Become a ski instructor in Nendaz

If there is one place that is recognized for its magical mountains and skiing culture, it would be Switzerland. It’s no coincidence that skiers from all over the world have this unique Alp country on the top of their bucket list and now you have the chance to make this your winter-wonderland on a course in Nendaz!

We are proud to present a unique winter season, where you combine training and play throughout the entire season on our English spoken IASI level 1 & 2 ski instructor course in Haute-Nendaz. You will live in Nendaz, which lays right in the heart of the world-renowned 4 Vallées ski resort, one of Switzerland’s biggest ski resorts offering some of the best and most varied terrain in the world.

NOTE: The same course is also offered for snowboarders. Reach out to us for more information!

A WINTER IN LES 4 VALLÉES

From the beginning of February, you will participate in 8 weeks of IASI level 1+2 ski instructor training, which is designed to prepare you for work as an instructor in a ski school in Switzerland.

As a part of the course, you will receive a full season lift pass, season accommodation for the remaining winter, around 225 hours of training, an outdoor first aid course, french lessons, a fitness program, freestyle and mountain safety training, video analysis, and much more. In short; with comfort in our highly experienced trainers from ES Nendaz, we guarantee that this will be your life’s most developing ski experience packed with high fives and fun!

Once you have finished and passed the program, you can call yourself an official Level 2 IASI ski instructor. After completing your exams, you’ll be able to stay in Switzerland for the remaining 4 weeks and shred slopes with your friends since you’ll have the accommodation and the lift pass until the end of April. You see… we got your season covered!

THE INSTRUCTOR LIFE

For good reason, Switzerland is one of the most desired ski destinations for both new and experienced ski instructors. The Swiss Alps offer some of the best skiing in the world, both on the slope, and off-piste. This is specifically evident in the 4 Vallées ski resort, which is known for its amazing off-piste terrain. It is not a coincidence that it has hosted the Freeride World Tour finals for years!

During the season, you will be accommodated with fellow Snowminders in a shared apartment with kitchen facilities in the village of Nendaz. Nendaz is a lively ski village with a great ski instructor community. The instructors typically meet up at a few local spots in the resort and on days off there are often a few of them exploring the resort together.

WHAT DO YOU GET FROM SNOWMINDS?

We’ve created a holistic winter experience from February until the end of April, where you will become a level 1+2 certified ski instructor!

Benefits of the ski level 1+2 IASI course package:

3 months shared accommodation in the village of Nendaz (February 1st to April 30th 2023)
Snowminds Team Leader during the entire season
Season lift pass for Les 4 Vallées*
8 weeks training with approx. 225 hours of ski training
Outdoor First Aid course
Level 1 and 2 IASI exams including all fees
1-year IASI membership
Freestyle and Mountain Safety training
Pre-season fitness program
Ski specific fitness program throughout winter
French language lessons for all levels
Ski servicing workshops
CV and careers advice workshops
Pro-deals at resort-based partner shop and Snowminds Store
Ski school orientation, preparing you for life as a certified ski instructor
Social team events during the season in Nendaz
Kick-off event prior to departure with group team building etc.
Preparation guidance and tips regarding packing, insurance, visa, etc., before, during, and after the season

What is not included?

Transportation to/from Nendaz, Switzerland**
Cancellation insurance, travel insurance, and potential visa fees
All meals and anything else not mentioned above

As a Snowminds trademark, we take care of all the practicalities and coordinate with our professional partners in Switzerland to provide you with a life-long experience that we are known for!

* There is a 200 CHF surcharge on the lift ticket for people born before 1998 and/or who signed up later than November 20th 2022.

**We are happy to assist with recommendations to booking airline tickets and airport transfers to your final destination. Please reach out to us ANYTIME if you are interested.

TRAVEL ITINERARY

Our Nendaz level 1 and 2 instructor course is perfectly designed for those looking to take a gap year, a career break/change as well as those wanting professional training to improve their skiing and take it to the next level in 4 Vallées, some of the best and most varied terrain in the Alps. It’s also a great alternative option to a full season if you’re looking to stay in the Alps for 2.5/3 months and spend Christmas and New Year with family and friends at home before your experience.

If you are not an EU passport holder or not eligible to stay in Switzerland for long stays, this is the perfect course for you, keeping your stay under 90 days and still getting the full instructor experience!

Ski Level 1&2 IASI:

07.02. – 11.02.2022: Training including an introduction to IASI philosophy, video analysis, fitness and french lessons
14.02. – 18.02.2022: Training, fitness program, Teaching methodology, ski tuning workshop and French class
21.02. – 25.02.2022: Training including video analysis, French class and fitness sessions
28.02. – 05.03.2022: Level 1 IASI Exam Ski
07.03. – 12.03.2022: Training including Mountain Safety, Freestyle workshop, First Aid course, and Ski tuning workshop and fitness
14.03. – 19.03.2022: Training including personal performance training, ski fitness and French class
21.03. – 26.03.2022: Training including Personal performance training, video analysis and ski fitness
28.03. – 02.04.2022: Level 2 IASI Exam Ski
03.04. – 30.04.2022. Free ski and time off to enjoy mountain and resort as a newly qualified instructor

*The Travel Itinerary is approximate based on last season and can be subject to changes. Please note that this course is also offered as a snowboard course with the same program. For more information, reach out to us!

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 instructors. 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:

4 weeks of skiing experience*
You are positive, outgoing, and adventurous
You are serious, responsible, and top motivated
You enjoy teaching and love being challenged
You speak English at a conversational level
You are 18 years or above
Eligible to enter and stay in Switzerland for the duration of the program

When you have sent your application, we will give you a call to discuss your course choice and hear more about why you want to become an instructor. You will then be invited to an interview where we will evaluate your candidacy. This also gives you the opportunity to get more information about our courses and your experience as a ski instructor in Switzerland. After the interview, we will call you and let you know whether or not we can offer you a spot on our team.

We receive a lot of applications for 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 apply, the greater your chances are of joining the team and getting a spot at your dream destination.

Further information about course dates and prices can be found below, where you can also hit the button to apply now.

*Since it’s a condensed 8 weeks of training, we recommend at least 4 weeks of skiing experience. You can submit a skiing video, where we look at your skiing level and let you know if this is the right course for you.