instructing job in canada?
Hey guys!
I’ll be heading to canada for the upcoming season and I’ve been thinking about doing my level 1’s in instructing. Does anyone know if it’s possible to get a job instructing once i’ve done it (assuming i pass haha) or would it be too late in the season by then? Or does anyone recommend a job they really enjoyed? I’ve worked in tickets at thredbo for the past two winters and it’s definitely time for something new 
Hey Emma,
Good to see you back on the forums.
I guess it depends which mountain you’re hoping to work at. I know Whistler has become a lot stricter with their recruitment of instructors in the past year. International applicants now need their level two to be considered I believe.
Where are you thinking you’d like to work/live? Other mountains might be easier to get into.
Either way, I still think getting your level one CASI during the season would be a great thing to do. You’ll learn a lot and it puts you in a better position if you decide to instruct at a later date.
I know quite a few lifties on here who have worked seasons in Whistler (finney, marcab and others), who really enjoy working as lifties. Of course there are other jobs as well.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Hey,
I can only really speak about whistler..
It definitely is possible.. But it really depends on how busy the resort is. If were having a great season and lots of people are coming up (good snow!) then ski school will hire extra instructors for the busy xmas-easter period. If things are a bit quiet it will be much harder.
I would do your level one as soon as you can if you can get your level 2 aswell that will help a lot!
Level 1 is pretty easy if youve done a bit of riding.
One of the best ski resort jobs in canada in my opinion is hotel bell boy/girl. Lots of evening shifts relatively good money from tips etc.. Not that hard!
Yep, I worked in Canada on my Level 1, and I know two people who went over this past season on their level 1’s and worked at Red Mountain (one had the added bonus of being Canadian which is big asset). Cypress will hire a level 1 instructor I believe. A lot of places will as it means they can pay you less, but understand they may also only let you teach at a lower level as well. Having little to no experience teaching is really a hindrance though. It may be a good idea to head over and work in another department while you’re still sitting certifications and gaining experience, that way you will have an ‘in’ with that mountain and they will be more likely to hire you as an instructor the next season. While you’re there you’ll also be able to meet the snow school director and express interest in person - that way you’re more memorable and they know you personally for when you apply next season.
It’s getting well into hiring time, so you’ll want to be applying soon, but it’s not impossible to get jobs later, even during October.
cheers for the advice guys i’m thinking a whistler season is in order! you can’t consider yourself a snow bum until you’ve done one can you? It sounds like i’d probably be better off to get another job this season and just try and get my qualifications while i’m over there for next season. Has anyone worked in rentals? I’m thinking maybe rentals or lifty but I figure it won’t matter what job i’m doing because i’ll be in Canada :D
I worked in Rentals at Heavenly my first season.
Had a ball and don’t regret it!
But being a lifty will get you more on snow time (for a resort non night job) I think I would do that if I did another season!
Hmm,
Personally Woudlnt recommend being a lifty, not very social and a max of 3 days a week riding… but each to their own
I would recommend you look for any job where you get to work with plenty of people and has moring and afternoon shifts.
That way you get 2-3 evening shifts and a potential 4-5 days you can ride.
I’m working Rentals and Workshop right now. I enjoy the workshop but goddamn I am sick of rentals. I think each job hugely depends on where you work and who is on your crew.
I would much prefer being a lifty this season so I would get to see and interact with more staff on the mountain. Staff are the people you work with and are going to party with all season, so having that daily interaction with them can be a huge benefit. I’d even prefer to be on road and car parks.
cheers for the advice guys
Also, as a side note, Whistler isn’t the necessarily all it’s cracked up to be! I disliked it when I rode there.
Big White and Silver Star are owned by an Australian so you’ll find it easier to get jobs there, but that also means you’ll be hanging out with a lot of ozzies (And that’s not why we travel!). The smaller mountains may lack the large ski area, but that doesn’t mean they won’t offer a solid variety of terrain. They will have a better cultural mix and also a tighter knit crew where everyone knows each other and parties or hangs out together. And at some of the less well known ones you can still find fresh tracks almost a week after the last snow!
Hmm,
Personally Woudlnt recommend being a lifty, not very social and a max of 3 days a week riding… but each to their own
I would recommend you look for any job where you get to work with plenty of people and has moring and afternoon shifts.
I’ll say the opposite… I’ve worked as a lifty for 3 winters in Whistler and have had an awesome time, very social as you’re working with different people and there are plenty of social events put on same as any other department that works for the mountain.
You’re rostered to work 4 shifts but you can give away shifts and get more riding time if you want. If you’re working with a good crew on your lift you’ll easily get tonnes of riding time whilst at work aswell. My housemate here now worked symphony the past 2 years and the guys he worked with all agreed to abolish lunch breaks out there and opted to ride all day instead.
The 2010/2011 winter I had over 100 days riding through the season outside of work days so you still get plenty of time to ride. Working as an instructor you’ll have periods where you’ll work 5-6 days straight and 7 days over the busy christmas/new year periods and working in food and beverage you’ll only get 2 days off a week so being a lifty definitely has it’s perks in that you’re guaranteed 3 days off every week and they’re always the same days off so you end up with a pretty tight crew of people to ride with.
The key is to make sure that you’re working on the weekends and have midweek days off as there are significantly less people riding Whistler then so you’ll get more time riding and less time in lift lines.
End of the day it’s not the most glamourous job but it’s outdoors and good exercise - for me I’ve worked in offices for a long time so working outdoors now is a huge perk for me. As you said previously hotel work definitely has it’s benefits with tips etc all comes down to personal preference really.
The key is to make sure that you’re working on the weekends and have midweek days off as there are significantly less people riding Whistler then so you’ll get more time riding and less time in lift lines.
Quoted for importance. Working on weekends works on so many levels.