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Ski Instructor

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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
Could someone please direct/write me a complete guide to becoming a successful Ski Instructor? (well actually snowboard instructor but same thing)

I have been snowboarding for 6 years now and I think it would be awesome to spread the love to the young guns.
May 24 2011 7:00PM
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Jeffmnicholas
Posts: 821 - Karma: 42
Just apply for a job at your local mountain and they will teach you everything
May 24 2011 7:02PM
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POW-WOW
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 40
pizza lean to your left, pizza lean to your right, repeat.
May 24 2011 7:09PM
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laserbeamz
Posts: 117 - Karma: 16
Yeah man just pick the resort you wana work at first.
To start with, best pick one that is busy and gets lots of punters at it, so you can get lots of work.It'll also help if you can ski too, coz theres always alot more gromie skiers thatn snowboarders.
Lots of resorts do a hiring clinic at the start of the season. Depending on where you are from some resorts wan't you to be qualified and others will just take anyone who rocks up. So best to look on their website or call them up and ask how to go about apllying.
Once you get a start at a resort they will train you up.
Do ya qualification levels coz you'l get paid more and get get better clients.
The main things you'll need is to be Patient and just be freindly coz you have to talk to random ppl all winter.
Good luck.
May 24 2011 8:19PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
your ability to ski / snowboard are COMPLETELY secondary to your abilities to teach / effectively communicate.


srsly, some of the best instructors on my hill cant ski all that good, but they can teach, and have the people skills that make them great instructors.

when i was hired we were tasked with teaching things totally different than skiing.
May 24 2011 9:00PM
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emilyiscool
Posts: 1628 - Karma: 60
i dont know if its the same in the US as in Canada but here we have a pretty standardized course we have to pass first?
May 24 2011 9:26PM
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GNARwalls
Posts: 1287 - Karma: 528
i started 3 years ago as a ski instructor and i get rly young kids like 4-6. so i play lil games with them so they don't know their learning stuff, like duck duck goose (to work on their balance) and shit like that. it's also about havin fun. if u throw down a positive attitude with the student they will see that positive attitude and will try to be positive as well. also next time ur shreddin concentrate on what u do and think of different ways of describing it because there are a lot of different types of learners. i rly enjoy teachin cuz u can get a lot out of it cuz i've taught kids who've never been on skis before and got them to blacks in just a week. it's great. enjoy
May 24 2011 9:31PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
If you're in the states and have a home mountain, you are already doing well. Basically apply for a job in the ski school, turn up, do the training, get your exams as fast as you can. Move to a premium resort, build up a client list, perhaps start instructing in the southern hemisphere. Become an examiner, get paid more. Find a cougar, retire. You are now a successful ski/snowboard instructor.

It's a fun job, I like it a lot, but it's not for everyone. Especially to start with you will teach a lot of little kids groups, for not very much money, but persevere and pass your exams, and you don't have to do that ever again.

Being a good salesman will help, if you can talk clients into booking more lessons, you make more money.
May 24 2011 9:45PM
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a.wall
Posts: 339 - Karma: 30
Welp, it really sucks at first and you'll want to quit, but then you'll get paid and realize its not so bad.

its not the same from place to place, so i wont go into detail about certifications.

if you do get a job, which is likely once you get certified (snowschool director called my house the day i got my level 1 to ask me to work) just pretent like you care, and be real chatty with the parents.

i thought i was doing a shitty job, but then near the end of the season my supervisor was telling me that parents were telling her that i was a very good instructor and that it was sick that i was going to get my snowpark. so the moral of that story is try 50-70% and you'll benefit.

i got park certification and it was a really fun course, we basicly just chilled, and the course guy coached us and we learned new tricks and we even made an edit. so if you're into park, get your park cert.

im now the only freeskiing instructor at my hill, i worked a couple hours on weekends and one weeknight and made like 15$ an hour. if your place works like mine, you set your own hours of availability and they book you whenever the fuck they like. so don't set a bunch of time available cause i did that thinking i wouldnt get booked. but i did. working 5 hours a day on weekends and 3 hours on thurdays sucked, it made me cry at night and i wanted to quit (i know how pussy that sounds, but i was 15 and working with kids sucks ass). so only set a couple hours available on the days you can/want to work.

thats my advice/experience, but you snowboard and i dont know where you live, but if you do end up getting a job, stick to it cause it ends up being alright. im only working 1 weekend day this year so i can hit urbans in the day time. take your free time/needs into consideration.

