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May people all over the world dream about becoming a skiing instructor. The glamour, the tan and the life style are just a few of the reasons why people are drawn to this dynamic and rewarding career. Want to do what you love everyday, in fantastic locations, surrounded by feel-good vibes? If your answer is yes, please continue reading this article and allow me to assist you on the road to Ski Godliness.
Why Become a Ski Instructor
Get Paid to Ski
Becoming a ski instructor isn’t a road to riches, however, as outdoorsy jobs go, you can defiantly earn above the norm. Of course you will need start at the bottom, but the more you work the quicker you will gain experience needed to earn more.
Travel Opportunities
One of the main benefits of becoming a skiing instructor are the travel opportunities. As a ski Instructor you have the ability to work for ski resorts all over the world. There are even opportunities to switch hemispheres each season.
Job Satisfaction
Sharing your passion is always rewarding. As a ski instructor you will not only have the satisfaction of seeing yourself grow both personally and technically. Helping others to achieve their goals, can bring immense job satisfaction and create a real feel-good vibe.
The Mountains
Stuck in the rat race or want to get away from city life? As a ski instructor you will be spoilt. Wake up everyday to blue skies and epic scenery. Commute to the mountaintops via chairlift, to take on daily challenges and meet new exciting people.
Pro Deals
Who doesn’t love a pro deal or a discount? Once you’re qualified as a ski instructor, you will gain access to discounted lift tickets, equipment, accommodation and everything els needed to support your new career.
Life as a Ski Instructor
Working as a ski instructor seems like a close to a perfect job, however, it is not all goggle-tans and apres-ski. While it all sounds like fun and games, and trust me there is a lot of fun. To be become successful ski instructor you will also have to dedicate a lot of time and money to training and education.
Ski Instructors Salary
There are many variables that influence the salary of a ski instructor, such as the country, the resort, the employer, your qualifications and experience.
Hourly rate 2022
- France: €25 to €60
- Germany: €20 to €60
- Norway: Kr.190 to Kr.300
- United Kingdom: £8.25 to £10.30
- Italy: €20 to €60
Ski Instructors Work
Working as a ski instructor is a rollercoaster. Some days are steep, adrenaline filled powder-lines, whilst on others days you’re riding magic carpets and picking up crying children. You need to be ok with working casual hours and not having a fixed income amount. During peak season, you may not get much time off. Although on average work is steady throughout the season, allowing for healthy work-play lifestyle.
Ski Instructors Housing
Discounted accommodation is one of the most important perks of working as a ski instructor, because living in Courchevel, Kitzbühel or St. Mortiz is not cheap. Most resorts offer ski instructor accommodation within their employment contacts. This can range from single room within a hotel to shared self catering apartments.
How to Become a Ski Instructor
Depending on your home nation there are up-to 4 levels of ski instructor certification. The basic entry level 1 up to expert level 4, each nation having slight variations between their training and their assessments. The sweet-spot for most instructors is Level 3 (ISIA), as this allows you to make decent wage whilst working somewhat independently.
Some ski schools will hire unqualified instructors depending on your skiing ability. Although i would not expect to get a full season contract or to coach any high-level ski lessons until you have the qualifications.
As i went through the BASI training system I will describe an overview on the courses are needed to become a ski instructor.
Level 1 Ski Instructor Course
The Level 1 ski Instructor course is an entry level for those wishing to find employment in a non mountain environment i.e. Dry Slopes and Indoor Snowslopes.
The BASI qualification is attained on successful completion of a 5 day training and assessment course, a first aid course, 35 hours of snowsport school experience and a safe guarding children module.
Subjects covered on this course include:
- Ski Safety
- Planning, conducting and evaluating an instructing session
- The principles of how to understand and improve your skiing and ski teaching
- The FIS Rules of Conduct
- The structure of snowsport in the UK and its agencies
- Dealing with accidents and emergencies
Ski performance will require the execution of parallel turns on red and blue runs at a constant speed using a variety of short and long turns. Candidates must also demonstrate knowledge of how to achieve good posture and balance.
