A charming Alpine town with world-class apres-ski, 144 km of slopes, and a wealth of off-piste, two glaciers, Rettenbach and Tiefenbach, ensuring absolute snow guarantee with skiing up to 3,250 meters high. And if that was not enough, Sölden hosts the Ski World Championships and has even been the backdrop to a James Bond film. Can you guess which one?
It’s not for nothing that skiers from all over the world flock to Sölden. You have a unique opportunity to make this your own playground and workplace as a ski instructor for an entire winter season with Snowminds.
We offer a winter experience for life and recommend that you apply as soon as possible for one of the limited places on this ski instructor course in Sölden. Don’t miss your chance to join this exclusive ski instructor course in Sölden and immerse yourself in all the thrills and wonders that this spectacular destination has to offer!
Our 4-week ski instructor course in Sölden begins in November and is designed to give you the absolute best training, so you can finish the course with a passed Austrian Anwärter level-1 ski instructor training and be ready for a season as a ski instructor at a local ski school in Sölden. We collaborate with top professional trainers who know Sölden inside and out and who can undoubtedly elevate your level to new heights. During your 4-week training course, our Snowminds Team Leader will also arrange various social activities to build a unique community on the course.
After the preparatory training on the ski instructor course, the 10-day long Austrian Anwärter starts, where you will be taught by Austrian Staatlicher teachers – the highest level in the Austrian ski instructor system. After a hopefully successful exam, you can put on the uniform and start working as a ski instructor in Sölden.
Recommendation: Check out our reviews on Trustpilot, Facebook, and Google, and learn more about Snowminds from our ski and snowboard instructors!
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 upcoming adventure.
With the Snowminds Sölden course package, you can look forward to the following benefits:
What is not included?
** We are happy to assist with recommendations for booking airline tickets and airport transfers. Please reach out to us anytime if you are interested.
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 in Sölden 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 Sölden. 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:
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 we will evaluate your candidacy while you have the opportunity to get more information about our courses and your experience as an instructor in Sölden. 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 work with 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 to your dream destination.
*Want to learn German before your winter season? We have a tailor-made German course that prepares you step-by-step for a season as a ski or snowboard instructor in the Austrian Alps – no matter what level you are at!
Employment as a ski instructor at a local ski school
A season as a ski instructor stays a lifelong dream for most people, but now you have the chance to make it a reality. We at Snowminds have many years of experience in working as ski instructors and through our carefully organized courses and large network among ski schools, we guarantee you a job placement.
Your employment is conditional on you passing your ski instructor training, which about 90% of our participants do. If you do not pass, but have done your absolute best to take the training seriously, we will do everything we can to help you get a job anyway, so you can have a wonderful seasonal experience and take a re-exam as soon as possible. We are proud to say that we have never been in a situation where we have not been able to help find you a job after completing the training!
Salary and expenses during the season
We have top professional partners all over the world and together with them we ensure that you will have your lift pass, accommodation and uniform when you arrive at your destination. Please note that there is an own payment for e.g. seasonal accommodation at several destinations, which varies from destination to destination depending on the ski school’s salary structure.
You are hired directly at the ski school, who pay you depending on your work effort. Some ski schools pay you a fixed salary, others pay you by the hour. An average salary for a starting instructor in Austria is around €800-€1.000 per month, if you work a full 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 you will definitely be rich with experience. We recommend bringing pocket money which will allow you to have the freedom to enjoy your season fully. The pay also depends on your motivation, work ethic, and previous work experience. A typical working week is up to 6 days a week from Sunday to Friday.
During the season
All our ski school partners are carefully selected and we have a close relationship with all of them. This also means that should any problems arise during the season, you will be able to contact us at any time. We are here to give you the experience of a lifetime and will do everything we can to help you if needed.
Big season kick off event in Denmark
In September we host our Snowminds Kick-off event in Denmark. It is a fantastic day where we do a lot of team building, talk about the ski instructor course in Sölden, the education, and the season, and you generally get the opportunity to get answers to all your questions. We also talk about ski equipment and you get the opportunity to buy nice ski equipment at great prices. One of the highlights is meeting the other Snowminders that you are going on the season with, as there will always be at least one other Snowminds instructor at your destination, so you have others to share the experience with.