sorry for rambling about not much, im tired
May 24 2011 10:01PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
I live in Salt lake City, UT


There is a lot of good stuff in this. What steps would I have to take to be able to work in the summer in say, New Zealand?
May 24 2011 10:35PM
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a.wall
Posts: 339 - Karma: 30
build a time machine and go back to april.
you'd have to do immigration stuff to get a visa
probably be expensive
and i dunno if they'd let you teach there with a u.s. cert. but i have no idea.

i know this cause i looked into working on a park crew at snowpark, not seriously cause im only 16 and that would be hard. but im working on the park crew at my local hill this season too, it should be good stuff, expecially with no skiers on the crew yet.
May 24 2011 11:03PM
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Pee_and_Ski
Posts: 1869 - Karma: 57
ive been teaching for 6 years, and last season i only did special request lessons. the main thing is make the class fun, o]you are basically selling our sport and lifestyle. be professional but make sure your group/student is having a good time.

little kids play games with them, this is important in the early stages cause lets face it the basics are boring as shit.

with adults crack jokes, but with them try to progress as fast a possible so they don't feel like complete idiots as 5 year olds show them up

now if you want to make money one very important thing you need to know, and that is how to LIE. never lie about what skill level they are at cause then you look like a douch if they take another lesson and you fuck over other instructors. But when they ask if they or more importantly there kids are doing good always say yes. even if the kid was the worst couldn't stand up tell the parrents he/she progressed at a normal rate then emphasis how hard it is to learn. That is how you get big tips
May 25 2011 1:33AM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
Watch Aspen Extreme. It will answer all of your questions.
May 25 2011 1:42AM
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laserbeamz
Posts: 117 - Karma: 16
Haha Yeah if ya wana be an instructor definitely watch aspen Extreme...
May 25 2011 3:20AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
They do recognise US certifications down there, but there is a lot of competition for jobs, I'd day you have no chance at all until you have done at least 2 seasons and have your level 2 (that's what I had my first season there and I just scraped in). You have to get sponsored ahead of time, so there's really no way a school is going to want to employ you without certs and experience.
May 25 2011 7:08AM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
Thats what I expected. To make it that far I would definitely give myself a 3-4 year window. Riding all year and spreading my love for snowboarding is the ultimate goal.

Aspen Extreme? Is that the story of the guy who makes like 100 grand a year with lessons?
May 25 2011 10:15AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
I have only had 2 summers in the last 6 years, and it´s definitely a great lifestyle. Like I said, you won´t make much cash to begin with, but a few years down the line you start to get paid ok, now I have 3 months holiday a year and ski/teach the rest of it.

Aspen Extreme is the story of Dex and TJ who go to Aspen to work as instructors. It´s awesome and should be compulsory viewing in every level 1 exam.
May 25 2011 12:59PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
I did a seasonal program my freshmen year of high school, so I knew some of the people at the mountain. THen junior year, when I was old enough, I emailed one of the coaches, and he gave me some info and sent me an online application. I ended up getting hired as a seasonal program coach (so much better than a regular coach, because you get the same group each week, and the progress). This past season, I had the highest level group for the 4-7 halfday program, and it was awesome. It won't always be fun, but you get a free pass, you get to ski, you get paid, usually discounts/prodeals/connections (my boss told me he knew some resort managers in PA if I want to work in college), and its a great resume builder, looks really good if you want to work at a summer camp off season. Apply in September. Best advice once you get the job is to find another coach who is good, who you sort of look up to, and ask them for advice. Not all managers have the experience, and it can be easier if the person you are asking has ridden with you or seen you ride. Good Luck!
May 25 2011 4:59PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
Thank you so much for all the info, There is ALOT of good stuff in here. I think I have a pretty good Idea of what I need to do if I choose to pursue this path


