Active Nation are keen to employ a snowboard instructor for the Southampton dry ski slope. As long as you’ve got your CASI level 1 qualification or above with Nonstop, you should be in with a shot. Here’s the bumph:

JOB VACANCY:

SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR - £7 per hour - SOUTHAMPTON SNOWSPORTS CENTRE

ACTIVE NATION – SOUTHAMPTON

Active Nation is a registered charity driven by its mission to persuade the nation to be active. It is fast growing and dynamic and has been selected by Southampton City Council to be its principal sport and exercise delivery partner over the next 14 years.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN ADVENTURE WITH A DIFFERENCE

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join Southampton Snowsports Centre. We are looking for an exceptional instructor who is dynamic, self motivated and be able to draw on a range of outdoor coaching and teaching practices to create significant and beneficial experiences for our supporters.

Southampton Snowsports Centre offering a variety of different Snowsports and fun activities for all ages. Located at the Outdoor Sports Centre in Southampton, and surrounded by 150 acres of green and open spaces, it is the ideal setting for many sports activities.

WE’D LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU IF YOU’RE ABLE TO TELL US: How you will persuade people to share in your passion for Snowsports What motivates you and why a new challenge might appeal to you How you think we can use Snowsports to achieve the Charity’s mission

YOU WILL: Be passionate about sport and exercise, particularly in an outdoor adventurous setting and be able to inspire people to take part in meaningful activities Deliver a range of activity sessions to a variety of Active Nations supporters including young people, adults, families and those with specialist needs Assist the lead instructor team in inspecting safety equipment on a regular basis Maintain a flexible approach to work which will involve continuous work in an outdoor environment, work on evenings and weekends as part of a shift pattern Need to have experience in coaching snowboarding, hold at least a valid level 1 BASI, Snowsport England or equivalent as well as a valid 8 hour first aid certificate

IN OUR VIEW EVERYTHING IN LIFE STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION AND WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

To apply please tell us your story so far by emailing your CV and a covering letter to hayley.walker@activenation.org.uk If selected expect a call back from us. For more information visit our website www.activenation.org.uk or call Hayley Walker, Programme Manager, on 07825 235441.

CLOSING DATE: 17th February 2012

ASSESSMENT DATE: 21st February 2012

*In order to be considered for the position you must be able to make the assessment date.

Active Nation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post will be subject to an Enhanced CRB disclosure.

Several people from NONSTOP snowboard and ski instructor courses have gone on to work in Japan and have had an amazing time, it’s a massively different cultural experience to most winter seasons and the conditions are often off the hook!

Apparently there are over 40 vacancies, so if you get a good application in soon and you could stand a really good chance of getting a job. Make sure you mention that you’ve been through the NONSTOP programme, as that will help to give them confidence that you know your onions and are at a decent level.

If you’ve been through one of NONSTOP’s instructor course and would like any advice on how you should apply for a job, feel free to drop us a mail on info@nonstopsnow.com.

For more info about the jobs and details on how to apply visit the Evergreen Outdoor Centre here.

With NONSTOP’s Whistler University you’ll spend four weeks at the beginning of the season training for your Level 1 ski or snowboard instructor qualification before stepping into a guaranteed job in the Whistler Blackcomb snow school. It’s notoriously hard to get a job for Whistler, so this is an amazing opportunity!

During the first four weeks, you’ll be taken under NONSTOP’s wing as you train in our world-renowned programme. As well as learning all of the teaching techniques you’ll need for the season, our high-level coaches will push your own personal skiing or snowboarding skills to the next level. By the time you don your instructor jacket, you’ll be ready to slay the whole mountain and show everyone else how it’s done!

It may all sound too good to be true, but the course is all ready for you to sign up to now. Places are limited, so get in there quick!

Find out more and register here:

Snowboard instructor application

Ski instructor application

As well as a whole team of full time and part time ski and snowboard instructors, Skiplex are also looking to employ a Centre Manager.  

About Skiplex

Skiplex is a new company that is bringing indoor artificial skiing to the UK. Based on over 50 locations across Europe, Skiplex has the exclusive rights to this successful technology. We are aiming to create a learning environment where ski enthusiasts can improve their technique and therefore maximise their enjoyment when they are in the mountains. For this reason we are building our brand around customer satisfaction and it is key all Skiplex guests are not only improving with every lesson but are counting down the days until they return.

JOB TITLE: Skiplex Centre Manager

Description:

We are seeking talented ski instructors who are looking to expand their career into management. Each Skiplex will have a manager who will be in sole charge of the financial performance of the outlet as well as teaching customers to ski. This is a vital role and we shall be extremely selective in who we ask to carry out this job.

