Ski instructor internship
Full Season Ski Instructor Internship – Various Locations – From £5400
Work an entire season and gain an internationally recognised CSIA Ski Instructor qualification. Head out to Canada in November and start working as a fully qualified instructor by Christmas. On this internship you’ll train for your CSIA level 1 at either Sun Peaks or Panorama, before starting work at your chosen resort in December. Ski internships are available to many nationalities, including UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and many more. There is a visa requirement for this internship, so we advise booking well in advance to ensure the best chance of securing a Canadian working holiday visa.
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*Accommodation is dependent on resort, in some cases interns will move into staff accommodation during the training period. Winter Sports Company cover accommodation costs (hotel or staff housing) for the first 3 weeks of training.
Training starts almost as soon as you touch down in Canada, and typically lasts 3 weeks, during this time you will stay in hotel accommodation along with your fellow trainees.* This is the beginning of living and working in a ski resort, expect to quickly make friends with the locals and become part of resort life. Following the CSIA Level 1 exam taken in mid December, qualified interns will be offered full time paid employment with the Snow School for up to 16 weeks.** As you leave the Winter Sports Company training, you’ll move into your new digs at staff accommodation and be part of a professional on-snow team for the rest of the season.***
As a ski instructor intern you’ll have a real job with the Snow School, gaining valuable teaching experience. The work includes teaching a variety of lessons, from children on the nursery slopes, to beginner adults and some all mountain teaching. You will be encouraged to continue training around your working hours, and most interns complete the season as a CSIA level 2 instructor.
Applications are now being taken for our ski instructor internships for the November 2017 and 2018 seasons. There is no restriction on nationality to apply for an internship – all we require is you to have the right experience and the right to work in Canada. Most our interns obtain working holiday visas, these are available for 18 to 30 year olds, visit our visa information page to find out if you’re eligible.
Winter Sports Company provides free assistance to all interns to get through the visa application process and will help you to write your CV, show you how to obtain documentation such as police checks and advises you on the timing of your visa application – crucial if you are to get one. Take it from us we know what we are doing and every year the majority of our interns are able to secure a visa for Canada.
*Accommodation is dependent on resort, in some cases interns will move into staff accommodation during the training period. Winter Sports Company cover accommodation costs (hotel or staff housing) for the first 3 weeks of training.
**Job offer is subject to performance and behaviour. Resorts close in mid April.
***After the initial 3 week training period interns are responsible for their own accommodation and food. You are provided all details required to secure accommodation during employment before you start your internship. Flights and transfers can be included.
What they said
- Ski Instructor Internship Review – Sun Peaks Resort“Some people return from their gap year with hazy memories, a dodgy tattoo and a maxed out credit card, but I came back as a qualified ski instructor with awesome experiences, a better CV and no debt!!” Jez left behind the wind and rain of the UK in November 2016 to start a ski instructor […]Read more
- Hidden Valley Ski Instructor Internship ReviewPeter Ward “I am having a fantastic time at hidden valley. There is a great feel of community around the resort and everyone is more than happy to help. It is a small instructor team but full of character – very easy to fit into the team and make a name for yourself.” Living [...]Read more
What You’ll Get
Course Schedule
- Week 1: Settle in, ski improvement, technique and all mountain skiing
- Week 2: CSIA Level 1 exam preparation. Introduction to snow plough, carving, short radius and intermediate parallel turns. Teaching practice.
- Week 3: CSIA Level 1 course exam.
- Week 4onwards: Start working full time for the Snow School
The Trip
- Flights and transfers (if applicable)
- 3 weeks’ shared accommodation during training
- Meal plan 5 days a week during training
- Season lift pass
- Interns move into resort staff housing after the training period. Rooms are arranged prior to the course start date, payment of accomodation and food after the training period is the responsibility of the intern.
