What to Expect in Your First Week as a Ski Instructor with EA Ski and Snowboard Training

You have booked the instructor course, secured the visa, and stuffed your ski bags full. Now what happens? 

The first week is a blur of new faces, severe jet lag, hordes of gear, potlucks, and that first proper scope at the mountain. It is exciting, a little overwhelming, and the start of something really epic unfolding.

Arrival Day: Strangers Become Your Squad 

The first day is about getting everyone in the same room. In Tūroa, that meant eight ski and snowboard instructor interns from all over the world. Three from Australia, one from America, one from Portugal, and three from the UK who were keen to escape the gloomy English weather. EA hoodies were handed out, names were learned, and beers were shared.

Depending on where you are headed, we run city orientations in Auckland, Tokyo, Vancouver, Calgary, or Geneva. The early days are part of our course to make everyone feel settled and welcome, and to build that connection and comradeship.

Ella, who did her ski internship in New Zealand, said she chose EA Ski and Snowboard Training because of the incredible support while you are abroad and because you get to live and work with a cool group of people who share that same frothy passion to be out there doing it. After her winter season, she wants to travel far and wide with her qualification, with her eyes set on living in Japan and North America.

See what arrival week looks like in Tūroa

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‍Getting to Know Your Ski Town

Depending on where you are, after a couple of days of orientation in the city, you hit the road to your little ski town. A van full of instructors, a Spotify playlist, and snacks for the drive. Depending on the country, you might see sheep, piercing mountain ranges, or coastline. Either way, everyone goes quiet at some point because the scenery is that good.

Then you arrive at your home for the winter season. In Tūroa, it was the Hobbit Lodge in the carrot town of Ohakune. Rooms were sorted, gear was picked up, a quick hot tub and then the local pub was visited. Many of the crew experienced their first All Blacks game surrounded by passionate rowdy Kiwis. This is the part where you start to ease into it and settle.

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Ski Training: Where You Find Your Feet

Then comes the training. The first day on snow with your coach, the drills, refinement, progress and feedback. You are learning to teach and with confidence. This tends to be the moment you realise that this is your preparation for the coolest job on the planet.

Mark, who is from Phoenix, Arizona, had only been snowboarding for two seasons before he started his snowboard internship in Whakapapa. By the end of his first week, he was on snow daily, learning to find his teaching style, and pondering where he wanted to chase winter. It does not take long for the dream to feel tangible, and for this lifestyle you have had a taste for to find its legs as a career.

In Tūroa, that crew of strangers was already a tight unit by the end of the first week. They went on to have a 100% pass rate on their exams. Not bad for a group who met just a few days earlier.

Is this lifestyle for you? See if you qualify >>

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A Glimpse of Your First Week

This is just a glimpse of arrival day, the introductions, the first turns at your local. The rest is where it really goes full throttle, and you settle into the life. If you have been thinking about becoming an instructor, go for it!

Explore our ski and snowboard instructor courses 

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