Press articles on Base Camp
Learn To Teach Snowboarding, Cooler Magazine, Autumn 2006
The Academy: Base Camp Group. The Course: Full time Residential Snowboard Instructor. The Location: Val d’Isere and Meribel (France), Whistler, Kicking Horse and Banff (Canadafull article coming
On The Chairlift With... Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Mag, November 2006
Kwame only learnt to ski four years ago, at Xscape in Milton Keynes, but has already made a splash on the racing circuit, just missing representing his country, Ghana, at the 2006 Winter Olympics...
Snow Business, Metro, September 2006
If hurtling down a snow-covered mountain on skis is your idea of heaven, then teaching your passion to others can be a great way of seeing the world... full article coming
Win! An apartment in Val d'Isere for a month, Men's Fitness, December 2006
That's right- for a month. And it could be yours, courtesy of Base Camp Group. Fancy having a second home in the Alps for a month? Base Camp Group, the UK’s leading ski and snowboard instructor course operator has teamed up with easyJet to give one lucky reader exclusive use of a studio apartment in Val d’Isere throughout April 2006. The prize also includes two return flights to Geneva plus two places on Base Camp Group’s Freestyle Campfull article coming
Best healthy breaks, The Guardian, Saturday December 24 2005
France: Get set to be stoked in the half pipe, achieve big air and generally up the ante with adventure ski and board specialists Base Camp Group (020-7243 6222, basecampgroup.com) from April 1-8 in Val d'Isère. Alongside learning new ways to injure yourself, the Freestyle Camp allows you to ski with professional riders including Arnaud Rougier from the French freestyle team. £295pp (excluding accommodation or flights).
Milton Keynes: Can't be bothered to work off Christmas excess with a lunatic burst of January exercise? Take the lazy option by throwing yourself into a wind tunnel above a 150mph breeze. Designed to mimic a free-fall parachute drop - without the annoying risk of an unopened canopy - it's suitable for novices and experienced skydivers. From £33 for two one-minute flights; 0845 3316549, airkix.com.
Italy: Downhill through the Dolomites - surely the only sensible way to cycle through the Italian mountains - is the latest eight-day break from biking holiday specialists Freewheel (01636 815636, freewheelholidays.com). After two nights in Verona, the pedalling starts in Resia with a descent, largely on car-free trails, through the Val de Venosta. £599pp (two sharing) includes cycle hire, luggage transfers and three-star B&B, not flights.
New holiday for experienced skiers, TNT Magazine, December 12 2005
FRANCE If you're a good skier or snowboarder, Base Camp Group is now offering a week long Freestyle Camp, from April 1-8, 2005. Based in Val d'Isere, the brand new course gives you the chance to carve up the piste alongside professionals such as Arnaud Rougier, a member of the French freestyle team. The holiday costs £295 and includes six days of coaching, a lift pass and evening workshops. For more informatiomn, see http://www.basecampgroup.com/.
Celebrity Skier: Kwame Acheampong, Metro, November 7 2005
Kwame Acheampong is hoping to be the first Ghanian to take part in the Winter Olympics in February. He’s currently amassing qualifying points around the world and is being sponsored by Base Camp ski schools. Here Kwame selects his favourite resortsfull article coming
Win Christmas in Val d'Isere, Arena Magazine, November 2005
Seasoned skiers will already be familiar with Val d’Isere, where the slopes double as catwalks and the après-ski crowd spend their hard-earned on board-babes and fondue parties. It’s also the resort of choice for those who actually know how to ski, and come peak season, local residents are outnumbered 15 to one.
December, therefore, is a strictly “invitation-only” time of year to find yourself among the 10,000 hectares of snow, breaking a collarbone while attempting your best milk-tray man impression on the Bellevarde downhill or getting beginner’s lessons from a moustached man with a fluorescent tan. If skiing’s not your thing, there’s also the opportunity to drive a team of huskies, race quad bikes, ride horses, or savour iced schnapps at any one of the Arena-approved upstarts that have appeared in the region of late. So, thanks to Base Camp Group.. full article coming
Over the edge, Square Mile Magazine, November 2005
Learn to be an instructor! Why make do with one measly week a year in the snow when you could spend a whole season? It used to be mostly students and perennial ski bums who went away for the whole winter, but more and more people are now jacking in the day job to spend a season on the slopes. They're not spending six months slaving away in a sweaty kitchen in order to pay for it though.
