Do Snowboard Instructors Need Special Gear?

Do Instructors Need Special Gear?

To the uninitiated, instructors appear to be part of a unique enclave of ski resort workers who consider themselves subject matter experts on gear. Many of the bespoke brethren believe their 33% off (*restrictions apply*) pro deal results in ‘pretty much free’ gear ranging from boots to boards.

Some critics refer to this dubious phenomenon as ‘Instructor Math’. Bestowed with best-in-the-industry gear, some believe these ‘knowledge-bearers’ have surpassed the revered wisdom of the established gods, the ones whom mortals (other ski resort workers) refer to as ‘Ski Patrol’.

Your Board Should Have Flex – Not Be A Flex

Friendly fire aside, the irony of this type of ‘gear flex’ is that instructors would probably be doing a better job if their gear closely mirrored what their students were using. It’s a semi-radical thought to disarm ourselves of turbo-charged muscle boards in favour of mini-vans, but if we drill down to the role of an instructor, it makes perfect sense. If we chose to ‘walk a mile in their shoes’ instead of posturing, board selection could be an exercise in empathy rather than an ego-stroking differentiator. Figuratively speaking, a softer board with a higher flex rating is less of a ‘flex’ in this context. 

Your Board Should Help You Demonstrate What You’re Teaching

Last year, on a high-level course at Lake Louise, I was perched atop a steep mogul field, feeling a little lost behind the shield of my goggles. As the course conductor motioned to drop in, they gave one last direction as their board gave up its grip on the mountainside.

“Just watch the tail of my bright orange board,” they said with an air of veteran confidence before methodically dismantling the ugly puzzle of icey bumps. Not a sweat was broken nor smidge of speed scrubbed. The small crowd of candidates was at once floored by the nonchalance and efficacy of the simple cue, which painted the picture far clearer than expected.  

I’m not saying go buy a bright orange board, and you, too, can attain the elite ninja status of the aforementioned snowboard sensei. It’s an example of someone at the top of the game opting to ride a board that helps their students see the intricacies of an expert demonstration.

The same applies at every level of teaching – the board can either help or hinder the success of your lesson by amplifying or detracting from your demos. If that board happens to be a bit softer, a fun shape and at odds with the established norm (dark and stiff cookie cutters), you might even have more fun riding it, which, in the end, is what it’s all about. 

The Right Tools Of The Trade

Snowboard instructing is seldom described as a job in the traditional sense. We ride our boards as we guide our guests through days in the mountains, offering thoughts and ideas interspersed with demonstrations and discussions.

When everything is going right, it hardly feels like work. But if our equipment lets us down, the show falls apart. The snowboard is undoubtedly the tool we rely on most, but everything else in the system plays an important role, too.

Imagine this: You finally get assigned to that Powder Private you’ve fantasised about, but your buddy in the locker room said you could borrow his little park board today. Admittedly, you don’t check your email; you’re an instructor (with all rights and privileges pertaining thereto).

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, you greet your supervisor with a cheeky grin, the perky 145cm board under your arm. Their subdued reaction tells you, ‘Today’s not the day’. Your smirk disappears as you weigh the cost of tomahawking through the lesson and copping a lousy review against retreating to the locker room and being late. Neither ends well, and your 8.30 am brain self-destructs.

Do Instructors Need Multiple Boards?

Instructors need versatility and durability. You’re on your board for 100+ days a season with various conditions and clientele. No two days are the same. Sometimes, even your morning and afternoon can be drastically different.

You could be riding knee-deep snow in the back bowl in the morning and holding hands on the bunny hill in the afternoon. Both situations have challenges and could justifiably call for different equipment.

Take the two earlier examples: 1) a high-end powder private and 2) a beginner-turning lesson. In both situations, the instructor, known as Brad, showed up with tools that weren’t right for the job. Clearly, Brad didn’t read How to Choose a Snowboard for Instructors.

Imagine if Brad was an apprentice plumber, and he showed up to the job site with the tools he wanted to try out rather than the ones his boss recommended. Brad attempts the job without prior testing, but the pipes begin to burst. Covered in, let’s just say, ‘code brown’, Brad apologises to the clients for the abstract interior decorating caused by his faecal foray. Repeat business? Not a chance.

Daily Driver vs Quiver

In either situation above, a ‘daily-driver’ type of snowboard with a versatile stance would’ve done the trick. Moreover, if that’s the board you ride every day then you know it like the back of your hand. There’s no awkward “Oh, sorry, I’m just getting used to this board.” C’mon now, that’s just plain codswallop.

Is a quiver of snowboards necessary for instructors? In most cases, it’s a resounding no. Exceptions to this might be the few lucky souls who regularly teach in deep powder or highly certified instructors and coaches teaching freestyle. For the everyday instructor, one board with enough ‘range’ will almost always suffice.

The Final Say On Instructors & Their Gear

So, do instructors need different or special gear? The default response is steeped in mythical locker room folklore and loaded with travesty. The open-minded answer that embraces some vulnerability and reconciles with reason says no. The truth is that instructors and their students can often benefit by riding closely matched equipment. Moreover, having a somewhat switch-friendly board (and stance) sets you up for success for whatever comes your way.