I've been skiing since I was 3 years old (ahem, that's 34 years now) . . and I want to throw away my corporate lifestyle, head to the hills, and be a ski instructor. Looking to head out to Montana, Wyoming, or Colorado.
I imagine it's a pretty competitive market, given the lifestyle.
Does anyone have any tips or career advice on how to become certified in ski instruction, any good places to live in the West, and any places in need of ski instructors.
Thanks in advance for your answers :-)
2007-01-29 00:27:51 · 3 answers · asked by yuntaa_dba 4 in Sports ➔ Winter Sports ➔ Snow Skiing
It's not as competitive as you think. Most resorts are constanctly looking for new instructors.
I made the same decision that you are about to make, about 15 years ago. I started out teaching as a "Volunteer Adaptive Ski Instructor" (working with disabled students). After one season I was asked to join the Adaptive Staff at Big Bear Mountain in So. Calif. Being on Staff ment getting certified and relearning my skiing technics.
All the mountains in the U.S. use PSIA (Profesinal Ski Instructors of America) as their basis for teaching. PSIA sets the standers for teaching so that the lessons are consitant from one resort to another. http://www.psia.org/01/home/home.asp The PSIA web site will have help wanted ads posted by mountains looking for instructors. You will also find requirments for certs, proform equipment and other ski instructor things there.
Certification is from Level 1 to Level 3 for Alpine, Adaptive, Snowboard etc. You would think that a certification would be easy to get if you are a good skier. I have certs in Alpine and Adaptive, and found studing for them was more deficalt then my college days.
As a full cert Adaptive Instructor I was one of the highest payed Instructors at my mountain. At $14.00/hr. (that was a few years ago) you have to be very creative to servive. I would work at my "real job" in the summer and prepay for my housing, equipment, etc.
My days as a full time Adaptive Instructor were the best days of my life. I taped my accounts, and gave up alot, but I have no regrets and wouldn't change a thing.
Good luck with your life change.
P.S. Please forgive my spelling, spell check was not working.
John
2007-01-29 04:00:06 · answer #1 · answered by jpacente 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
I hope you made it to the mountains!!!
2014-09-20 03:08:47 · answer #2 · answered by Jake M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
join PSIA
2007-01-29 08:01:51 · answer #3 · answered by Nordic Skier 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