Team events during the season
After the course, we at Snowminds will quickly miss you. That’s why we organize a big Snowminds Team Event during the season. Here we gather the entire Snowminds team in a secret place in Austria to have an experience out of the ordinary and see everyone again. For example, we have been to Kitzbühel in January to watch the World Cup skiing at the legendary Hahnenkamm Rennen and experience the iconic town.
Snowminds Reunion Party in Denmark after the season
Our Snowminds Reunion Party is typically in May/June, when the last people have come home, and before many join us to travel further out into the world to Africa, Argentina or Australia.
The Snowminds Reunion Party is optional and costs a small amount, but is a great opportunity to meet up with old friends and catch up on stories from a great ski season.
Security, community and experiences for life
From your first meeting with us at the interview, you will be followed, supported and guided by our experienced team, all of whom have been ski instructors with us. In this way, you will always be able to get help and support, whether you need advice on packing before departure, advice on how to develop your skiing during our course, help with German words during your training or a comforting shoulder during the season. In short, whatever you need, we are there for you ALL THE WAY!
Before departure, you will be invited to our Facebook group, where you can put a face to all the other ski instructors you will be spending the winter with. We provide preparation for the program, so you can show up well prepared, and at the same time you have the opportunity to book a German course, so your German can be just right.
During the training, we are there to help with anything from learning material, the language, the exercises and of course to answer all the questions you may have about skiing technique, as well as your exams. This also means that you are not always dependent on getting things answered by your instructor or in the group. You can always catch a member of the Snowminds team.
At the same time, we make an extreme effort to put together teams that can work and that consist of wonderful, happy and motivated ski enthusiasts. This means that you will undeniably form close bonds with your roommates, skiers in your group on the slopes and of course your colleagues at the destination. All of which is something that our former ski instructors often mention as unique to the experience. This community is not only important from a social point of view, but is invaluable during training and exams, where the support of your friends can be that extra something that carries you through and gives you a passed exam certificate in the end.
With us, you are not a number, but a human being, a ski instructor, and our only goal and hope is to give you a unique experience as a ski instructor that you can look back on with joy and longing for the rest of your life. These are big words, but they come from the heart; and that’s what Snowminds is all about.
Ski Season Housing
We always guarantee you arranged housing at your local ski school for a full-season. The precise details of your housing vary quite a bit, ski school to ski school and country to country. On this course you will be living in staff accommodation arranged by the ski school during both the course and the season, securing you a good start to the season life with your fellow instructors.
The following program is indicative but gives you an idea of how a course might look. Please be aware that our course schedule may change at short notice due to wind, weather, and other planning considerations (the dates are approximate dates and possible to change):
When does training start
Around November 16th
Lift Pass
On arrival, you will be handed a four-week lift pass to give it your all on the slopes. This lift pass can also be used on your days off, or whenever you wish to spend some extra time on the slopes.
If you pass the exam and get a job at the ski school, you will receive a season lift pass. However, this pass must be returned when you leave the ski school.
Training
Our 4-week instructor training course consists of a 8 day intensive preparation course that introduces you to the essential exercises needed to master and subsequently pass the 10-day Austrian Level 1 training course. These four weeks of training culminate with your Level 1 instructor exam.
Each year, we see our instructor’s technique evolve quickly and through ongoing personalized feedback. Our number #1 goal is to make sure you are fine-tuned and in tip-top ski shape before the season begins. At the same time, you will also participate in many team activities that are meant to be enjoyed and hopefully create the strong Snowminds team bond we are known for.
Instructor Certification
To offer a high-quality education, we work together with Tiroler Skilehrer 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 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 become a competent instructor ready to teach in Austria.
Season with 4 Weeks Ski Instructor Course in Sölden
from € 5.195
Sölden, Austria
Nov.
Job placement
November or January
Job placement
August