The Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI ACMS) was formed in 1994 and incorporated in 1995. It is the professional snowboard teaching body in Canada with its Head Office located in Cambridge, Ontario. The aim of CASI is to train and certify snowboard instructors and to ensure that a national standard of safe and efficient snowboard instruction is maintained to serve the Canadian snowboarding public and the ski/snowboarding industry.

This program is delivered in conjunction with the Evergreen Alpine Academy. Click here to learn more about the Academy.

CASI has partnered with various course providers to offer certification courses in selected locations outside of Canada including South Korea, Japan and Andorra. The first CASI course in Japan was a Level 1 held in Hakuba in December 2011, and Evergreen Outdoor Center is now an official foreign course provider.

People who wish to become members of CASI must attend and pass a Level 1 Instructor certification course, which are held at various locations worldwide. Upon becoming a member, each person can receive the latest information on technique and teaching methods via regular newsletters and clinics.

CASI certification is comprised of four levels. Level 1 is an introductory course designed to teach Instructors how to introduce snowboarding to beginning riders. Level 2 stresses more the intermediate level of riding skills. The Level 3 focuses on the advanced and the Level 4 focuses on expert riding techniques, teaching and pedagogy skills.

You should take this course if you are planning to go for a CASI certification course.  These prep courses are aimed at giving participants an overview of the Level 1 or 2 CASI Instructor certification course. Candidates will receive an overview of the course content and course standards, as well as riding feedback.

You should take this course if you love to snowboard, and have a desire to introduce new students to snowboarding. You should be confident and comfortable both communicating and demonstrating in front of a group.

You should take this course if you are a Level 1 Instructor with some teaching experience, love to teach, and have a desire to take your teaching skills to the next level. You should be confident and comfortable demonstrating intermediate to advanced riding in corresponding terrain.

You should take this course if you are a Level 1 instructor with a love of freestyle snowboarding. You should have a desire to introduce new students to snowboarding in the park safely and successfully. You should also be confident and comfortable both communicating and demonstrating in front of a group.

You should take this course if you are an advanced snowboarder who has passed the Level 2 certification, and are an interested in teaching advanced students and begin to train other instructors. The goal of the Level 3 course is to develop a skills-based and situational teaching approach for high-level snowboarding. Also, an understanding of CASI technique and methodology and an introduction to instructor training will be developed. It combines practical snowboard teaching methods, technical understanding and development, as well as development of analysis and session planning skills.

“From never having instructed before to getting my CASI Level 2. I’ll be back for my Level 3!”

– JADE (NZ)