Ski Internship | Ultimate PLUS

A representative on the ground will meet you on arrival to your destination country. After transferring to your hotel, the night kicks off with a social catch up where you will get to meet the other course participants. The next day you get to explore the city, see the local sights and organise any required essentials. Then it’s time to jump on a plane, bus or train and head to your training resort!

Upon arrival at your allocated resort you will have time to settle into your accommodation. Then, program staff will begin the orientation session, which includes: the program outline, goals and training objectives, and a tour of the ski resort. You will also meet your new ski school trainers, collect your season passes and hold a ski gear information session with an opportunity to purchase any required equipment. A social event is organized for one evening where you can get to know everyone a little better. Before you start the training we take you for a full day on the snow including a mountain tour and finally a chance to get your legs back in action.

Your first days of training will focus around developing your personal ski or board skills both on and off piste. You’ll learn about stance and balance and get an introduction to the core competencies. Training will cover each level of teaching progressions. Indoor sessions will include ‘Leadership Training’ and the ‘Forces in Skiing and Snowboarding’.
By the end of this training block you will have a complete understanding of the fundamental skills and the level one-course standards. On days off there’ll be an opportunity to practice, consolidate and cover off indoor course materials in study groups.

During your next block of training days you’ll continue to develop your personal ski or board skills. Your trainers will step up the tempo and move you into some more challenging terrain and hopefully to some local powder stashes. You will learn about ‘rotation’, ‘edging’ and cover core competencies in more detail. Indoor sessions will include ‘Student Centered Teaching’ and ‘Developing the Guest Experience’. In your video analysis sessions you’ll cover drills and tactics for improvement.

During your days off there’ll be an opportunity to relax and consolidate what you’ve learnt on snow in your own time!

Your last block of training days is geared toward getting you ready for the level one exam. You’ll also spend time on developing your level one demonstrations, teaching progressions and practice group teaching scenarios. You also continue to develop your personal ski or board skills on a variety of terrain. Indoor sessions will include ‘Bio-Mechanics’ and ‘Children in Snowsports’. On your days off there’ll be an opportunity for you to shadow a ski & board school lessons and cover off indoor course materials in study groups including the any pre exam written modules.

The Level One Exam is basically an extension of the training days! The course is fun, informative and a chance to develop your teaching and personal skiing or riding skills even further. The course conductors’ roll is to assess you, but also to help you reach the level one standard. You’ll get individual and group feedback throughout the exam. At the end of the exam module you should be walking away with a pass result!

All things going well you will start work in time for the busy holiday period. If you are lucky you might get a day or two off after the exam! Your working day will start with attendance at your ski school for ‘lineup’ to teach the morning classes, or full day classes depending on your resort. Then you’re into instructing! Most new instructors teach in the kids ski school. The training you will have received gives you the basic techniques to address different issues, and the more you work the better your eye becomes for spotting problems to correct.

The on snow training is focused on taking your skiing or riding to the next level with the goal of passing the level 2 exam later in the season. A big element of the coaching is all terrain personal development giving you the skills and techniques to ski or ride all over the mountain with ease – Bumps, Carving, Trees, Steeps and Powder! Technical and indoor sessions will cover topics such as ‘Bio-Mechanics’ and the ‘Forces in Skiing and Snowboarding’.

At resorts with terrain parks and features there will be dedicated training in the park and pipe. Training will cover rails, boxes and terrain features including jumps along with use of half pipes and or quarter pipes. Basic manoeuvres are explored as well as some fundamental tricks. You will also learn how to teach and coach the approach, take off, manoeuvres and landing on all features. For those who have a passion for park and pipe there is the opportunity to take a formal Park Certification course. At resorts without terrain parks your training will be focused on big mountain skiing or riding.

The avalanche safety course provides an invaluable two day introduction to safety in the backcountry. It is designed to give you a basic understanding of avalanche formation and to develop your observation skills. Half of the time is focused on theory in the classroom and the other half is based on snow. You will learn how to recognise potential avalanche conditions, how differing snow pack conditions affect avalanche danger and how to choose safe routes in the backcountry. You will also learn rescue techniques and how to use various rescue tools such as beacons and probes.

The first aid course teaches practical skills about how to manage a range of medical and accident emergencies. The course provides an excellent assessment standard that ensures you feel confident about providing first aid when needed. The course will teach you about scene assessment, safety, identifying hazards in the workplace, medical conditions and ways to manage a range of possible emergencies including burns, poisoning, soft tissue injuries, head and spinal injuries, eye injuries, chest injuries, chest pain (such as heart attacks) and major incidents. This is an excellent course and is an invaluable tool for those working in the ski or snowboard industry.

