Tips for a first year ski instructor

gak98

gak98

Member
Got a job at my local ski hill up here in anchorage alaska and am just looking to see what tips i can get from the ns community
 
13225030:TRVP_LVRD said:
What are you specifically instructing? My family is full of instructors.
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Mainly kids just beginners and an afterschool park program with kids that just want to learn rails and such
 
you are gonna need a lot of patience cause some kids are just terrible cause they might not want to be there but there are kids that are pure gold and you will wanna keep teaching. Just stick with it cause your first year you will get some of the crappier lessons
 
Split your classes properly! If you have a group of people all different capabilities...ugh. The worst. otherwise it's a pretty good gig. Be fun and encouraging.
 
You are going to be teaching kids. They don't care how you look/act! So just be the goofiest, and nicest guy you can be.

If you make the kids happy....you will make the parents happy. And happy parents are the key to anything that has to do with kids.
 
If a kid is throwing a fit, bend down to their level and talk as quietly as possible, almost in a whisper. Never talk louder. Regardless of how much the kid is freaking out, they want to hear what you have to say. So if you are speaking quietly, then they naturally quiet down to hear you...
 
13225377:Profahoben_212 said:
You are going to be teaching kids. They don't care how you look/act! So just be the goofiest, and nicest guy you can be.

If you make the kids happy....you will make the parents happy. And happy parents are the key to anything that has to do with kids.
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This is so correct, I have been a ski instructor for 3 years now (in the US) and a coach for the past 2 seasons in Chile..

Its all about having FUN. If you are having fun, the kids probably will too.

And if you throw some 3s of rollers and shit, and do stupid fun shit they will like (and admire) you even more
 
13225039:gak98 said:
Mainly kids just beginners and an afterschool park program with kids that just want to learn rails and such
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hahaahahaahahh you are fucked..... Taught kids once, got my vasectomy the next day.
 
When you get combined out or don't get work, go ski with veteran instructors. Pick their brains. If you get a chance to audit some mid level classes, do it. The thing that gets most first year instructors into trouble is bad terrain selection. If you get a class into terrain that is too tough for the ability of the worst skier in the group, you will have a miserable day. You will have students spread all over the hill and you will be stuck nursing the one who can't handle it.

In softer conditions send the class down ahead of you to a spot you have picked out to regroup. Even if you have helped them learn how to get their skis on by themselves, they will have a tough time in soft snow. Unless you want to hike all the way back up to help someone, it pays to be at the back when you are in powdery conditions.

Those are my pearls of wisdom. PSIA - Level III, USSCA Coaches Level II, 15 years on Vail Demonstration Team.
 
just remember it'll get better and easier as you go.

when I started I wanted to quit. I absolutely hated it but once you get the hang of it you realize you're basically getting paid to hang out and talk to people. kids say hilarious shit sometimes too.
 
Live for the good days and try not to slit your wrists on the bad days.

There are tons of bad lessons, that said, there will be some that are amazing that make you want to keep doing it. Everyone always wants the advanced lessons but some of my favorites were total beginners that were open to learning and they progressed fast and had a great time. It's awesome teaching somebody a few times then watching them tear it up and knowing that you put in your effort to make it fun and help them learn at the start.

The certifications are expensive and might not be worth it depending on your mountain or where you want to go. Some places pay more and many places higher certified much easier than not but dues are expensive so figure out what you're making and your plans. Maybe your mountain will kick in a few bucks if you're lucky.

Definitely a good way to get into the mountain. Opens the door to lots of mountain jobs. Also if you want to coach freestyle at some point definitely something that's needed. If that's your goal it's best to get all the certification you can and work your way up. You might be best rocking out one mountain for a few years to move up the ladder rather than start from scratch. If your mountain doesn't have freestyle lessons talk about adding them. Even just a beginner lesson like an intro to box or some small jumps kind of things for kids.

Idk, I'll shut the hell up now but it can be a great job. I did it for 3 years before I got into my true calling of terrain parks but I still enjoy teaching people on the side and started doing a weekly park clinic for the kids last year to get some teaching in my life.

Have fun, remember to breathe, and just try to make the best of things. You will deal with some shitty kids, you will deal with some parents that you want to break your poles over, but you will also have some great lessons where you feel like you made a difference in spreading the skiing stoke to a total stranger, and that my friend is what it's all about.

Have fun, stay stoked. Let us know how it goes.
 
Just make sure to teach your kids how to pizza and how to french fry. But for the love of god make sure they don't pizza and french fry at the same time. They will most likely have a bad time.
 
Learn from the vets, don't expect to get the good kids. You're new, you have to earn that. Try and make it fun for your class, there's nothing worse than sobbing 5 year olds.
 
With kids it is mostly about how much fun they are having not how much they progress. Incorporate games to your lesson and use your imagination with them.
 
don't look at yourself as their instructor but as their friend. Talk to the kids about themselves as you teach them and really just have fun with them.
 
The job has it's ups and downs, but I think it's the most fun job I've ever had! Make sure with the youngins that you focus on having a fun time with them. If they are having a good time, they are more likely to listen to you and learn something. Always use positive reinforcement with them and be patient. And remember that you're getting paid to teach people how to do the most fun activity ever. Have candy on hand for bribes if need be, and you can never go wrong with some hand warmers. Have fun!
 