More Information can be found at BASI Level 1
BASI Level 1 Course Cost: £435
Course Duration: 5 Day
Level 2 Ski Instructor Course
This is a 10 day on-mountain training and assessment course in which Technical and Teaching skills are developed and assessed. The following subjects are included:
- Central Theme, Piste Performance, Bumps, Steeps, Variable snow and Freestyle
- Technical understanding of the Central Theme and beyond
- Performance analysis of the Central Theme and beyond
- Communication skills
- Developing performance
- Match teaching to customer needs
- Teaching principles
- TIED and the use of teaching tools
- Lesson flow and content
- Climate setting
- Reviewing skills
Successful students will be able to ski to a competent level, and have the knowledge, ability and understanding to safely teach alpine skiing up to and including parallel standard on marked pistes.
More Information can be found at BASI Level 2
BASI Level 2 Course Cost: £670
Course Duration: 10 Day
Level 3 Ski Instructor Course (ISIA)
The gain the infamous Level 3 Ski Instructor awards is a little more difficult than achieving the pervious 2 levels. The International Ski Instructors Award (ISIA) is deigned for lifers already working within the industry or people wishing to make ski instruction their full time career.
More Information can be found at BASI Level 3
BASI Level 3 (ISIA) Modules
Teaching Assessment
BASI Level 3 (ISIA) By the end of the course you will be better equipped to “Make a difference for Learners”. The course will help you to recognise the needs of learners, their preferred styles of learning, their perceptions and the issues that need to be considered in order to help them improve their performance and reach their goals.
BASI Level 2 Course Cost: £435
Course Duration: 4 Day
Technical Assessment
BASI Level 3 (ISIA) training and assessment course is delivered in a mountain environment. By the end of the course you will have improved your own performance level and have a greater understanding of the link between the fundamental elements, the strands beyond Central Theme and the performance threads. You will also be better equipped to analyse performance using the components of the fundamental elements as the way to identify strengths and weaknesses in performance of others.
BASI Level 2 Course Cost: £435
Course Duration: 5 Day
Mountain Safety Level 3
This training and assessment course conducted in a mountain environment, with a one day online pre-requisite.
The objective of the course is to train and assess instructors to lead parties off piste within the ski area boundary.
Practical instruction is given in:
- Equipment selection for off piste use
- Choice of route and leadership techniques
- Use of skins or snowshoes for short uphill sections
- Off piste technique
- Group management and emergency procedures
- Avalanche assessment
- Use of transceivers and navigation
Theory lectures are given on:
- Snow and avalanches
- Navigation
- Mountain weather
- Hypothermia
- Emergencies and responsibilities of a leader
BASI Level 2 Course Cost: £505
Course Duration: 5 Day
Second Discipline
To gain the ISIA qualification you must hold a second discipline at Level 1
- Cross-Country
- Snowboard
- Telemark
- Adaptive
BASI Level 1 Course Cost: £435
Course Duration: 5 Day
Second Language Test
The Second Language test is an oral and aural test designed to assess your ability to communicate in any of the following languages; French, German, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian and Japanese.
BASI Level 1 Course Cost: £10
Course Duration: 10-15 minutes
BASI Coaching Course
This is a 4 day training and assessment course, with a one day online pre-requisite.
The online course “BASI Theory and Coaching” is an ISIA requirement which includes:
- BASI History
- UK Snowsports Industry and Tourism
- Ski Specific Coaching (Alpine Ski Racing)
- Snowboard Specific Coaching (Freestyle)
- General Coaching Theory (All Disciplines)
The BASI coaching course is designed to equip BASI instructors with an understanding and ability to adapt their education gained through their discipline specific instructors’ pathway to the competition environment.
BASI Level 1 Course Cost: £435
Course Duration: 5 day
About the Author
Dave Lamb
Dave is outdoorsman with a passion for sport. In his former year a member of the Great Britain XC skiing & Biathlon Team's. Since 2013 Dave has worked in the outdoor industry as a BASI Trainer and a trainer / assessor for rock climbing, mountain biking and mountaineering instructors. You can usually find him in the backcountry, looking for stories to share.
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