Join the team and Become a Snowboard Instructor in Nendaz!

Become a snowboard 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 snowboarders 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! Become a snowboard instructor in Nendaz and spend a full season there!

We are proud to present a unique winter season, where you combine work and play throughout the entire season on our English spoken IASI level 1 & 2 snowboard instructor internship in Haute-Nendaz with the option to also become a dual instructor by taking your ski level 1 in March. 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.

A WINTER IN LES 4 VALLÉES

From the beginning of December and onwards, you will participate in our season long, fully English, level 1+2 snowboard instructor internship, which is designed to prepare you for work as an instructor in a ski school in Switzerland. To make the most of the entire winter out here in Nendaz, unique to this resort, there’s also the possibility of getting a level 1 Ski qualification afterwards. So if you’re looking to further your ski career after your winter in Nendaz, signing up to this add-on option will allow you to be more employable to future prospective employers with a second discipline as well.

As a part of the course, you will receive a full season lift pass, organised season accommodation with one month included, 250+ 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 Sommet et Neige, we guarantee that this will be your life’s most developing experience packed with high fives and fun!

Once you have finished and passed the program, you can call yourself an official Level 2 IASI snowboard instructor. After completing your exams, you’ll have an interview with a partner ski school, and if successful have shadowing experience and possible job opportunities during the February half term and Easter holidays. Basic language skills in French, German and/or Dutch will be very helpful to open more opportunities for work during the high seasons. But no matter how much work you pick up, we’ve got your season covered, with a season lift ticket and organised accommodation, so you can shred until the end of April!

THE SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR LIFE IN NENDAZ

For good reason, Switzerland is one of the most desired ski destinations for both new and experienced snowboard instructors. The Swiss Alps offer some of the best snowboarding 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!

As Switzerland is highly sought after and receives a significant amount of wealthy clients it’s one of the best places to learn from experienced instructors. In Nendaz the demand for snowboard instructors is growing, however cant compete with skiing, on average a newly certified ski instructor will work more than a newly certified snowboard instructor.

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 snow sport 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 the end of November to the end of April, where you will become a level 1+2 certified snowboard instructor with the opportunity to work in Nendaz.

Benefits of the level 1+2 IASI course package:

A full winter season in Nendaz
5 months of shared accommodation organized with first month paid*
Season lift pass for Les 4 Vallées**
Snowminds Team Leader during the entire season
250+hrs (approx. 220 hours on snow/30 off) of snowboard training
Shadowing lessons and potential work experience
Level 1 and 2 IASI exams including all fees
1,5 days of Outdoor First Aid course
1-year IASI membership
Freestyle and Mountain Safety training
Pre season fitness program and fitness program throughout winter
French language lessons for all levels (ski/snowboard teaching specific)
Opportunity to interview and potentially work for partner ski schools after the level 2 course
Snowboard servicing workshops
CV and careers advice workshop
Pro-deals at Snowminds Store
Ski school orientation, preparing you for life as a certified snowboard 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
Travel protection with Snowminds Money Back Guarantee

Benefits of booking the ski add-on option (not included in course price):

In addition to your level 1 + 2 snowboard instructor course in Nendaz, we also offer the opportunity to take a level 1 ski course. This allows you to expand your teaching options and potentially increase the number of working hours. Contact us if you would like to add a level 1 ski instructor course to your season experience.

105 hours of ski training
Level 1 IASI exam including all fees
Better chances of employment due to several capabilities
Ski specific fitness program (continuation from the Level 1 & 2 course)
Pro-deals at resort-based partner shop

What is not included?

Transportation to/from Nendaz, Switzerland***
Housing deposit and monthly rent for seasonal accommodation (Around 650 chf per month per person paid in advance)
Cancellation insurance, travel insurance, Swiss health insurance potential local taxes/registration/visa fees****
Child protection course (approx. €30)
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!

*Snowminds offers arranged accommodation for the entire season, allowing you to avoid the hassle of finding it on your own and giving you the opportunity to live together with other Snowminders. The first month is included in the course package, and in most cases, you will be asked to pay the rent for the rest of the season before departure. The price for accommodation typically ranges between 800-1200 CHF per month. If you are interested in booking your own accommodation for the entire winter season, please contact us for a discounted course price.

