Help Needed: Input for blog post on the pros & cons of instructing

[ski diva]

I'd like to do a blog post on what motivates someone to become an instructor, what you liked/didn't like about it, and how the experience compared against your expectations. I know we have some info about this already in this thread. But I'd like to also go beyond the motivations part to the actuality -- how you feel after you've gone through the training and taken the job.

So anyone who's an instructor, can you help by providing some input? I can keep all comments anonymous in the piece.

Thanks in advance!

 

[VickiK]

Looking forward to reading it later on!

 

[eclaire]

I'm looking forward to this too, especially as I start ski instructor training tomorrow!

 

[Skisailor]

I'll bite. . First of all - this is just my personal impression from my limited experience in one ski school. So I am not intending to make any broad generalizations about the "ski instructor" experience.


Things that have met or exceeded expectations:
- it's the most beautiful "office" of my career
- the whole teaching experience is absolutely wonderful; getting to share your passion with others; seeing a light bulb go on for someone or watching as they overcome a fear.
- the camaraderie of each day with fellow instructors has been great
- seeing the mountain every day
- nice perks : free pass; discounts on equipment; discounts for friends and family etc

Things that were disappointing or surprising (although they probably shouldn't have been):
- A ski school is still a human organization so there are still office politics!
- There is an "in" crowd and an
"out" crowd
- Lots of huge egos . . Phew! Oh . . And did I also mention that there are huge egos?
- Still some greater difficulties for women instructors vs men.
- the clinics for instructors are very uneven in terms of quality
- the certification process in our region is really messed up and doesn't seem to be fairly applied; I've been very unimpressed with the examiners and the examination process;
- It doesn't feel like we are all pulling in the same direction. There are different schools of thought about what and how to teach. Ski instructors are really just a bunch of independent contractors competing against each other for clients under the umbrella of the ski school.

Ok. So it looks like the list of disappointing things is longer than the list of good things. But really the good stuff is SO WONDERFUL it way outweighs the little annoyances.

I would highly recommend this job to anyone who thinks they might enjoy it.

 

[volklgirl]

I enjoyed the vast improvements in my skiing (just in going through the selection process, much less the certification training), and understanding of both the mechanics of learning/teaching and the importance of the correct equipment. Where else can you get generally weekly clinics for free??? I also loved the "ah ha" moments and the look in the students eyes when they finally "get it".

I hated the fact that my skiing then suffered greatly by spending 97% of my time on the bunny hill. Yup, I lost 10-20 lbs every year running up the bunny hill, but I actually only put skis on about twice a week, and that was as a level 2 instructor. That may be different at the bigger areas in the East and West, but it's the core business here at the feeder hills. Ugh.

The ugliest part was the pitiful amount of money I made at it as an hourly employee, while still being expected to maintain PSIA membership and certification along with the bi-annual 1 or 2 day clinics and the $$$ that required.

 

[surfsnowgirl]

I start my class room part of ski instruction next weekend so I'm looking forward to reading the blog as well. I know what made me want to become an instructor so looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.

 

[santacruz skier]

I start my class room part of ski instruction next weekend so I'm looking forward to reading the blog as well. I know what made me want to become an instructor so looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.

Just curious, what are the requirements to be an instructor in your area? Some sort of certification? Sounds like fun!

 

[surfsnowgirl]

Just curious, what are the requirements to be an instructor in your area? Some sort of certification?

No certification required. At my mountain they require you to be a solid intermediate who can ski all over the mountain, make pole plants and has their own equipment. As they say they teach you how to be a ski instructor but they can't teach you how to have a great personality so you must come with that.

 

[Jilly]

Big difference between CSIA and PSIA. In Canada you need to be certified before you can be hired. Level 1 is the introduction. On line course and 3 days of skiing/instruction. And its really good.. Pass and you're certified and insured. That's the big thing. Insurance!!

Many ski schools offer a multi weekend program where at the end you take the "exam" and are certified.

My world, it's similar to VG's. Beginners on the Bambi run...lots of snowplow/wedge turns. But hey, it's only 200' of vertical!! After a certain amount of time you've had enough of wedge turns!!

 

[ski diva]

Things that were disappointing or surprising (although they probably shouldn't have been):
- A ski school is still a human organization so there are still office politics!
- There is an "in" crowd and an
"out" crowd
- Lots of huge egos . . Phew! Oh . . And did I also mention that there are huge egos?
- Still some greater difficulties for women instructors vs men.
- the clinics for instructors are very uneven in terms of quality
- the certification process in our region is really messed up and doesn't seem to be fairly applied; I've been very unimpressed with the examiners and the examination process;
- It doesn't feel like we are all pulling in the same direction. There are different schools of thought about what and how to teach. Ski instructors are really just a bunch of independent contractors competing against each other for clients under the umbrella of the ski school.

