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Ski Patrol at Sun Peaks Resort
Working with Ski Patrol
As part of our instructor training programmes we include some work experience with ski patrol. This has proved to be a very popular part of the schedule and is a great addition to any CV for anyone who is serious about working within the winter sports industry.
Read about our clients experiences at the bottom of this page.
A Patrollers Day
A Ski Patrollers day begins with signing on at 7.00. Then up the mountain before the lifts open to the public. All rescue equipment and ski areas are checked ensuring all the appropriate signs, fences and ropes are in place to warn skiers and snowboarders of any hazards that could cause injury, or inadvertently cause the participant to lose their way. Sometimes due to adverse weather conditions or large overnight snow falls, or sometimes other factors, certain areas have to be closed, and it is the ski patroller’s job to close them.
All runs, fences and equipment are regularly checked throughout the day as skiing and snowboarding activity as well as changing weather can affect the conditions of the slopes. Throughout the day, Ski Patrollers continue to observe and rectify any hazardous situations on the slopes, as wells as attending injuries and accidents.
Top Priority
Provision of first aid and transportation of injured skiers or snowboarders to the Medical Centre is the highest priority on the mountain. The Ski Patrollers are in constant radio communication with each other, and are always positioned on the mountain so they can respond quickly to the needs of an injured party. The response time to an accident is very important and it is the immediate time after an incident that can make all the difference to a person’s safety.
In addition to these activities patrollers are often involved in areas of training, replacement and maintenance of rescue equipment, planning and public relations.
Closing the Mountain
At the end of each day the Ski Patrollers are last to ride the lifts and make a final check ("sweep") of the mountain. Every run has to be checked to make sure there are no skiers or snowboarders remaining. They also assist tired skiers and snowboarders who are on their last run down the mountain. During this closing sweep of the mountain, slow signs, fencing, ski/snowboard racks and park accessories are removed to make way for the piste groomer, and any changes or anomalies are noted for investigation for the following morning.
For more details contact our office + 44 (0) 1736 763402 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Vicky Rutherford - CASI Level 2 and CSIA L1. Adaptive Sports L1- Sun Peaks Resort 2012
“My day shadowing ski patrol started early with a meeting at 7am where the patrollers are allocated sections of the mountain. I was teamed up with Kirston and we were stationed around the top of Crystal and Burfield lifts. We caught our first lift at 7.30am over an hour earlier than lift opening time. We then made our way over to the crystal chair (enjoying first tracks in the fresh powder) where we put up the slow signs and barriers. Once this was complete we checked out a couple of runs ready for the lifts to open. Once the lifts were open and the Patrol teams were in position we were free to ride and be visible to the general public, but all the time we were in radio contact should our assistance be required.
After a day of amazing runs and great company we prepared for the lifts to close around 4pm. On confirmation the lifts were clear and closed we set about the final sweep where all staff ride from top to bottom confirming runs are clear no one is left on the mountain.
Shadowing the ski patrol was a great experience that few people have. You get to realise that so much goes on that you don't even know about. I would highly recommend this day to everyone”.
David Gould – CSIA Level 2 instructor. CSCF L1. Adaptive Sports L1 - Sun Peaks Resort 2012
“I found my time with Ski Patrol to be a very interesting and rewarding part of the training programme. I attended an accident on the slopes and assisted the patroller in helping the injured party. We travelled around the mountain assessing dangers repairing fencing and putting warning signs in position. At the end of the day I attended the closing meeting and learned about important first aid procedures.
I would recommend this experience to everyone”.
For more details contact our office: + 44 (00 1736 763402 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Take a Ride in the Piste Groomer
A chance in a lifetime experience!
This is an amazing evening out and all our clients come back exhilarated and exited by the experience.
Not many people can say they have been in a piste groomer and The Winter Sports Company include this educational trip as part of our training programme.
Read what our clients say at the bottom of this page
The Groomer drivers know their mountain intimately
When the lifts finally fall silent and the entire ski area has been signed off by the teams of ski patrol who have just skied every single run, it is time for the piste-groomers to begin their highly skilled overnight task of putting back what another day’s skiing and snowboarding has taken out.
It’s a tough life being a piste and every night someone has to repair all the damage us recreational skiers and snowboarders have caused.
During the dark cold nights - While you are sleeping...
