Ski instructor

freeskier824

freeskier824

Member
i was thinking about becoming a ski instructor at my local hill this winter. anyone here had any experience being a ski instructor? i was also thinking about ski patrol but i figure an instructor would spend more time on the snow.

thanks

 
more time, yes. but it won't be fun time.

ill be super rich and own mt.hood and let everybody from ns ski for free... except freezed

-hoodratz47
 
ski patrol would be way better. Most instructors i've met think their really awesome, no toques and sunglasses when it's snowing and -10. Go around like their king shit but they never go off the groomed runs. Don't get me wrong tho i have met ski instructions who are good blokes too.

Personally i wouldn't be able to handle the snot nosed little kids crying coz they don't want to ski.

 
yo, what up.....I have been an instructor, and a freestyle coach for several years... I like coaching way better, I hooked up with a team out west and had a blast, just ripped with wicked kids all the time and went to contests and made some decent cash, and had expenses paid. Instructing on the other hand was much different, I went from teaching already really good mogul/big air/pipe skiers to Never-Ever skiers....old people....kids....Mass amounts of school groups etc... However i did get the opportunity to watch these shitty skiers progress in to a decent skier. Money wise it varies from hill to hill, and what sort of qualifications you have(the higher level instructor the more $ you make) so if you dont have any levels you'll have to drop 300-400 on the instructor course(at least in Canada) I would be an instructor any day over being a patrol, if those guys arent picking up bodies off the hill, they're putting up fencing and doing crap like that....

hope that was of some use.

Peace

 
i was a ski instructor this past season and i had a great time, i spent alot of time on snow and i ejoyed everyminute of it , its a great way to earn some cash and it is a super awesome experience and will help you with lots of things throughout your file time, deffinately do it.

-keegan mcginnis, newschoolers.com

 
If you don't mind hanging around with 5 years olds, go for it. My first year instructing was all 5 and 3 year olds.

I like Spongebob Squarepants as much as they do so it wasn't a problem.

 
i was a ski instructor this past season and had a great time, but yes you will be teaching little kids most of the time if you only have your level 1 (canada) so i suggest also taking a freestyle course, then they will give you groups of kids in programs and such that can actually ski and are interested in jibbing, jumps, pipe ect. i know that i'm getting mine next year and it'll make a big difference in the kids i teach, and weather or not i'll be able to take kids who are good enough to the pipe ect. i had a really great time as an instructor and would deffinitly recomend it.

 
iv been boath and i like teaching better. generaly thae pay is better but you get less hours. your going to spend a buunch of time on the bunny hill at the start but you should still get a few weeks of high end lessons which are super great. some places will also do sessons where you get an houre or two of lessons for your self these are great you can rilly improve your skiing and sometimes you are paied. as for ski patrol it can get borign espeshal at the small hills. normal you are not alowed to jump well on duty and sometimes your forced to do certan runs all day long. but it's still a good job.

________________________________________

Skiing is like sex except Im getting some

calling all hippys www.freeheellife.com

Join the broken ski brake cult!!

https://www.newschoolers.com/PHP/Cults/Cu

 
I've been a ski instructor for 11 years now, and have achieved my PSIA Level III (ISIA) cert, and should be completing PSIA-E's Freestyle Accredidation this summer (water ramps). From my perspective, I didn't want to patrol. They need more certifications (first aid, cpr, and others) and many areas only pay a small percentage of their patrolers (the rest get free skiing for them and their family, but not parents or siblings), but the perks are a little better. I'm pretty sure people associated with NSP (National Ski Patrol) get comped where ever they ski, however, they have to be on duty, even at other areas.

For me intructing is just fun. I won't lie, there is not a lot of money to be made doing it, but you get to ski a lot. Pretty much all areas should offer "clinics", which will allow you (as a new or returning instructor) to improve your teaching, versatility and your personal skiing. However, keep in mind that there is a LOT of politics in the Ski Industry, and many ski schools are like an "old boys" club. It can be difficult to break through the new instructor/good instructor mental barrier that many SSD's (Ski School Director) will have.

