How to become Ski or Snowboard instructor

Have you been dreaming of waking up to sparkly white powder? Racing down the corduroy day upon day? Being a ski instructor surely is a dream job. If you’re in any doubt check out my article 10 reasons to become a snowsports instructor before you make your decision.

If you’re anything like me, you KNOW you want to be a ski instructor but you have no idea how to make your lifestyle career come true. I’m here to help.

First day of work 2021 at The Remarkables

Becoming a ski or snowboard instructor doesn’t have to cost you your life savings nor does it have to be that difficult, but like any dream job, something has to give if you’re going to make it come true.

Before I tell you what your options are, it’s important to understand the criteria for being a ski instructor.

What qualifications do you need to become an instructor?

Most ski fields around the world (unless part of a program) require every instructor to have a minimum LEVEL 1 instructors certification. Once you have the qualification, you are slightly limited with where you can teach, but it is the first step on the route to becoming an internationally-recognised snowsports teacher. The course aims to provide you with the information and skills that will enable you to instruct other skiers to a basic level. It is also well known that experience and connections are everything and without them it can still be difficult to get a job in the industry.

The Level 2 instructor qualification is next. It is quite a step up from level 1, especially in the NZSIA system. It requires more training, practice and a deeper understanding of the sport. It is the key to the magic kingdom if you will. Once achieved, it will open doors to pretty much any mountain in the world! The exam develops your ability to analyze and improve other skiers’ abilities, also focusing on developing your own ski technique.

The Level 3 instructor qualification is usually attempted after working 2 or 3 seasons at least. It's a whole other ball game and things start to get pretty serious! With this certification you will be regarded as a highly-skilled expert and instructors with their level 3 are often given extra responsibilities and opportunities on the mountain such as leadership roles and those who run skill-specific workshops for more advanced and adventurous skiers.

The Level 4 / Trainers qualification is the fourth and final step on the ladder. Remember when I spoke about instructors being the Gods of the mountain? Well level 4 instructors truly are the G’s of the hill if you ask me. In the NZ system we call it the trainers certification as it is the cert that enables you to train other instructors and lead instructor exams. To attain your level 4, you have to be at the top of your game, it is by far the most challenging and only for the most experienced ski instructors. It takes years to qualify. At this point, snowsports is probably your fully-fledged career choice. You will be regarded as the best in the business; an elite instructor with skills to match.

Who provides the Qualifications?

There are several governing bodies in the industry. You have probably heard of the big names BASI (British Association of Snow Sports Instructors), CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance) and NZSIA (New Zealand Snow Sports Instructors' Alliance).

These governing bodies oversee the training and qualifying of instructors. Each governing body has a different style, but all are constantly researching new skills and techniques. All are technically equal but BASI has a strong reputation in Europe. It seems the higher the qualification you have, the less important the governing body is, so if you really want to make it as an instructor, choose a governing body that suits you when you're starting out!

I chose to become qualified in New Zealand with NZSIA and my experience is that it is a very nurturing governing body with many opportunities for determined instructors to upskill through the levels and even become an examiner some day!

Do I need academic qualifications to qualify for a ski instructor course?

Ski instructors have all kinds of different backgrounds. While there are definitely some beneficial skills that you can gain from other academic qualifications, they are not a requirement for enrollment in any course. The only requirement is age, you must be aged 16yrs or over.

Do I need to be able to speak a second language?

Most courses are taught in English. You don’t need a second language to pass a course or exam to become an instructor. However it can be very useful in day-to-day life while training to be an instructor and employers will probably look favorably at instructors who can speak a second or third language. If you want to achieve your LEVEL 4 BASI qualification, you’ll need to learn to speak French.

How good at skiing do I have to be?

Before I became one myself, I always thought that instructors were the gods of the mountain, they must be the best skiers in the world. Envy seeped deep into my bones. Well, skiing ability is important but not quite as important as you think. To pass your level 1 exam you’ll need to be able to control your speed and maintain parallel turns on blue runs, as well as demonstrate exemplar beginner technique (for skiers we are talking about wedge and wedge parallel turns). If you take a course, your skiing level is one of the areas you will develop.

How do I get a job after I’ve got my qualifications?

Most ski resorts are looking for instructors each season. Just like any job, it’s all about applications. You need to create a strong CV pulling on all of your relevant previous experience and apply it everywhere!

Most courses will recommend that you start by applying to the smaller mountains/resorts to gain some experience. Rookie instructors may find it harder to get more hours of work at the bigger ski hills, as the more experienced and established instructors tend to be based there.

Once you’ve proved how awesome you are on your first season, you’ll be able to set your sights higher , on the bigger and busier ski hills. I’d like to stress though that the bigger ski hills aren’t necessarily better or more fun! In fact they usually have a great community and fantastic opportunities to develop your skills. It may be easier to make a name for yourself and attract returning clients when working in a smaller ski school too!

How do I get started?

Depending on your circumstances and priorities, there are a few different ways to realize your dream. Getting your foot in the door isn’t as hard and expensive as you think!

1. The fastest route into the industry:

Enroll in a course, ideally one that includes some work experience/ internship. This is the most popular route. With a lot of hard work and some serious dedication, it is possible to obtain both your level 1 and 2 qualifications within your first season this way.

It usually involves spending 11-13 weeks in a ski resort living and training with a group of like-minded people all working towards the same goal; becoming an instructor.

The benefit of going down this route is you only need an intermediate ski competency to begin. If you enroll for the start of a season, certain schools will guarantee you a job at the end. So long as you pass your exams.