Hotel accommodation for the whole season can be provided at a reasonable rate – call for details
Accommodation
- Ski-in, Ski-out Resort
- Outdoor Hot Tubs during training
- Gym during training
- Launderette
- Ski Storage
- WiFi
- En-suite bedroom, kitchen, fireplace, cable & satellite TV
The Course
- Three weeks’ training with experienced Canadian Instructors
- 5 hours a day, 5 days a week training
- CSIA Level 1 ski instructor exam
- Shadow teaching
- CSIA Membership
- Instructor Licence
- Video analysis
- Snow Ready Fitness Plan
- Successful interns with Level 1 qualifications offered work
- Receive payment for all lessons taught
- Receive Level 2 training and instruction from the Snow School
- Interns will be encouraged to take internationally recognised CSIA Level 2 by end of March
Overview
Qualification
CSIA Level 1 (+ option for CSIA Level 2)
How long for?
19 weeks ( approx. 3 weeks’ training, 16 weeks’ work)
Where?
Sun Peaks Resort, BC, Canada
Panorama Mountain Resort, BC, Canada
Hidden Valley, AB, Canada
When?
27th Nov 2018 / 28th Nov 2019
Level required?
You must be comfortable skiing European Blue runs
Price
Without Flights £5400
With Flights £5850 (From London)
Secure your place with £300 deposit
Choice of Resorts
Sun Peaks Resort
One of the largest ski areas in Canada – second to only Whistler Blackcomb – Sun Peaks is a ski-in ski-out resort nestled in the Kootenay mountains. Big enough to party, but small enough to get to know the locals – as an intern at Sun Peaks your workmates will become your second family. Sun Peaks is an great place to spend your first season, most our interns return to work here year after year.
Interns at Sun Peaks will typically earn around $12 per hour and average around 15-20 hours of work per week – enough to cover rent, food and leaving spending money to party (or to buy those killer skis you’ve had your eye on).
Sun Peaks staff accommodation is 2o minute walk (or short bus ride) from the centre of town and main ski area. A free shuttle operates during high season. Sun Peaks has a bustling centre, with bars, shops, restaurants, a convenience store and plenty of things to do – like ice skating, snow shoeing and dog sled tours. The winter community is large at Sun Peaks, with thousands of seasonal visitors, ride-shares to the local city of Kamloops are easy to find for cinema trips, shopping and ice hockey games.
Panorama Mountain Resort
With a huge ski area and a choice of terrain which includes one of the biggest vertical drops in North America – Panorama is an ideal resort for wannabe ski instructors. Located in the Purcell Mountains, Panorama is a ski-in ski-out resort with a village feel, but it is far from sleepy. Unlike any of our other resorts, Panorama boasts some incredible hot pools – some of the best hot springs in North America.
Interns and all other mountain staff live in the nearby vibrant town of Invermere, there is a free bus service to get you to work and home each day. At Panorama interns will typically earn around $12 per hour and average around 20 hours of work per week – enough to cover rent, food and leaving spending money to party (or to buy those killer skis you’ve had your eye on).
Hidden Valley
A small resort in the Cypress Hills Provincial Park near Elkwater, Alberta, this is a local’s ski hill. Hidden Valley is owned and operated by the Alberta provincial government and is open 5 days a week. You’ll live and work with like-minded people and as the resort is closed 2 days a week, you’ll enjoy 2 days a week together – perfect to regularly explore other areas in Alberta, like Castle Mountain to get that big mountain fix.
You’ll live in the small community of Elkwater, a short drive from Hidden Valley. Elkwater has a few restaurants, convenience store and a village hall wifi and games. You’ll soon be considered a local, and will benefit from the spirit of small-community living, easily finding ride-shares to the nearby city of Medicine Hat where there are plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and a cinema.
Owned and operated by the Alberta Parks, Hidden Valley employees benefit from a high wage and regular hours. You will be guaranteed a minimum of 24 hours a week of work and in peaks times will get 40. Expect to earn around$22 per hour as a level 1 ski instructor, and enjoy benefits such as complimentary lift passes for other resorts and further training opportunities.
Hidden Valley interns train for their CSIA level 1 at Panorama or Sun Peaks and are transferred to Hidden Valley once qualifed in mid-December*.
*Transfers cost circa £75 and is payable in addition to the price of the internship.