Looking out of your apartment or hotel window during the the dead of night you will probably see their headlights in the distance. The piste preparation teams are mostly nocturnal, working two back-to-back night shifts to cover each dusk to dawn period. While you are sleeping soundly under the duvet you can bet that the groomers will be out there performing tasks restoring tired pistes back to near perfect flatness. Poor snow cover can be unavoidable in more exposed areas where prevailing winds can blow the fresh snow away as fast as it falls, and the piste groomers get to know where to find reserves of snow, whether drifted or nudged into sheltered spots for later use by the teams themselves.
Only the lonely...
It can be very lonely up there. Even in daylight, when visibility drops suddenly, skiers can lose their bearings in seconds, but the groomer drivers must know their mountains intimately even at night and in blizzard conditions. In big ski areas like Sun Peaks Resort this ultimate local knowledge can take a couple of seasons to acquire. Even then, the unexpected can still happen, so to keep the drivers in constant contact with their control centre (and each other) they are armed with GPS, avalanche transceivers and of course mobile phones. And just to keep spirits up they also have hi-fi systems and formidable cab heaters.
Life here isn’t exactly a picnic. Riding on wide metal bladed tracks means progress even on soft snow, tends to feel very firm – not ideal when the controls are light and amazingly sensitive thanks to power assistance controls for all the main functions. Naturally this includes the massive bulldozer-style front blade capable of shifting whole walls of wind drifted snow or reserves created by the snow cannons.
A light touch...
Once an even snow base has been established the real process of grooming (or piste bashing) begins. This requires sensitive and precise handling, with the front blade in minimal contact with the surface, and merely flattening it sufficiently to allow the rotating blades at the rear of the vehicle to whip up compacted snow, aerating it before finally smoothing it with a heavy serrated rubber blade. The end result is the trademark corduroy surface which tells skiers and snowboarders that the groomers have done their work well.
It comes at a price...
Grooming doesn’t come cheap. A CAT or Groomer costs around £250,000 and Sun Peaks Resort have seven (Piston Bulley's) of them, including a few with a neat trick up their sleeve. Two of them have a beefy 3.5 tonne winch and around 1000m of steel cable (a worthwhile option at £50,000) and attach the cable to a secure anchor point and you can happily wind your way up and down otherwise impossibly steep pistes in perfect safety. Believe it or not, that is how they do it!
With a 12 litre 435bhp engine consuming fuel at the rate of 250 litres per shift, and eye watering prices for the inevitable replacement parts (a winch cable alone can cost up to £6000), a clear picture is emerging. Sun Peaks Resort run two 10 hours shifts per night making a total grooming time of around 100 hours. It is hardly surprising then, that Sun Peaks Resort have won many awards over the past few years for the quality of their grooming.
With all that in mind - Your lift pass price doesn't sound too bad after all!
You only select a training course once and The Winter Sports Company provide everything you need to ensure a great time. Our “All Inclusive” courses provide you with more opportunities to work in the industry than any other company.
For more details contact our office: 01736 763402 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Vicky Rutherford - CASI level 2, CSIA L2. Adaptive Sports level 1 - Sun Peaks 2012
"After years of being in ski resort and wishing I could have a ride on one of the groomers, this year I was given that chance. After being picked up at the bottom of the piste we cruised up and down the slope while the driver Joe answered any questions I had. This was one of those once in a life time things I will always remember".
Roy Horton - CSIA L1 ski instructor and BASI ski instructor - Sun Peaks 2012
“The groomer arrived at 6.00pm as scheduled.
It was a lot larger than I had imagined and as I climbed up into the heated cab the senior operator introduced himself - Peter.
The front part of the groomer is like a conventional bulldozer but with a wider blade and 4ft adjustable wing on either side to move and channel the snow.
Behind the cab is the clever part which drags through the snow and levels and compacts it to the smooth corduroy we all love.
We pushed snow mainly uphill but occasionally downhill for 2 hours. Throughout the day skiers move the snow down the hill and to the side of the piste, so the groomers job is to reverse this process.
Their nightly schedule is to groom all of the green runs, 60% of the blue runs and 25% of the black diamond runs.
Some of the black diamond runs at Sun Peaks are very steep - up to 38 degrees. When these runs are groomed they have to anchor the groomer to a metal post at the top of the piste. They have a 1000m cable on a winch that is geared to run at the same speed as the groomer – Awesome!
Peter clearly loved his job and was very knowledgeable about skiing and the mountain. The two hours I spent with him were very informative.
I recommend a ride in the groomer to everyone”.
