3-5 week
Fernie Level 1 Snowboard Instructor Course
Our 3-5 week snowboard instructor courses in Fernie are ideal for pushing the boundaries of your riding and taking the first steps onto the instructor ladder.
Ride with a team of inspirational snowboard instructors
Over the last 10 years we have built an amazing team of pros at our Fernie base. As well as being highly qualified, each of them has their own teaching and riding style that will allow you to see the mountain and your own riding in a whole new light. In a relatively short space of time they will help you to lose bad habits, while boosting your confidence and transforming your technique. You’ll be riding like a pro on the most exciting areas of the mountain in no time! Meet some of our instructors in this video.
Learn to coach yourself.
A lot of the snowboarders who take this course have no intention of actually instructing, but there is still a lot to be achieved. Over the course of the program you’ll go right back to basics and learn how to correct fundamental riding problems. By turning your new-found technical knowledge on yourself, you’ll continue to improve long after the course is finished.
Choosing a three or five week course
Our three week course is extremely popular, and is the perfect way to gain CASI level 1 on a short break. Our five week option is ideal for those who may need a little more technical training or those who just want to spend more time in this awesome resort!
Join us in Fernie - the home of legendary powder
We could write a novel about how great Fernie Alpine Resort is. It is the ideal place to run an instructor course and it was the inspiration for Nonstop’s launch in 2002. The variety of off-piste terrain is amazing, there’s enough to keep challenging and entertaining you for a life-time, and the snow record is off the chart. Steep and deep powder days are plentiful! The town itself is a lot of fun with lively, friendly bars and restaurants, along with the arena for the local ice-hockey team, “Fernie Ghostriders”.
Fernie is renowned for its heavy snow record and awesome riding conditions. For every week that the resort is open it averages 48cm of snowfall!
Feel at home with excellent accommodation and meals
We own a 42 bedroom lodge in the heart of Fernie, which is designed specifically to be the ideal course accommodation. As well as having spacious en-suite bedrooms, there’s a restaurant, bar, games room, tuning room, movie room, sauna and hot tub all available onsite! If you’d like a more independent experience, we also have options for you to stay in a local house share. Although you’ll stay away from the lodge, you’ll still have access to all of the facilities there. With either option, you’ll have breakfast provided seven days a week and meals three nights a week. On the other nights you’ll be free to check out the restaurants around town or make use of your fully equipped kitchens.
Experience more with our extra activities
We’ll make sure that there’s plenty to keep you busy for the duration of your stay. As well as showing you the best of the mountain and town, we’ll organise a bunch of extra activities, including board tuning workshops, equipment advice sessions, avalanche safety courses and cat-skiing days (where you’ll ride untouched powder all day!). Watch a video from one of our cat-skiing days here.
The Package
Included:
Season lift pass
Professional coaching (20 hours per week)
Continental breakfast
Either 5 or 7 days per week, depending on the course. Contact us for more info.
Dinners
Either 3 or 4 nights per week, depending of the course. Contact us for more info. They are three course meals served in The Red Tree Lodge restaurant and are designed to be filling and delicious; perfect after a day on the slopes. There is a fully equipped communal kitchen in the lodge if you wish to cook for yourself on weekends etc.
Airport transfers (if coinciding with group flights)
We include a shuttle service between the airport and the resort. The departure date and times are coordinated with the times of the group flights we arrange from London to Canada. If travelling at other times or on different dates then we can advise you on the public transfer services available.
Daily bus to the resort
We own our own buses and provide a morning and afternoon shuttle to/from the resort each day. The journey time is approximately 8 minutes.
24 hour staffing
Accommodation
You have the option of a twin room or a single room. If you are coming on your own you can still opt for a twin room. We will pair you up with someone of similar age and interests to you, based on an accommodation questionnaire we will send to you upon booking.
Lift queue priority during lessons
Weekly indoor technical sessions
Video analysis
This is a great tool that our instructors use to help identify areas that you need to improve on. We have playback facilities on the mountain so you can see straight away what areas need work.
CSIA/CASI Level 1 Instructor Course fees
Instructor career advice
During the course there will be a seminar on working as an instructor, covering job applications, work visas and typical hours and wages. In addition you will receive our 40 page advice handbook on "working as a ski or snowboard instructor" which includes a directory of snow schools around the world.
Ski/snowboard maintenance Seminar
Weekly social events
Farewell party
Optional extras:
Flights (from £650)
We can arrange return flights for those travelling between the UK and Canada. Flights cost from £650. You can opt for a flight on your booking form. If you arrange your own flight you can meet us at the airport for the group transfer bus to the resort. Please contact us with any questions.
Cat-skiing ($500/£290 approx)
The day cat-skiing is a highlight of most people's trip to Fernie. Somewhat similar to heli-skiing, it involves a whole day of skiing or riding fresh powder in the backcountry, getting rides to the top of the mountain in a cat (aka 'piste basher'). Good times guaranteed!
Avalanche safety course ($100/£60 approx)
This one day course provides an introduction into off-piste safety covering avalanche terrain, snow stability tests and search and rescue techniques.
Not included:
Travel Insurance
We can provide some information on suitable cover upon booking.
Lunches and non-inclusive meals
Spending money
Typical costs: Lunch: $15, Dinner: $15-35. Pint of beer: $5.50. Glass of wine: $7.
Ski/snowboard equipment
If you don't yet own ski equipment it tends to be cheaper to buy rather than rent for 3-weeks. Skis, bindings, poles and ski boots range from $1,100 (£700 approx)- $2,800 (£1,800 approx). Snowboard, boots and bindings are slightly less.
Want to know more?
Optional first 2 weeks
Freeriding, guiding & technical instruction for all-mountain riding
Week 1
Settle in, assess your riding standard & work on technique
Week 2
Progress tecnique around the whole mountain & start instructor training
Week 3
Freeride, CSIA Level 1 final exams & partying!
Latest photos from @NonstopFernie: 
