Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Duis dapibus rutrum vulputate. Mauris sed eros nec est vehicula mattis ac vitae ligula. Maecenas vitae tristique sapien, vitae pellentesque lectus.
What Do Ski Instructors Do During The Off Season?
Guide Summary
As a ski instructor, work is seasonal, and the season’s end coincides with the spring melt. Many instructors head to the southern hemisphere and chase the winter; others find work in summer resorts or head home. In this blog, we take a look at what ski instructors do during the off-season.
Ski Instructor Summer Jobs
When the northern hemisphere winter draws to a close, for many instructors, particularly seasoned industry professionals, it is time to pack up the skis and journey to the southern hemisphere for the start of another winter season. There is fantastic skiing to be found in Chile, New Zealand and Australia and ski towns in these areas are a melting pot of some of the world’s best and most qualified instructors.
Large ski schools with international ski instructors in Australia, New Zealand, and Chile provide a great summer of work for many instructors. Depending on conditions, the season typically runs from mid-June to early October, giving instructors a few weeks on either side of the season to travel and make their way to the next snowy destination.
The Winter Sports Company works alongside our NZ business partners to deliver a 10-week ski and snowboard NZSIA and SBINZ Level 1 and 2 course based in Queenstown, New Zealand. Check out our other blogs for information on how to do a season in the southern hemisphere:
Chasing The Winter – Skiing In The Southern Hemisphere This Summer
Making A Success Of Your Gap Year In The Southern Hemisphere
Seasonal Work For Ski Instructors
For instructors not chasing the winter, there is an endless array of options for spending the summer months. Many instructors stay in the mountains and work at a summer resort. It’s common for ski resorts to transform into mountain bike resorts, which means plenty of jobs that need filling, from bike instructors, lift operators, grounds maintenance, food and beverage, etc.
This means ski instructors in the winter can stay in one spot all year and continue working at the resort. Teaching skills are obviously transferrable, and the thrill of riding down a mountain is just the same, so many instructors are also certified to teach mountain biking in the summer. Pack away the skis and bring out the bikes! The ski season is over – what do I do now?
For others, their winter resort is left behind, and they head home to either find work during the off-season or return to previous jobs for the summer. Some have seasonal work during the summer, just like winter; others pick up odd jobs to see them through.
As is the way nowadays, many ski instructors hold a part-time job that is remote and online, allowing them to work year-round, including during the winter seasons. This ensures a steady income throughout the year and fills the gaps between seasons.
Ski Instructor Off-Season Fitness Plan
Work aside, for many instructors, summer is their opportunity to re-energise, recover and build strength ahead of the next winter season. A winter season is tough on the body, with long days on snow and harsh conditions, the body can be in need of some R&R by seasons end. During the summer, ski instructors often undertake a fitness program to ensure they’re fit and ready to go ahead of the start of the following winter.
For those interested in taking one of our courses or internships, we recommend undertaking a fitness program to get you in the best shape possible for when you get on snow. Training days are intense, and you’ll thank yourself if you arrive with a solid level of fitness. It makes performing well much easier, and your recovery will be much more efficient. Snow Ready Nutrition
Check out our 8-week fitness program to supercharge your preparation for the winter ski season.
Becoming A Ski Instructor
If you’re interested in becoming a ski instructor, you’re in the right place! We provide ski instructor training courses and internships to get you qualified and find work. If the northern hemisphere winter doesn’t fit around your schedule or plans, we have courses running in New Zealand during the summer months. A Summer of Snow in New Zealand
During the northern hemisphere, we have courses in some of the best locations in the world, including Revelstoke, Sun Peaks and Verbier. Our locations
For more information about the course we provide, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
FAQs
Do not expect to make lots of money; the riches are achieved through the relationships you make, the skills you obtain through consistent training and the confidence you gain from teaching your profession to those in need. Working outdoors amongst your peers in often breathtaking scenery is an incredible experience and should be experienced once in your lifetime.
If you are a capable skier, simply attending a three- or 5-day course and examination will entitle you to become a level 1 ski instructor upon successful completion. If you still need to gain sufficient skills, then a standard timeframe to train to this level can be around 3-4 weeks for Level 1 and another 5-7 weeks for Level 2. The Level 2 exams are completed within six days after the preparation and training.
Working a ski season is not all about endless bluebird powder days; it’s generally hard work. Long days in subzero temperatures, with children who do not always want to engage, can make the season hard to endure. Add some late party nights and early morning starts; this can eventually drain the batteries. Keeping on top of your health and your finances needs to be a priority. A level 1 or 2 instructor will earn enough to break even month by month. When you reach Level 3, you will start to forge a solid career out of this. Until then, it’s a balance between having the best time of your life, making new friends, surviving the season and gearing up for the next adventure.
Gaining your basic ski instructor certification, with the correct existing skills, costs as little as $480 or £350. However, achieving those skills, should you need training, can cost considerably more as accommodation, lift passes, transportation, and food must be factored in whilst training and completing your exams. These costs can be in the region of £3500-£8500 for your Level 1 or Level 2, depending on the quality and duration of the programme.
