Our Step by Step Guide to Becoming a Snowboard instructor
To become a snowboard instructor you have to ignore convention, follow your obsession and commit to a lifestyle that everyone will envy. No person dreams of working in a supermarket, it just happens. People dream of becoming a snowboard instructor but that doesn’t just happen you have to make it.
Dream
Amazing achievements start with a dream that grows from a passion. You know if snowboarding is your passion when you spend your time on your next snowboarding trip watching DVD’s, reading snowboard mags, and going to sessions at your local dry slope. When you have the bug that bad you start to wonder how you can spend more time in the mountains and on the slopes. One the idea of the endless winter consumes you, then you know it’s time to make it your job and you will achieve the dream.
Why
Other than the need to realise your dream and want to spend every day with a board strapped to your feet you should consider why you want to become an instructor as of when it happens it takes over your life. If you’re not interested in office work, commuting and repetitive workloads while living in a paint by numbers town the mountain life may be the right choice for you. If you also want to pass on your passion and spend time with a diverse range of folk, you are probably barking up the right tree.
Commit
People have a preconception about snowboarders, especially about those who commit 100% to the lifestyle, and that is that it’s an easy life and a dossy job. This is far from the truth, getting qualified can cost similar to getting a degree, the workload is comparable too. The job is also very skilled and requires a huge amount of expertise. The truth is that it is a great life with a job that is immensely rewarding but to get there you must be totally committed.
“There are loads of options that you will need to consider when deciding what direction your future as a snowboard instructor will take and lots of factor that will affect your decision.”
Choose a Qualification
Each country has it’s own qualification governed by a local body, such as BASI (UK), NZSIA (New Zealand) or CSIA (Canada), which are where we hold our instructor programs. They are all part of the International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) which means that each qualification is internationally recognised and have similar qualification levels, starting at level 1. You will need to gain at least level 2 status to work outside your country of qualification. Our main advice when selecting a qualification is to think about where you ultimately want to end up teaching, if you’re planning on staying in Europe qualifying under the BASI system is the best choice for you.
For more information on instructor qualification check out this blog.
Pick a course
To pass your instructor exam you need to be in the mountains, training hard and being coached. It is possible to arrange all this separately but very few people do this as it more expensive and much more challenging that joining an organised course. If you were to train with Ticket to Ride you would get accommodation, training, all your food cooked, exams and more included with your package. You also get things that money can’t buy as you forge new friendships, meet potential employers and take part in experiences that you wouldn’t do on your own.
Find out about all our snowboard instructor courses
Train hard & play hard
Once you are in the mountains and training the hard work begins. You will need to work hard on the slopes perfecting your technique and learning how to instruct. Off the slopes, there will be theory sessions and practical first aid lesson all designed to make sure you pass your exams with ease. But you mustn’t forget to enjoy yourself by building kickers, getting first lifts on powder days, experiencing other extreme sports as well as enjoying some aprés fun.
Finding work
Depending on your ultimate goal you may find yourself training for up to 8 years, although much of that will be working. So how do you find the work? As part of a course with us we will make sure we do everything we can to help secure you a job teaching snowboarding as we have a great reputation and links with Interski, Lake Louise Ski and Snowboard School as well as Club Med who recruit instructors to work around the world.
Live the Dream
Once you are qualified and found a job it’s time to settle down and let all the hard work pay off and enjoy the instructor lifestyle of living in the mountains, getting paid to ride those mountains and playing with them in your free time.
How to make it happen
The next step is to either download a brochure or give us a call for a chat. Everyone in our office has loads of experience and have all been through the process themselves which means they can give you the advice you need to make it happen.