I was a snowboard instructor in a major ski resort near Toronto for the winter season 24/25. I definitely had a blast teaching and I definitely got a whole lot of (and different type of) fun and satisfaction from it.
This article aims to answer “snowboarding is worth it. Keep in mind that it’ll be from my perspective, at my point in my life. I’ll describe these to you so you know where I’m coming from and you can adjust your expectations. I’ll also try to describe which age bracket this lifestyle is perfect for and all the pros and cons in between.
My situation and what I’m trying to get out of it
Let’s just say I’m more than 30 yrs old. I hold a full time corporate day job (M-F, 9-5). I don’t hate it much. At the same time, it’s not like being an instructor pays more. So I can’t let it go to begin with. I’m just indicating this to show that earning money is not a motivation nor a factor going into the job for me.
At the same time though, I’m trying to cut down on my expenses with my snow sports. I love the sport but damn: Ikon Base Pass + drives back and forth + at least 1 international ski trip per season. It’s manageable but that year I just didn’t want my net worth graph to dip hard during winter like stocks during covid.
I am trying to improve my own snowboard skills. I was only focusing on teaching people who have “never-ever” snowboarded before. I’m CASI 1.5 and personally, I just wanted more snow time. I just know I just need practice, practice, practice.
I am great with people, I’m great and fun to be with when it comes to teaching so this is perfect for me.
“What was required of you?”
It was minimum 6h per week, and that’s all I did. Not that I’m planning to do the bare minimum but yo, don’t forget, I’m working day job 5x a week already and then 2h one way to get there then 6h work?! Bruh…it was actually tiring, mostly mentally.
Perks and benefits I definitely enjoyed
Well first and foremost, all the beautiful and friendly people in the ski school. Everyone I worked with was awesome and almost 95% of my students were all enjoyable, coachable, and was just down to experience something new and learn!
Having a ski pass paid for is great. It’s not the full version of the public pass, but it does almost all that you want it to.
The discount on food was 50/50. It’s good because you get heavy discounts. It’s bad because there are blackouts during the day. And again, no matter how big the discount is, if you’re earning less and what remains gets spent on junk food, not the best financial decision + you’re just undoing the physical benefits of the snowboarding exercises you just did.
Heavy discounts on accommodations were key too. This was big for me. It’s perfect if you’re tracking storms and you bunker down the night before so you’re there first chair on pow day, mmmm mmm mmmmm.
Who is this job/lifestyle perfect for?
If you’re in HS or uni, this is perfect for you. It’s a good part time gig and I think you get more out of the social bonuses of it (meeting people, forming new friend groups, flirting, etc) the younger you are. I’m not being agist. This works and applies for older people too but if you are, I think you just have better/more important life goals than that. That’s my story. It’s not like I’m locked out of the experience. It’s just you only have so many time and money and I have these big life goals, so all efforts are diverted to those.
If you live close by ski resorts, definitely worth it. Or if you’re a true extrovert and you charge your social battery by being with other people, this is perfect for you.
If you want/need an active job (aka, not a desk job) this is for you.
If you’re trying to advance your snowboard instructor certification, yes. It’s almost required if anything.
Who is this NOT for?
Are you trying to earn as much money as possible? This. is. not. it. TRUST. looool.
Banking on tips? Nope. Not gonna happen. It’s very close to rare in Ontario. I heard you might get some in Tremblant, but that’s not even guaranteed. I heard usually just on holidays.
Unless you’re in Switzerland at the premium ski resorts for the rich, I doubt.
If you’re trying to get more meaningful snow time? Nope. This ain’t it. Of course the ski schools will try to make you as busy as possible. By the time you’re done you don’t have time and/or energy for yourself
Trying to progress your own skills and riding? Nope. Same as above. I’ll elaborate below with my experience.
So for me, was it worth it?
Well again, here were my goals:
– lessen expenses (doesn’t necessarily have to ‘earn more’) but at the same time I’m not ready to pay with anything else (e.g.: more time and effort)
– progress my snowboard skills
– (optional goal) get some good perks so I ride in different places.
All in all, my verdict is: … 50/50, but slightly a bit on the “No” side for me, based on my life situation, my goals, and what I’m able to give.
If the winter season comes and I need to cut back on spending again, I know what I have/can do and I don’t mind doing the grind again on this one since I know what to expect.
But honestly, if I just want to focus on my goals, it wasn’t a good trade-off. Why?
Lessening expenses
Sure I severely cut down on the expenses from the pass. The pay I’m getting from ski school basically becomes my gas and lunch money too so in a sense I’m saving there too. So if it was just those then it would’ve been good.
Unfortunately, I pay it off with time. You’re mentally exhausted 5 days a week already and then you have to wake up super early on a Saturday. It’s 4h travel time + 6h work. Bruh, I was napping in my car before/after my shift. I’m basically working 6 out of 7 days a week and then I’m cramming chores, life responsibilities, social and relationship time in that one day. It was kind of overwhelming.
I also had to pay for it by spending vacation days. What ended up happening is I worked Saturdays. That’s when the peak day is, that’s when the ski school needs me, and that’s what I can give anyways.
So now if I wanted to ride for myself, I ended up using vacation days to ride midweek. Weekend lift lines are getting cray cray anyways too. So if you think about it: if I’m sacrificing so many time and money just to get an expensive ski pass…that I only get to use during weekdays…how is it any different than if I just got myself a cheap 5×7 and not work these hours?!
Improving my snowboard skills
Sure I literally have significantly more “time on snow” this past season, but that only means literally more time my foot is on snow. Am I learning, improving my skills during those times?! No. You’re teaching. You’re giving info, not taking.
And again, what I expected was: “hey, at the end of my shift, I’ll be there already so I can have time for myself, get some hours, improve, and life’s good!”. Yeah that didn’t happen.
At the end of you’re shift you’re so mentally tired (I can write an entire blog article about this) and kind of tired physically too.
Physically speaking, you’re not doing marathons or deadlifts, but doing the same motion for 6h just ruins that body part for you. Anything would. For me, 6h of skating and pushing and gliding, and then back to back rides on the magic carpet was hurting my back foot > outside feet since all the pressure was going there.
You’ll just slowly feel these as you teach, and then at the end of your shift when you’re riding for yourself, you’ll feel that you’re sore and some parts of your leg are not 100% anymore, not even 50%. And you know that if you force that new FS 180 on that small jump, you can feel already that it’s going to end in disaster and injury.
On some day or two, I forced it but then I’d go home so late, so tired that it’s already a driving hazard to be driving that tired on a dark winter road condition :/
You’ll only get to ride in the afternoon onwards too btw. So snow conditions-wise, it’s all ridden out and chunky.
What I would do differently next time
I’m definitely try to just get the 5×7 next time and see how far I get with that. It’s an easier entry in terms of cost and it’s easier to break even with way less time/money commitments. That’s what I’ve been essentially doing last year anyways.
I won’t get to go during the weekends but…~WeLl, I dIdN’t GeT to Go On ThE WeEkEnDs last season anyways!!!” lool If I really want weekends, I’ll go the nights since same thing: I only got to ride for myself during nights last year anyways ahhaha!
Sure I won’t get the multi-resort pass, but the money I save upfront is a much better financial call. I could save on debt interests with those or earn investment interest and then just buy window prices for my trips and still come out ahead.
Best case scenario if money wasn’t an issue (highly doubt this is the case), I’d get the base pass, enroll myself again in a class, and just go all out.
