Meet Tom, one of Sunshine Village’s most experienced ski instructors.
With over 20 years on the slopes, Tom has taught everyone from toddlers to racers and now helps lead SnowSkool, where he trains the next generation of ski instructors. His story is one of passion, patience, and a lifelong love for the mountains.
How Tom First Got Into Skiing
“I first went skiing on a family trip,” Tom says. “It was in the Susa Valley, right on the French-Italian border. My parents took me, my sister, and my cousins, and we all just fell in love with it.”
That family holiday quickly became a yearly tradition. “From there, we went every year. It’s a pretty cool sport, you get hooked fast.”
From First Turns to First Lessons
Tom began teaching in 2004. Like most new instructors, he started small, literally with the youngest skiers on the hill.
“When you start out, you’re teaching little kids, the two- to six-year-olds,” he recalls with a laugh. “We called them ‘Tiny Tigers.’ Every so often, I’d get a group of slightly older kids, maybe six to twelve.”
Building a Career on the Slopes
After that first season, Tom joined InterSki, a company that organizes school trips from the UK to Europe. “They had me teaching big school groups, and because I had a bit more experience, they started letting me lead those groups with a couple of other instructors.”
When he returned to Canada, Tom began working on multi-week programmes like Sunshine’s Freeride courses, teaching 11- to 17-year-olds eager to explore the entire mountain.
“As you gain experience, you learn not just how to teach, but when to teach certain skills,” he says. “That’s when you can really start teaching private lessons and more advanced students.”
Earning Qualifications at Sunshine
Tom brought some qualifications with him, but he earned his Level 3, Level 4, and Race Coach certifications through Sunshine Village.
He’s certified with the CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance) and also holds ACA (Alpine Canada) race coaching credentials. “I’ve got my Introduction and Development levels, which are basically Levels 1 and 2 in that system,” he explains.
What Keeps Tom Teaching
“The best part? Helping people,” Tom says simply. “Seeing someone’s progress and the enjoyment they get from achieving something they didn’t think they could. That’s what keeps me going.”
Why He Loves Sunshine Village
“The snow and the long season,” he says. “We get that good, dry snow, and we’re open from November right through to the end of May. That gives us a lot of time to ski and to teach.”
Summer Life Off the Slopes
Tom doesn’t exactly spend his summers relaxing. “I wish!” he laughs. “As soon as the ski season winds down, I switch gears. I work for a construction company through the summer, from May until mid-November, and then I’m right back at Sunshine.”
A Decade with SnowSkool
“It’s been at least ten years,” Tom says. “I can’t remember the exact first year, but it’s been a long time on and off. Usually, you start by covering a few shifts here and there, and once you’ve done that a few times, you can start teaching full-time.”
What Makes SnowSkool Special
“It’s a really great programme,” Tom says. “People come to Canada not just to ski, but to grow, to explore, to challenge themselves. You get this incredible mix of personalities, abilities, and backgrounds. It’s a cool environment to be part of.”
Good Instructor vs. Great Instructor
“The desire to help people,” he says. “A great instructor doesn’t just see what’s wrong. They go that extra step to actually help someone improve. It’s that internal drive to go out of your way and make a difference.”
Tom’s Advice for Aspiring Instructors
“Keep at it,” Tom says. “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Be open to learning, and treat every day as a new chance to improve.”
Whether he’s training future instructors, leading advanced skiers across Sunshine’s powdery terrain, or helping beginners find their balance, Tom shows that being an instructor is about more than just skiing well.
It’s about patience, connection, and a genuine love of helping others discover their passion for the mountains.
Want to build a life like Tom's? Start with the Ski Instructor Course in Banff