Several companies now run courses that will turn you into a fully qualified instructor in a little over one month. For example, Base Camp Group offers a four week course in Val d'Isere, costing £3195, that will enable you to teach beginners. Meanwhile, you could opt for an 11-week option based in Whistler, Canada which allows you to teach in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries.
Is he taking the piste?, The Herald, 28 November 2005 
The odds were stacked against him. Ski in the Olympics? He was from Ghana. He had never seen real snow. By Lorna MacLaren
Boots crunching through deep snow, the skier stops and lifts his visor to take in the blinding vista of the Alpine mountains. His breath puffing coldly around him, African Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong is stunned by an experience which could not be further from the heat and lush greenery of his home land in Ghana.
“Although I had been skiing for a while on artificial slopes, it was the very first tie I had ever seen snow,” he recalls today with a smile. “The mountains are beautiful and so full of white light you can hardly look at them. The low temperatures were the difficult part. My body wasn’t used to anything like the kind of cold..full article
Win! A month in the snow, Glamour Magazine, November 2005
You and three friends could be heading out for your own private appartment on the slopes of Val d"Isere for the skiing trip of your dreams.
Fancy a break in the ultimate winter wonderland? We've teamed up with Base Camp Group and easyjet to offer one lucky reader and three friends the chance to escape for a whole month to the top French ski resort of Val d'Isere. We'll put you and your pals up in your own studio apartment so you can glide on and off the pistes just like the locals. With over 25 bars, clubs and restaurants, Val d'Isere boasts some of the best après-ski activities around, so after a day on the slopes, you can indulge in fine French cuisines before dancing the night away. And that's not all- you and one friend will also be invited for a week of lessons with some of the best professional skiers in Europe at the Base Camp Group's Freestyle Camp... full article
Don"t be a ski school dropout, The Metro, November 2005 
Learning to ski can depend on you choosing a good instructor says Colin Nicholson.
Back at the chalet a girl is in floods of tears- tears of frustation at not understanding the instructor's poor English, difficulty keeping up with the group and endless falls. It's a common story on the pistes when those first few days that are so critical to confidence go pear- shaped. Yet, in many cases, such scenes are avoidable. Beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders are inadvertently enrolling themselves for second-rate tuition when first-rate courses are available. Many first time skiers find their British package operator has enrolled them in an "official" ski school, rather than one of the newer, more innovative courses...full article
WIN an apartment in Val d"Isere for Christmas and New Year, Evening Standard, October 2005
FANCY spending Christmas and New Year in one of France's premier ski resorts?
We've teamed up with Base Camp Group, the UK's leading ski and snowboard instructor course operator, and BMI to offer one lucky reader the chance to win exclusive use of a studio apartment in Val d'Isere throughout December; plus two return flights from London Heathrow to Lyon. This incredible prize is worth £2,800! Base Camp Group is offering new long term accommodation-only packages for the first time this season..
The Independent: The Learning Curve, 6 March 2005 
Your ski instructor is, necessarily, a much better skier than you. He or she is probably also fitter, stronger and, let's face it, better- looking. And look where they live - a Shangri-la two kilometres above the rest of the world. How did they get there? More to the point, how can you get there?
