instructor burnout

[lindseyinalaska]

So I've been teaching adaptive ski lessons for 5 seasons now. I've always loved it and loved skiing. However this year I'm teaching at two places and am getting college credit for it. Its kind of become a job and I do it so much that I find that I don't enjoy skiing as much as I use to. I spend most of my days on skis snowplowing and when I go out and free ski I feel skidish and freaked out . Any suggestions on how I can fall back in love with skiing? Any instructors out there that feel the same thing?

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Maine??

Hey, LIA, your name deceives! MAINE? Where? Are you doing Maine Handicapped Skiing over at Sunday River? If so, I tip my hat. And since you said college credit, just wondering if you are over at UMF in the Ski Industries program??? My neighborhood!!

DH taught for 28 years running - taking only one winter lightly when we had our son. His last gig was at Sugarloaf with Mountain Adventure. He hardly ever got to free ski - maybe 2-3 runs a day. I finally talked him into retiring, although he maintains his PSIA certification.

Well, if you're in this for college credit, you'll have to get through it for that noble purpose. If we're talking either Loaf or River here, I can suggest a couple of "hiding places" where you can go recharge your batteries and smell the roses, as it were.

Send a pm or post a reply. Although I've not been directly involved, I certainly know many who have been over the years.

 

[Jilly]

I know exactly what you are talking about. You need a day or more away from the teaching and probably at another hill. Last Saturday I was working with one of our instructors who had taught snowplow all day. She wanted some help with her parallel. I told her I wouldn't say anything till she'd done 3 runs down the face (165' vertical). She needed at least that amount of time to get away from the wedge.
When I taught full time weekends, the programs were finished by the end of February. A group of the instructors would take the first weekend in March off and all go somewhere just to "blow off". So try at least a day away from the place.

 

[lindseyinalaska]

great suggestions. and to answer your question MSL I teach at MHS as well as Loon. I go to school at UNH, but grew up 45 minutes from SR, which makes it my home mtn. The Alaskan thing is deceiving I know, but I was there last winter for school and I just enjoy the name. Its what I used when I blogged my adventures...

 

[Robyn]

Yep, I'm feeling it too as a coach. Unfortunately, this year I have a lot more discipline issues and most of the kids are just not progressing as fast nor are they as competitive so it's been rough. Along with some frustrating parts of the financial side of the equation (all of the sudden we weren't given one of the passes we've always gotten and the income bumped me up a tax bracket this year!) has me thinking I'll sub next year. I'll get my Copper pass, some time with the kids which I love but not be obligated to 17 days for the season. We'll see how I feel come fall though.

 

[KatyPerrey]

This is my 19th season as a full time instructor and I have found at times it's been very hard to stay motivated! This is my first year to work 4 days a week and they consider this to be FULL TIME. I'm having a blast skiing and working! I take one day off my skis to do all the things I need to do around the house. The other two days I go SKIING for myself! Sometimes I ski with friends and sometimes I ski alone. I go to other areas and I'm having a great time! Working a 4 day week has been my savior! I wish I would have figured this out 5 or so years ago! Take a few days off and go ski for yourself and have fun!

 

[shelbyr]

I taught skiing for almost 8 years and had the same problem. I would work so much on the weekends, I didn't feel like going out to free-ski at lunch or after work. It drains you! Especially when you're working with 3-5 year olds. I finally quit teaching; it just got to be too much of a time commitment. I have to say I have found my love of skiing again and it makes me wonder how I ever lost it. I do have to say that I miss teaching kids terribly. It was so rewarding and to see the smiles on their faces when they skiied down the hill for the first time! I have found that I can fill the need to teach kids by teaching friends and family every now and again. That way I don't get burned out but can still enjoy teaching and skiing for myself. If taking a break for awhile is out of the question, I would suggest maybe scheduling a special day just to go ski for you. We have night skiing available at our local resort and it's really nice to just run up after work one night during the week and ski for a few hours.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I teach at MHS as well as Loon. I go to school at UNH, but grew up 45 minutes from SR, which makes it my home mtn

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, LIA. That's a lot of traveling! It certainly could be a contributing factor to the burnout situation.

shelbyr, DH here had the same situation in re the time commitment required: 45 days per season, plus a full-time 60+ hr/wk job! He taught 7-12 year olds. He too needed to rediscover his love of skiing, at my urging, since what instructors earn barely covers the cost of gas to get there and back. So he's pretty much doing what you are doing, still loves to teach and will do so gratis when asked/requested. But barely being able to get in 2-3 free ski runs on teaching days was sad. It was time to hang up that commitment.

 

[lindseyinalaska]

just an update. doing better now. found a place to stay near Loon so that will cut down my drive and also got to teach half days on sat and sun and did some free skiing. nice powder day on sunday and the new skis love it! so did I! i'm really excited to go up this weekend!