@Skisailor , I'm curious -- how would you characterize the gender difficulties of women instructors vs. men?

 

[vanhoskier]

I enjoyed the vast improvements in my skiing (just in going through the selection process, much less the certification training), and understanding of both the mechanics of learning/teaching and the importance of the correct equipment. Where else can you get generally weekly clinics for free??? I also loved the "ah ha" moments and the look in the students eyes when they finally "get it".

I hated the fact that my skiing then suffered greatly by spending 97% of my time on the bunny hill. Yup, I lost 10-20 lbs every year running up the bunny hill, but I actually only put skis on about twice a week, and that was as a level 2 instructor. That may be different at the bigger areas in the East and West, but it's the core business here at the feeder hills. Ugh.

The ugliest part was the pitiful amount of money I made at it as an hourly employee, while still being expected to maintain PSIA membership and certification along with the bi-annual 1 or 2 day clinics and the $$$ that required.

This was my experience, teaching at a small hill. I loved teaching, but I spent a lot of time teaching novices and my own skiing suffered, despite taking clinics several times a week. The clinics were so heavily focused on drills in which I struggled to understand their application to skiing. Perhaps it was because I was exhausted, doing these drills early in the AM after a long week at my full time high school teaching job, or late in the evening, after an 8-hour shift on the slopes.

However, I miss the camaraderie. I was treated really well, and probably got along with the male instructors better than the female ones. I still keep in touch with some of them. I was given more responsibilities than some of my co-workers, which I appreciated.

But the number of shifts I was expected to hold, on top of my full time job, was just too much. I was tired all the time. And the pay, well, barely covered my PSIA fees and required yearly clinic fees. After feeling like I was burning the candle at both ends, I had to quit. Fortunately, my ski school director (a female) is wonderful and I know I could go back at any time.

I'm much happier now to ski for fun and feel no pressure. And, I can put all my energy into my high school teaching job, and, in doing that, I feel it is far more rewarding.

 

[Pequenita]

But the number of shifts I was expected to hold, on top of my full time job, was just too much. I was tired all the time. And the pay, well, barely covered my PSIA fees and required yearly clinic fees. After feeling like I was burning the candle at both ends, I had to quit. Fortunately, my ski school director (a female) is wonderful and I know I could go back at any time.

I'm much happier now to ski for fun and feel no pressure. And, I can put all my energy into my high school teaching job, and, in doing that, I feel it is far more rewarding.

Many of the issues you identify is why I ultimately chose not to instruct. An interesting dynamic arises when there is a profession/career path/job that can be filled by both full-time employees and part-time employees with other full-time jobs. Maybe an editorial suggestion for the blog post is distinguishing between making ski instructing a full-time gig vs. part time?

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Maybe an editorial suggestion for the blog post is distinguishing between making ski instructing a full-time gig vs. part time?

Agree, 100%, from a family that greatly benefited, in our younger, leaner years, from having even a part-time instructor pulling the reins. However, the perks diminished, the requirements increased, and it just all became too much for a M-F working professional.

 

[climbingbetty]

Agree, 100%, from a family that greatly benefited, in our younger, leaner years, from having even a part-time instructor pulling the reins. However, the perks diminished, the requirements increased, and it just all became too much for a M-F working professional.

YES!

I'm in a place right now in my life where it makes sense. I run my own practice and I'm building it up, but at the moment I have more disposable time then money, so it made sense that instructing would help me ski more with the side of the equation I have in surplus at the moment. Though I enjoy instructing, I suspect a time time will come when the equation will reverse itself and it will no longer make sense to spend what little free time I have to instructor and I'll value free skiing with that time.

That's pretty much what drove the whole thing- a desire to ski more and get better at skiing. My dreams and goals revolve more around doing cool stuff in the mountains. I very much enjoy the solitude and quiet of the mountains. A resort is not my 'scene.' Not really.

Anyway, I wanted to get much better at skiing in order to be bale to one day ski bigger stuff in the mountains. I didn't start skiing at age 3 though. I started skiing at 30, so I needed to make up for lost time.

I definitely learned A TON my first season skiing and progressed a lot. I was fortunate enough that I had the time to instruct on the weekends and take one day midweek to do my own skiing. Would I have progressed as much if I didn't have that one day to do my own skiing? I don't know.

I know I also made it a point to ski before and after work (provided the conditions weren't total shiite by then) so I could begin to consolidate some of the drills and things we worked on in clinics.

There were a few times when people really 'got' an idea or concept and started enjoying skiing more. Those times are pretty rewarding. Definitely putting people on to a sport that gets them outside and active is a really great experience!

Overall, I'm really happy with how my first season went. I made some friends, learned a ton and really improved my skiing. I love many of the perks of being a PSIA member, so I joined as soon as I could and had my Level 1 cert by the end of my first season.