For decades the British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) struggled to establish itself in the front rank of international instruction alongside the French, Austrians and Italians. Over the past five years, however, Basi has elbowed its way in to join those nations in the foremost group of European snowsport instruction, the Alpine Group. The result is that, for the first time, there is a clear route for an ambitious Basi instructor to the summits of international ski and snowboard teaching. What's more, ski and snowboard schools in the major European resorts are desperate for instructors whose English extends beyond "ski better", "do not fall" and, all together now, "bend ze knees" ... full article
Ski and Board: The Quest Of The Snow Leopard, March 2005
The Sunday Times Style: Height Of Cool, 16 January 2005
The Observer: How To Be A Ski Bum, 14 November 2004
Ever fancied fleeing the British winter to spend a season on the slopes perfecting your parallel turns? Felice Hardy tells you how. Its nowhere near as difficult as you may think to pick up a teaching qualification. The easiest is the basic Candian Level 1, which entitles you to wear the national ski/snowboard school uniform and teach beginners in Canada, but not elsewhere. The basic British qualification (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) is more difficult. If you are serious about this you should ideally join a five-day introduction course for an assessment of your ability. The course for the basic BASI 3 qualification involves 10 days on snow plus 70 hours of skischool experience and a two-day first aid course. This allows you to teach in most countries except France and Austria, and you can earn up to £10 an hour. A growing number of companies can now offer intensive gap-year courses witha qualification at the end. On successful completion of the course, students are given help in finding teaching positions.
Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine: Be An Instructor In Four Weeks, November 2004
Base Camp Group is introducing four-week instructor training programmes. One is in Europe, in Val d'isere, France, which takes you to the BASI Trainee Instructor Level, and the other is in Whistler, Canada, geared towards CSIA/CASI Level 1. Base Camp's Val course is the first short course in Europe and they are also intorducing an 11-week course in Val d'Isere.
The Times: Did We Really learn Like This? 23 October 2004
Happily there is a new breed of ski instructor, reports Mark Frary. Being a ski instructor has to be one of the sexiest profesions, so it is no surprise that many keen skiers and snowboarders want to become one. Over the past couple of years, there has been a huge growth in the number of companies offering instructor courses. At first sight, most seem to be geared towards students taking a gap year but there are an increasing number of people taking a career break to follow one of the courses. Becoming an instructor is slightly easier in Canada than in Europe, thanks to a lower entry level qualification and a proliferation of instructor courses. Base Camp Group has four-week courses in Whistler and Val d'Isere (France) starting at £2,695, from which you can gain the profiency to get to Level 1 of the CSIA qualifications, allowing you to teach beginners. Fergie Miller of Base Camp says that just 5 to 10 percent go on to instruct as a career . 'Some go off to set up their own chalets while others just want a break' he says.
Daily Mirror: Travel.. For Experts, 16 October 2004
Base Camp Group, the adventure ski specialist, is running a freeride camp in Verbier in January next year. Led by Felix Tanguay and Anders Fritzon, the week's course invites you to discover the exciting new boundaries of freeride skiing.
Evening Standard: Sun Ski Sand, 12 October 2004
TNT Magazine: Snow Patrol, 11 October 2004
The Sunday Times: Go On, Discover the World, 3 October 2004
Sean Newsom reports.
For those badly bitten by the skiing bug, Base Camp group offers the next level of commitment - becoming a ski instructor. Courses are based in Meribel, Val d'Isere and Whistler and run for 11 weeks from January to March.
Sunday Times Travel Magazine: Looking For A New Challenge? October 2004
The next step may be to make the leap from puil to teacher. Here's how to become an instructor... He Go?, 25 September 2004 ...
full article
Daily Mirror: Pull On The Skis, 11 September 2004
Can you think of anything sexier than being a ski instructor? Improve your pulling power- not to mention your skills on the slopes - by enrolling on an 11-week ski and snowboard instructor course with Base Camp Group, the first UK-based instructor operator. Courses are based in Meribel, Val d'Isere and Whistler, and cost £5,500 including all accommodation, tuition, lift passes and more.
The Observer: Worthy and Wonderful Ways To Fill The Gap..., 22 August 2004
Daily Express: Opportunities At Home And Away, 21 August 2004
The Times Travel: Gap Year? Get Organised, 7 August 2004
Daily Express: Work For A Year On The Slopes, 29 July 2004 
Planning your gap year or taking a sabbatical from work? Base Camp Group is an adventure travel specialist running ski and snowboard instructor courses in Europe and North America. After the 11-week courses the company will assist with job placments.
Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine: Learn To Instruct, November 2003
Base Camp Group is introducing new 11-week instructor training courses in Whistler and Verbier this year., in addition to the one it it runs in meribel - now you can choose to try and qualify as a British or Candian instructor. Prices start from £5,345 for Whistler January 2004 and includes most things except meals, flights, insurance and equipment. If you book early for a course you get £200 off.
