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Imagine a winter where your primary focus is to rip around three epic resorts refining your skills. That’s what this snowboard performance course is all about. Making huge improvements in your technique, mastering the mountain and everything fun about snowboarding… think powder, drops, chutes and more.
An unforgettable experience I'd recommend to anyone.
Alice Marsh
11 Week Performance Course, Banff
I have loved every moment. From the staff to the people taking the course it has been amazing and I would recommend it to anyone thinking of doing it!
Andrew Thomson
11 Week Performance Course, Banff
We will train you at all three of Banff’s resorts – Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt Norquay. The extensive riding and varied terrain across these three areas will keep you on your game throughout the season.
Crisp pistes to work on your technique and more challenging terrain to test yourself. One thing is for sure, you’ll never get bored.
Our team of snowboard coaches are the best of the best. Riding groups of similar ability, they will help develop your snowboarding technique and increase your confidence in all terrain from piste to powder.
You will receive four days of coaching each week and benefit from the experience of different instructors throughout the program.
We want you to leave Canada taking on the whole mountain and hitting terrain you never thought you could. In the first half of the course we use the CASI Level 1 instructor qualification to ensure you establish a technically sound foundation from which to develop your skills. Knowing the fundamentals of snowboard technique will put you in the best position to improve your own riding.
After the Level 1 you’ll take part in our exclusive All Mountain Pro (AMP) program. Designed to focus purely on your own snowboard performance, this is a super fun program where you’ll get coached across the entire mountain. You’ll focus on different elements of snowboarding each week and by the end of the course you’ll be riding powder, hitting drops and carving on piste with confidence and ease.
During the season you have the chance to experience tons of winter activities and trips as part of our MORE Program. With loads on offer, you can build your dream winter and make it one to remember.
Snowmobiling, cat boarding, lake skating, winter camping and trips to other resorts are just a few of the experiences on offer.
You’ll receive 25 credits ($250) to put towards the activities of your choice, and can pay additional supplements to add as many as you want once you’re in resort.
Renowned for a great nightly scene full of shops, restaurants, bars and more, Banff is constantly buzzing. And you’ll be on the doorstep of all the action at our accommodation in Irwin’s Mountain Inn or the nearby Banff International Hostel.
Irwin’s has everything you need for a great stay, queen-sized beds, en-suites, cable TV and wi-fi, as well as a hot tub and gym. If you’re on a budget, the Banff International Hostel is a great option with super social dorm rooms available.
In the first half of the program you'll train for your CSIA Level 1 before moving on to our All Mountain Pro program. You'll receive 20 hours coaching per week over four days. Your days off are for free skiing, consolidating what you've learnt and other activities. The maximum group size is 8 people per pro but typically they are even smaller.
You have the option of staying in a twin or private room at Irwin's Mountain Inn, or in a quad room at the International Hostel. You'll have access to all the facilities at Irwin's Mountain Inn, including:
You'll be treated to a hearty breakfast at El Toro's five days per week. Options include coffee/tea, juices, cereals, toast, pastries, yogurt, fruit, as well as hot items like eggs, beans, sausages, hash browns or bacon.
Enjoy a deliscious meal at El Toro four evenings a week.
You'll be given a season lift pass to all three of Banff's resorts, so you can ski as much as you please. Come out early or stay on after, your lift pass will cover you.
If you arrive with the group flight (or land before), you can join the Nonstop transfer to the resort. All your transport within the resort is taken care of, just don't forget your gear.
Included in the course price is your Level 1 exam fee, which is held in week 5.
After your Level 1 you can choose to continue with our AMP program or, if you want to continue instructor training, you can opt for the Level 2 route.
Your host will ensure your course runs smoothly. They'll be on hand 24/7 for a chat, laugh, or to solve any problems.
You'll get two 90 minute private coaching sessions during the course, one before your Level 1 and another before your Level 2.
Throughout the program our coaches will make the most of technical video analysis to help with your development.
Each week you'll receive a technical talk on subjects like biomechanics, looking after your gear, and injury prevention.