Responsibility and Tasks:

• Manage schedule of all instructors
• Hiring of new instructors
• Training of new / less experienced instructors
• Maintenance of health and safety records
• Completion of weekly reporting forms
• Continual search for new business and customers
• Organise promotions and events

What we are looking for:

• A natural leader who will be the face of the Skiplex centre
• Ability to inspire the instructors
• Keen to instruct too
• First locations are in South West London and in Cambridge

Why Skiplex?

We are an exciting new brand that intends to open multiple Skiplex centres across the UK – join the team now.

Details

Please send your CV and covering note explaining why you think you could manage a Skiplex to jobs@skiplex.co.uk together with you 30 second video.

JOB TITLE: Ski / Snowboard Instructor

Description:

We are looking for enthusiastic candidates who have experience in teaching skiing to all ages and all abilities. The ideal candidate would conduct group and individual ski/snowboard coaching from beginners through all stages to performance level including special needs groups for the Ski / Snowboard Development Scheme within the confines of their current qualification. As a Skiplex instructor you will be expected to follow the Skiplex lesson plans. The position will report to the individual Skiplex Centre Manager.

Responsibility and Tasks:

• Greeting clients on arrival at the Skiplex
• Helping fitting boots, skis and snowboards for the clients
• Creating a friendly and exciting environment that is susceptible to world class teaching
• Booking clients’ lessons – working with pc, email, reservation system
• Having a great attitude towards working in a small team

What we are looking for:

• BASI or CSIA certified – Level 2 or above
• Location: South West London and Cambridge
• Skiing and snowboarding instructors
• Although potential candidates’ skiing ability is key, it is the social skills that are paramount. We are looking for unique individuals to buy into the Skiplex philosophy from the outset. A get up and go attitude and communication skills are a must, thereby allowing the Skiplex customer to enjoy a top-class learning experience
• No problem to do work that doesn’t involve instructing but allows the Skiplex Centre to operate to the best of its ability – a roll your-sleeves-up attitude
• Ability to work with a flexible schedule

Why Skiplex?

• We are an exciting new brand that intends to open multiple Skiplex centres across the UK – join the team now
• We offer flexible hours. If you have a passion for teaching and miss the thrill due to another job we have part time positions available

Details

Please send your CV and covering letter to jobs@skiplex.co.uk outlining why our customers would enjoy being taught by you and don’t forget your 30 second video.

To find out more about NONSTOP’s snowboard and ski instructor courses visit www.nonstopsnow.com.

Here’s a summary of changes and how they may affect those looking to work as a ski or snowboard instructor in Canada:

Applications previously separated into “students” and “non-students” have now been combined into the new “Working Holiday Programme”, meaning there’s one less quota to stand in your way. As long as you’re aged between 18-30 and meet the basic eligibility criteria, you’re all set to apply.

One of the most exciting changed is that you can now apply for two separate one-year visas. The two years could either be spent consecutively or with a space in between, without the need for any sponsorship. This is excellent news, considering the previous restriction of one year only. For those looking to return to Canada for many seasons to come, having two years of work experience will make gaining subsequent sponsored visas much easier.

There is also a very substantial structural change that will significantly affect the application process. It will now be possible to apply directly to the Government of Canada. An application fee of $150 CDN (around £100), makes this a really cheap option. Find out more about how to apply for a visa via the Government of Canada here.

As with previous years, BUNAC will still be offering their Canadian visa application services. Although you will pay a little more than applying to the Government of Canada directly, you will get a higher level of support from their UK offices, as well as a few other bonuses. Find out more about BUNAC applications here.

Those looking to take one of our early season ski instructor courses or snowboard instructor courses and work in the same season should aim to apply as soon as possible after the 18th January.

NB this is only necessary if you intend to work in the season, all other courses and trips will be covered by a regular holiday visa.

After leaving college, I was sure that I wanted to move into seasonal work abroad, however with no experience it proved rather difficult to find much work. After scouring through the many sites offering 11 week ski instructor courses, NONSTOP had caught my eye, with their extensive variety and extras included in the package.

I decided to go to Banff in Canada for 11 weeks. I chose Banff because NONSTOP were the only company to cover all three ski areas in Banff, which was a major plus, because after 11 weeks of skiing nearly everyday, I was still finding new and secret spots to explore! The excursions were awesome and with the credit system you can choose a huge variety of things to do. We skied in Jasper and Kicking Horse, and saw the Calgary Flames hockey team live in Calgary! That included a great night out on the town thanks to our EPIC Course Director, Tysen, who organised the whole thing! It was fantastic, great people, awesome instructors, and perfect snow! (well for most of the season anyway!)

