by Ken » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:11 pm
Sidney
The ski area where I teach has a large instructor corps...200+ part time instructors and 20+ full timers. The outfit always wants more full time instructors, who'll work 6 or 7 days a week during early winter and less at the end of winter. Housing is decent but no village/night activities here. It is a short drive from the city. Last year they had a large group of Argentine instructors (on their summer college holiday) plus an Aussie or Kiwi (they sound the same to me). You probably already know more about U.S. immigration than I do.
The area trains just about anybody who can ski fairly well and hires them. The area states that PSIA membership is required, but they never check. PSIA certification brings a higher pay rate. They'll train and examine for Level I. The job will be for beginners and low level intermediates, but assignments go to anyone who'll step forward and accept the work, so there might be a few higher level assignments. Training is simple...just follow their lead. The thing taught least and very important is class management. What one teaches the students here is pretty much up to the instructor, although wedge is the only way they want beginners to learn. As soon as the better athletes have had their first two hours of wedging (and leaning to to buckle their boots, step into their skis, ride the lift, side stepping, etc), I get them tipping, and the not-so-athletic learn tipping as soon as they can progress past that compulsory wedge.
You would have NO problem being a successful instructor at this area or many others. Decide where you want to spend the winter and get application letters in the mail early before that winter. You may also find additional employment as a boot fitter in the evenings.
As always, the keys to being a successful instructor are class management and spotting the single most important thing for each student to work on. Class management includes keeping a group of children together, safe, and having fun while learning skills as well as picking the right run in that day's snow for a private client. The single most important thing for each student to work on yields the biggest improvement for the time spent, and requires analysis from the instructor. It isn't pure movement analysis as much as total analysis...is the student back on their heels, or leaning back toward the hill out of fear, etc. Sometimes just getting the student to balance over the outside toe is well worth the two hours, then tipping, etc., can work for them. Always remember that getting the single most important thing for that student right is more beneficial to that student than teaching six things that they never master.
Rooster today
Feather duster tomorrow
VIDEO OF
NOT ME