instructor is ever guaranteed work as the leisure industry relies totally
on snow conditions – and tourists!

“It was an awesome

experience for everybody!”
– Gappers

“Instructors were
the best, my fellow
Gappers were awesome
and Norm’s cookies
were out of this world!”
– Ed Smith

26 www.skilegap.com

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 TEACHING FOR
THE WINTER
“The 4-week course was the ideal way
to begin a season; the instructors were
first class and took my skiing to a level I
never thought possible! Teaching was
quite an experience but not one that
I would have missed…my time in
Canada was awesome!!!”
– Pandora Ryan

www.skilegap.com 27

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 WHAT THE
PARENTS SAY
Why Ski le Gap? Over 70% of our
registration is through family or friends
of former Gappers. This says it all!!
Jane Fairbairn
From the outset we were impressed by the professionalism
with which Claire’s application was handled and the help
we were instantly given by the Ski le Gap office when we
asked about such thorny questions as where to go for the
insurance etc. So – she flew off into the wide blue yonder on
January 9th…we – my husband, my son and myself – went
out in half-term week to see her, my husband and son are both
keen skiers and we have been to France skiing several times.
According to them there is no comparison – less people on
the slopes, a friendlier atmosphere, better snow and better
instructors. We were really impressed not only by the town,
but by what we saw of Ski le Gap when we were out there.
As a non-skier, I had time to go over to the Ski le Gap
accommodation with Claire and saw her room and the
restaurant and various other facilities. She was obviously
very happy and well provided for. We met several of her
fellow Gappers and perceived a great sense of camaraderie
amongst them, they all seemed to be greatly enjoying
themselves and also to be good friends with each other.
On the skiing front, Claire made exceptional progress and
got her Level II Instructors’ badge. She was obviously very
well taught and we feel very much that not only has she
had a fantastic time, but she has also learned skills that
will set her up for a lifetime’s fun in skiing.
Finally, as they say, the proof of the pudding
is in the eating.
Having seen Tremblant, and heard his sister’s tales of
what happened there our son has immediately put his
name down – for next year!
Jim and Dorothy Donovan
I am delighted to write about Ski le Gap from a parent’s
perspective. Our elder daughter, Laura, went first to Ski le Gap
and her sister, Sarah, couldn’t wait to make it a double exposure.
28 www.skilegap.com
2161_SLG_brochure_lr.pdf 30
From a parent’s viewpoint sending your daughters so far away
for so long when they are fresh from school and (whatever they
may think) with little real life experience, is not without its
anxieties. Yet now we look back at Ski le Gap as one for the
best decisions that we have made. Both Laura and Sarah had
an unbelievable time. Yes, they both came back as instructors
(and good as well – my sister in law has subsequently been
taught by Laura and was very impressed) but more they came
back with new friends and having a wonderful ‘life’ experience
that will live with them for a long time.
Ski le Gap has found a great formula for a gap year experience
– skiing, snowboarding, amazing instructors, enthusiastic
animators, tolerant bar managers, great trips and, of course
partying with 200 like-minded young people: a teenage paradise.
John Walker – parent of a ‘Board Babe’
If only parents had the opportunity to re-run their youth
Ski le Gap would be on the list.
Our daughter, Verity, had the time of her life as a ‘Board Babe’,
bringing home fond memories and friendships to last a lifetime
and a useful Snowboard qualification as a bonus.
The hospitality of Ski le Gap – the resort location and
Tremblant’s understanding of the Gappers is outstanding.
We thank you all – our son, James, will follow in big sister’s
wake! And he is…James is registered for next year!
Joanna Malins
As the sands of time run out Miranda’s wonderful trip to
Canada, I would like to say what a fantastic thing Ski le Gap
is; that Miranda has had the happiest of times, acquiring a
life-long skill and making some super friends; and to thank
you all accordingly, for all that you do so unstintingly, for these
lucky young people. When I came to Tremblant, I was deeply
impressed with every charm of the town, the quality of the
accommodation and especially the food, the trips and the rolling
programme of activities – some with much flair! Plainly all the
students were so well cared for as individuals, too. But I must
add, a specific thank you in relation to Miranda. I am deeply
grateful for all the time and the considerate help given with
such charm by you all, to my very special daughter.
17/7/07 17:16:48
 ‘Hi everyone at Ski le Gap,
Just to say a huge thank you for the wonderful time Jenny had.
She is so thrilled to have passed level I & II snowboarding and
the first freestyle exam. Although she knew from her brother,
John, that it was a wonderful experience it completely
surpassed anything she had imagined. Jenny said in phone
calls that she had never worked so hard at anything and had
never been so determined to succeed.
Thank you also for having John back for 3 weeks and helping
him to pass his level III, he is absolutely overjoyed at having
done it at last. He had a wonderful time. His dream now is to
work at SLG!
It’s been hard going for us all saving up for 2 ‘gappers’ but
it’s been so worthwhile in every way. Please pass our thanks
to absolutely everyone involved.’
The Bailey family

UK Free Phone: 0800-328-0345 Direct Line: 001-819-429-6599

Fax: 001-819-425-7074 Email: info@skilegap.com

220 Chemin Wheeler, Mont-Tremblant, Québec, Canada J8E 1V3

www.skilegap.com

2161_SLG_brochure_lr.pdf 31 17/7/07 17:16:48

 UK Free Phone: 0800-328-0345
Direct Line: 001-819-429-6599
Fax: 001-819-425-7074
Email: info@skilegap.com

220 Chemin Wheeler

Mont-Tremblant, Québec
Canada J8E 1V3

www.skilegap.com

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