Each week your host will organise team socials and après for all the group to get involved in.
You'll be able to get involved with many winter activities and experiences during your time with us, from cat skiing to ice hockey. We'll give you $250 worth of credits to use on the activities of your choice.
You'll have the opportunity to gain the following additional qualifications:
Come out before the course begins or stay on at the end. You'll have a season lift pass so it's just a case of booking extra accommodation.
These things are not included in the package:
We appreciate there are a few operators available in Banff; here’s why you should only consider booking with Nonstop.
3 resorts: Nonstop are the only company that will train you in all three resorts; Mt Norquay, Sunshine Village & Lake Louise. Each resort offers unique strengths and will have different snow conditions throughout the season; only by being able to explore all three are you guaranteed to enjoy the best that Banff (and the season) has to offer.
Accommodation: The accommodation we use is on Banff Avenue – the main street in town. It’s less than a ten-minute walk to all the bars and clubs so access is easy, yet you can still get a good night’s sleep! All our guests stay in queen sized beds in rooms with an en-suite – unlike other companies that pack you into bunk beds in hostels.
Coaching: With 17 years of experience, and over 40 11-week courses under our belt, we’ve delivered more instructor training than anyone else. Our snowboard coaches are the best in the business and will completely transform your riding. We have a maximum group size of 8 snowboarder: 1 instructor. We have regularly spotted our competitors with as many as 10 in one group; not cool!
Social: When 50 passionate skiers and snowboarders from all over the globe come together to spend a winter in Banff, the friendships and shared experiences are nothing short of epic. We guarantee that some of your life’s best memories will be made with your course mates in Banff.
Care: we recognise that for many of our Banff clients, this will be their first extended trip away from home. We have experienced staff in resort that are on hand to ensure your stay with us is as smooth as possible. They are accessible 24/7, so you’ll be in good hands.
Extras: With Nonstop, it’s not all about snowboard coaching: we put a huge emphasis on enjoying as many Canadian mountain experiences as possible and organise a massive program of activities, away-trips, courses and socials to make this the richest, most enjoyable, winter possible.
The instructor & performance course are treated as the same group from a social perspective; so, there is a massive crew of people to get to know. The coaching groups are mixed for the first five weeks of the course; as everyone will achieve the CASI level 1 certification. In Banff, the coaching groups will occasionally be mixed between Level 2 and AMP clients for the last 6 weeks; this is when our instructors feel there would be a benefit to focussing on technical aspects of your riding. All Mountain Pro groups will have a set goal each week, so it’s still a super structured programme with the same amount of coaching.
We cater for a broad range of snowboarders on our course in Banff. All three resorts have heaps of beginner terrain for the less experienced, as well as double black diamonds for those that have snowboarded all their life, so there is something for everyone. Generally, we cater from early intermediates right through to experts. If you have any doubts about your ability, you can always arrive early and book in some additional lessons.
Our Banff course attracts a much lower average age compared to our course in Fernie. In a typical year, we expect 90% of clients to be aged 18 – 21. This might have something to do with the fact Banff boasts some of the best nightlife in Canada & the legal drinking age is only 18. Just a hunch!
We provide inclusive airport transfers at set departure times from Calgary airport; these are available on the advertised start & end date of the course. Banff is extremely well serviced by a public transfer operator so if you want to arrive on an alternative day, no problem!
We do not recommend this, and we don’t have any examples of past clients who have managed it. In other words, no! This experience should be treated as a once in a lifetime winter to purely focus on your riding & having as much fun as possible. You would need a working holiday visa in order to work – most people only ever get to have one of these (lasting for two years), so you should save yours for when you may be working as an instructor in the future.
As a ballpark figure, we suggest having a budget of $200 - $250 per week to cover your spending money. By preparing packed lunches for the mountain and cooking your own meals at the weekends, you can certainly make your budget go further. Between coaching 4-days per week, free riding & the activities available on the MORE programme, we keep you busy. For many people, how much they spend will really come down to night time habits.
We look forward to speaking with you.
Course Guide
