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CSIA L1 Ski Instructor Course

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Hold My Place

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Course Guide

Hold My Place

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Location

Fernie, Canada

Duration

4 weeks

Qualifications

CSIA LEVEL 1

Style

instructor

Ability

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

Travel To

Calgary, AB

Big snow, big progression, and the start of something special. This 4-week course in Fernie is your fast track to the CSIA Level 1, blending expert coaching with powder-filled freeride days and full immersion in mountain life. Ride legendary terrain, sharpen your skills, and plug into Fernie’s down-to-earth community. You’ll leave with qualifications, new mates, and an appetite for more.

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Course Spec

Terrain

Groomer

Powder/Trees

Backcountry

Freestyle

A blend of instructor training and freeride coaching. From tech turns to Fernie’s legendary powder stashes, you’ll dial it all.

Ability

Ability Guide

Novice

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

For intermediate to expert skiers ready to push limits and earn instructor qualifications. You’ll train in ability-based groups for focussed progression.

Age

18-29

30-39

40-49

50+

One of our most diverse crews — from gap year riders to career-breakers and future instructors. If you’ve got a passion for skiing, you’ll find your people here.

Nationality

UK + Europe

AUS + NZ

N. America

Other

A international mix of riders. Expect friendships that cross borders, with a tight-knit community built around shared mountain moments.

Course Spec

Terrain +

Ability
Ability Guide
+

Age +

Nationality +

Full Course Story 4 Weeks in Fernie, Canada

Looking for a short but seriously stacked ski season? Our 4-week instructor course in Fernie delivers a perfect mix of pro coaching, freeride exploration, and good-times culture — all in one of Canada’s powder capitals.

You’ll train with our expert coaches to sharpen your technique and build the foundations to earn your CSIA Level 1 — all while carving your way through Fernie’s famous terrain. With everything from natural bowls and gladed trees to powder fields, this place is made for progression. Whether your goal is to teach or simply take your skiing next-level, this course gets you there fast.

Life off the hill is just as full-on. You’ll stay in the Nonstop lodge with a crew of like-minded riders, soaking in the hot tub, hitting up local bars, and embracing the energy of mountain life. Through our MORE Program, we pack in the adventures — think frozen lake skating, night laps at Pass Powderkeg, and a calendar full of socials.

Whether you’re on a gap year, career break, or chasing your next ski milestone, this course is the ultimate launchpad. Short season, big impact.

Who’s It For +

Technical Goals +

Required Experience +

Mandatory Equipment +

Why Ski with Nonstop +

Timeline

Here’s how your 4-week journey in Fernie is set to unfold — a taste of the instructor life, Nonstop style. This is a guideline and may flex.

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

Welcome to Fernie. We’ll meet you at Calgary Airport and roll into the Rockies for your first look at your new mountain home. After a welcome dinner with your coaches and crew, it’s time to get dialled. You’ll hit the slopes for coaching, explore Fernie’s five legendary bowls, and settle into training life. Off snow, we’ll tour the town, help you dial your gear, and dive into the local scene.

You’re warmed up, and now it’s time to build. We’ll introduce CSIA/CASI instructor techniques and start to layer in the theory behind great teaching and riding. Expect coaching focused on your personal progression, plus practical teaching drills. Midweek, we’ll mix it up with a trip to Kimberley — a hidden gem with big terrain and zero crowds.

Training ramps up as we prepare for the Level 1. You’ll hit steeper pitches, refine your form, and start delivering mini lessons to your peers. Our 1-2-1 coaching sessions give you targeted feedback, while optional avalanche safety training gives you a crash course in mountain awareness. If you’re thinking long-term, our instructor workshop is packed with tips.

This is the week it all comes together. Your CSIA/CASI Level 1 exam runs over three days — both riding and teaching are assessed. With all the prep, and huge support from the crew and coaches, you’ll be ready. We celebrate the milestone with a legendary Nonstop party. There’s also time to explore the backcountry with ski touring or just ride for the love of it — you’ve earned it.

Here’s how your 4-week journey in Fernie is set to unfold — a taste of the instructor life, Nonstop style. This is a guideline and may flex.

Week 1 +

Week 2 +

Week 3 +

Week 4 +

Resort

Fernie is a ski mecca with cult status for its deep powder, adventurous terrain and authentically Canadian town, just a few of the reasons Nonstop was founded here. Set in southeast British Columbia, it receives mega amounts of annual snowfall and has the biggest vertical in Canadian Rockies.