When I started, new instructors taught beginers, almost exclusively. However, much of that mentality has/is begining to change. A lot of new instructors are teaching a lot of lower/upper intermediates now. The theory is that the "better" instructors take the beginers, get em going, get em hooked on skiing and once they know skiing is now in their blood, they pass off the students to other instructors. Now, the problem is that many ski schools are VERY slow to adapt. New ideas, new tecniques, new pursuits are typically things you have to pursue on your own (such as newschool). However there are some very good newschool programs as well, just depends where you are.

The way I continue to look at being a ski instructor is this. The money tends to suck. The connections are great. The people are great (even the shitty customers you occasionally deal with end up providing a laugh in the bar). The skiing is great. By being an instructor, I've averaged about 100+ days a year for the past 15 years (season pass before I taught) - that's more skiing than most people do in a lifetime and I'm only 26. Working with the people that I have, I have been able to make great strides in my personal skiing, my teaching, and my knowledge, as well as pushing my own ideas, and pursuing my own passions (freeskiing/newschool). Could I have made more money, yeah, but in the long run, to me its been worth it.

life is too short to have any regrets
 
the younger the kids the more tips u get my friend mike told me

"100 % columbian, ladies and gentlemen, disco shit"

go to www.freeheellife.com

johnny likes skinny girls but never turns down a fatty

zig zag filled with the diggity dank green as a bull frog sticky as glue aint gonna stop till the bag is through

belong to a political party called the burnt thumbs
 
done it for 4 years now, the free pass is worth it. i spend most of my time free riding while i'm supposed to be teaching anyways.

 
I taught from age 15 to 28 as both a freestyle coach,instructor, and freeride team director...

its fun..but you have to pay your dues and be the man to move up...once you establish a core group of return private lessons you can actually make some dough..until then its all gapers and snotty kids

the best gig I ever had was working the alpine meadows freeride program...ripping it up with the best 15-17 year olds on the hill...cutting lines on powder days, getting vans to pick up my team after back country runs...and getting paid to huck...

 
I would love to be a ski instructor just not for little kids like possibly for kids 13-17 would be nice because they would want to try new things such as jumping and they arent as shitty at skiing at younger kids

I Love Head

Momentum Session 4
 
i got a 100 doller tip onece but that was after a few days of lessons

________________________________________

Skiing is like sex except Im getting some

calling all hippys www.freeheellife.com

Join the broken ski brake cult!!

https://www.newschoolers.com/PHP/Cults/Cu

 
Either get a coach job where you get to ski with kids that are decent or just get a night job... seriously... what's more frustrating than dealing with whiney kids, or worse... whiney adults, on a powder day? or going into the park in your lame uniform with ten kids who are cutting everyone off... get after ski hours at a bar or a shop.

Just so you know... I ski instructed for a season... and then coached for three for Vail...

 
It fucking sucks your first year. All those little bastards spilling hot choclate on you and shit. I've been teaching for four years. I coach the freestyle program which is fucking awesome. Little 9 year olds doing switch unnatural 180's. The clinics in the morning have helped my skiing a lot. I taught one to the old people on riding park last week. It's fun after the first year.
 
since we are all boasting about this.. one of our clients is the kellogs. yes as in the ceral company. im not gonna drop any figures, but their kids and that family are amazing.

as for teaching.. iv only taught ages 2-7 on a regular basis. its extremely rewarding, recenlty iv moved up to supervisor so iv kinda gone away from acutaly teaching the kids to more of a organization role, but i still ski at least 10 runs a day, and occasionaly will get request privates that = $$$$ ski instructing is definatly the way to go.
 
depends on wer u wrk. like if u lived in jakson id definatly be a patroll cuz you get to blow shit up all the time and go up at 530. i can barley deal with my little sister let alone someone elses kids
 
How do you become a ski instructor in the US? I'm thinking of applying to the local mountain...

How about being a liftie? Is it easy to get a job at a resort?

And what exactly does ski patrol do? Just keep kids in line and watch out for accidents?
 
being a ski instructor is not all that great. sure you get a pass and discounts but you have to go out no matter the weather. it doesnt bother me but i know alot of people dont enjoy it.
 
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