I returned from Banff with a CSIA Level 2 qualification and I was determined to work in the industry. Finally, after applying and phoning what seemed like every ski school on the planet, I was offered an instructing job in Japan and also a rep job with a tour company in Austria. Obviously Japan was my first choice, however getting a visa quickly is not the easiest and turned out to be un-obtainable for me. So I decided to go to Austria.

Although repping was a great job and in a fantastic location of Schladming, Austria, I really had my heart set on working as an instructor. I started to phone round ski schools in Austria as late as December 10th although most of the ski schools had said they were full for the season they seemed more interested that I was already in the country, this turned out to work in my favour as one particular ski school seemed interested that I could be with them within a couple of days. So I hopped on the train to Mayrhofen the next day and met Roland, the director of SMT SkiSchule. He was very impressed with my Canadian qualification and even preferred it to BASI.

I was due to start work as an instructor the next day and it was terrifying! Each of the instructors would stand next to their respective flag indicating which language they spoke and beginner clients would be directed towards us. Once we had 10 people in our group we could move to the training slope, which by the way is in possibly the most awkward place on the mountain, as it sits below the run out to the chair lift, so more experienced skiers are flying though your lesson at the speed of light trying to get to the chairlift as fast as possible! It was chaos!

After 3 hours of basic drills and laughs, it was lunch. In the afternoon we moved to the magic carpet, which was even more chaotic. You will never realise just how much can go wrong in 5 minutes if you don’t explain every single tiny little detail to your clients because, more often than not, they are too scared to ask any questions or what to do next so they wait for you, after all you are the instructor.

So with my class causing a pile-up at the bottom of the magic carpet along with some teeny tiny baby skiers, my first day instructing was a cracker! However it was truly exhilarating to see people being able to link wedge turns after only one day, and that was because of me!

After a few weeks I was soon able to teach to a higher level and, with such a fantastic season of snow in Mayrhofen, I couldn’t wait to get out on the slopes every day. It was an amazing season and I would recommend anybody to do a season in Austria as the bar and shop prices are still reasonable as opposed to France, but it still gets great snow.

I started applying early for Instructor positions the next winter around July time, and was very quickly offered a position in Nendaz, Switzerland. It’s a small resort just outside of Verbier in the Quatre Vallées. Nendaz was a great place to work, as it had quiet slopes, and you can ski over the M25 to get to Verbier if you so wish! The group size was smaller and teaching more varied as we had pretty intense training every week, grading you on your skiing and teaching abilities. It didn’t bother me anymore because of all the practice lessons I did with NONSTOP, teaching other instructors, and skiing to a high level. One of the guys from Banff told me something important, that even when your skiing for fun, don’t forget it’s always training you to be better and giving you that perfect turn.

So with all my hard work and training, I have been invited back to the same ski school for the second season running! Switzerland is a great place and although pricy, it can be very manageable if you find the right ski school! If I could have done one other thing it would be to learn German or French, as this makes you highly employable as an instructor and makes it easier on your first season to get by I suppose!

I would love to go back to Canada one day as it has been the gateway to my career and NONSTOP were fantastic at helping me get there!

Thanks for reading!

If you’re interested in taking a similar path to Alicia, or just want to spend a season perfecting your skills, check out our:

Ski instructor courses

Snowboard instructor courses

Or read more instructor stories here

Since 2002, we’ve trained over 2,000 ski and snowboard instructors, and plenty of those have gone on to work in ski schools around the world. Below is a list of stories about how many of them have gone on to “live the dream”…

Spike Lupton “From Graphic Designer to snowboard in instructor”
Spike chose to go on a career break with NONSTOP back in 07/08 and returns to Canada every winter to instruct in Cyprus Mountain. This blog goes into loads of detail about instructor training, as well as an insight into working in the ski school of a smaller mountain. Check out his story here.

Paul Cooper “From accountant to ski instructor”
Pauls story started back in 2004, when he came out to Red Mountain for our 11 week ski instructor course and later our 6 week course in Fernie. Since then he has passed his CSIA level 3 and returns to instruct in Silver Star every winter. Read his story here.

Ross Brown “Becoming a snowboard instructor, then teaching in Japan and the US”
Ross has made an amazing life for himself. After taking our Fernie 11 week snowboard instructor course, he went on to instruct in Japan then Lake Tahoe and has now gained his AASI level 3. Read his story here.

