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A Season in Switzerland – Many dream of it, and Claire made this dream come true with a Snowminds course in La Tzoumaz! In this blog, she shares more about her experiences and what made her season special.
My name is Claire, and I’m 24 years old. Last winter, I was a ski instructor in the beautiful La Tzoumaz at the Ecole Suisse de Ski La Tzoumaz in Switzerland. I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management in January, and I knew from the start of my studies that I wanted to become a ski instructor. However, I made a conscious decision to begin my ski instructor training only after completing my studies. The reason: I was so excited about the idea of becoming a ski instructor that I was afraid I’d want to spend many more winters on skis after just one season – and then possibly not pursue my studies.
When I started looking for a provider offering both training and job opportunities for ski instructors after graduation, I came across Snowminds. The website – with all the videos, photos, and testimonials – was crucial in my decision to book my season with Snowminds. By March 2020, I had made up my mind: I would spend a season as a ski instructor in Austria – and I was over the moon!
Unfortunately, COVID-19 got in the way, and it became uncertain whether the courses and seasons in Austria would even be able to take place. After working closely with the Snowminds team, I decided to move my training and season to La Tzoumaz in Switzerland – and it was truly the best decision I could have made!
After months of uncertainty, December finally came – and I was allowed to travel to Switzerland!
I could hardly wait to finally wear the red ski instructor suit! I had been looking forward to this moment for so long – my dream was about to come true!
Left: This was the view from our chalet – we woke up to this sight every day.
Right: This was the day after my arrival in La Tzoumaz, Switzerland – I could finally try out my new gear!
The Training
After arriving in Switzerland, I met the seven other ski instructors with whom I would live, train, and work in the chalet throughout the season. For all of us, it was our first season as ski instructors, and everyone was super excited to start this new adventure. Our group consisted of four Dutch girls, two Danish guys, a Brit, and a Swede. It was a diverse group, and we got along really well – you get to know each other quickly and well in such a setting.
The weekend after Christmas, the training to prepare for the BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) Level 1 & 2 exams finally began. The BASI system is a bit different from the familiar candidate system in Austria, but with these diplomas, you’re at the same level.
Our trainer was a Swiss local who was born in La Tzoumaz – so he was able to show us the best spots to ski. The first training sessions were really intense, especially physically demanding. I’m athletic, but skiing five days in a row from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM was more exhausting than I had expected. Still, they were some of the best days of the season. I noticed how quickly I was progressing and how much more fun skiing became because of it.
Every day, we learned new techniques, exercises, tricks, and theoretical knowledge. Although I already had a lot of skiing experience, I learned something new in every session – and I absolutely loved it! After several weeks of training, free skiing, and “Shadow Teaching” with experienced ski instructors, we were ready for the first exam!
The first exam lasted for five consecutive days and mainly involved teaching ski lessons to the group, along with some technical training. For each of the five days, we had to prepare a “ski lesson” so the examiner could get a good sense of our knowledge and teaching style. The first exam was quite manageable – and everyone passed on the first attempt.
FINALLY putting on the red uniform!!
Since our trainer had prepared us so well for the first exam, we were allowed to start teaching right after passing the Level 1 exam. It was such an exciting moment – it’s a big responsibility to take care of a group of children aged 4 to 7. In the first few days, I taught on the practice slope. As a ski instructor there, you teach the kids how to put on their skis independently, how to glide on skis, and how to brake using the “pizza” (snowplow).
Some kids learn incredibly fast and can be on their first simple slopes after just a few days. What I enjoyed most was seeing how quickly some kids pick up skiing and how big the difference is between their first and last lesson. The faster the kids progress, the sooner you can take them to the beginner slopes.
I will never forget my first two ski students. They were twin brothers from America. In the first few days, we practiced on the practice slope, but by the end of the week, I was skiing down the blue slope with them. The two had never been on a gondola before – when I told them that today we’d be going to the “big slope,” they were absolutely thrilled. It was such a wonderful, fun few days with the twins, and those memories will always be something special to me.
Having fun with the two boys as their ski instructor was just amazing!
While we were working as ski instructors, we were also training with our coach for the Level 2 exam. We worked intensively on our own technique, learned new exercises that we could use during lessons, and received tips to provide the best possible instruction. We knew that Level 2 would be significantly more challenging than Level 1. However, since we had already passed the first exam, we at least had a rough idea of what to expect.
The Level 2 exam lasts 12 days, with 10 days of actual testing. It’s divided into several parts: short and long turns, preparing and conducting lesson plans, and skiing on moguls. To prepare as best as possible, I spoke with some experienced ski instructors from the ski school and gathered many tips and tricks – it was extremely helpful. The whole ski school was cheering us on and supported us wherever they could.
Unfortunately, not everyone in my group passed the exam on the first attempt. A few weeks later, however, there was a retake, and in the end, everyone passed and earned their Level 2 certification. 🙂
Life as a Ski or Snowboard Instructor
Life as an instructor on the slopes is simply fantastic – I can’t describe it any other way! Standing on skis every day and turning your passion into a profession – it’s an incredible feeling. Sometimes I had to pinch myself because I could hardly believe what I was experiencing.
When you’re out on the slopes or show up somewhere in your ski school outfit, you quickly realize: You gain a lot of respect. You’re a role model, and people are watching you – so you can’t just cut in line, be rude, or ski/snowboard poorly.
It’s a big responsibility, but that’s exactly what gives you strength, energy, and motivation to put on your ski instructor outfit every day.
You grow tremendously, both personally and professionally, in just one season.
Left: A bit of relaxed skiing before the training began.
Right: Exploring the endless possibilities in the backcountry.
During my season, I met so many new and amazing people – it was truly fantastic! On my days off, I often went out with other instructors from the ski school. Most of the time, we skied together or went on tours, but sometimes we also just visited a different village or town.
One special highlight was a multi-day ski tour with a few other instructors, where we also skied in Zermatt. That was truly one of the best ski areas I’ve ever experienced – you’re surrounded by 13 mountains over 4,000 meters tall. These massive mountains not only offer breathtaking views, but they also provide incredibly long descents.
The most famous mountain in Zermatt is, of course, the Matterhorn – the very mountain that appears on the Toblerone packaging!
The Matterhorn
Unfortunately, like all good things, a season as a ski instructor eventually comes to an end – and it’s time to say goodbye. At the end of the season, we organized a farewell party with all the instructors and exchanged contact information so that we could stay in touch after the season.
On the last day, my parents picked me up to drive me back to the Netherlands. The drive was anything but pleasant – I really didn’t want to go back because I knew it would be months before I would be back on the snow. The feeling of being on skis was something I truly missed when I got home – that’s why I’m definitely planning to do many more seasons. Life as a ski instructor is just addictive!
I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a passion for skiing or snowboarding, enjoys new adventures, loves meeting people from all over the world, and wants to teach others. It will be an experience that will positively change your life.
I hope my story has given you a good insight into what a season as a ski or snowboard instructor looks like, and that you’re as motivated and excited as I am to do (another) season. 🙂
— Claire