Written by The Winter Sports Company
Every year we get an influx of people calling us just after results day. Some students have had a change of heart and are looking for a gap year, and others are re-evaluating after not quite getting the grades. Whatever your results day experience, if you’re asking ‘is university right for me?’ it’s a positive thing to be considering your options. Here we list a few benefits to choosing a new path as a ski instructor.
Work Experience
University courses are study based, whereas on a ski instructor course you are partnered with a working snow-school. You’ll receive tuition each week, but will also shadow lessons, work one-to-one with professional ski instructors and see the inner workings of the work place. Not only will you come away with an internationally recognised qualification, you’ll have tons of valuable work experience to go along with it.
Winter Sports Company’s 13 week BASI level 1 and 2 instructor course is jam packed with work experience. Students get a dedicated 3 weeks of work experience as a level 1 instructor prior to level 2 training. We do everything we can to put you ahead of the field when applying for jobs.
International Qualification
The British Association of Snowsports Instructors is an internationally recognised organisation. As a BASI ski instructor, the world is your oyster – once qualified you can work in ski resorts all over the globe teaching the sport you love! BASI is one of only a handful of organisations recognised as standard by the International Ski Instructors Association at level 3 and 4. By taking a BASI course, you are joining one of the most elite ski organisations in the world.
Cost
Uni tuition fees are at an astronomical £9000 per year, plus the extra loans to cover the cost of living. By the time graduation rolls around the average student is shouldering £44,000 worth of debt. A ski instructor course will cost between £7000 – £9000 for a full season and includes most expenses such as travel, food, accommodation and tuition (that’s less than one year of tuition fees). Once qualified you can start earning straight away as an instructor. There is also an opportunity to get some paid work as a level 1 instructor during the work experience on a 13 week BASI course.
Best Job in the World
Ski instructing is the greatest job there is (although, we might be biased). You get to see the greatest views, ski the most amazing powder and make incredible friends – and get paid to do it! Snow-chasers can spend an everlasting winter between the northern and southern hemispheres, or can work season to season enjoying the best of winter and summer. Becoming a ski instructor makes sure you aren’t stuck in a boring 9 to 5 – when the mountains are your office, the world is yours for the taking.
Apply now for Winter Sports Company’s BASI ski instructor course in La Tzoumas, Verbier. The 13 week ski instructor course starts in January 2017 is one of the most comprehensive and competitively priced on the market.
The Winter Sports Company is a BASI partner, you can find more information about them on the BASI website