Terms and Conditions for SOA Courses and Exams

Unless stated otherwise, course, examination and certification costs are included in the fees.

The following requirements apply;

  • very good health condition, good fitness and team spirit

  • very good swimming skills for all water activities

  • careful preparation according to requirements of the course

  • facultative participation

  • alcohol or drugs are not allowed in all activities


Instructors and experts have to be informed about medical problems before the start of the course. The SOA, its experts and instructors reserve the right to exclude individual participants or cancel activities if the requirements are not met. In this case, there is no right of refund.

 

For all courses and examinations, you have to bring your personal equipment. Unless otherwise stated, you have to bring the sports equipment to the course or examination. During the rafting tests, the rafts are provided.

Your own insurance that covers illness, accident (including rescue and return transport), theft and negligent damage to rental equipment during a course, lies in your responsibility. We accept no liability for personal equipment that is damaged or lost during a course. The course costs must be paid irrespective of the success of the course. 
We explicitly exclude liability for conditions beyond our control. Swiss law is applicable.

 

The registration has to be made over the registration form on the website http://www.swissoutdoorassociation.ch 

The registration deadlines can be found in the specific announcements, the rule is one month before the course or examination date. 

If you register up to 7 days before the start of the course or examination, the normal price applies; if you register later, a surcharge of CHF 100.00 applies for 1 to 3-day courses/examinations and of CHF 200.00 for longer courses. 

Non-SOA members have to pay the course fees before the start of the course or exam. Persons without proof of payment will not be admitted to the course or examination.

Persons who have registered for a course or examination are required to submit the required documents to the SOA office before the course. If the documents are not submitted, a reminder fee of CHF 100 will be charged.

Course participants may request additional copies of their certificates and/or ID cards from the SOA office. The costs for creation and shipping are 50 CHF per certificate.

Deregistration must be made in writing. The date of receipt of the same shall be deemed to be the decisive date. For e-mails after 5 p.m., the next working day is considered as reception.
For cancellations we charge the following costs:

  • up to 21 days before the activity: CHF 50.00 lump sum

  • 20 to 10 days before the activity: 30 % of the invoice amount

  • 9 to 1 day before the activity: 75 % of the invoice amount
  • Non-appearance at the activity: 100% of the invoice amount. Of course you have the possibility to provide a replacement


We strongly recommend to take out a travel cancellation insurance!

In case of a lack of participation (less than 4 participants), a course can still be held if the course participants accept a price increase. The SOA reserves the right to cancel the course up to three days before the start of the course. In case of weather conditions that endanger the safety of the courses and examinations, illness / accident of a course instructor and force majeure, the SOA, its experts and course instructors are entitled to cancel the activities. In this case, a replacement date will be announced. Payments made will be refunded less services already received. Further claims are excluded.

Errors and price changes reserved. Swiss law is applicable. Place of jurisdiction is Zurich.