The Dream in Austria
Imagine: Every morning you wake up, check the snow report and ask yourself: How many new people am I going to share my passion for skiing with today? Tough life, right? Well, somebody’s gotta do it! Luckily, that person could be you.
With our 8 week package, Snowminds offers you the opportunity to go all-in and quickly attain both your Level 1 and Level 2 certification on your first winter season. Like all other Snowminds courses, you will receive a job guarantee as a paid ski instructor in Austria. However, what makes this package unique is the opportunity you get to develop your skills at super speed, with a two-week Level 2 course to finish your season on a high note. This course is designed specifically for ambitious skiers who want to challenge their limits and open new doors for future seasons as a ski instructor around the world.
The Training
Over the course of a winter season, you will receive a total of 8 weeks of personalized ski instructor training by our professional and experienced coaches. Your course begins with a 5-week All-Mountain Ski Camp in November to rapidly develop your technique and prepare you to become a Level 1 instructor. After completing your course, and crushing your Level 1 exam you will then immediately begin working as a paid ski instructor at your designated ski school for your winter season.
As a new instructor, things just continue to get better. To keep your development on a good track, you will receive regular training at your ski school throughout the season. By mid-April, with thousands of new snow kilometers added to your skis, Snowminds will prepare you to achieve Level 2 (Landes 1) certification at our 3-week Reunion Camp. This is your chance to catch up with your fellow Snowminds instructors and take your ski abilities to the next level, with 3 weeks of more advanced and intensive training. Returning with your advanced certification in hand, you will end your first season like a legend and position yourself well for many future job opportunities as a ski instructor.
Recommendation: Check out our 5 Star Facebook reviews and learn more about Snowminds from our ski and snowboard instructors!
What do you get from Snowminds?
When you travel with Snowminds we take care of all the practicalities. That way you can pack your bags and good vibes and focus on preparing for your adventure.
With this course package you can look forward to the following benefits:
- A winter season as a ski instructor with a job at a local ski school
- 5 week level 1 (Anwärter) ski instructor course in November
- Arranged seasonal accommodation at the ski school during the season (self-payment at the ski school)
- Preparatory ski training approx. 5 days per week with top professional ski instructors
- The internationally recognized Austrian level 1 ski instructor certification “Anwärter”
- 2 week Landeslehrer 1 course in March
- Invitation to a kick-off event in Denmark before departure
- A physical preparatory training program that can be used before departure
- Preparation of material and tips for packing, insurance, visa, etc.
- Salzburger Super Skicard season lift pass covering approx. 2,750km of pistes (depending on where you will be working)*
- Accommodation in hotel with 1/2 board during the whole course
- Snowminds team leader during the course
- Social team events during the course and the season
- Invitation to Snowminds Reunion Party after the season
- Pro-offers at Snowminds Store
- 24-hour emergency phone throughout the season
- A unique community with friends for life
What is not included?
- Transport to and from Austria**
- Transport to and from the Landes course
- Travel activity after the season ends (including transport from your destination to the airport)
- Cancellation insurance, travel insurance, and any visa application costs
- Possible expenses for accommodation, lift pass, and uniform during the season (this varies from ski school to ski school)
- Equipment for the season, such as ski equipment, avalanche equipment, etc.
- Pocket money
- Anything else not explicit mentioned above
* The Salzburger Super Ski season lift pass is purchased as a service for you in cooperation with your ski school. If you work outside the Salzburger Super Ski area, or in the Ski Alpin area, we will purchase a lift pass for Kaprun instead. If you are 25 years or older, there is an additional fee in 22/23 of 130 euros on the Salzburger Super Ski lift pass and 81 euros on the Ski Alpin lift pass.
** We are happy to assist with booking flight tickets and airport transfer recommendations. Please reach out to us anytime if you are interested.
Who can apply?
At Snowminds we pride ourselves in selecting the right people for our team of ski- and snowboard instructors. We are renowned amongst the ski schools for educating competent, energetic and top motivated ski- and snowboard instructors. You don’t have to be an expert on the snow, and no matter what your level is – we have a course that is tailor made just for you. We will make sure you receive the necessary training before your exam so you’re ensured to live out your winter dream as an instructor in Austria. The most important thing for you is to be positive, outgoing, adventurous and ready to work hard to get the memory of a lifetime as a part of the Snowminds team.
