Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Training to be an instructor
There are many options to consider, but three of the most popular and well-established areas
for gap-year students are skiing, snowboarding and scuba diving.
There are well-established routes for training as a professional and choices of courses
tailored to gap-years. Specialist gap-year training companies will take care of all organisa-
tion and train you through national governing body sports coaching qualifications.
There are lots of options out there, with all the northern hemisphere courses running from
December to March and the southern hemisphere's winter season, June to October.
The British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) is the official UK organisation
with responsibility for the training and grading of snowsports instructors and provides of-
ficial BASI Gap 10-week courses through its licensed ski school providers, ICE and New
Generation, that operate in the world's premier ski resorts - Val d'Isere, Courchevel, Meri-
bel and La Tania.
Once qualified as a level 2 ski instructor, your most likely first job would be teaching at a
resort ski school. There is plenty of employment for newly qualified instructors, as long as
you arrange your work visa in advance.
With a season's experience you are likely to be more in demand as an employee. Italy,
Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Spain, Andorra, USA, Canada and Japan are among
the countries with established ski industries in the northern hemisphere.
Your opportunities in France can still be limited, though. The French snowsports authorities
have traditionally made it difficult for non-French nationals to work in the Alps.
The biggest problem for a new instructor looking for a job is the lack of experience - and so
any opportunity to gain experience should be grabbed with both hands.
A good idea may be to apply to ski schools is for part-time work during the busy holiday
weeks of Christmas/New Year, half-term and Easter. It may well lead to more work.
In the southern hemisphere New Zealand is famous for its mountains, but don't overlook
Australia, which has several winter resorts too. Some schools in Australia and New Zealand
employ new instructors from early season hiring clinics: you are expected to attend a short
period of in-house training and if you measure up you get a job.
The instructor lifestyle is hard work but a lot of fun, although entry-level jobs are not too
highly paid. On the plus side, you work on the sea or the slopes and have plenty of time
to improve your own skills and enjoy your favourite sport.
Watersports instructor courses are also amongst the most popular for those interested in
learning a new sport on their gap-year. In addition to diving, you will also find plenty of
