Ski Guide: How to become one?

Cincher

Cincher

Active member
I know very little about the job except that its apparently a sweet gig. What is ski guiding? What do I need to do to become one? how does it pay? fill me in, I'm interested.
 
For me its CMGA because I'm Canadian. I'm already a lvl 1 CSIA Instructor with the intention of going for lvl 2 and park.
 
Like a bc/heli guide? I'd say be about 30 plus, the best skier on the mtn, probably helps to have lived there for a long time so you know the resort like the back of your hand. Also avy3, woofer/1st responder certs, most guides were instructors at one point too.
 
Yeah, or an inbounds guide. Also considering coaching. I'm currently 21, so I have at least a decade to improve my skiing. First thing's first, I need to move out of freaking Manito. Then find a place with a good mountain and affordable living. Take the required avalanche and first aid courses, as well as anything else I need to do to qualify for this.
 
ACMG***

you'll find everything you'll need to know about becoming a ski/mountain guide on their website
 
yeah, ACMG is 'better' than CSGA. ACMG is the original and it's recognised internationally. CSGA was started by Wiggley because the ACMG wasn't certifying enough guides so he started his own thing. It's still a credited guiding certification program, but it's not as recognised as the ACMG. I know of a few people who did the CSGA course as a step towards getting accepted into the ACMG course.

It's not easy, nor will it happen overnight. Really, the best way to prepare yourself is by moving to the mountains, getting out there, and work on your mountain skills.
 
Get a Wilderness First Responder Cert

Learn how to facilitate to a group

Start out as an instructor

get more certs

Work up ladder
 
This is what it really comes down to. Getting comfortable skiing in the backcountry, and getting the certs and experience. You have a certain amount of recorded days and nights spent in the backcountry before you can even be considered for the ACMG preguide training.

Now on the topic of ACMG vs CSGA, there is talk of Helicat Canada getting involved in CSGA to try and make the standards similar to ACMG, thinking along the lines of CSGA 1= pre guide training, CSGA 2 = ACMG assistant guide and CSGA = full on ACMG guide.

Although this is all speculation from people that I know who work in the guiding industry. I myself have researched this and I am still on the fence for which type of guiding I want to get into, as I have made acquaintances that are both CSGA and ACMG and both have their own strong points. I've done a fair bit of research on both sides, so if you have any questions feel free to pm me.
 
I thought I was the best skier on the mountain.

:(

But seriously that's interesting, as in, how does one get good at heliski guiding? Do you just apprentice enough to know the spots and what cliffs will make you go splat?
 
This guy learned from and skied with the pioneers of heli skiing in AK....So he has that going for him which is nice.
 
To become a credited ACMG assistant or full ski guide, you have to know quite a bit more than just skiing. Tonnes of knowledge and experience required in things like navigation, glacier travel, avalanche related stuff, rescue, survival, client care etc.

Definitely a very long process. the best thing to do would be to visit the ACMG website and take a gander at the credentials needed as pre requisites for the ski guiding exams. Then, quit your job and go live at a cabin in the mountains for 10 winters doing nothing but skitouring.
 
Interesting, I didn't know there is 2 organizations.

I also know it is not something that will happen overnight. It's more like an end goal for me, and I think I have many steppingstones to go before I'm ready. I hope to move westward within a couple years, at least 2. There are some schooling I'd like to complete, But if I can completed elsewhere that would be better.
 
oh cool, I was taking more along the lines of auto mechanics, but if I can take that as a course to that'd be cool too.
 
Thompson Rivers university in Kamloops, BC offers several courses to get you on the right path towards being a guide. Its a very involved process, will cost you nearly $25,000 just for the various courses and exams to become a mountain guide with the ACMG, and will take the better part of 3-5 years for most people.

If you have any questions you can PM me directly Ive been on my way to becoming a guide for the past couple years and can help you with any specific questions you need. Im just too tired to type it all here.
 
interesting, however that seems very satirical, albeit with some grains of truth in there. Personally, I don't have to live in the town that a resort is synonymous with, I'd be happy just living a little bit further away – like the next town over – or even staying in a bigger city like Calgary… Maybe Saskatoon if I absolutely cannot find any way to make it work a little closer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top