After years of debate British instructors will finally be allowed to take the racing element of their instructor qualification on home soil for the first time.

It has only been through lengthy negotiation by BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) that the Alpine nations, led by the French, have accepted this compromise.

Previously the British qualification has not been recognised in many European countries, who have insisted that instructors pass a speed test - effectively a giant slalom with a pass rate of less then 5%.

Anyone following the Ski Cocktail saga will be aware of the problems that British instructors without their 'capa' have faced. Arrest, jail or simple physical intimidation are all standard issues that British instructors have faced while trying to work in Europe.

BASI chief executive Frank McInnes has claimed that the new agreement is a day 'We have been working for for a decade.'  But the real question we should be asking is not why it has taken so long to have the British qualification accredited, but why the qualification has had to change to do so.

Natives asks 'Why should a ski instructor have to pass a speed test as part of their qualification?

We can name numerous members of the Club des Saisonniers currently working out in the Alps who would make excellent instructors. All are patient, excellent skiers who understand the technical side and speak fluent English (apart from the Glaswegians).

Yet because they haven't been able to race down a course within a certain time, they have to work in bars, shops or for tour operators.

The bottom line is that the speed test is purely and simply a protectionist measure designed to artificially maintain high prices. It doesn't matter where it is taken; while it still remains, the consumer (that's you and I) loses out.

[Thanks to BBC Online]