Are all ski instructors expert skiers? If you’re thinking of becoming an instructor, one of your biggest questions will be, “am I good enough to be a ski instructor?”. You might even be a little intimidated when you think of instructors. Most people picture a skier flawlessly negotiating moguls, or ripping down a race course. But the truth is far from this.
As long as you are willing to put in the time and effort to focus on your goal of becoming a ski instructor, most ability levels can get into the industry. You’ll need to have some experience skiing of course. But, read below to find out exactly what the basic standards are so you’ll know if your good enough to become a ski instructor.
How to Become a Ski Instructor
The Base Level of Ski Instructor Training
In your skiing, you’ll want to be comfortably making fully parallel, controlled turns down an intermediate ski slope (red/blue). If you can ski with consistent speed, making fairly even and rounded turns then you’re on the right track to start ski instructor training. You certainly don’t need perfect technique. You might be forcing the turns with your upper body a little or not changing edges as smooth as you’ll like. Your training will help you refine your turns with a better understanding of the mechanics of skiing.
Many ski instructor organisations offer different levels of qualification, being progressively more difficult as you work your way through them. When starting out, you’ll be looking at the entry level one training and exam. If you’re not familiar with the different levels or how you can progress through them, take a look at our simple guide below.
A Simple Guide to Snowsports Instructor Qualifications
When starting out as a ski instructor, it’s not about being the best skier, but about making changes to become one. Just as important as the baseline ability, is the willingness to change your skiing habits.
How Good of a Skier are you Really?
So now you know the standard needed to train as a ski instructor, but are you sure of your ability level? It’s important to be honest with yourself about how good you are as a skier. Ski instructor training is an amazing experience so it’s important to go in with the right mindset. It’s not about how fast you are, or which black runs you can get down. When it comes to knowing how good of a skier you are, it comes down to how you handle yourself on the slopes.
Think back to the last time you were skiing. What ski runs were you most confident on? How did your skis react in the snow? Did you feel stable enough to try something new and stay in control? Remember, you don’t need to be a perfect skier. You’ll want to be truly confident and comfortable at an intermediate level to really get the most out of your ski instructor training.
What if I’m a Low-Intermediate Skier
It’s a common concern to worry whether your skiing ability is good enough or not. You might be an intermediate skier but with limited experience. Or you might be comfortable skiing intermediate slopes at a slower pace. If you feel like you only just make the minimum for how good you need to be, consider a longer training course option.
You can train to be a ski instructor in lots of different ways. From short intensive courses to full winter training. If you only just make the minimum ability, or you only have a few weeks of ski experience, the longer course is the best option for you. Many people have made huge improvements in both ability and confidence on a longer training course. These courses allow for so much more time to improve. So you’ll be feeling more than ready when it’s time for your ski instructor exams. As long as you focus and put the effort in, you can successfully become a ski instructor. Even if you only have a couple of ski holidays worth of experience.
Ski Instructor Exam Levels. How Good Do I Need to Be to Pass Those?
You might be considering a training course that includes more than the level one instructor exam. Depending on the ski instructor system, there are usually three or four levels of certification. Ski instructor level two and above will require more advanced technique and teaching ability than the introductory level one.
As a very simple guide, you can see below a basic breakdown of the skills required after a ski instructor level one exam.
Level 2
Level two ski instructors will demonstrate refined and efficient movements showing good grip and snow contact throughout the turn on an intermediate slope. At this level we start to see thinner tracks from your skis and more carving than steering.
Level 3
Level three ski instructors will demonstrate advanced and efficient movements in carved turns on intermediate to advanced slopes. They will also show more variety being examined on bumps and powder/off piste.
Level 4/Trainer Level
Level four ski instructors will demonstrate advanced and efficient movements in pure carved turns on advanced slopes. They are able to coach ski racing and advanced moguls. They will show expert level demonstrations in all snow types and be expected to demonstrate that they can improve their peer’s ability as well. It usually takes multiple winter seasons and teaching experience to reach this level.
As you work your way up the different levels, the skills you show will become more challenging. This could be with higher speed, steeper slopes or different terrain such as bumps or moguls.
How to Pass a Ski (or Snowboard) Instructor Exam
The truth is, many intermediate skiers are good enough to start training and become a ski instructor. Getting into teaching skiing is progressive, it’s designed to be welcoming to anyone. While it’s certainly challenging to reach the very top of the qualification system, the entry levels are very accessible to many. So throw out those preconceptions that only elite skiers are good enough to become ski instructors. If you want to train to be a ski instructor, there are plenty of options open to you.
If you have any questions about if you’re good enough to be a ski instructor, get in touch and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction.