June Anstey “Training and becoming a snowboard instructor in Fernie, BC”
Since joining our snowboard instructor course in 07/08, June has made Fernie her home away from home, staying out in the winter and summer seasons. Read her story here.

Harriet “Training and teaching as a ski instructor in one season”
Harriet joined our early-season 3 week ski instructor course in Banff and then managed to secure a job in Norquay straight afterwards. It was a pretty amazing way to spend a gap year! Read her story here.

Nadine Wilding “A 3 week instructor course in Banff, leading to a season teaching”
Nadine took advantage of our early season level 1 ski instructor course and went on to instruct in the same season. Read her story here.

James Harper-Lewis “A typical day as an instructor”
James passed his Level 1, 2 and park instructor qualifications on NONSTOP’s 11 week Banff course and now instructs in Sunshine Village. Read his “day in the life of an instructor” here.

Mike Barnes “Gap year to full time ski instructor”
Mike joined NONSTOP in Fernie after finishing school in 2007 and, after qualifying as a CSIA level 2 ski instructor, went on to instruct at Cyprus Mountain. Read about his training and working experiences here.

Evan Bartlett “Gap year in Red Mountain”
Shortly after finishing school, Evan jetted over to Red Mountain in Canada to join our 11 week ski instructor course. There, he skied some of the best conditions and terrain in Canada and went on to pass his Level 1 and 2 CSIA exams. He now uses his qualifications to take working holidays, instructing kids in Courmayeur, Italy. Read his story here.

Paul Tindle “Factory worker to snowboard instructor”
Five years ago Paul quit his job and rented out his flat to go and chase his dreams. To this day, he’s still working as a snowboard instructor. Read his story here.

Alicia Warr “Becoming a ski instructor in Europe”
Alicia gained her CSIA level 2 on NONSTOP’s 11 week Banff course and has since gone on to work in Austria and Switzerland. Read her story here.

If you want to follow in the footsteps of our friends above, check out:

Ski instructor courses

Snowboard instructor courses

We have just had an email from a friend at SkiSchoolJobs.com who has notified us of some fantastic ski and snowboard instructor jobs open to you in Canada and America.  They are looking for Level 1 and 2 instructors to fill many positions in resorts such as Mt Seymour, Big White and Cyprus Mountain Canada amongst many others. There are also ski & snowboard instructor positions in the USA still available

Sponsored Visas:
For those of you who have not yet secured your visas, they have a limited number of sponsored visa spots available at Mt Seymour, so get applying!  And remember, if you are applying to a couple of resorts – be sure to tailor each application to the separate resorts.

You can find the jobs that are available online here:  www.skischooljobs.com

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

If you have not yet got your ski & snowboard instructor qualifications and are interested in getting them why not check out the range of courses that we run…

I want to become a ski instructor: click here
I want to become a snowboard instructor: click here

After returning home and saying goodbye to everyone, I went backpacking with a friend from school which was also an amazing experience but I still missed Red Mountain. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do next; I had planned to go to Uni but after my gap year I really wanted to go back to Canada to do another season. So I decided to defer my entry again and started looking at visas and job applications. Eventually however I decided it would be best to go to Uni first and give myself a backup plan in case ski instructing on a permanent basis wasn’t the thing for me. I have absolutely no regrets in making this decision and I think it was the right thing to do at the right time. I am however very determined to do another season after graduating and try out ski instructing as a career.

In September a big group of us all travelled down to NONSTOCK, which was a great chance to see everyone again and to meet people who had done the same courses in other resorts. The weekend was a great success and we’re already planning on the next trip. It was great to hear what everyone had been doing over summer and also discussing plans for the next season.

In this time I had discovered that there are a number of UK tour operators who are more than happy to employ ski instructors on a temporary basis especially during university and school holidays. In January of this year, me and Dan (a friend who was on the NONSTOP course at the same time as me) worked for a company called Interski in Courmayeur, Italy. The process for signing up was really straight forward; filling out a simple form on their website and then sending and replying to a couple of emails. The set up at Interski was really good; transport, accommodation and food was all included in the package and we were paid at the end as well!

I was really nervous at the beginning of the week, worried that I would forget everything that I had learnt in Red and that the kids I was teaching would realise that I wasn’t the amazing ski instructor I was supposed to be. But when you get into it you soon realise that the kids hang on your every word and trusting you to take them around the mountain. The thing I also forgot was that kids learn best from just skiing, you can stand around and tell them all the technique you want but at the end of the day the best way for them to learn is by doing.

