Are you unsure whether to spend your gap year on a ski season or in a big city? At Cypress Mountain, you do not have to choose between mountain life and city life. Here, you combine instructor life, community and everyday life in one of Canada’s coolest cities. It is the perfect option if you dream of snow-covered mountains but worry about feeling isolated at a ski resort for an entire season.
Live in Vancouver – work in the mountains
Cypress Mountain is unique because you live in one of Canada’s largest and most vibrant cities – Vancouver. That means you can fully embrace instructor life on the mountain without giving up café visits, shopping and city life. One day you ski all day. The next, you sit at a café in Gastown, shop on Robson Street or enjoy coffee with your roommates by the harbour.
The resort is only about 30 minutes from Vancouver by bus, and you will live with your fellow instructors in beautiful North Vancouver. Expect shared dinners, long walks, spontaneous nights out and cozy movie nights. Nature and city life are both right outside your door.
Night skiing and world-class views
Cypress Mountain is one of the few places in Canada offering night skiing almost every day of the week. Locals head straight there after work. This means you may work afternoon and evening shifts, leaving your mornings free to explore the city or relax.
On a bluebird day, you can see Vancouver’s skyline – sometimes even all the way to Vancouver Island. The sunsets over the city and ocean are unforgettable and make everyday life feel magical.
The perfect base for adventure
The destination is ideal for travel. You are close to the US border and can easily visit cities like Seattle. Vancouver Island is nearby, and other popular ski resorts in British Columbia are within driving distance. Vancouver Airport also offers excellent international connections, making it easy for family and friends to visit.
More than just a destination
Being a ski instructor at Cypress Mountain is about more than location. It is one of the largest Snowminds destinations in Canada, meaning you become part of a big community.
The resort offers some of the largest and steepest terrain, the most lifts and some of the best snow conditions in Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains. There is space for everyone, and when conditions allow, great backcountry opportunities. The ski school is highly committed to its instructors and focuses strongly on training and development throughout the season.
A season at Cypress Mountain is unforgettable. You return home with more than skiing and city life – you return with memories and friends for life.