** There is a 300 CHF surcharge on the lift ticket for people that are 24 years or older (for people born in 1999 and older) and/ or a 300 CHF surcharge for people signed up later than November 20th 2023.

***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.

****Most work permits in Switzerland require you to also pay for mandatory Swiss health insurance which must be paid in addition to the registration fee to be eligible to work. This varies depending on the canton, but is typically around 250 CHF a month for a full work permit. Sometimes there are options to pay a daily rate for days worked instead. If you are not on a work permit, and not working, then Switzerland requires you to pay a daily tourist tax instead. This is typically around 2.50 CHF a day, depending on your accommodation set up. If you are interested in reading more about work in Switzerland as a foreigner, we refer to the official Swiss government website.

TRAVEL ITINERARY

Our Nendaz level 1 and 2 instructor internship 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 snowboarding and take it to the next level in 4 Vallées, some of the best and most varied terrains in the Alps.

Below is an example of what the program could look like:

End of November – Mid December

Each group will do their 16hrs of First aid training and their safeguarding children
Fitness sessions
Introduction to IASI philosophy and terminology
Teaching methodology – why, what and how?
IASI core snowboarder development – understanding beginner to intermediate progression
Personal performance with video analysis
French language sessions
Snowboard servicing workshop

Mid December

6 days of IASI Level 1 exams

Christmas & New Year’s

Work/ shadowing opportunities with partner ski schools in Nendaz

January

Personal performance training with video analysis
Snowboard fitness & stretch sessions
CV workshop and careers advice
Intro to mountain safety workshop
Intro to freestyle workshop
French language sessions

End of January – Early February

6 days of IASI Level 2 exam

February – End of season

Work/Shadow opportunities at the ski school
Possibility of ski level 1 add-on

Ski Add-on option:

Below is an example of what the Ski add-on program could look like:

Early March – Mid March
Training including teaching methodology, video analysis and IASI core ski development

End of March
Level 1 IASI Exam Ski

April:
Eastern holiday with potential work and shadowing

End of April (TBD):
Season ending and moving out of accommodation

*The Travel Itinerary is approximate and can be subject to changes. Please note that the Level 1 and 2 training programs consist of on-slope days, off-slope days, and off days. The exact planning is made in accordance with the weather conditions during those weeks.

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:

You feel comfortable snowboarding on red slopes
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 duration of season

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 give you the opportunity to get more information about our courses and the 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.

Key Details About the Course

JOB EXPECTATIONS

Since you are employed directly at the ski school, not Snowminds, it is the ski school that independently defines the scope of your work, pay and other work-related conditions. Thus, your employment relationship is between you and the ski school and we cannot guarantee, for example, a minimum number of work hours. We will of course help and assist in the event of any questions or anything else.

You can often expect a more high-end clientele in Switzerland which leads to higher expectations from your ski school. The amount of work therefore highly depends on your motivation, appearance and attitude and how you interact with your guests.

In Nendaz the demand for snowboard instructors is growing however cant compete with skiing, on average a newly certified ski instructor will work more than a newly certified snowboard instructor. We definitely recommend another job in town to help deal with any financial issues.

WORKING HOURS

As a newly-educated instructor, one is typically on the “bottom of the food chain” regarding work. In other words, the more experienced instructors get first preference, but the more you show your passion and desire to work hard, the better. We highly recommend making the most of the busier peak periods in the ski school by showing your supervisors you are motivated to teach as many lessons as you can. The busiest periods during the peak season are Christmas & New Years, February and in some resorts Easter. It is common that you are booked for hours according to your language skills, social skills and people skills. There are always opportunities to shadow lessons before teaching your first which can be a great way to show your enthusiasm and motivation to your ski school.

LANGUAGES

Our ski school partner prefers instructors that can speak some French and/ or German, and knowing some basic phrases can greatly improve your local experience. Language skills may be more valuable as the level of certification and some resorts even offer an hourly wage increase for every additional language you speak!