Most courses are all-inclusive, which means your food, board, lift pass, training and exams are included in the enrolment fee. You will live with a group of like-minded people all excited about starting their careers as a ski instructor.

Courses vary in terms of what they include and can cost anywhere between 6000-12,000 UK pounds. They are not cheap and neither are the ski resorts where you’ll be living. Some options are better value than others too. Everything good comes with a price though right?! For more info about what it was like for me on my instructor course click here.

So if this is the best route for you, you’ll probably want to try to find a way to make it work financially for you. The best way to do this is to spread out your course fees and other costs.

Most courses are booked 12-24 months in advance. This is firstly to secure your place, and also it means you can pay off the fees in installments over a more extended period.

There are also the additional costs of your flights, equipment, visa, insurance, possibly accommodation and spending money once you get there since you won’t be working straight away.

The key to making the cost less scary is to get in early. Give yourself time to save up and make contributions towards the cost overtime.

Where do I go to book a course?

Again, you have many options. First you need to decide which country you’d like to train in and what certification you’d like to gain (BASI, NZSIA, PSIA etc).

If you’d like to become a ski instructor in New Zealand I’d highly recommend SITco’s courses and internship.

If you fancy embarking on a ski or snowboard instructor adventure in Canada, check out EA for their internship programs.

If you’re wondering whether to choose a level 1 only or a level 1 and 2 course. My advice is to consider your previous ski/ snowboard experience and teaching experience. Also consider the job guarantee as part of the internship- experience is everything and once you’re qualified with your level 1 and have a few months experience you can focus on upskilling and gaining your level 2 the following season as your mountain will likely want to hire you back.

On the flip-side, if you have the extra money for the training and reckon you’re up for it, doing your level 2 in the same season means that you’re in the training zone, the focus and the determination to succeed in this more challenging exam. It does make for a more focused, studious season and you don’t want to be juggling a second job while doing this.

The same goes for the dual certification courses. Although they do suit some, I would recommend focusing on the one discipline to start with, gaining experience and getting your level one in the other discipline in a later season (this is what I did).

2. Do your level 1 exam in your home country.

If you have your heart set on doing a course but you don't have the $$ to spend on it abroad, consider getting your level one course at either your home mountain or indoor snowcenter.

The level one across all certifying boards includes a few days of preparation where you will be coached through the exam and given feedback on your skiing technique. Once you have passed your level 1, it will be easier for you to find a job or internship *Finding a job is typically slightly easier in Australia, New Zealand and Canada compared to other countries.

The level 1 BASI and level 1 NZSIA have a few differences. Some say that level 1 BASI is slightly easier and you’re less likely to be able to teach the non-first timers with it.

3. A combo

If you have decided to take your level 1 at your home mountain or snowcenter and you’re keen to ski big mountains and train for your level 2, whether you have a job lined up or not, you might want to consider enrolling in a course to help you train to pass your level 2 with confidence. SITCo offer a 5 week training program for level 1 certified instructors from Australia, NZ, or from UK, Canada or the US. This is great value for money and will really help you to become the confident instructor you aspire to be. The level 2 certification will then open doors to employment all over the world the following season.

4. Rookie Programs

I know what you were thinking when I said ``enroll in a course “$$$$”. But it doesn't have to. Some ski schools will hire unqualified, inexperienced skiers and snowboarders before the season, train you to be ready to teach your first lessons during the busy period and you’ll sit your level 1 exam soon after, subsequently instructing for the rest of the season. NZSKI in Queenstown runs a popular highly successful rookie program for their local kiwis and Australian skiers. Cardrona also offers a similar program (Instructors based at Cardona usually like to base themselves in Wanaka, a beautiful town about an hours drive from Queenstown.

5. Get a job in the ski industry.

This is the long route, but some would argue that it has the most pay off. Definitely one to consider. If you don’t have any savings burning a hole in your bank account and you’re looking to earn money while you train and find your foot in, you should consider working in a different role in a ski resort.

For example, I started out as a Chalet host as a way to save up, increase my hours on snow, meet instructors to get the inside scoop and improve technique. You might then just be ready to take the level 1 exam without a course. You may then be able to accept the low teaching rates as a LEVEL 1 rookie instructor to gain valuable hours of experience. Keeping your secondary job at the pub or like will probably be a good idea if you choose this route as instructors never get guaranteed hours, especially when you’re new on the scene.

6. Train independently, become a member of the governing body and take your exams.

It is possible to work a different job in a resort (perhaps evening or night shifts) and head up the hill in your free time to spend your money on private coaching, workshops etc. You can sign up to take your level 1 exam, which with lots of on-snow training and some time with your head in the manual, you’ll be able to pass. Enquire about jobs with the local ski school (s) and go from there!

The main issue when trying to get into the industry this way is you may well end up needing to spend more money on private tuition and workshops than you would have done enrolling in an instructor training program. It's also important to note that when finding trainers by yourself, you probably won't be trained by the most qualified or experienced instructors in the industry as you would if you enrolled in an instructors program. You also miss out on the opportunities to create meaningful contacts with the ski school managers for future employment and training opportunities once you’re qualified.

I hope this has given you some clarity and helped you to realize your instructor dreams! Whether you want to train in New Zealand with NZSIA or any other country and governing body. Becoming a snowsports instructor is well worth the money and hard work.

If you have any questions or you’d just like to chat about my experience a bit more, feel free to contact me at eden@theskinomad.com, on WhatsApp at +447887241349 or leave a message below!

TheSkiNomad