Being a ski instructor is one of the most unique jobs in the world. One unlike any other out there, it gives you so many benefits other than simply being able to ski every day. Which of course you can do and it’s amazing! Many ski instructors will say “I only planned to work one or two seasons” while struggling to remember which season number they’re now on. It gets tricky to remember after about 10 or so winters.
Whether you spend a gap year teaching skiing, or it turns into your life career, instructing is exceptionally rewarding. It’s a great experience for anyone. Here’s a few reasons why you should become a ski instructor. It’s certainly not all of them, it would be too long otherwise.
How to Become a Ski Instructor
1. Ski Instructor – One of the Most Rewarding Jobs You’ll Ever Do
Ok so it might not be building an orphanage in a developing country, but teaching someone to ski is exceptionally rewarding. As a ski instructor, you’ll go home everyday knowing you made a change in someone’s life. You helped them learn a new skill, gain confidence or maybe even took their focus off their work, relationships or anything weighing on their mind.
We’re not going as far to say all ski instructors are life changers and miracle workers. Sometimes our ego gets a little big and it’s not good to stoke that fire too much. But, spending time with someone, maybe out of their comfort zone, while they’re achieving something new gives you that same buzz they’re experiencing.
We’re only human. So when someone says “that makes so much sense now!”, “I never thought I’d be able to do that” or “I’m so happy I can ski on the same slopes as my kids, thank you”, you can’t help but feel like you’ve done something that matters to someone. You’ve made a positive change to a person’s individual situation, and that is always something worth doing.
2. Be the Best Skier You Can Be
Why become a ski instructor? To be the best skier you can, right? That’s a popular answer and when you picture a ski instructor you’ll know why. If you have a passion for snow, you’ll want some impressive skills and the ability to ride all the secret spots on the mountain.
Becoming a ski instructor gives you access to the best resource in progressing your skills; other people. Your fellow ski instructors will be into lots of different ways of skiing. When you ride together there’s always something new to pickup for your own skiing. There’s a reason why many pro skiers and snowboarders will say their biggest achievements were inspired or learned from others.
Each ski school will also have trainers on the team. They’ll teach too but their main role is to run improvement sessions for you. Trainers are some of the most experienced and highest qualified ski instructors out there. They’ve improved and inspired countless instructors and helped them through different levels of qualifications. There’s no better place to improve your own skills than in a ski school.
Am I Good Enough to be a Ski Instructor?
3. Make Lifelong Friends
The social aspect can be a huge part of being a ski instructor. If you want to meet people from all over the world, make connections and friends for life, being a ski instructor is a great way to do that. Ski schools are usually filled with international staff. You’ll find so many interesting people working a ski season.
A ski season will give you some of your best moments. From riding unbelievable powder to drunken karaoke at 2am, sharing unique experiences with people leads to lifelong memories. You never really know who you’ll meet on a ski season or what impact you’ll have on each other’s lives. Many ski instructors have friends around the world that they get to travel and see each year.
4. Travel as a Ski Instructor
Want to see the world? How about the best ski resorts around? If you’ve got the travel bug then you already have one of your answers to why be a ski instructor? Many ski instructors work and travel in new countries all of the time. Picture yourself arriving in a new ski town. You might be thinking of snow covered log cabins at the foot of a beautiful mountain in Austria. Perhaps Japanese temples surrounded by powder? Becoming a ski instructor is a unique way to experience new cultures and places.
One of the best parts of travelling is meeting new people and seeing different cultures. As a ski instructor, you’ll get to live in new places, not just visit. You’ll meet more people and get to know them better. You might want to learn a new language, or do something you’ve never tried before.
After your winter season, you can travel around and experience even more. Many ski instructors spend time seeing more of the world in between seasons. For example, you could spend your northern winter in Canada before, travel around Europe and then head out to New Zealand for the other winter.
How to Work as a Year Round Ski Instructor
5. Learn What Makes People Tick
People take a ski lesson because they want to learn to ski right? Not always. Actually it seems like more often than not, the answer is no. Humans are complex, confusing and funny creatures. When you start teaching, you’ll quickly realise that everyone thinks in vastly different ways. As a rookie ski instructor, you’ll have plenty of “why on earth are they doing that?!” moments. A quick example is a guest pointing their skis uphill and asking you why they’re sliding backwards down the hill. Something that seems completely obvious to one person can be entirely missed by another.
Few things will give you an insight into someone’s mind than strapping planks of wood to the feet of an office worker who doesn’t do much sport. It’s truly fascinating to interact with someone outside of their comfort zone. You’ll need to learn how to think outside the box, be creative and connect with people. It’s an experience few think of when they as, why be a ski instructor? But, it’s something that will make your job even more interesting.
6. Earn More Money as a Ski Instructor
In some resorts, ski instructors are some of the highest paid in the mountains. Before you get carried away, you’re not going to be living in a penthouse overlooking the slopes. But for most seasonal positions, ski instructors earn more. And while you don’t get into teaching skiing for the money, everyone has to pay bills.
Not only is the wage usually higher for ski instructors, there can be bonuses. You’ll get a free lift pass that you can use in your free time. As well as that, some guests may tip you and some ski schools pay more if the guest requests you for their lesson. Along with this, there’s usually instructor discounts on skis and other equipment. There’s a lot of potential to earn good money while doing your dream job!
Money should of course never be your main motivation for becoming a ski instructor, but it’s a great bonus. It’s never the only answer to the question, why be a ski instructor? But, it’s a great bonus when working a seasonal job. It can even help turn your passion into a career. There are some ski instructors who spend their winters teaching private lessons around the world, and their summer relaxing and travelling.
How to Pass a Ski instructor Exam
7. Build Valuable Skills
It doesn’t matter if you want to do one season or 100. The skills you’ll pick up are lifelong and will help you in any industry. Communication, patience and problem solving are key elements of a good ski instructor. Teaching people in real world situations will allow you to develop these skills no matter how strong they already are.
You’ll learn how to not only give clear instructions, but to understand people and their emotions better. When teaching groups of skiers, figuring out group dynamics is really important. You’ll develop ways to get the best from your students. Are they young or old, fearless or reserved? How about a mixed group? Changing how you give information depending on the person is a crucial skill that will help you for the rest of your life. Becoming a ski instructor will challenge you to be a strong communicator.
A Simple Guide to Snowsports Instructor Qualifications
Final Thoughts
Why be a ski instructor? There’s no one answer, but so many great reasons to spend a season in the snow. It’s one of the best things you can do, giving you new experiences, friendships and challenges. Hopefully you’re excited to start this new part of your life. If you’d like more information on how to become a ski instructor, check out our guide here.