For more details contact our office: 01736 763402 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Work for Tesco or Work in the Mountains?
Career Choices
Do you want to work for free at Tesco? Or do you want the chance to live your dreams and become a ski instructor or a demon on a snowboard?
With the increased cost of a University education and Tesco using the unemployed claiming Job Seekers Allowance to fill their shelves, it is time for the youth of today to think about and question the traditional pathways to a career.
Are there other ways to obtain qualifications and skills?
With the Winter Sports Company there are two avenues to entering the adventure or snow sport industry.
We offer genuine paid internships for an investment of under £4k, half the cost of one year’s university fees, and we provide some of Canada’s best ski instructor training courses and snowboard instructor training courses, lasting between 4 and 11 weeks.
Working out of the Monashee mountains in Canada we coach our clients to attain internationally recognised qualifications and then assist them in finding work in the industry not only for the season in which they learn but in subsequent seasons.
Career Development
Do you really want to learn how to push trolleys around Tesco’s car park when you could be gaining the techniques of riding the powder on the slopes of Sun Peaks Resort? Why gain customer service experience showing people where to find their baked beans when you can be learning to guide fellow skiers or boarders around the mountains?
Career Investment
A ski instructor course or snowboard instructor course provides life skills, teaching skills, sets physical and mental challenges. Learning to become a snowboard or ski instructor opens up a world of opportunity and not just in the sport you love.
So make your own choices. Give us a call for help and advice on how to become a ski instructor or a snowboarding instructor.
To find out more go to www.wintersportscompany.com or call 01736 763402
The top five deathbed regrets
Don't look back - Look forwards
In an article written this month a palliative care nurse has revealed the top five regrets of those who were dying.
- I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
- I wish I didn’t work so hard.
- I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
- I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish that I had let myself be happier.
So why not make this the year you make the decision to step off the hamster wheel and live your dreams? At the end of your life you will not be remembered for the cars you owned or the fitted kitchens and carpets you paid for, you will be remembered for what you did.
Live your dreams
So if your dream is to climb Kilimanjaro or spend a season on the snow, make this your year to decide to change your life.
If you enrol on a ski instructor training course you can spend between four and eleven weeks waking up every morning to the fresh air and views of the Monashee mountains in Sun Peaks Resort, Canada.
You can share a life changing experience with similar minded people intent on learning and having fun. You can challenge yourself physically to become the skier or the snowboarder you want to be. You can challenge your personal skills to learn to teach and pass on your passion for the snow and the mountains.
Off piste, powder and jumps
You can discover off piste powder only dreamed of in Europe. Friendly instruction from the snow school at Sun Peaks Resort will enable you to attempt knee deep powder, jumps, chutes and bowls. Why not have a go at racing and learn to coach for speed? Want to have a go at park tricks? Want to know the secrets of those who enjoy their winter year on year? Then this is the year for you to step off your wheel. Forget the new car, the new patio doors and windows and invest in you, your life and your future. Join us, The Winter Sports Company, at Sun Peaks Resort, British Colombia, Canada, for your season on snow and learn to be a ski instructor or train to be a snowboard maestro.
Should I wear a helmet for skiing and snowboarding?
Should helmets be compulsory?
In 2011 the NHS reported that current studies on the benefits of wearing a helmet whilst skiing or snowboarding, some which conclude wearing a helmet can reduce head injuries by 35% in adults and 59% in children, have several shortcomings. These include a lack of sampling of control groups, an unclear definition of what actually constitutes a head injury and no considerationn of the actual fit of a helmet.
Should we wear a helmet and what do we gain?
The NHS maintain the actual risk of head injury for skiers and snowboarders is relatively low.Only 1 in 11,000 ski or snowboard outings result in a head injury, and serious head injuries causing fatalities are extremely rare.
Helmets are most effective if collisions happen at speeds below 15mph. As we all know, the majority of intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders regularly travel at speeds much faster, which increases their risk.
So what are the benefits of a helmet?
Most regular helmet wearers describe higher levels of comfort. Helmets unlike woolly hats don’t itch. They don’t soak up moisture and are warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s hot.
Some claim that once you wear a helmet you will never go back to the beanie. New styles and designs of helmets have also made them more fashionable, and in some European and American resorts studies have shown helmet wearing has increased to 80% of those enjoying winter sports.
If you are considering a ski or snowboard instructor training course, you will find most candidates purchase a helmet.
When teaching it is always better to lead by example, especially to children for whom it may be compulsory to wear a helmet.
