Motivations for becoming a ski instructor

[ride_ski]

So we have lots of Divas who have been instructors for a long time, recently became instructors, or have considered it at one time or another. I am in the last group. If I won powerball and didn't need to work, I think that this is something that I would like to do (that is after I bought my own ski resort where all my Diva friends could come ski.....so who's gonna come take a lesson from me at my own private mountain ).

This got me thinking- So why did you make the decision to spend all day, every winter day outside in the cold teaching skiing? As opposed to just continuing to do what we love to do (ski) on your own for your own enjoyment.

Did you really want to teach others to ski or help those who already ski improve and get to the next level? Or was your motivation something else entirely? A part of me thinks a fringe benefit would be that the training I would get would improve my own skiing (which is always a good thing....) and be a way to get access to those instructors who could possibly help me break through to the next level.

So Diva instructors, why did you jump in? And for those who have been instructors for a while, why do you keep instructing? Are the reasons you initially chose to start teaching still there or have things changed and something completely different now motivates you or demotivates you?

 

[Skisailor]

My motivation came from completely outside myself - and at a curious point in my skiing career. I had just left my job of 25 years and was planning to spend more time in the west, finally having the freedom to do more free skiing and explore a myriad of different ski resorts. I now had a more flexible job that I could do from wherever I have Internet.

So I headed to Bozeman because my sister is there and I already knew I liked Big Sky.

I took exactly 2 paid lessons with @Ursula, and we had done a little free skiing together, when she surprised me during one of our chairlift rides: "I want to see you in a red jacket next year."

Say what?!!! I had never even considered being an instructor! Ever! Besides, I was finally free to ski on my own and I had always been a loner skier to boot! Not exactly your chatty Cathy.

At that moment I could only think of reasons why it wouldn't work. But by the following October, and some time spent with Ursula during the summer, there I was putting my application in!

I got hired on the adult side. Big surprise to me. And then I got my Level 1 certification at the Fall Festival clinics that December. Ursula trained me on how to teach beginners - and it only took a few lessons for me to be completely hooked!

I absolutely LOVE teaching skiing! How Ursula knew this would work for me and for the ski school is beyond me. But she clearly saw something that I didn't see in myself. And I am SO happy that she did. It has definitely changed my life.

 

[bounceswoosh]

I'll be watching this thread - I'm interested in becoming an instructor next season, although DH isn't psyched because even if I do it part-time, it will impact my ability to hold a software (ie, high-paying) job.

Reasons I want to do it:
1) A ski instructor I idolize - Jenn Losch, a level 3 at Breck and one of the best skiers on the mountain, regardless of gender. So smooth. She commented about how she participates in women's camps in large part to share the attitude that "we" have about skiing. Of course I was jazzed for her to include me in that. This made me think I'd like to share my enthusiasm with women who are learning to ski, and to get them to think that the stuff they think is crazy? The trees and the steeps and the cornices and the jumps? That's for THEM, not just for their husbands.

2) This is sort of cart before the horse, but I have my eye on PSIA level 3. Yes, I realize I have to make it through becoming an instructor and getting levels 1 and 2 first, and people who are much better skiers than me still aren't level 3 yet. But that's how I operate. There was some calligraphy at my TKD school as a teenager that my instructor claimed read, "Aim high; shoot straight." That's how I try to live.

3) Yes, the training. I absolutely want the training and to be surrounded by people who geek out about the mechanics of skiing just as much as I do.

@Ursula - I was skiing with a group last week, Jenn instructing. I asked one of the skiers if she would mind some feedback; she said she wouldn't, so I told her her arms reminded me of mine, and told her about the trussed up chicken look. Jenn said "I'm liking this Ursula person more and more." And you know what? It helped the student! She didn't want to look like a chicken any more than I did.

 

[SkiBam]

I absolutely LOVE teaching skiing! How Ursula knew this would work for me and for the ski school is beyond me. But she clearly saw something that I didn't see in myself. And I am SO happy that she did. It has definitely changed my life.

Skisailor, when you told me (we were on the lift together at Big Sky a few years ago) that Ursula had mentioned the instructing idea to you, I thought (and I think I said), Yes! Absolutely! You seemed to me a total natural who would be an excellent instructor. There was no doubt in my mind at all! I'm so glad you pursued this.

 

[Jilly]

I joined a travelling ski club in the early 80's. One of the instructor there thought I would be a good instructor. I love selling stuff, so why not sell skiing. I took my CSIA 1 the next year, then 2 years later my CSIA 2. It's been a long time, but I finally got back to part time teaching last year.

When I sell my work day stuff, I'm also usually educating the buyer. Is it that much different?

Just remember ride_ski and bounceswoosh - the higher you go, the more you need to know! It gets complicated, but we all have a passion for this sport!

