Most people daydream about escaping the daily grind for a long ski holiday… but few actually make it happen.
Mike Sanderson, a train driver from the UK, decided he’d had enough of the “mundane” and signed himself up for a SnowSkool course at Big White. With seven years of driving trains and a handful of week-long ski trips behind him, he wanted something bigger, better, and most importantly, longer.
“I just wanted to do something more than a week in France,” he says. “I love skiing, and I’d never been to Canada. I wanted an experience.”
Why Big White?
Mike admits he was looking for more skiing and less partying. After chatting with Steve from SnowSkool, the choice became clear.
“I like socialising, but I’m a bit older now. I don’t want to party every single night,” he laughs. “Steve said Big White was the happy medium. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
Choosing SnowSkool
Mike looked at a few companies, but SnowSkool ticked all the boxes: UK-based, the right dates, good communication, and a team that genuinely listened.
“Speaking to Steve honestly made the difference. He was really cool, really helpful, and sorted out extras I needed, like getting me my own apartment instead of shared housing. It isn’t cheap, so I wanted it to feel right, and he made it feel right.”
Arriving in Canada
Mike landed late at night, tired from travel, but the welcome still stands out in his memory.
“We were greeted straight away. One of the reps gave me a little breakfast hamper for the morning, which sounds small, but it was such a nice touch. And the apartment was brilliant.”
From airport pickup to WhatsApp groups to daily schedules, he never felt lost or left behind. “It all just worked,” he says.
Experience Level
With eight or nine week-long trips behind him, Mike arrived comfortable on skis, until he realised how good some of his course mates were.
“There were some proper good skiers. Like, absolutely tearing down the mountain. I felt pretty middle of the road,” he admits. “But it was actually inspirational watching them.”
Training on the Mountain
Mike arrived without any firm expectations, just a real desire to improve his skiing. So discovering that the course included five days a week on snow felt like a huge bonus.
“The training was great. We had a mix of instructors, all really knowledgeable, and the structure worked really well,” he says.
With a group of just seven or eight skiers, the sessions felt personal, supportive, and motivating. “It was a really nice number, small enough to get proper attention but still big enough to have fun with the group.”
Favourite Memory?
Hard to pick just one.
“My favourite thing wasn’t a single moment, it was waking up every day and going skiing. For three and a half weeks straight. No stress, no real responsibilities… just ski gear on and out the door. That was the dream.”
Bluebird days, stormy days, hungover days, he loved them all.
Life After SnowSkool
Mike returned to train driving, and although he hasn’t been skiing since, he’s heading to Europe with friends in January. “I’m not sure about ‘showing off’, but my skiing definitely improved,” he jokes.
Advice for Others
If you’re hesitating, Mike is crystal clear:
“If you’ve got the money and the time, just do it. You won’t regret it. You won’t go home thinking it was rubbish. The social side can be whatever you want it to be, and the skiing isn’t too demanding if you’re reasonably fit. Just go.”
Simple as that.
Thinking of a change? Try the Big White Ski Instructor Course!