The Level Two Exam focuses on the skills and knowledge required to teach advanced level skiers or snowboarders. The exam format varies depending on country but will include a teaching module along with a skiing or snowboarding module. The practical experience gained from working throughout the season makes completing this exam very achievable. Before enrolling in the level 2 exam please discuss your ability level and compare it against the required standard with your trainers to establish what other requirements must also be completed.

You say your goodbyes to your new life-long mates and plan the next adventure. Is it off to University? Or maybe you’ve gotten the bug and are lining up a season back at the same resort the next winter! Or maybe you can’t wait that long and are off to the other hemisphere to chase that winter! Whatever it is, you’ll be reflecting on a winter never to forget 🙂

Canada’s largest ski-in, ski-out resort with EPIC powder and trails!

The name says it all… this place is BIG and gets slammed with “truck-loads” of the white stuff season after season…! Our Ski Instructor Courses and Snowboard Instructor Courses at Big White are famous for powder and good times.

Located in the heart of British Columbia, Canada, about 273 miles east of Vancouver or 35 miles southeast of Kelowna. Their motto is “It’s The Snow” and they sure do live up to it with an average of 750cm, that’s 24+ feet of champagne powder falling annually! Powder really doesn’t get any better than this! Big White is Canada’s largest ski-in, ski-out ski resort.

Accommodation for those on an Internship Program is in the Big White staff housing. This is located in Snow Pines and the Big White Village. The staff housing at Big White is known for being one of the best in Canada; Its comfortable, private, on mountain and fully ski in -ski out.

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate Plus
• Dual (Ski and Snowboard) – Internship Ultimate Plus

Cypress is one of the few resorts in the world where you can combine top skiing/riding with the luxuries of city living with quick access to Canada’s most vibrant and friendly Big City. On a day off you can climb out of bed after a night in downtown Vancouver, then hit the slopes within a 30-minute bus ride! There is also night skiing with most runs open runs until 10pm every night.

Cypress was host to the 2010 Winter Olympics and Canada’s first gold medal on home soil. Over the past few years there has been huge investment in Lodges and services for Cypress Mountain, which is now set up with world-class Olympic runs and facilities.

We along with EA Adventures, and Cypress Ski & Snowboard School are excited to provide a unique opportunity for you to become an instructor at this World Class Ski Resort. Cypress may average 35 feet of powder in a season but its location right beside Vancouver also provides stunning views overlooking Vancouver Bay and all the islands out to sea.

During the internship program, your accommodation is based in apartments in North Vancouver. Close to shops, cafes, and the Cypress bus stop it is a cool place to be based for a season.

Available Programs:

• Snowboard – Internship Ultimate Plus

Located in Banff, this is one of Canada’s biggest resorts.

We have been offering ski and snowboard instructor training programs with Lake Louise for a number of years and are proud of the reputation, which has been built, and rave reviews received!

Named “Best Steeps”, “Best Scenery”, “Best Terrain Park” and “Best New Off-Piste Tour” – Ski Canada Magazine. Now that’s some serious accolades!! Lake Louise is The Rockies largest resort located in the heart of the historic Banff National Park – a dream destination! We are proud to offer our ski instructor courses and snowboard instructor courses at Lake Louise resort.

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate Plus
• Snowboard – Internship Ultimate Plus

This offers a unique opportunity to experience life working and skiing in the famous Canadian Rockies. Nakiska Resort was purpose built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. It is known for its superbly groomed trails and the recently opened ‘Monster Glades’ that give access to secret powder stashes and the excitement of tree skiing and riding!

Nakiska is the gateway to the Canadian Rockies at just a stone through from Banff and resorts including Lake Louise, Norquay and Sunshine Village. It is also one of Alpine Canada’s National Training Centre’s – set up for world-class training. During your instructor training season you will be able to take advantage of these excellent facilities to get the most out of your season and really kick your skills to the next level!

Training for the Nakiska Internship is based at the legendary Lake Louise Ski Resort – so you get the chance to ski both mountains and experience the best that Banff has to offer!

On a Ski Instructor Internship Program at Nakiska Resort, accommodation will be provided for the duration of the level one training and examination part of the program, which runs at Lake Louise. Accommodation once you starting working at Nakiska will either be in staff housing that is close to the resort, or in the town of Canmore. Assistance will be provided so that you can move into the accommodation in groups.

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate

Huge terrain park, stunning scenery, après-ski and even night skiing!

Norquay is the closest resort to the Banff township. Norquay and Banff is a fantastic place to spend a winter season and perfect for those that want it all – snow, terrain, work and a town with awesome nightlife. When you first arrive at Norquay the scenery, the 24000 square foot main lodge and the terrain on offer with Upper Lone Pine and Gun Run in full view will blow you away.