When I was an instructor, one thing I found very helpful to kids (which is not something that was even mentioned in instructor training) is to tell them to focus on their weight when they turn. I didn't mention edging much because I think that's pushing it too far for beginners. First I would have them just try to turn, see if they can figure it out on their own, which would usually be by 'steering' their feet or whatever. After they tried that once or twice I'd tell them to not focus on steering so much and rather focus on their weight. Tell them that if they want to turn left, put 90% of their weight on their right foot, and to turn right, put 90% of their weight on their left foot (yeah, 90% is an exaggeration, but it will make them really do it, and telling them that definitely works; almost all of the kids I taught said that turning was much easier after I told them that).

Another thing beginners tend to do is try to steer with their upper body. They'll be twisting at the waist and moving their arms all over. Make sure they keep a still upper body.

Other stuff is pretty basic, you'll probably be told in instructor training what to tell the kids, but basic stuff like balanced athletic position, weight forward, arms out front, feet shoulder width apart, etc.

I would recommend against teaching snow plow as the primary way to stop. Teach them snow plow as an emergency way to stop, but teach them to turn across the hill (perpendicular to the fall line) or even slightly uphill to come to a stop, and try to get them to keep their feet parallel. There is disagreement on instructors if teaching kids to start out by snowplowing all the time is good or bad, but I take the position (as do many instructors) that it's best to start them parallel right away so they don't get into a bad habit, and so that they get the right balanched feeling right away.

When the lesson is over, I also liked to give them some advice on what to do going forward. What things to keep working on, etc. One thing I would generally tell them is to not start using poles right away. I would tell them that if they used poles right away they would rely on them too much as a crutch, whereas if they become a good skier before they start using poles, then the poles will just be a tool, not a crutch. Also it's a good idea to tell them to go on terrain they are very comfortable on before trying something new, and to try familiar stuff on more challenging terrain. For example, if they can do blues, but haven't got carving down yet, they should go back to greens when practicing carving. If they want to try a black for the first time, they should not try to practice carving or hockey stops or whatever at the same time, they should use techniques they are comfortable with when trying new terrain that is challenging to them.
 
I teach the tiny munchkins (3-6) and I love it. I've noticed that some kids have absolutely no fear, and some kids are absolutely terrified to ski and there's not a whole lot of in between. To help knock this out in the beginning, I show them what it feels like to slide on their skis in a much more controlled way. I get my little ducks all lined up in a row down the hill and I have them side slip with me while I hold hands, making happy faces the whole time and getting them pumped about going skiing. I can't tell you how many children I've had get to the top of the bunny hill and take their skis or board off and won't go down because they're scared.

Also, go to on hill trainings if your mountain has them. And go for your certification with your mountain or with PSIA. I try to ride with my mountain's trainer as much as possible and it's made me so much better both as a teacher and my riding abilities.
 
1. kids are super egocentric - they only give a shit about themselves, so entertain them, thats what kids want

Use their egocentricism to your advantage, we call it "spider-webbing" in instructing. if you can talk to them for a little bit about themselves you will quickly find out something they like a game, an animal, whatever shit this kid likes. Make a game out of it/relate what you are trying to teach or communicate to the little shits interest

3. if you find yourself struggling put yourself in the kids boots for a minute, imagine you are a kid learning how to do some weird shit that you have no idea how to do and are not happy about it. What would cheer you up? apply solution to said child

4. be a silly twat, kids find that shit funny
 
Number one rule is to stay chill and have fun. Remember not a single human being learns exactly the same.

-If the kids are learning super slow, then that's the pace your lesson is going to be. Don't try to rush them to whatever point you think the lesson should end on. If a kid wants to side step up and pizza down the hill the whole day then that's just the way it's going to go.

-If it's a cold day and your student is cold (regardless of age) I'll usually explain to them or their parents what works and what doesn't work in terms of clothing. It's honestly one of the most overlooked and most important aspects of having a good time skiing. No one's ever got annoyed when I tell them the best ways to stay warm on the hill. Most people don't know anything about layering, moisture wicking, or the fact that a cold torso will = cold extremities so they appreciate the advise.
 
Continue to work on your own skiing skills on your days off. I'm sure it's different from mountain to mountain, but where I live so many instructors only hang out and ski with other instructors. They rarely go off the groomers on their days off and think they are the greatest skiers on the mountain. Some are good skiers that crush pow pow, steeps, and park, but many think they are experts with "angulation" and are obsessed with proper form on groomers. Don't get caught up in the "I'm a ski instructor and everyone else that isn't an instructor or former racer is skiing improperly" mentality. It drives all the locals nuts when you have an ski instructor that only lives in the mountains from November to April show up with the "holier than thou" mentality.

Have fun. Teach the kiddos something new that will stick with them for a lifetime. Anyone that is spreading the stoke of skiing to newbies is doing something right in my book.
 
13228018:atomic1824 said:
Whats the difference between a snake and a ski school group?......

On a snake the asshole is in the back.
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How do you know if someone is a ski instructor? Don't worry! They'll tell you.
 
Try to find things to talk about with the kids and things you have in common with them to like you more. For example if there's a new kid that's his/her first year ask how it's been and how they like it, or If they are a more expeirences kid who's a park rat talk about the tricks they can do and stuff like that (but if you don't do park don't try to act like you do they'll probably just think your a gaper and dislike you)
 
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