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Banff Instructor Course 2020 - Week 1
With all things running smoothly toward commencing the Banff 2020 SnowSkool course, the week began with the students departing to Calgary from not only Gatwick, but also places like the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Australia, America and Taiwan. With a diversity of different people already mingling before even leaving the airport, the bus ride flew by as the students began getting to know one another. To welcome the students to their new home at the HI Banff Alpine Centre, the Food and Beverage staff catered for the post-flight appetites with a burger and beer night hosted in the hostel bar. With the students sharing stories of their pasts and excitement for near futures in one of Canada’s most epic locations in the Rocky Mountains, energy was high and the night was not without pleasantries and badinage.
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What is the training like on an instructor course?
Want to get a feel for what your instructor training will be like? We’ve broken down a few ‘need to knows’ – similar applies for both our snowboard instructor courses and our ski instructor courses:
How do you decide the training groups on a SnowSkool course?
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How many trainees are there per trainer or group?
What are the training hours and intensity on a SnowSkool course?
Can I miss any training on the course? -
What is life like on an instructor course (when you’re not skiing or riding?)
We often get asked what life is like on an instructor course. Obviously, skiing and riding are the main parts of your snowboard/ski instructor course, but the off-mountain downtime is also an important part of the experience… did someone say après?! The following are our most frequently asked questions, regarding everything that comes with an instructor course when you're off the slopes.
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Payments, money and budgeting FAQs
Saving for, and spending on, a ski instructor course or ski season can be a little confusing and stressful. Here’s everything you need to know about paying for your course and budgeting for once you’re out there.
We'll cover: paying in installments, how much money to bring, saving for a course, credit cards, ATMs and more...
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How hard are instructor exams?
No one likes exams, however, the snowboard/ski instructor exams will help you on your way to your qualification and life as an instructor! We’ve been running ski and snowboard instructor courses (ft. exams) for over 10 years, so are confident we know how to help you pass.
Want to know the average pass rate for each SnowSkool course...?
And what about written work...?
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Rooming and accommodation FAQs
Your fellow ski/snowboard course mates will be who you’ll live with and spend a lot of time with. Unsurprisingly, you want to know how accommodation and rooming works, to get the most out of your experience. We've answered your accommodation FAQs and even written some top tips, on how to be a great roomie! The SnowSkool accommodation varies in each of our resorts; you should also check out our individual resort pages, for specific details.
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Getting to a SnowSkool course
Working out how to travel to your instructor course? We answer your travel-related questions, such as:
Are flights included in a SnowSkool course?
Can I book onto a Canada course without flights?
Can I drive out to the Three Valleys course... is there somewhere to park?
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Which SnowSkool course is right for me?
How to choose a SnowSkool instructor course or internship? It’s different strokes for different folks! The SnowSkool courses have been created to appeal to different people in terms of what they want from their course, their future plans, their age and/ or their experience level.
We’ve put together a full guide, so you can compare and contrast courses in the five locations we currently offer, and get a feel of what to expect. You’ll find details on: the towns, the resorts, the terrain, the accommodation, the SnowSkool course, the qualifications and the people!
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How much experience and fitness do I need to do an instructor course?
Your level of experience and fitness are both important things to consider when thinking about booking a ski instructor course/ snowboard instructor course. You don’t want to find yourself with jelly legs by 11 o’clock, or out of control down a steep run on day one. A little embarrassing!
However, your fitness and experience will skyrocket on your journey to become a snowboard or ski instructor – they’re both things that the course will help rapidly improve.
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What to pack for a snowboard/ski instructor course?
After booking with SnowSkool, we’ll send you a full packing list in the run up to your course. Apart from recommending some kit to keep your skis/board in good condition – there’s nothing outrageous that you wouldn’t normally pack on a ski trip. A second ‘pub’ jacket is useful if you don’t want to take your high-tech ski jacket out and about, some clothes for chilling, some sportier stuff for activities etc.
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