When it comes to working as a snowboard instructor, one word jumps to mind – 'Lifestyle'. You get to ride everyday, sharing your love for snowboarding with enthusiastic students who just crave your knowledge and skills. It is a fun and rewarding job and, let's face it, cruising fresh powder on a Monday morning sure beats that dreadful commute. Becoming a snowboard instructor is one of those jobs many people dream of - to get paid for doing a sport you love.
Nowadays, very few take the dive in to the instructor industry full time, but for the dedicated few, the rewards are not to be missed. For example, in Canada, a starting salary for a level 1 certified instructor would be between $10 to $12 per hour. However, the more you progress your snowboard instructing career, the more financial gains are available – and, let's be honest, earning money is important to fund your snowboarding lifestyle!
Jumping up to a level 2 will increase your salary by a further $2 to $6 – and it doesn’t stop there! You can continue to move up towards a level 4 standard which is the highest tier, or obtain various other certifications such as freestyle and avalanche awareness, or even dual certify as a ski and snowboard instructor to really rake in the cash.
Deciding on the best path for your training is crucial if you are really looking to build a successful career as an instructor. Build a solid reputation, and the local and international sponsors will flock your way - not to mention all the fantastic pro deals you receive. With reputation in mind, also securing a solid customer base will ensure you benefit from repeat customers requesting you for lessons. The goal is to work towards as many requests and private lessons as possible, as you will most certainly be paid more for these.
A great way to obtain your qualifications to get you started in the industry is via one of the dedicated snowboard instructor courses available today. Not only do they offer you access to expert training and exams, but they also give you a foot in the door, with experience of being part of a snowboard school.
Expect to be working at least 25 hours per week, split in to 2 to 3 lessons each day. Depending on the time of year, peak times will likely demand more of your expertise, so more hours will be available on the hill.
You might be wondering what exactly it is that an instructor does on a daily basis. Yes, the answer is fairly obvious - you will be teaching someone to snowboard, but who you will be teaching can vary. You could be teaching children, teenagers or adults, from complete beginners through to people who can already rip. This means that every day is a new challenge, and adds to the excitement of the job.
On days where lessons are few and far between, you have the option to free ride and enjoy some down time, or take part in training sessions if your snowboard school run them. They are a great opportunity to improve technique and will help you reach those higher-level certifications, plus they are free!
Outside of your main role to teach the public, you may also be asked to assist in various events, slope safety, or a mountain sweep towards the end of the day, looking for lost or struggling riders. When the day draws to a close, you would be crazy to forget there’s the après scene! It’s almost a guarantee that your students will persuade you to join them for a refreshing drink or two after a day on the hill. Don't forget this is a job for the social butterflies!
Working as a snowboard instructor also means you will have fantastic opportunities to travel the world and make new friends. You are not limited to the months of December through to April to work. Did you know that once the northern hemisphere season is over you can head down to the southern hemisphere and hit up Australia or New Zealand? You can follow the winter seasons to ensure you are working pretty much all year round, and some snowboard schools are even linked to resorts in the other hemisphere, which ensures you progress your riding and qualifications all year round. Not only does this mean you are almost guaranteed a job in both hemisphere winters, it also saves applications for jobs and visas, so you can chase winter without needing to worry about the next!
So, could you see yourself enjoying working as a snowboard instructor, shredding deep POW or ripping a groomer on a sunny blue bird morning?
"Get to ride everyday sharing your love for snowboarding with enthusiastic students just wanting to soak up all your knowledge..."
Written by Leigh Mocock from
NothinButSnow, who run ski and snowboard
instructor courses in Big White and Whitewater, Canada.