When are helmets mandatory?
Snowboarders have to be aware that the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors, (who certify and test those wishing to become a qualified, internationally recognised instructor), have made helmets mandatory for their Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 course exams.
If you want to teach in the snow park, helmets are mandatory for both skiers and snowboarders.
What do you lose by wearing a helmet?
Some argue helmets may impair vision and hearing and that they may encourage people to take greater risks. There is also a cost factor to consider – prices start at around £45.00, but then you have to ask – How much is my head worth?
If you decide to invest in a helmet you must ensure it fits well to give maximum comfort and protection. Measure the circumference of your head from just above your eyebrows and roughly follow the sizing chart below:-
Small 42 – 55.5 cm. Medium 55.5 – 59 cm. Large 59 – 62.5 cm. Extra Large 62.5 – 65 cm.
A helmet needs to fit snugly with very little movement inside when you move your head. Be wary of a helmet that is too tight as it will be uncomfortable. When trying a helmet out wear it for several minutes in the shop to get a true sense of its fit. The ear pads inside should be in line with your ears and if you use goggles take them along and wear them with the helmet as they can also effect the fit.
For more information about helmets, where and when you should wear them, or details about our instructor training programmes, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call our office on 01736 763402.
Not Going to University?
What are your options?
Is a career in the snow sports industry possible?
The increased cost of a University education has now made us think and question the traditional pathway to a career. Are there other ways to obtain qualifications and skills?
In the winter sports industry there are many routes to a career. One of the most popular choices is to embark on a ski or snowboard instructor training course to learn to teach a sport.
The adventure travel industry is one of the few areas in the UK economy showing signs of significant growth. The modern traveller wants adventure, challenges and fun. For the winter sports industry this is good news. So what will the industry require in terms of employment?
Instructors in all sports are an essential requirement for the travel industry whether it be in skiing or kayaking. Certified, competent and personable instructors are valuable for any provider of adventure experiences. However, instructing can be a seasonal occupation so potential instructors have to be prepared either to relocate between seasons, for instance ski instructors can expect to be in Canada during the winter and Australia in the summer. Or, instructors can become qualified in a number of disciplines making them employable the year round.
So how do you become an instructor, and what future can you expect?
Sport certification in teaching and coaching is available through national governing bodies. Visit their websites and see there requirements. It is normal that you should have a level of proficiency in the sport you wish to coach or teach.
Take a course. Learn. Be prepared to invest in your future. This will not be cheap. Training can be expensive so shop around and make sure that whoever is providing the course can assist in your career development either by providing a progression pathway or by assisting in finding future employment.
Be ready to volunteer in sport. Taking time to assist professional coaches or teachers not only looks good on the C.V. - it also gives you a relevant reference when looking for work.
Look for any internships on offer. An intern can earn while they learn. The Winter Sports Company has two positions available for the 2012/13 season in Sun Peaks Resort, Canada. There is a lot of competition for these places, and the Winter Sports Company internship is subject to interview by the snow school director at Sun Peaks Resort. ( See – insert page on website).Typically, an intern will travel out to Canada in November, train for 4 weeks take their level 1 skiing qualification in December. For the rest of the season they will teach in the snow school taking their level 2 qualification in March. After which they are able to seek employment internationally.
Learning to instruct is just the start of your career. Expect to continue training for the rest of your life. Most ski instructors aspire to be a level 3 or a level 4 instructor and when working in a snow school will receive regular mentoring and coaching from their seniors. Pay will be minimal at first. In Canada income can be boosted with tips. A good instructor with patience, humour and interest in their clients will attract cash rewards from satisfied customers who will normally return for more instruction.
A career in instruction may lead to you becoming a snow school director, snow school administrator, a race coach or a sports teacher. There are many avenues to follow. The key to success is being prepared to listen , learn and respect. Plan where you want to be and make certain you can get there.
Canadian Working Visa's
The Winter Sports Company have some interesting and positive news from the Government of Canada about working visas. It seems that they are having a real shake up of the system this year.
Here’s a summary of changes and how they may affect those looking to work as a ski or snowboard instructor in Canada.
Applications previously separated into “students” and “non-students” have now been combined into the new “Working Holiday Programme”, meaning there’s one less quota to stand in your way.
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The Winter Sports Company
Trennere Trewartha Road
Praa Sands
TR20 9ST
Cornwall, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1736 763402
Email: wintersportscompany
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