Being that I very goal-oriented, I feel a strong desire to work towards my Level 2 and perhaps even Level 3 certification.

I'm still trying to balance that with my overall goals though. These season, I did my best to make a schedule that would still allow me time to get into the mountains that I love this winter. Last season, I taught too much and ended up only climbing 2 pitches of ice all season!

On the 'con side':
I did feel underprepared to work with children when I first started. I got better at as the season went on, but I did feel at times that there was an unexpressed assumption that because I am the right age to be a mom, that I have kids of my own or must be good with children simply because I have a pelvic organ capable of birthing children. I am not a mom and would not consider myself good with children. Chicken or egg question, but regardless, I find working with children to be pretty exhausting in general. Even my nieces who I love do that to me. Working all day with someone else's children was quite draining at times. Even more so when the parents were ungrateful and even somewhat belligerent. I plan to take my CS1 this season and I hope that makes this part of my job easier for me, but who knows.

I did spend a lot of time on the bunny hill. That in and of itself didn't bother me, but my right knee does NOT like skiing in a wedge all day. I've never yet had knee pain with skiing (maybe when I first started and was skiing in the back seat) but after those days on the bunny hill, my knee would ache the whole way home.

The pay can be a bit demoralizing. I certainly don't know how people could afford to be full-time instructors unless they are retired and receiving a pension already! For the most part, the money I earned went to PSIA membership, clinics and some gear I needed to update. What was left, probably covered gas and food. I'm not sure how you are supposed to keep membership up or keep good instructors around when they are paid like pizza delivery guys.

 

[surfsnowgirl]

I have to say that I am torn a little bit because I want me ski time so am a tiny bit resistant to get into instructing now. However, I think my skiing will grow by leaps and bounds with all the free training. Will I be bummed at spending so much time on the bunny slope, sure. However, I will have time to ski before and after instructing for the day and if I get released from lineup I'll have free time during the day also. My home mountain only requires 20 days throughout the whole season so I can spread that throughout the season, still have plenty of days to ski there on my own as well as ski other mountains which I have set plans to do. Need to turn in my schedule by this coming weekend so need to get this officially mapped out. Will I want to do this for more than one season, don't know but I will do it for this season because for me I think the pros outweigh any cons that might exist.

 

[Skisailor]

@Skisailor , I'm curious -- how would you characterize the gender difficulties of women instructors vs. men?

Nothing overt. Just attitudes. I've observed a lot of male instructors who seem to take it as a given that the women don't ski as well and don't know as much about skiing, teaching, equipment, . . . You name it.

 

[Skier31]

I became an instructor to improve my own skiing. I love school in all forms and like to learn from experts. I am an attorney and have only taught skiing part time.

Here are my observations:

1. I have spent most of my time teaching Level 1-3 skiers. I had no idea how much I could learn by teaching beginner skiers. A proper wedge turn is not intuitive and many instructors do not do or teach a proper wedge turn. A proper wedge turn is the building block to better skiing everywhere on the mountain. There are so many opportunities to improve your own skiing by teaching beginners proper stance, leg rotation etc.

2. I have been able to ski with some amazing clinicians. I have also realized that no matter how great the clinicians are, learning is my responsibility and ultimately, I have to decide what makes sense, what does not and what works for me. Just because someone is considered a great instructor, does not mean they are the best instructor for me.

3. I have made more friends and become part of a community that is amazing. There are so many people who are now part of my life that I would never have met. Many people teach skiing because they love it and that is what makes these people special. I love the locker room banter, after ski school happy hours, parties and the many friends I have made through ski school.

4. I have become not only a better skier but a better teacher. It is a constantly evolving process of learning/teaching finding some new way to explain things that makes every day new.

5. I get to be fun and crazy with people. My attorney job is not all that fun. I love to help people have a good time, enjoy their vacation and learn to ski. I can do and say things that would never go in my full time environment. It is liberating and enjoyable.

6. I learned to ski in my mid 30's. I tell all the adults that I teach this fact. I want them to believe that skiing is something that they can do and when they believe that, it is amazing to watch the transformation. I am thrilled to be a part of it.

 

[marzNC]

Nothing overt. Just attitudes. I've observed a lot of male instructors who seem to take it as a given that the women don't ski as well and don't know as much about skiing, teaching, equipment, . . . You name it.

Is there much difference between older and younger male instructors in terms of how they seem to view female instructors?

 

[climbingbetty]

Not to get too office topic, but I think there are folks here who can relate. I had to make this meme because well, I got my instructor jacket back on Saturday, and while I could find everything else that goes back on it and in it, I can't find my Level 1 pin! You're so proud to have it you want to keep it safe and yet summer is too long to remember where you put all that stuff!

 

[Jilly]

Check the bottom of your jewelry box! That's where mine are!