Resort Spec +

Average Snowfall

30 ft

Vertical

3,550 ft

Skiable Acres

2,500+

Alpine Bowls

Terrain
Powder
Culture
Nightlife

Fernie is a skier’s dream: raw, rugged and endlessly rideable. Home to five legendary alpine bowls – Cedar, Lizard, Currie, Timber and Siberia – this mountain is built for exploration. Whether you're carving groomers or dropping into steep chutes, Fernie serves up some of the most varied and exciting terrain in North America.

Fernie’s snowfall is the stuff of legend. With an average of 10 metres per season, it’s one of the snowiest resorts in the Rockies – and the quality is just as impressive as the quantity. A combination of the horse-shoe shape of the bowls, local weather systems and Pacific fronts are to thank for Fernie’s frequent dumps and feather-light flakes.

Fernie isn’t your typical purpose-built ski resort – it’s a real-deal mountain town full of soul, character, and community. Tucked into the southeast corner of British Columbia and rooted in mining heritage, Fernie is shaped by powder-loving locals who live for the mountain. When it dumps over 20cm, shops have been known to close – because skiing takes priority. Historic downtown adds to the charm, with indie shops, craft coffee spots, a vintage cinema, and a community that welcomes newcomers like old friends.

Fernie’s nightlife strikes a perfect balance: lively when it wants to be, low-key when you need it. The scene spans live bands at The Northern, cocktails at Fernie Distillers, and open mic nights at The Brickhouse. Après is more relaxed than Europe, but still has a strong pulse. At the base of the hill, the Griz Bar is the go-to hangout – pitchers of Kokanee flow, pool tables stay busy, and the sun deck comes alive in spring.

Terrain +

Powder +

Culture +

Nightlife +

Coaching

Get ready for four solid weeks of focused development — the kind of coaching that transforms your skiing and sets you up to pass your CSIA Level 1. Whether you’re carving clean arcs, smashing moguls, or learning how to demo, our team of seasoned pros will take your skiing and teaching to a whole new level. We’ll help you learn the CSIA framework and boost your all-mountain confidence, all while tearing around Fernie’s legendary terrain.

Coaching Spec +

Group Size

Groups

By Ability

Coaches

Level 3/4

Video Analysis

Yes

Sessions
1-2-1
Groups
Coaches
Qualifications

Each week features four full days of coaching — a mix of technical drills, teaching practice and freeride sessions. You’ll be learning how to teach, improving your own technique, and getting stuck into everything Fernie has to offer. From carving on groomers to charging through trees, no day is the same.

Before your Level 1 exam, you’ll get a 1-2-1 session with a coach — a chance to sharpen your skills, fine-tune your technique, and get clarity on anything you’re unsure of. It’s your time to focus on personal goals and set yourself up to pass with confidence.

With no more than 8 skiers per coach, our group sizes are small and tight-knit. You’ll be grouped with riders of similar ability and mindset, creating a dynamic environment for progression, peer support, and good times on the hill. It’s one of the best parts of the Nonstop experience.

The coaching team is packed with top-level pros — CSIA Level 3 and 4 instructors with serious experience and a passion for helping skiers succeed. They’ll push your riding, walk you through the CSIA system, and share their knowledge of the industry. You’ll rotate between coaches each week to benefit from different perspectives, teaching styles, and skillsets — great for both progression and future instructor work.

You’ll be training toward the CSIA Level 1, the gateway to becoming a certified instructor. The final week of the course is dedicated to the three-day Level 1 assessment, which evaluates both your skiing and your ability to teach beginners. We see consistently high pass rates — and you’ll be prepped and ready to crush it.

Sessions +

1-2-1 +

CSIA L1 Ski Instructor Course

Scroll for full course details or download the Course Guide

Course Spec

Terrain

Ability

Age

Nationality

Course Spec

Terrain +

Ability Ability Guide +

Ability

Age +

Nationality +

Overview

Full Course Story 4 Weeks in Fernie, Canada

Who’s It For +

Technical Goals +

Required Experience +

Mandatory Equipment +

Why Ski with Nonstop +

Week 1 +

Week 2 +

Week 3 +

Week 4 +

Resort Spec +

Terrain +

Powder +

Culture +

Nightlife +

Coaching Spec +

Sessions +

1-2-1 +

Groups +

Coaches +

Qualifications +

Meet Your Coaches +

Experiences +

Workshops +

Socials +

How It Works +

Red Tree Lodge +

What's Included

On Snow

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+

+

Accommodation and Meals

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Travel

Other

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Not Included

Optional Extras

Dates & Prices

How To Book

Where To Meet

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Why We're Different

Expert Coaching

Authentic Travel

Good People

Expert Coaching

Authentic Travel

Good People

Ability
Ability Guide
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