THANKS AGAIN TO ALL!
May 25 2011 5:25PM
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802Valley
Posts: 625 - Karma: 309
also make sure that u teach them the slide stepping down the slope
May 27 2011 7:16PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
Be such a sweet way to pick up attractive gaper girls. Random made up fact, but 80% of attractive girls go skiing/ boarding to hook up with random dudes on a chair lift. I know whenever im bored at tblant i go and ride the gondola with hotties ;)
May 27 2011 8:03PM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
just a question: what do you wear while you teach? do they make you go around looking like an idiot in the mountain's racer style jacket? or do you wear what you want?
May 27 2011 8:04PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
depends at which hill, most have a not so steezy uniform. big deal
May 27 2011 8:08PM
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Scott0_robot0
Posts: 3291 - Karma: 212
im an instructor up at brighton and it's not that hard, it;s more about talking to people and figuring out how they learn. It takes a bit to start to learn your own way of teaching. but overall it's a good job just go apply to some mountain.
May 27 2011 8:35PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
Should I apply at brighton?
May 27 2011 8:45PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Apply everywhere you would like to go, and see who accepts you. Right now hardly any schools in the States are hiring foreign instructors because of changes to visa rules. So it's a good time to get in somewhere and get trained up.
May 27 2011 9:19PM
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Scott0_robot0
Posts: 3291 - Karma: 212
yea, it's a chill laid back place to work i like it alot, they will have a job fair thing at some point up there. send in a application online or something than try to figure out when the job fair is and go to that. then there is a training thing at the beginning of the year. they just make sure you can ride and that your not some boring/creepy fuck, and that your in it to teach people the sport. And if you do make sure you are early or on time to every one of those training days.
May 27 2011 9:52PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
I might seriously consider doing this.
May 27 2011 9:55PM
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Scott0_robot0
Posts: 3291 - Karma: 212
do it man, you get a good amount of riding time in also. the first year may go by slow and you dont get paid as much but hey it's a pass and a job at the mountain. good luck man.
May 27 2011 10:02PM
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Chaka
Posts: 424 - Karma: 79
I taught full time for two seasons... It paid terribly, I got sick constantly because little kids are disgusting, I got peed on, I got pooped on, I got vomited on, I didn't get to teach one hot girl, I didn't get to teach anybody over the age of 11, I spent countless powder days sitting on the bunny hill praying for somebody with a shotgun to blow my brains out, and when I finally did get to ski all of my friends were tuckered out.
What did I get from this? A meaningless certification and undying appreciation for free skiing.
Here is the deal; I am guessing you are young, in shape, and that you enjoy skiing (I mean snowboarding I am just used to saying skiing). What Ski Instructing will do is make you consider skiing a job, which is not how you want to view skiing. You will feel cranky and old and terrible. You will want to murder children. You will want to murder your co-workers because many of them think they are the greatest skier on the planet.These are the negatives.
The Positives? Free pass, employee discount, an air of mild superiority, a worthwhile job (you are training the next generation of shredders), and the occasional cute gaper girl who asks for advice.
My advice to become a good instructor; Either work part-time and get your free pass and level one certification. This will insure you a job in the future if you want one, and will save you money.
OR you can get a job washing dishes, ski to your hearts content and become an Instructor when you are 40. Why waste the prime of your life on the bunny hill when you can do it when you are old?
And if you do decide to instruct the best thing to remember is that young children hate being in the cold and in the snow for a long time, but they love to be rewarded and win. If you make an imaginary point system and give them points or stars or something for doing little things then they will do whatever you ask them to. It works like a charm, and at the end of the day everybody wins.

Disclaimer: this is my experience, other experiences will differ. I would encourage you to follow your heart. Instructing really isn't the most horrible thing ever, and for many people it is an awesome experience. It is very noble of you and all instructors to want to spread the love of shredding.
May 28 2011 5:43AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Haha, man that sounds like a terrible time! But yeah, all instructors will have had experiences somewhat like this one, on the other hand it's entirely possible to spend the day shredding pow and getting paid well for it. The picture below is of me at work, some days I will ski stuff like this for hours, the clients might take me out for some sushi or other delicious food that I would otherwise not afford, then give me a good tip on top of my already generous wage.

Obviously it is not always like that, but I am just trying to give another side to the picture, it's like any job, you have good days and bad days, for me, I find in general they are more good than bad.

Click for larger image
May 28 2011 7:42AM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
It depends on what you want of it. I instructed a few times a year for a pass, thats it. Most of my co-workers really enjoyed teaching and the fundamentals. Myself, I ski to improve for my own skills. And in terms of a job instructing is fun. But you are underpaid and often a glorified baby sitter. Adult lessons are fun, but you cant hit on the laaaaydies cause that shit isn't professional. And freestyle camps are dope, but rare.

If you want to become a good skier (not by instructor standards) get a night job and ski 5 days a week. Instructing gets you on the mountain, but you don't get freeskiing often, and when you do you're exhausted. Your equipment gets torn up and you develop bad habits from snowplowing with kids all day. Personally, I think I'll explore coaching freestyle teams in the future before instructing again. But all the power to those who liked teaching pizzza french fries.

May 28 2011 7:29PM
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