What we expect from you:
- You have skied a minimum of 3-4 weeks
- You are positive, outgoing and adventurous
- You are serious, responsible and top motivated
- You are good with kids, teens, and adults
- You enjoy teaching and love being challenged
- You speak German at conversational level (or excited to learn)*
- You are 18 years or above
- Hold an EU passport or able to apply for a working holiday visa
When you have sent your application we will give you a call to discuss your course choice and then invite you to an online interview. During the interview will evaluate your candidacy while you have the opportunity to get more information about our courses and the experience as an instructor in Austria. After the interview, we will call you and let you know whether or not we can offer you a spot on our team.
We have a lot of interest in our courses and the spots fill up quickly. Therefore we have a “first come, first serve” principle with an application deadline each month. This means that the earlier you send in your application, the greater your chances are of joining the team and getting your dream destination.
* Want to learn German before your winter season? We have a tailor-made German course which prepares you step-by-step for a season as ski or snowboard instructor in the Austrian Alps – no matter what you level you are at!
Key Details about the Course
JOB AT A LOCAL SKI SCHOOL
Working at a local ski school
We strive to be straight with you. The job guarantee is naturally conditional on your ski and snowboard teacher training, which over 90% of our students successfully pass. Even in the event you do not receive your certification, we still do everything we can to ensure you a job. That way you enjoy your season as an instructor like everyone else and then simply retake your certification in either January or March. With six years of experience to date, we are proud to say we have always been able to find a job for 100% of our instructors after graduation from our training course.
HOUSING
Training Course Housing
You will live in a hotel with Wifi and all the basic necessities. You can expect to live with 2-5 people per room or apartment. While this may not sound fancy, that’s “mountain luxury” for you.
At Snowminds, “we take care of our own”. That’s why we specifically only work with hotels that make healthy and nutritious food. Breakfast typically consists of a large, nutritious buffet. Dinner will either be a 3-course meal or a buffet with soup, salad, main course and dessert.
Ski Season Housing
Wherever you go, Snowminds guarantees you arranged housing at your local ski school during your season. The precise details of your housing vary quite a bit, ski school to ski school and country to country. That’s because everybody does things differently. Regardless, you can expect to either live in ski school housing or affordable housing arranged by Snowminds, which is easily accessible to a nearby lift.
Salary
Salary
An average salary for a starting instructor in Austria is around €800-€1.000 per month. In addition to this there are often opportunities for bonuses, for example a guest may wish to extend their lesson with you as an instructor. The job as an instructor won’t get you rich money wise, but definitely rich with experiences. We recommend bringing pocket money which will allow you to have the freedom to fully enjoy your season. The pay also depends on your own motivation, your working ethics and your previous working experience.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFO
Lift Pass
In cooperation with your ski school, we will buy a Salzburg Super Ski Seasonal Lift Card as a key benefit for you. This will give you plenty of options, with access to a total of 2550 km. of slopes, divided into 22 ski areas in Salzburger Land, as well as a number of adjacent ski areas. We also want to make it easier to visit your friends at other ski areas and generally explore more of Austria on skis.
NOTE! If you work in Kaprun, Zell am See or Tirol, the Salzburger Super Ski card is NOT included in the price.
Instructor Certification
To offer a high-quality education, we work together with the Salzburger Berufskilehrer & Snowboardlehrer Verband, one of the world’s most recognized instructor schools. This will not only look good on the CV, but is also very useful if you decide to return with Snowminds for our other destinations around the world. For the final 16 days of your course, your coaches will take you through a challenging instructor training program, which is Level 1 within their education system. Here you will be trained to teach both beginners and more experienced skiers and snowboarders, and become a competent instructor ready to teach anywhere in Austria.
Our Coaches
Even though you may have skied your entire life, you are not necessarily an expert. That’s what most of our future instructors will discover when they meet our Austrian team of coaches. Our trainers are certified at the highest international level and are among the best ski and snowboard teachers in Austria, if not the world (that’s according to us, they are much more humble). There’s a reason we select the best: to make sure you develop with lightning speed from day one of our courses and get the right preparation needed to pass the Austrian ski and snowboard teacher training.
Course Price
8 week Level 1 + Level 2 Course + Job Guarantee
From €8.695
November - April