Life as a snowsports instructor

Spending your days on the slopes sharing your passion with others. It’s not a bad way to earn your living. But what is it really like to lead the life of a ski or snowboard instructor?

From the teaching and money to the travel and keeping fit, here’s an insight into a life in the mountains.

You get to ski, all winter

The life of a ski or snowboard instructor centres around pursuing a passion for your sport. It’s this passion that gets you hooked and into the industry in the first place. Charging through a tree line in snow so deep you wonder how you’re floating, stomping a new trick for the first time in the terrain park, or flowing swiftly from edge to edge on perfect corduroy.

As an instructor, you get to live in some of the most spectacular settings in the world and ski for several months of the year. Whether teaching others, freeriding with pals, touring the backcountry or lapping the park, you’re on snow almost every day in the untamed outdoors.

A rewarding job

Teaching is extremely rewarding work. You get to share your knowledge of a sport you love with new people and hopefully have a positive impact on their future progression in the discipline. It gives you a real sense of pride to be a part of a community that inspires people to enjoy the mountains.

But it's not all glamour, all the time. You’ll be faced with all kinds of lessons, from groups of nervous first-timers to over-energetic kids, and you must adapt your teaching to get the best from your students.

As a rookie, it’s likely that you’ll spend a lot of your season teaching beginners and children. And while this may not be the ultimate goal, such lessons can be super fun and rewarding. Helping people dial their first turns and seeing their stoked faces as they come down the slope is hugely satisfying.

Hard work pays off and if you put in the seasons, the rewards will come. As you rise the ranks you'll receive more varied work and be able to teach higher-level lessons. Longer-term, you could end up coaching athletes or training future instructors.

It's about experience

The amount of work you get will depend on your resort and ski school as well as your level of qualification and experience. Depending on the employer, you may be guaranteed a minimum number of hours per week. Usually you can expect to work 7 days a week during the busy periods (Christmas, New Year, school holidays), and 4-6 days per week during the quieter periods of the season.

Work can be unpredictable at times and as a rookie instructor you are likely to be lower in the priority list when lessons are being assigned, so it’s wise to take any work when it’s available. As you gain experience and rise the instructor levels, you’ll ascend the pecking order and be the first to be allocated lessons.

For your own well-being and enjoyment of the sport, it’s important to have sufficient time off. During peak season, you may find yourself working two or three weeks without a break, which is great for the bank, but gives you little time to ride for yourself. You’ll want to work when required, so make sure you’re healthy and rested enough so you have the energy to head up the hill on your days off.

Sustaining the lifestyle

If you embark on a career as an instructor, chances are you’re not motivated by money. This career path is about leading an outdoor life in the mountains, but that’s not to say you can’t earn a good living. If you manage your money well, there is usually a chance to save while still enjoying an epic season.

Pay varies massively depending on the country, the employer and your level of experience. You will usually get paid per hour for the time you work. It’s relatively uncommon, but some snowsports schools may provide a base salary even if you don’t receive the anticipated work.

On top of your basic package, there are ways to earn extra money. If you do a good job and are requested for lessons, you may receive a higher hourly rate or earn a bonus. Tipping is common in some countries and there are plenty of stories of some rather generous clients rewarding their instructors handsomely.

Many ski schools also offer opportunities of other work outside of instructing, so put your hand up when this is available. It could be anything from shovelling snow to helping during events at the resort.

Finding work

In choosing where to base yourself for the season, the world is your oyster. You could be spending up to six months in resort so you want to feel like it’s the right fit for what you want to achieve. When deciding where to spend your winter, you need to be familiar with where your qualifications are recognised and whether you need a visa.

There are many resorts and snowsports schools to choose from. It’s wise to apply early and send out lots of applications. You don’t always have the luxury of choosing the resort in which you spend your season teaching. You may apply to ten snowsports schools in different parts of the world but, for whatever reason, only get an offer from one.

If you do have some options, it’s a good idea to take your time selecting a place that will suit your goals. Whether that means the size of the resort, the amount and quality of the training, how much work you want/need, the average snowfall or even whether they have a good terrain park.

When you’re starting out, don’t just apply to the big-name resorts, as these will be inundated with applications. It can play to your favour to work at smaller ski hills as a rookie; these resorts are often short-staffed, so you’ll receive lots of work and gain experience quickly.

Travelling the world

One of the best parts of being an instructor is the opportunity to travel. You literally have a ticket to explore the world and work in countries far and wide. From Canada to New Zealand to Japan, each winter opens new doors and new possibilities.

Living and working in a country lets you see it from a local's perspective and over the course of a season you'll get to intricately know the ski area. And before heading onto your next adventure, the shoulder seasons provide the perfect opportunity to explore the country beyond its mountain perimeters.

The only real downside of a globe-trotting life is being away from family and friends, although living in the mountains just serves as an excellent excuse for your nearest and dearest to visit you.

Training your way to the top

To progress your career as an instructor, it’s important to continue investing time in your training. Developing your skills and knowledge keeps you motivated and enables you to provide the best service to your clients. Until you reach the top, your sights will always be set on the next level of certification.

Most snowsports schools offer free training sessions led by senior pros to challenge your teaching and technique. This is a huge perk and one you should take advantage of as much as you can. Who knows, you could be leading the sessions one day.

Your equipment

Having the right equipment is vital for any instructor. A well fitted pair of boots and a suitable set of skis or boards for different conditions makes a huge difference to your enjoyment of the season.

Learning how to choose and take care of your gear is important. Equipment is expensive and, although you’ll be able to secure pro deals, it may not be viable to get a new set up every year. Learning how to service your gear will save you money and give you a sense of professionalism.

It will also serve you well to develop your knowledge on the specifications of boots and skis/boards. This will not only help your skiing but also your ability to pass on that information to your students.

Your ski family

Ski communities are famously strong and great fun to be a part of. From the locals to your clients, you get to meet people from all walks of life. There's always something going on, and always people up for an adventure.

You'll be surrounded by like-minded folk that will become your ski family. You help each other with all kinds of things, from car rides to the supermarket to getting in some extra training for an upcoming ski exam. By the end of the season, you'll have invitations to visit friends all over the world.

Keeping fit and HEALTHY

The job of a ski or snowboard instructor can be physically and mentally tiring. Every day, you need to be ready to perform, however you feel and whatever the conditions.

To get the most enjoyment from your season, it’s important you remain fit and injury-free. You'll want to ensure you get enough sleep, eat a well-balanced diet, keep your equipment in good condition, exercise regularly, and take a rest when you need to.

Warming up in the morning, stretching in the evening, regularly practicing yoga, and knowing when to call it a day, all play in role in keeping injuries at bay. Of course, being part of a social ski community and letting loose will also help to keep you on top form.

Flexibility in the off-season

Being a ski or snowboard instructor gives you the ultimate flexibility for summer, whether you want to chase winter, travel or find other employment avenues.

Some instructors choose to tail the snow around the world with back-to-back seasons, following up northern hemisphere winters with a southern hemisphere seasons.

In non-alpine nations such as the UK, there are increasingly more opportunities to instruct at snowdomes or dry slopes, where you’ll receive consistent work volume and gain valuable experience.

Away from snow, you develop many skills as a snowsports instructor which set you up to pursue other opportunities, from leading group tours to mountain biking and raft guiding. If you want to continue to lead an outdoor lifestyle, it's there for the taking.

Ready to commit?

Ready to commit to the life of a snowsports instructor? Make it happen with our ski instructor courses / snowboard instructor courses.