course-schedule

week 1

Welcome Brief from Ski School

Hill Orientation and group split

General ski improvement.

week 2

General ski improvement, primarily on-piste but also some easier off-piste terrain.

Introduction to CSIA five skills and basic ski teaching.

week 3

General ski improvement, pushing on to tougher terrain

Develop and increase understanding of CSIA 5 skills

Increased focus on ski teaching – wedge turns.

week 4

Individual ski improvement.

Development of ski teaching with practice lessons.

week 5

EXAM: CSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor

Party Time!

week 6

Develop skills for off-piste/ backcountry skiing.

Discuss and improve coaching tactics.

CSIA Level 2 Progression.

week 7

Freeski

General ski improvement and Backcountry Course (optional).

week 8

Individual ski improvement.

Further development of CSIA teaching standards and their application.

week 9

Ski improvement to Level 2 standard

Teaching improvement – Level 2 standard.

week 10

Individual ski improvement.

Further development of CSIA teaching standards and their application.

week 11

EXAM: CSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor

Party Time!

week 12

EXAM: CSCF Level 1 Race Coach (optional).

EXAM: CSIA Snowpark Certificate (optional).

Become a Ski Instructor in Banff

Work Hard During the Day, Play Hard at Night!

SnowSkool has been operating ski instructor courses in Banff longer than any other company and the twelve-week Banff programme is our longest-running and most popular course. The ski instructors chosen to teach the SnowSkool programme are the most highly-qualified and experienced ski instructors in the Ski School. All are either seasonned Level 3 ski instructors or Level 4 ski instructors and all have the CSIA Level 1 course conductor qualification, i.e. they are teachers and examiners. And, because we use some of the most highly-qualified and experienced ski instructors in Canada, SnowSkool has maintained a pass rate of 100% for the CSIA Level 1 ski instructor exam.

When not ripping up the slopes, students of the Banff ski instructor course love the sense of adventure that life as a seasonnaire in Banff offers. It is not all about the skiing; our dedicated, friendly and knowledgeable reps will work very hard to make sure you have the time of your life during your twelve weeks in Banff. Off-slope activities include: football and basketball tournaments, ice-climbing, bingo bowling, DVD nights, bar crawls, ice-hockey matches, quiz nights, fancy dress parties, jam sessions in the on-site pub, casino nights, trips to the hot springs and much, much more.

SnowSkool in Banff

Images from the course

Training to become a ski instructor

Who goes on this ski course?

Profile of those who want to become a ski instructor in banff

The SnowSkool programme in Banff typically attracts a younger crew who are on a gap year after school or University. All the students ski, eat and socialise together in a large Lodge meaning there is a fantastic group mentality.

At 12 weeks, the SnowSkool Banff course is a super-long ski instructor training programme. As a result, we can take less-experienced skiers and give them plenty of time to build up mileage on their skis. Moreover, because the programme in Banff has so many ski instructor trainees, we run a a good number of groups - meaning meaning that we can split up according to ability and you'll start off skiing with people of a similar ability. So whether you have three weeks or three seasons on-snow experience, you should fit right in.

Banff not quite right for you ... don't worry, we're sure to have a course that's perfect for you! Find out about SnowSkool's other ski instructor courses.

Ski Instructor Exams

CSIA Level 1 & Level 2 Ski Instructor

Become a Ski Instructor with a CSIA Instructor Qualification

Ski instructor trainees on the Banff programme will train for the qualifications of the CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance). The CSIA offers instructor qualifications from level 1 to level 4. SnowSkooler's train to level 2 - and with this qualification you can work internationally as a ski instructor.

In addition to the ski instructor qualifications, SnowSkool offers training in race and freestyle techniques which can lead to two further certifications; CSCF Race Coach and CSIA Snowpark Certificate.

SnowSkool Case Study

Christina Alder (aka Missy), 21, SnowSkool Banff, 2004

The first ever female to book a SnowSkool ski instructor course, Missy passed her CSIA Level 1 & 2 ski instructor exams and her CSCF Race Coach qualification.

A year later, Missy was back working at Sunshine Village as a ski instructor. In her four seasons working at Sunshine Village, Missy became a CSIA Level 3 ski instructor and was made a Supervisor for the Adult Ski Programme.