Questions about becoming a ski instructor

[skiNEwhere]

I'm hoping to be one next year. But the problem is, while I think I am a pretty good skier and maintain good technique even on more technical terrain, I really don't know how to teach someone else. Skiing is like walking to me, you can't explain how you do it, you, ya know, just do it.

Do resorts teach you how to teach skiers? Do they start you off teaching a certain skill group (beginner, intermediate, advanced), age group (children or adults), or group size (private vs group)?

What do resorts look for when hiring instructors?

I'm sure it depends on your specialty at more prestigious resorts like Vail or Aspen, I'll be looking to teach at Loveland or Copper though since they are only 45 minutes and 1 hour away, respectively.

 

[snoseek]

Do you communicate well with others? I think that's probably the most important thing, the area will teach you their way of teaching if so. I would go to LL as its so close to your house and you can avoid the tunnel, I despise that tunnel and would not want to be forced to travel through for work. Also I'm pretty sure they have an excellent exchange with other areas to ski, Not Vail resorts though.

You could probably go down thee and talk to them right now, I bet they are still taking on new instructors.

 

[gmcunni]

I've given some thought to pursuing this myself. my kids are growing up and don't want to ski with me, wife doesn't ski. problem is i don't like other people's kids and not high on patience.

 

[Nick]

If your looking for a reason to ski more or discounted passes you could consider becoming a ski patrol instead, my father did that for a few years in Europe. Not sure what the qualifications are though in terms of any special medical training or if you just need first aid \ CPR

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[skiNEwhere]

I've thought about ski patrol too, that is much harder in the fact that you need to ski with a tobogin that could weight 200+ pounds, and I know for a fact you need some medical training. Not ruling it out though, but I think it is a lot harder to get a ski patroler job than instructor because there are so many less spots.

What's the difference between certified and non-certified instructors?

 

[Blizzard of Wahhs]

patience is of utmost value for introducing gentiles to the truth

 

[gmcunni]

What's the difference between certified and non-certified instructors?

uh, the certificate?

 

[Nick]

patience is of utmost value for introducing gentiles to the truth

That's true... I have zero patience. I would be a horrible, horrible instructor of anything. It's just not me, and I recognize that.... my wife on the flipside is a school teacher and she is amazing at teaching anyone new things. It's definitely an art as much as a skill.

 

[KevinF]

Your skiing skill doesn't matter that much. You're just going to be teaching beginners anyway. Once you get to PSIA-L2 you'll be qualified to start teaching intermediates. The vast majority of lessons are for beginners though anyway.

The ski area you are at will teach you their progression of how to coach beginners into intermediate skiers. They'll give you the basics, and you'll probably "shadow" a bunch of lessons (i.e., tag along behind a more experienced instructor and watch and learn from them). There's a variety of PSIA coaching sessions available which you'll need to take advantage of in order to further improve your teaching ability.

So that leaves patience, personality, communication skills and patience. You're going to miss out on some powder days while you're stuck on the bunny hill doing wedge turns. You're going to have to get a mind set that you'd rather be doing that then skiing.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Your skiing skill doesn't matter that much. You're just going to be teaching beginners anyway. Once you get to PSIA-L2 you'll be qualified to start teaching intermediates. The vast majority of lessons are for beginners though anyway.

The ski area you are at will teach you their progression of how to coach beginners into intermediate skiers. They'll give you the basics, and you'll probably "shadow" a bunch of lessons (i.e., tag along behind a more experienced instructor and watch and learn from them). There's a variety of PSIA coaching sessions available which you'll need to take advantage of in order to further improve your teaching ability.

So that leaves patience, personality, communication skills and patience. You're going to miss out on some powder days while you're stuck on the bunny hill doing wedge turns. You're going to have to get a mind set that you'd rather be doing that then skiing.

Most of what you say is true, especially about missing out on powder days. I can't count how many times that happened or too tired to enjoy the snow because I was exhausted from a day of teaching.

The only thing I disagree with is that you don't need to pay dues, take a test, and have a stupid level 2 pin to qualify you to teach intermediates. I have taught at 3 mountains over the years and the most I ever got was my level 1. I taught plenty of legit level 6 and 7s as well as a few 8s. Yes, when you first start it will mostly be level 1s but it's not hard to work your way up.