Interns here have loved the mountain vibe and all that Norquay offers – a close knit team, night skiing, legendary park, and a proper ski village lifestyle. This is Canada at its finest!

Accommodation for those on an Internship Program is located at the HI-Banff Alpine Centre. The HI-Banff Alpine Centre is rated in the top ten of the network of hostels worldwide!

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate
• Snowboard – Internship Ultimate

Big annual snowfall makes for massive piste, heli-skiing & backcountry!

We are proud to offer ski instructor courses and snowboard instructor courses at Revelstoke resort in British Columbia, Canada. 400 miles east of Vancouver, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is the only resort in the world to offer lift, cat, heli, and backcountry skiing and snowboarding from one village base. And if you’re looking for powder and lots of it, then this really is the place to find it – historical annual snowfall is a whopping 12 to 18 metres, yes that’s 40 to 60 feet per season!

Revelstoke Mountain Resort opened in December 2007, so it’s brand spanking new in terms of resorts, and offers the best of the best in terms of facilities and terrain!

Accommodation for all programs is conveniently located in the heart of Revelstoke, just a short walk to the bus stop for the Revelstoke Mountain Resort Shuttle and 5 minutes walk into town. The apartments are newly renovated, very modern and comfortable and provide a great base for the season.

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate Plus
• Snowboard – Internship Ultimate Plus

Up in the north of Japan, the Ski and Snowboard Internship Courses are based at Club Med, Sahoro, and Hokkaido. Hokkaido is Japan’s most northerly island, which has a strong history of winter sports since it hosted the Sapporo Olympic Games in 1972.

The epic conditions in Sahoro guarantee plentiful snow and great powder on and off piste. Club Med offers the perfect place for 20+ year olds looking for guaranteed income and a fun experience. You can leave home knowing you will work hard, but you’ll be looked after well, in luxurious accommodation, be well fed and watered and enjoy Japan in an English speaking environment!

Training for the Club Med program is based in Hakuba – so you get to enjoy two fantastic ski areas and really experience a lot that Japan has to offer. As with Club Med resorts worldwide, the main concept of Club Med Sahoro is to offer the ultimate hassle free holiday for families. Their services are almost all-inclusive. Ski packages include transport, accommodation, lift passes, daily meals, snacks, beverages and ski and snowboard lessons. There are specific children’s programs, so parents can drop off their kids for the day, go skiing and have a great day knowing everything is taken care of!

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate
• Snowboard – Internship Ultimate

A hidden gem… Rich culture and mind blowing skiing areas! Ski Instructor courses at Grimentz-Zinal offer some of the best free-riding in Switzerland, as well as world-recognised certification and training. Located high in the Swiss Alps in the magnificent Val d’Anniviers, the Grimentz area until recently was a fairly untouched tourist destination. Now recognised as one of the area’s hidden jewels, many visitors are choosing to come and enjoy the rich cultural history and epic skiing terrain on offer.

This is huge country, with long runs and deep powder. In fact, the two villages have been quietly gaining a reputation among ski devotees for several years now, a byproduct of the revolution underway in the sport. Wider powder skis have revolutionised small Swiss ski towns like Grimentz and Zinal, as people can now search for deep powder in more places in Switzerland, without the huge crowds that other regions get.

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate

Employees also receive free skiing at other Vail resorts!

‘The Star’ as locals know it, is our North Lake Tahoe training base. We are stoked to have a long-standing relationship with Northstar and have seen the Village and Resort undergo huge redevelopment. It is now part of the Vail Resorts family and one of the leading resorts in the USA. We are stoked to run our ski instructor courses in the USA and snowboard instructor courses too. You will explore an incredible range of terrain by day and chill out by an open fire with a cold beer for après.

Northstar has a fantastic selection of parks & pipes including one of only 3 Burton Stash Parks in the World! The training staff are some of the best in the USA, led by Mike Hafer who is a member of the PSIA Western Demonstration Team and examining squad.

Shaun White, the two-time Olympic champion in half-pipe, makes Northstar USA his primary training grounds. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to live, work and ride at the same resort as the man himself!

Accommodation at Northstar is based at Kingswood Condominiums. Kingswood is located in the heart of North Lake Tahoe, conveniently situated close to Kings Beach, the 24-hour casino nightlife and Northstar Resort. Condos are cozy 3 and 4 bedroom units that accommodate between 5-8 trainees. Assistance is provided so that participants can move into accommodation in groups once they commence work.

Available Programs:

• Ski – Internship Ultimate
• Snowboard – Internship Ultimate