I got to know all the other instructors really well in Courmayeur and will definitely be doing it again. Even though it’s a job you feel like you’re on holiday – ski instructing has to be the best job in the world. With companies like this, I plan to combine doing a few weeks ski instructing a year alongside my degree and then at the end have enough experience to land a really good instructor job back out in Canada.

I had an amazing time with NONSTOP on the 11-week course and would strongly recommend everyone to do it! It has given me great opportunities to continue instructing and has led to me meeting some incredible people. I have to say a huge thanks to my instructors Aladar and Jon who taught me loads and to all the guys who help run the course in Red. I’d go back today if I could!

If you have any comments for Evan, NONSTOP or the world in general, please write them in below.

Read more ski instructor experiences.

Thinking about becoming an instructor? Check out NONSTOP’s advice page.

Want to go to NONSTOCK this year?

If you prefer shredding a mountain sideways then visit the NONSTOP Snowboard homepage.

I had just finished my A-Levels and had loads of aspirations for an amazing gap year, I’d been looking forward to this year for the whole of my teenage life but when I was suddenly faced with the reality of it I actually had no idea what I was going to do. I knew I needed to save some money to go away so I’d started working doing tedious jobs in catering and bar work at exhibition centres in London. By the time I’d saved any decent money it was November and already a quarter of the way through my year – I had nothing planned. I was pretty unhappy in my job to say the least, working long hours and for not very much pay. It was when I was skiving off work at the Ski and Snowboard show looking at all the exhibits that I stumbled across NONSTOP, and suddenly it hit me. I’d always loved skiing but had ruled out doing a season because I didn’t want to be working in a chalet with equally bad hours and similar pay to what I was getting at home, but NONSTOP seemed to offer something different.

I got home that night and sent off an email straightaway, to my surprise I got an instantaneous reply and before I knew it I had booked my course within a couple of weeks and would be heading out to Red Mountain in January. Red had not jumped out at me as the obvious choice, it was by no means the most popular destination, and I don’t think I’d even heard of it before NONSTOP. Because I was so late to book, I didn’t have much choice but the guys at NONSTOP raved about it, and I’m glad they did – the choice to go there was one of the best things that could’ve happened to me.

We flew out to Red on the 19^th of January; I’d had a bit of contact with other guys on the course through facebook and the majority of us all met at Heathrow before the flight. After a long day of flying and coach transfers we finally arrived in Rossland. It was fairly late in the evening and snow was falling, suddenly my dream gap year was beginning.  I learnt who my housemates would be for the season and all of us being jet-lagged and excited we were up till about 7 in the morning. After all the introductory stuff and a few days to settle into life in Rossland and getting our ski legs fully prepared we began lessons.

Our house was great, it was strange for me living in my own house considering I had just finished school and was still living at home but once I’d settled in I loved it. We had a hot tub, pool and table tennis tables and proper wood burning fires that we got going religiously after a long day on the slopes.  Rossland is a really cool town, the kind of place where you get to recognise everyone’s face and everyone is super friendly. I’ve never had a 20 minute conservation in a supermarket about ski equipment but I did here! Although we had our own bus service up to the hill it was so easy just to hitch a ride up with one of Rossland’s friendly citizens. We had hearty meals in downtown Rossland, drinks in the ‘Shovel’ pub and après-ski at ‘Rafters’. Although it’s not the biggest party town we soon found the best spots to go and heaps of people threw house parties through the season.  Our course host Stacey was amazing, she seemed to be everywhere in Rossland at once. From picking us up in the mornings to chatting to us at dinner to flying past us on the hill, I don’t think the experience would have been the same without her and a lot of us are still in contact.

The terrain at Red is unreal; quite daunting at first but once you get used to it and taught how to ski properly, it is amazing! Steep and deep and on powder days there is no place on this planet that I would rather be. I was also amazed at how good our instructors were, I’d had lessons when I was younger and felt I’d always learnt quickly but these guys were unreal. The stuff we learned in such a short space of time and the things they picked up on in our techniques was astonishing. Everyone was skiing like pro’s by the middle of the course, let alone the end.  We skied “NONSTOP” quite literally, at every spare minute we would either be on the hill skiing or down in Rossland talking about it. I loved every single minute of my time in Red and ended up leaving with my CSIA level 2 and friends that I will keep for life.  I got on with everyone on the course, I was one of the youngest at 18 and the oldest was in their mid-40s, we had people from Australia, Japan and even Latvia as well as loads from the UK. My 11 weeks in Red were the best time of my life and it was really sad to leave. 

Read part 2 here.

Got any comments for Evan, NONSTOP or the world in general? Write them in below (no sign in required)

Read more ski instructor stories here

Take a look at NONSTOP’s range of ski instructor courses