Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Ski Instructing?

profile picture
pattyeiks
Posts: 265 - Karma: 885
I'm 15, in need of a job and trained to be a ski instructor. Is it fun?
or just dragging kids around all day?

BTW this is for next season
Mar 23 2015 10:30PM
10 5
profile picture
CameraWiz
Posts: 735 - Karma: 2,112
Depends what level of kids you're teaching
Mar 23 2015 10:31PM
1 0
profile picture
mr-mcsteeze
Posts: 487 - Karma: 1,103
Yea it can be fun but the first 2 years you will get some really shit lessons cause you are new. put your time in and you can get a lot out of it. i just finished my 5th year instructing and i got my PSIA level 1, I work with the park crew at my mountain, and my park crew boss and my ski school boss both get me great deals on ski equipment. Just put your time in, and it will be a blast
Mar 23 2015 11:04PM
0 0
profile picture
turntwood
Posts: 301 - Karma: 295
If you have a good attitude about it, it can be the best. But if you come in thinking it's going to suck…it will. I think it's the most fun job I've ever had.
Mar 24 2015 3:55AM
1 0
profile picture
Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
I'm in my first year of instructing now and it really depends on what kind of groups you get. Since I'm new I get loads of groups between 4-6 years old witch can be fun when they are in a good mood but usually its always some that don't want to be there and start crying/screaming for their parents as soon as they leave. This can be very tiering to deal with all day so you have to be pretty patient with kids.
Having older groups or private lessons are often allot more fun when they are motivated to learn and its always a good feeling when people you teach progress and are having a great time doing it.
I doubt you will have allot of better job options at 15/16 so I would definitively say you should go for it.
Mar 24 2015 6:45AM
0 0
profile picture
S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,185
Beats getting minimum wage at maccas
Mar 24 2015 7:48AM
1 1
profile picture
nine50seven
Posts: 576 - Karma: 686
work at a ski shop dude. you learn alot about working with people and how to tune skis and just be handy in general.
Mar 24 2015 9:43AM
0 0
profile picture
mynamerhymes
Posts: 20 - Karma: 140
I worked as a ski instructor for two years. The pay isn't great but its really fun. And all skiing is better than not skiing. Just make sure kids like skiing thats way more important than teaching pole plants and other boring shit. Also you get to influence how skiers in the future will ski and that's cool especially when u get a really good student. Bottom line your getting paid to ski.
Mar 24 2015 10:09AM
0 0
profile picture
steeze_louise
Posts: 548 - Karma: 2,093
if you are good at park you could teach them some basics and stuff
Mar 24 2015 10:27AM
0 0
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,163
Free season pass? Worth it.
Mar 24 2015 10:30AM
1 0
profile picture
Aidin954
Posts: 760 - Karma: 1,361
Do it. It's fun as hell.
Mar 24 2015 3:24PM
0 0
profile picture
Nucks4Luck
Posts: 8 - Karma: 3
john18061806Free season pass? Worth it.


This is why I work as an Instructor. Hanging with 4-12 year olds keeps me young and you cant beat a free season pass. They are paying you on top of giving you $300-$500 up front for the season pass. Win-win
Mar 24 2015 4:00PM
0 0
profile picture
crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,184
Go for keep in mind you probably won't make a ton of money but usually through instructing you can get some sweet deals.
Mar 24 2015 4:34PM
0 0
profile picture
-emile-
Posts: 6613 - Karma: 8,592
it fucking sucks , don't do it
Mar 24 2015 4:35PM
0 3
profile picture
J-C
Posts: 1138 - Karma: 3,683
I've been working as an instructor for the past 4 years and its pretty fun but most of it depends on the kid you are teaching and the weather. If the kid really likes skiing and wants to learn you'll have a lot of fun but if the kid decides to cry the whole lesson it's way less fun. Also weather plays a pretty big deal. Here in Quebec we had the coldest winter in 115 years and let me tell you that passing 6 hours a day teaching kids at -30C isn't the funnest thing in the world. But go for it man.
Mar 24 2015 4:47PM
0 0
profile picture
Logan.
Posts: 717 - Karma: 1,862
Well first off, you have to be great with kids. If you can't do that, don't try to be an instructor. Other than that it's just all about attitude. I've had fun with all groups from 5 year old first timers to older kids that can shred through moguls. Sure, the beginners are a little more work, but I guess that comes with the territory. Feel free to pm me with any specific questions!
Mar 24 2015 4:50PM
1 0
profile picture
Ekis
Posts: 106 - Karma: 193
I'm a first year ski instructor and it's kind of a good job but at the same time it sort of sucks. It's nice when kids want to learn jumps and ski some boxes, but then there's sometimes these people who dont learn anything at all, which is frustrating and someones are just bitching about everything. Also seeing friends shredding the mountain, touring or enjoying the fresh snow is so annoying. But free season pass and other advantages like cheaper food are great things.
Mar 24 2015 5:16PM
0 0
profile picture
Cyabski
Posts: 188 - Karma: 800
Being a ski instructor can be the best thing ever if you really put effort into it. On your first season, work a lot but not every day, you still need that time to ski for yourself. Get to know the old guys who have been there for ever. Making connections with people is very important and you will really love the ski school enviroment if you get to know everyone. Also those old guys can really teach you a thing to two about advanced skiing (trust me). Embrace any training opportunity that comes up. It shows that you are really passionate about not only getting a free pass but about skiing, and your supervisors will notice. Next, GET YOUR PSIA LEVEL 1. If you go to trainings and clinics throughout the season, you will easily pass your level 1 exam. And then you can brag about being a certified professional skier. Jk but seriously that is pretty much what it means. If you follow these guidelines you will be teaching the advanced kids more often and you will be having more fun over all. If you are in intrested in my secrets to success year 2, pm me lol. But really being an instructor changed my life and i love everything about what i do.
Mar 24 2015 5:31PM
0 0
profile picture
eholmgren8
Posts: 5 - Karma: 10
It is the greatest job ever if the hill you work at is chill. I taught at elm creek (i see you ski hyland) and i can tell you nothing beats the park laps between lessons and spending the whole day on your skis. Great highschool job for the weekends.
Mar 24 2015 7:27PM
0 0
profile picture
fresh_prince
Posts: 993 - Karma: 11,910
if you're teaching really little kids, they will think they can jump off the chair and live, some advice is to put the bar between their legs so they don't try anything rash
Mar 24 2015 7:30PM
0 0
profile picture
averageMIskier
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,385
I have been ski instructing since I was 15. The past 5 winters have been awesome. I have made loads of connections with parents, that have helped me to get jobs in the real world. Put your time in, be friendly, and always make sure that the kids come first. You'll have a blast, but your first year is just bitch work.
Mar 24 2015 9:47PM
0 0
profile picture
a_lurker
Posts: 255 - Karma: 121
I just finished my 2nd year as an instructor and i'd definitely say do it. The free skiing, half off food, and cool people you'll meet definitely make it worth it. I taught 8-12 year-olds, which in my opinion is the best age group because i cant handle it when little shit kids start crying for no reason and adults are obnoxious to teach a lot of the time. This year i tried to do the clinics for psia and at least at my mountain, they were way too boring so i had to quit. I would say only get psia certified if you want to instruct for a long time because those clinics are just not worth it. Hope this helps
Mar 24 2015 11:34PM
0 0
profile picture
theabortionator
Posts: 51630 - Karma: 162,077
I did it for 3 years. Sure there are some shit lessons, but there are those ones where they really learn something and are massively stoked. That's what it's all about. Spreading the stoke to others.

Idk. I like working at ski areas even though sometimes it kills me.
Mar 25 2015 12:05AM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)