The more you practice the language spoken in your destination country before departure the better. This will help your integration and in general provide you with a better experience. We recommend using Duolingo to practice and ideally we recommend taking a language course.

Our team has jointly done more than 25 seasons across the world and we know better than anyone what it is like to start working with a new language for the first time. Whilst it may seem confusing at first, we know that it is more than possible to pick up with a bit of practice. Other than normal language courses, the Snowlingo courses specifically focus on what you actually need when working as a ski or snowboard instructor. On our website, you can read more about it.

SALARY

In terms of financial expectations, let’s be clear: You do not get rich in a season as a newly certified instructor and we always recommend having a minimum of 2000 Swiss francs in pocket money so you can make the most of the season. In general, it is very different from what our instructors earn and spend during the season since habits/personal budgets vary so much.

Your wage depends on many factors, but typically as a newly certified instructor, you receive between 13-20 CHF an hour. In addition to this there are often bonus opportunities, for example, tips and extra private lessons. It is common for ski schools to have returning guests who come back frequently throughout the season and request you as an instructor directly if they were happy with their first ski course.

Sometimes, there are opportunities to pick up additional hours of work in the resort during the winter in other mountain departments, such as ski shops, activities and guest services.

WORK REQUIREMENTS

Working permit

To stay and work in Switzerland for the winter season you need to be an EU or EFTA citizen. (EFTA which consists of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). Although Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it is part of the EFTA and thus grants freedom of movement to those from EU/EFTA countries.

Nevertheless you have to get a work permit while in Switzerland, before you start working at a ski school. Your ski school and your team leader will help you and advise you on the most suitable permit, which varies depending on the amount of work per month.

Your ski school will help you with paying the relevant fees to the registration office.

Mandatory Swiss Health insurance / Tourist tax
Most work permits in Switzerland require you to also pay for mandatory Swiss health insurance which must be paid in addition to the registration fee to be eligible to work.

If you are not on a work permit, and not working, then Switzerland requires you to pay a daily tourist tax instead. This is typically around 2.50-4.50 CHF a day, depending on your accommodation set up.

If you are interested in reading more about work in Switzerland as a foreigner, we refer to the official Swiss government website.

ACCOMMODATION

In Nendaz, the first month of accommodation during the course is included. You can decide whether you want to have the accommodation arranged by Snowminds for the rest of the season.

Many ski schools in Switzerland do not include accommodation in the work contracts as they often work with a lot of local staff. Therefore, we work together with the ski schools to arrange good and fitting housing for you. You’ll be in shared accommodation with (mostly) other Snowminds Instructors in a fantastic community.

Housing contract
The rent won’t be deducted from your salary but paid separately. Since housing is secured for the full season a signed housing contract and full payment will be required before departure. Rent varies, but typically lies between 800-1200 Swiss francs a month.

Housing Deposit
A deposit should be paid to cover potential damages, missing items, cleaning, washing of bed linens, towels, and/or anything else that the landlord will have claims to after the lease. It will be transferred back to you electronically after the season less any deductions by Snowminds.

Prancondu 1 and 2
In Nendaz, you live in shared apartments with 4-6 people right in the centrum of the Village. You are within walking distance (5-10 min.) of the 3 supermarkets and the first lift station is 2 min. walk from your apartments and if the snow conditions allow it, it’s ski-in, ski-out.
Bed linen, towels and free wifi are included in the apartments and you will have a shared washing machine between all of the Snowminders located in the basement of building 1.
Inside the apartments, you will have shared bedrooms some with single beds, double beds and bunk beds. Our 6-person apartment has two bedrooms and a sofa bed in the common area.
In the main room, you will find your shared kitchen, common area, bathroom and balcony. The kitchen is equipped with a microwave, 4 induction hobs, a refrigerator with a small freezer and a dishwasher. The apartments do not have ovens installed so from our experince and stories from previous instructors, you learn to become creative in the kitchen.
Skis and snowboards can be stored in the ski room in the basement including.
From our experience, your seasonal accommodation soon becomes your home and the people you live with become your family. It is often with a huge lump in your throat and maybe a tear in your eyes, that you leave it after the season.