Ski and Board Magazine: Ski Your Gap, October 2003
If you're thinking of taking a gap year in the mountains, or a career break, several new organisations are up and running for the 2003-4 season. Base Camp offers a range of courses in Europe - Val d'isere and Meribel - and North America (Whistler) enabling people to gain ski or snowboard instruction qualifications. Also new for 2003-4: a series of one week camps in freestyle and freeride.
Sunday Herald: Through The Ski Hole, 10 November 2002
Many skiers cross the Atlantic to become instructors but find their qualifications useless in Europe. A young entrepreneur aims to clear the pathway, discovers Richard Moore... full article
Business A.M: Call this work? It could be yours, 01 November 2002
Imagine: 11 week’s skiing or snowboarding in Meribel under the watchful eye of one of the most respected instructors in the business. And at the end of it all, you could have a qualification that allows you to teach all over Europe. Richard Moore wonders if Business a.m. would give him the time off…full article
Whitelines Snowboard Magazine: Just Left School?, October 2002
If you've just finished either you're A-Levels or GCSE's, it might be time to think about having some time off to explore yourself and the world around you. For those of you wondering what you could do with that year off, have a look at this press release we got the other day:
'At the Gap Snowsports Programme (GSP), we are offering a programme specifically designed for people taking a year out, as a career break, before or after university, who would like to learn to become snowboard or ski instructors in one season. The programme is the first of its kind in the EU, offering students the opportunity to achieve BASI qualifications that are accepted in France, Austria, Italy and UK.'
'The GSP is an 11-week programme offering students a combination of BASI certification courses and various modules taught by instructors from Snow-Systems Ski & Snowboard School. The programme is based in the resort of Meribel situated in the middle of Les 3 Vallees and is taught in weekly modules. The GSP prepares students for their BASI 3 as well as teaching boarders how to freerdie and perform tricks. Students are able to explore and specialise in the various disciplines of snowboarding while experiencing life in the mountains and learning to become an instructor'.
Hello Magazine: Base Campers, 22 October 2002 
London’s snow bunnies were out in force on the fashionable Fulham Road to celebrate the launch of the new winter sports company Base Camp. Glamorous guests sipped ice-blue cocktails at trendy watering hole Bondai as they partied into the night to tunes provided by DJ Jim Harcourt. Created by ski fanatics Pierre Francois Papet and Fergie Miller, Base Camp offers gap-year students the chance to become qualified ski or snowboard instructors after one season’s training in the exclusive French ski resort of Meribel.
The Daily Telegraph – Gap Directory, 5 October 2002 
From placements to plane seats: Rosemary Behan shows who does what. Base Camp Group is specifically designed for students taking a year out who want to learn to become ski or snowboard instructors in one season. The 11 week course takes place in Meribel from January to March.
Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine – Live The Dream, October 2002
Fancy becoming a ski or snowboard instructor? A new course can make it happen, and quicker than you think. Making the grade as an instructor can take years, but if you’ve got the cash, an intensive season-long course will make the process quicker – plus you get to spend an entire season on the slopes as you train. There are a few companies offering this chance, one in the Three Valleys party resort of Meribel.
Base Camp Group offers an 11-week programme. The first of its kind in the EU, students achieve British Association of Snowsport Instructors grade three qualifications, which are accepted in france, Austria, Italy and the UK. As well as BASI certification courses, students are taught skills such as how to ski off piste, do the bumps and race by instructors from Snow-Systems Ski School. Boarders will learn how to freeride and perform tricks.
The Times: Gap Year Chance To Tackle The Slopes, 15th August 2002
Students can enjoy themselves and make a year’s break pay by training as ski instructors abroad, says Sally Morris ...full article
Caledonia Magazine: Live and Learn, April 2002
Full-time study is becoming a thing of the past, with students cheerfully accepting the need to combine essays with pulling pints or delivering pizzas. But there are some who fly a little higher... full article
Ski and Snowboard Instructor Courses with Long Term Ski Season Accommodation
