10 reasons to become a ski instructor

Many non-skiers think that instructors have the best job on the hill. Is that really the case? Oh, yeah. Ski exams, teaching on rainy days with a hangover, snotty-nosed kids that wet themselves, not getting work until those above you in the ski school hierarchy have a class, first timers that put their ski boots on the wrong foot, and staying on the baby slopes on a powder day. Sounds like a blast, where do I sign up?

It didn’t take me any convincing to save up and become qualified as a ski instructor so I highly doubt you need much persuading, but it can be a lot of money and a big career change. It’s no small decision. But if any job comes close to being perfect it’s this one.

So what is being a ski/ snowboard instructor all about?

Working as a snowsports instructor is not just a career choice, it’s a lifestyle choice. If you love skiing or snowboarding and love being in the mountains then becoming a ski instructor is the ultimate way to life, it certainly beats the boring 9-5 office job that’s for sure!

To become a working ski instructor you will need to be utterly ski mad. By that I mean totally ski obsessed as your passion will soon become your life. As a qualified ski instructor you will live, breathe, and dream skiing. You'll be responsible for helping people develop a passion for the sport you already love. It is knackering, occasionally bone numbing, and less often mind boggling. There are days when your legs are killing, and you don't have the energy to go up the chairlift again, nor do you think you have the patience to keep your group of ten year old's in line, but you just have to pinch yourself, remember where you are and get with the vibe! Smiles are contagious, so join the stoke!

Why did I become a ski instructor?

So first of all let me tell you a little bit about why I decided to take the leap. It started with picture perfect snowy ski holidays in the French Alps every year with my family. I was lucky enough to be treated to the glorious world of ski school with my siblings and friends, and I was even lucky enough to have a few private lessons as I progressed. I’d sit at the lunch table (usually a picnic in the forest) talking about my dreams of skiing in the trees, skiing powder fields like a boss. But, my love for the sport didn’t end on holiday. I watched ski Sunday on the tele, in awe of the Olympic talent. After I graduated from University I felt that I just had to find a way to get better at skiing and combine it with my passion for helping people. I spoke to many people, scrolled the internet for as much information about how I could make my dream possible, and here I am today, a fully fledged ski and snowboard instructor living my best life. Sold already? Click here to find out how to turn your instructor dreams into a reality.

Not yet convinced it's the best job in the world? Here are 10 reasons that say otherwise.

1. Uh duh! You get to ski and snowboard every day and… wait for it…. GET PAID to do it!

You love skiing. It’s an obvious one, but you do need a passion for skiing to effectively inspire the people you teach. You’ll also need a strong love for the sport to keep you motivated to stay up to date with the latest skiing techniques and coaching methods.

2. Earn a decent wage.

Not many people are aware that it is possible to make a living as a snowsports instructor. There is a lot of stigma about it being a gap year job or something only the pros can do. This is so not true. Yes if you’re new to the sport it's going to be a harder potentially longer journey but it is totally possible, and yes, I do earn enough to live on throughout the winter without needing a second job (as a single person). Plus the financial side is made so much easier with all the perks!

3. The perks

Besides skiing all day, and having an awesome day everyday, you get a free lift pass, ski uniform, discounts all around town, and pretty decent pay. Being a ski instructor is generally more lucrative than many other resort jobs and career development is regarded very important in the industry with most ski schools doing everything they can to help you up-skill and level-up. As you become more qualified and experienced, you can continue to earn more and in many resorts this also means more lessons = more money earned (ski instructors are usually paid per hour taught).

4. Love the winter? Love the mountains?

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Me too! It just so happens that the best resorts in the world happen to be in the most iconic locations. Working a winter season means these iconic natural wonders are your home for the next 5 months!

You may have been on holiday to the mountains and experienced how great it is already but there are some serious extra perks to living in the resort that you just don’t get when you’re on holiday. As an instructor living in a resort, you’ll get to know the place, the best restaurants for the best pizza in town, the cheapest pint and the best pub quiz along with bartenders, lift operators and other risotto staff that make resorts feel like home from home. One of my favourite perks is that having to get up before anyone else means I get to see the most spectacular mountain sunrises on a daily basis! In popular opinion, the best perk of all has to be the endless powder day opportunities. You’ll never miss a bluebird powder day ever again because it’s now your job to enjoy it both pre-lesson, in lesson and in your lunch breaks!

5. For the street cred

The jacket. If you’re anything like me, you've spotted people on the slopes in a ski instructor jacket before and thought, “they’re an instructor , they’ll be really good’. You’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that pitting on the uniform provides you with a certain level of respect. We are the GODs of the mountain after all.

6. The lifestyle. Social life.- fed up of going from the office to the sheets?

Snow towns are full of laid back friendly, dedicated and passionate people. It's easy to see why many think that instructing is all play. They’re not wrong. Most of us leave our playful lessons on the snow at the end of the afternoon and hit the après ski scene, and there is a pretty big party culture in a lot of ski towns too! People do pay to come here on holiday after all. Not a fan of real-life? Ski instructing feels far from real; it's surreal.

The lifestyle boasts so much more. In most resorts instructors work together with other people who work up the mountain such as lefties, waitresses, bartenders, and loads more, meaning there is a whole community of people to share good times with.

7. Hang out with the best in the industry- Improve your riding and become friggin awesome

An important part of wearing the ski instructor jacket, badge or label is taking pride in knowing you have a great understanding of your sport. Regardless, self-improvement, upskilling and sharing is at the very heart of life as a snow sports instructor. Snow schools have designated training sessions for staff all season long. These sessions are geared towards passing exams, lesson tips and tricks, and taking your riding to the next level. What’s more, as an instructor you are surrounded by more experienced, highly skilled skiers/ snowboarders and coaches who you can learn from (for free!), make friends with, heck you could even date one, like me!

8. Learn transferable skills.

Besides being the best job you could ever wish for, snow sports instructing also gives you an important certification. The internationally recognized qualifications you can prove that you are a responsible, well rounded, and confident person while travelling. You can put those on your CV for life! What company doesn't want to hire a resident ski instructor?

9. Be someone's superhero

Have you always dreamed of being a superhero? Now's your chance. Clients put their trust in you and you can turn their fear and insecurity into confidence and pride which is a truly rewarding experience. You get to see the joy they get out of becoming better and know that it’s a result of your hard work. As the seasons build you’ll build up loyalties from returning customers and your employers it feels fabulous to know that people put their faith in you completely.

10. Live in a different location every 6 months…. Or not!

While it's not necessarily true that you’ll be out of work in the summer, there are definitely two seasons to the life of a ski/ snowboard instructor and there are a few ways to get around it. Some of us like to follow the snow, chasing endless winters around the world; a season in New Zealand’s southern hemisphere resorts leads nicely into a season in Canada, Europe or Japan in the northern hemisphere’s resorts so you never have to miss a season.

Spending 11 months in winter isn't everyone's cup of tea. It’s also totally possible to embrace the summer season in the country of your choice. Spend your summer hiking volcanoes, trekking jungles, surfing big waves or beach hopping across the world. This does mean finding another job though.

SO there you have it, 10 solid reasons you should become a snow-sports instructor. It's a friggin awesome life and it's totally possible to maintain this lifestyle long-term too! I have so many friends who have got married, had children and are still working ski seasons, living their best life. So what have you got to loose?!

If you need a little more convincing Check out some of my related articles about my life as a ski instructor.

TheSkinomad