One of the best things about being a ski instructor is that no two days are the same. There’s always something new and exciting in your day. But to understand what a day in the life of being a ski instructor is like, read on for some things to look forward to.
Being a ski instructor is not just about working though. It’s about the lifestyle you get to lead. So you’ll see a day in the life of a ski instructor while working, and on your day off.
How to Become a Ski Instructor
A Working Day in the Life of a Ski Instructor
Let’s take a look at a work day in the life of a ski instructor. You’ll spend most of your time teaching skiing during a season. It’s great fun and puts your ski instructor training to the test.
Starting your Day
Getting up early has it’s benefits as a ski instructor. Many ski resorts actually open slopes exclusively for staff to ride first thing in the morning. This might be for training, or simply a chance to get one or two hot laps in before work. Imagine getting some untouched powder or skiing a perfectly groomed piste before you start work!
So an early alarm, a quick breakfast and ripping down some of the best terrain is how you’ll start your day. It sets you up for a great day!
Ski Lesson Line Up
Now it’s time to head to what’s called a lesson line up. This is where ski instructors meet in the morning and lessons are assigned. You’ll usually have a quick meeting with your ski school supervisors, then you’ll meet your first guests of the day.
You’ll be assigned a ski lesson level, such as beginner, intermediate etc. The guests will start to arrive and you’ll welcome them into your group. You’ll be working with other ski instructors to make sure everyone is in the right lesson and set for the day. Now you have your group, it’s time for the lesson to begin.
Teaching your Ski Lesson
Your lesson has begun and it’s up to you as to where to take your group and what to teach them. You’ll spend your time getting to know the people in your lesson and using your training as a ski instructor to help them learn.
If you’ve been given a group of first time skiers, you’ll be introducing them to all the fun of skiing. Lower level ski groups spend most of their time in the learner area. You’ll have the best time teaching your guests everything from how to put their skis on to turning on easy slopes. There’s tons of fun along the way as everyone learns differently and has different personalities.
If your group is more advanced, you could be teaching anywhere on the whole mountain. You’ll get to ski all over the resort with your guests, giving them new things to try along the way. One of the best things about a day in the life as a ski instructor is showing your guests new areas.
You might have a full day lesson, or multiple lessons throughout you day. It depends on the ski school and how they organise lessons. If you’re teaching multiple lessons, you’ll get to meet more people and maybe teach different ability levels in one day. This keeps you on your toes as you switch tactics and teaching from lesson to lesson.
The Perfect Ski Instructor Resume
After you Finish Work
Your day is finished as a ski instructor. But the skiing doesn’t have to stop if you don’t want it to. There’s usually time after your lesson to ski a few laps, or into the night if your resort has night skiing available. It’s up to you, but there’s plenty of things to do after your lessons are over, or you can simply head home and relax with your housemates.
After working as a ski instructor, it’s popular to head out for some drinks, food, or maybe a game of pool or two with your friends. It’s a really social life as a ski instructor. There’s plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends when you’re working, on your days off and after work.
Days Off in the Life of a Ski Instructor
Remember, being a ski instructor gives you a lifestyle so many dream of. Not only do you get to spend your days teaching people a sport that you love, you get to explore the mountain with great friends on your days off
Starting your Day
Set that alarm early again, especially if it’s a powder day. No day in the life of a ski instructor is complete without some excellent skiing, and powder is the best of all. If you’ve ever been on holiday and missed those powder days due to bad timing, that’s not going to be a problem anymore.
As a ski instructor, you’ll spend a whole winter skiing. You can be on the mountain every single day if you want to. So an early start and a quick breakfast means you’ll be up for first lifts and fresh lines. Get to the goods before anyone else does.
Skiing During your Day Off
You’ll spend your day skiing the freshest powder, ripping perfectly groomed trails or lapping the park. All that training as a ski instructor will have made you such a better skier, able to ride the best trails all over the mountain.
As a seasonaire, you’ll also learn all the secret spots. Being a ski instructor means that you’ll meet other instructors who know the mountain better than anyone else. You’ll very quickly discover those areas that still have untouched snow at the end of the day. You’ll learn how to avoid the crowds at different times of the day. The mountain will become your own personal ski area.
A day off in the life of a ski instructor means riding with great friends, finding new areas and pushing your skills further than you ever thought.
Evenings Off
Like your days off, the evening is your choice. Relax at home or spend your time hanging out with other seasonaire friends. There’s usually so much to do in a ski resort. Popular options are the bars and restaurants, but there’s also usually ice rinks, indoor climbing, trampoline parks, gyms, cinemas and so much more in many ski resorts now.
Ski instructors are active people. So if you love to try new things and meet new people, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in a ski town.
How to Become a Ski Instructor
So there you have an idea of a day in the life of a ski instructor. Teaching skiing and the lifestyle that comes with it is so varied that it’s unique to everyone. Every day is different, new challenges, new people and new places to ski. If you not only want to live in the mountains, but to experience the best of that life, being a ski instructor is one of the best ways to to it.
