In Canada, the governing body is known as The Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI). Note that Japan also uses CASI as their governing body. In New Zealand, the governing body is called Snow Board Instruction of New Zealand (SBINZ). Switzerland acknowledges two governing bodies. The first is The British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI), as well as The New Zealand Snow Sports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA).
It would be wise to take a course in the country where you plan to be an instructor. That way, you will be sure that your certification is valid where you plan to teach. Before signing up for a school, be sure to check that the school can certify you according to the governing body of your country, or the country where you plan to teach. If this information isn’t readily available on the website, give them a call and ask them directly. If you live close to a ski resort, you can also check to see if they offer any instructor training. This may save you a lot of money in travel and accommodation costs.
One of the most important things to learn about is safety on the slopes. You will need to understand, for example, how to keep your students safe. You will also need to learn about how weather conditions can affect students, for example. You can learn much of what you will need for the Level 1 certification at a snowboard instructor course, but it doesn’t hurt to do some extra studying on your own.
You will also be qualified to teach snowboarders how to deal with more challenging conditions at this point. There is a three day examination process that a snowboard instructor must pass in order to reach Level 3.
Only about 10-20% of instructors pass this exam on the first attempt. Though it is challenging, becoming a Level 3 instructor can open up a lot of professional doors.
Joining will give you access to a network of other instructors. As a member of your country’s professional association, you will be able to show potential employers that you are a dedicated and professional instructor.
Some resorts only pay you for the hours actually spent teaching, while others may pay you for your time spent teaching as well as doing other things such as helping set up and maintain the resort. Keep in mind that instructing is a seasonal job. You won’t be able to be a snowboard instructor the whole year round. Many instructors have a second job at the resort that they do when they aren’t teaching. This helps earn a bit of extra money.
Look for an instructor that is at least a Level 3 instructor. Explain to them that you are on your way to becoming a snowboard instructor yourself and that you want to learn how to be a good instructor while also improving your own skills.
Some training courses (that you have to pay for) include an internship as part of the course. This will allow you to earn your certification and gain work experience at the same time.
Be aware that if you only have a Level 1 certification, it may be next to impossible to find a job as resorts prefer to hire people with at least Level 2 certification. However, you may be able to find a resort that will let you work while also working towards your Level 2 certification. Being a member of your country’s governing body can also be helpful for finding a job. Try doing an internet search for “snowboard instructor jobs” and you will find several websites where resorts post their job openings.
For example, a Level 1 instructor is only able to teach beginner and novice snowboarders, and in some cases, may only be able to teach on artificial slopes. On the other hand, a Level 3 instructor can instruct on very technical skills and can also train new snowboard instructors.
You may also be able to earn these credits in more specific areas. For example, if you enjoy teaching children, then you can spend time learning about how to teach children and why it is different than teaching adults.
For example, most people find their first job teaching children. As a snowboard instructor, this might be more difficult because most children start out skiing so there is less demand. Sometimes the snow will be absolutely perfect, but you won’t get to take advantage of it because you’ll be teaching. Sometimes you’ll have to teach in terrible weather. Initially, you may have to spend a lot of money in order to become an instructor.
