Banff Ski & Snowboard Instructor Short Course

What makes this course different?

• 4 week programme

• Full Season pass for Sunshine Village

• Excellent 3* hotel in town centre
• Hotel has hot-tub & gym
• Eat out in Banff's great restaurants 5 nights a week (included)
• Peaks’ hotel only 15 mins from slopes
• Course Leader lives in hotel
• Mountain coaching 4 days per week
• Optional certificates / trips to ice hockey match and Calgary Olympic Park

The Course

The pre-Christmas course is ideal for time pressed people unable to dedicate 3 months to a Peak Leaders course. It is also good for those who want to qualify and then stay on to teach in Canada over Christmas (dependent on a work visa and selection by the ski school). Whether you're on a gap year, time out or career break; whether you want to get into the ski industry or just improve your technique, you'll have high quality Peak Leaders staff there to help you quickly improve your all mountain riding skills and understanding. You will experience some of the finest powder on 2 huge mountains in Canada's #1 resort and party town for 4 focused weeks. You'll train to become a ski or snowboard instructor with the option of a ski or snowboard leader qualification; you will learn mountain safety and be introduced to avalanche awareness and leadership skills. You'll also have plenty of time to party with people who'll become friends for life.

Sunshine Village Resort near Banff embodies all of the most exciting aspects of skiing in Canada: dry powder, quiet slopes and long seasons. Flights are included in the cost and we stay at an excellent 3 * hotel less than 5 min walk from the centre of Banff. From our hotel, it takes 15mins to get to Sunshine Ski Area by regular shuttle bus which leaves from right outside the hotel.

Course Outline

• Welcome talk / course overview followed by a mountain familiarization tour.
  
• Risk Assessment talk
  
• Instructor Level 1 preparation & video feedback sessions
  
• Freestyle introduction
  
• Ski / Board Maintenance Clinic
  
• SNSC Leader Training
  
• Level 1 CSIA / CASI Exam
  
• First aid certification
  
• Avalanche awareness module

Hotel and Food

Trainees stay at the excellent, family owned 3 * Irwin's Mountain Inn located on Banff's main street - an easy five minute walk from down town. Please note that we do not use hostel style accommodation as we prefer the spacious, airy rooms with large, comfortable beds at Irwins. Included is continental breakfast in the hotel daily and five tasty evening meals Sunday to Thursday in a variety of Banff's specially selected restaurants. Irwin's has a hot tub and gym and the course leader lives in with the group.

Banff

The town's night life and vast range of winter sports has more than enough to keep you busy on and off the slopes. Banff is built on the grid system, is compact and easy to navigate. It is great for chilling and partying with an eclectic mix of shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants and clubs. You can talk to your Peaks’ course leader about how best to organise some ‘optional extras’ to make the most of Canadian culture. You can do cave tours, snowshoeing, icewalking, sleigh riding, ice fishing, ice diving and skating. While snowmobiling and heli ski are not permitted within the Park itself, local tour operators provide direct transportation from Banff to designated areas.

Qualifications and Certs...

The Canadian Ski Instructor's Alliance (CSIA) or Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI) level 1 is offered. Included in the price are coaching, exam and certification to CSIA and CASI level 1, manuals & membership. Optional extras are SNSC guiding qualification and the ILM Management certificate.

The Resort

Included in the cost is a full season pass for Sunshine.

This is where the majority of the mountain coaching takes place. The mountain allows you to experience all aspects of skiing and riding - easy terrain to practice teaching, steeps, chutes and secret powder runs as well as a terrain park and some of Canada's most exciting freeride areas such as Goat's Eye Mountain and Delirium Dive. We use the ski & board school's best coaches and have established a great, long term relationship with the team at Sunshine.

Job Opportunities

Because of the excellent relationship we have with the Sunshine ski & board school and the quality of course as a whole, trainees are usually always headhunted from the Banff course and offered jobs for the following season. Some are now teaching in Banff, Whistler, Jasper, Norquay, Lake Louise and Big White – as well as resorts in Europe. We have excellent relationships with ski schools all over the world and can assist you how best to apply for a job after you qualify.