 

[gmcunni]

I have taught at 3 mountains over the years and the most I ever got was my level 1.

just curious, is it pretty easy to get a teaching job or do you have to know people to get your foot in the door at a particular mountain?

 

[Cheese]

I can't speak for the west, but in the east with the crack down on immigration laws, the mountains are hurting for instructors. This is a seasonal job involving a lot of weekends and holidays so not really in high demand. You don't even need to know how to ski as resorts instruct instructors during the early weeks so that they're ready to teach by Christmas and February vacation weeks. Your answers are probably just a phone call and interview away.

 

[MadMadWorld]

just curious, is it pretty easy to get a teaching job or do you have to know people to get your foot in the door at a particular mountain?

I firsted started in HS at Wachusett and had to go through their instructor training course. When I went away to college, I just walked in to the ski school and spoke with the director and basically told them where I worked and who my direct supervisor was. They sent me out on early season clinics just to make sure I was qualified and that was always enough to get me the job. Certification is usually your best bet though. If you change mountains, it let's the director know right off the bat that you are qualified.

 

[KevinF]

Most of what you say is true, especially about missing out on powder days. I can't count how many times that happened or too tired to enjoy the snow because I was exhausted from a day of teaching.

The only thing I disagree with is that you don't need to pay dues, take a test, and have a stupid level 2 pin to qualify you to teach intermediates. I have taught at 3 mountains over the years and the most I ever got was my level 1. I taught plenty of legit level 6 and 7s as well as a few 8s. Yes, when you first start it will mostly be level 1s but it's not hard to work your way up.

This must be something that varies by mountain. I taught for two years at a small area in Pennsylvania, and they adhered to the PSIA guidelines (i.e., L1's were only qualified to teach beginners, etc.). It makes sense that different mountains would have different policies on who can teach what lessons.

 

[KevinF]

just curious, is it pretty easy to get a teaching job or do you have to know people to get your foot in the door at a particular mountain?

Several mountains have ITCs (Instructor Training Course) that's open to any warm body. Wachusett does, I think Killington does as well. There they'll go over the basics of how to teach skiing, the progression that they use -- i.e., your job training.

If you pass (and I find it inconceivable that somebody could fail the ITC... maybe if you ran over the group during the on-the-snow session), they'll offer you a job. Going to another mountain and saying that you completed an ITC is probably enough to get you in the door.

 

[dmc]

I personally could never work in the ski industry.. I like to keep work and fun FAR apart...

that's just me.. Most of my friends are either on NSP or instructors...

I make pay for my season pass playing music at the lodge..

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

i'd skip the instructor ( i did it for a season) and go patrol....lots of hanging around, piss-poor pay....a guy i was teaching with was a pilot and summed it up best...." there is 3 pages in the manual on how to land a F14 on a carrier, there are 15 pages in PIAA manual on how to do a proper wedge christie..."

at least with patrolling you are skiing.....

 

[gmcunni]

not to go too far off OP's topic but what, in general, is considered the "best" job on the mountain in terms of maximizing personal ski time?

ambassador/guest service? see them all over just skiing and chatting and handing out hot chocolate coupons... don't see (or notice) them doing other stuff which i'm sure comes along with the job.

 

[Cheese]

I personally could never work in the ski industry.. I like to keep work and fun FAR apart...

that's just me.. Most of my friends are either on NSP or instructors...

I make pay for my season pass playing music at the lodge..

+1

I instructed part-time for 15 consecutive years. I honestly don't miss it anymore and although I no longer have the benefit of a complimentary season pass I do enjoy far more ski days with family and friends that I couldn't join while working. Even the benefit of a season pass doesn't seem worth it unless your family and friends have one too. If they're hopping between resorts chasing deals, it's nice to be able to have the freedom to hop with them.

 

[MadMadWorld]

not to go too far off OP's topic but what, in general, is considered the "best" job on the mountain in terms of maximizing personal ski time?

ambassador/guest service? see them all over just skiing and chatting and handing out hot chocolate coupons... don't see (or notice) them doing other stuff which i'm sure comes along with the job.

Has to be. Ambassadors get to ski a ton without all the responsibility that comes with being an instructor or patrol.