 

[Skisailor]

Skisailor, when you told me (we were on the lift together at Big Sky a few years ago) that Ursula had mentioned the instructing idea to you, I thought (and I think I said), Yes! Absolutely! You seemed to me a total natural who would be an excellent instructor. There was no doubt in my mind at all! I'm so glad you pursued this.

I remember talking to you about it! Thank you for reminding me. I'm sure yours was one of those interim inputs that pushed me over the edge.


Apparently everyone saw this as a possibility except me. LOL!

 

[Skier31]

I have taught part-time for 10 years. My initial motivation was to become a better skier and take advantage of the training offered at Breckenridge. Plus, I love school in any format. I had friends who were ski instructors and it seemed like a fun group of people.

It has been so much more than I thought it would be. I love the friendships I have made, the "locker room" community, the fabulous training and having a locker.

I learned to ski as an adult and I love teaching women who are nervous or timid. It is so cool to watch their eyes light up when they realize they can ski!

I spent a lot of time teaching beginner skiers. There are so many things to work on while you teaching beginners that can totally impact your skiing in a positive way even when you are not skiing the difficult stuff. I spent a lot of time perfecting basic parallel turns and wedge christies during the past couple of seasons. I am happy to report that I just passed Level 2 in Rocky Mountain which was this year's priority. I now realize how little I know about skiing. I just spent season #2 at Aspen. Aspen is cool because there are so many ripping women skiers who are willing to help the rest of us. It is ski school nerd heaven!

The ski instructor community has become an important part of my social life and I feel fortunate to part of it.

 

[ride_ski]

Interesting that many of you hadn't thought of doing it on your own- that it was "someone else's suggestion/ idea".

 

[SkiBam]

I've learned SO much about skiing before becoming certified as a CSIA level 1, then 2, 10 years ago. Despite the fact I'm 10 years older, I ski way better. And I often marvel how ski instructors can sit on the lift and discuss at length the tiny details of ski technique. Others would be bored stiff and would surely wonder - and wouldn't care about - what we're blathering on about.

 

[KatyPerrey]

So in March of 1989, me and my sister were skiing Copper Mountain with a family friend who belonged to the Over The Hill Gang. While we were skiing, a ski school supervisor joined our very small group of 4. On one chair ride I was asked what I did? I told him I had quit my "real" job (teaching school) after a very short amount of time and I was working a retail job and hated it! He than asked me if I wanted to teach skiing!? I was floored!! After a lot of skiing and talking to "Sharky" by the end of the day I had a job working in the kids ski school! I later found out that "Sharky" was the hiring supervisor for all the ski school. Right place -right time!!

26 years later I'm still teaching full time.

My teaching career has had lots of ups and downs.

Ups- When I started, PSIA had two levels of certification - associate and full. I passed my associate in '91 and my full in '94.

 

[KatyPerrey]

In '96 I was named one of "Skiing Magazines Top 100" instructors in North America. 2009 I moved to Keystone and in 2010 was asked to join the training team. All pretty exciting for me.

Downs- Season ending injuries that included a fractured tibia plateau (2 places), dislocated elbow, rotator cuff in one shoulder, separated and rotator cuff in the other and the most recent torn calf muscle.

Despite the downs I love teaching skiing!! The thrill of seeing someone do something they thought they couldn't do is priceless! I started in kids and have moved to adults now that I'm older. I love to teach all levels, especially lower levels. I've developed a client list from all over the world and many have become good friends! It's not the easiest job I've every had but it's by far the most rewarding!

 

[Skisailor]

In '96 I was named one of "Skiing Magazines Top 100" instructors in North America. 2009 I moved to Keystone and in 2010 was asked to join the training team. All pretty exciting for me.

Downs- Season ending injuries that included a fractured tibia plateau (2 places), dislocated elbow, rotator cuff in one shoulder, separated and rotator cuff in the other and the most recent torn calf muscle.

Despite the downs I love teaching skiing!! The thrill of seeing someone do something they thought they couldn't do is priceless! I started in kids and have moved to adults now that I'm older. I love to teach all levels, especially lower levels. I've developed a client list from all over the world and many have become good friends! It's not the easiest job I've every had but it's by far the most rewarding!

Sorry about the downs, but the ups are way impressive !!! You go girl!!

 

[pinto]

In '96 I was named one of "Skiing Magazines Top 100" instructors in North America. 2009 I moved to Keystone and in 2010 was asked to join the training team. All pretty exciting for me.

Downs- Season ending injuries that included a fractured tibia plateau (2 places), dislocated elbow, rotator cuff in one shoulder, separated and rotator cuff in the other and the most recent torn calf muscle.

Despite the downs I love teaching skiing!! The thrill of seeing someone do something they thought they couldn't do is priceless! I started in kids and have moved to adults now that I'm older. I love to teach all levels, especially lower levels. I've developed a client list from all over the world and many have become good friends! It's not the easiest job I've every had but it's by far the most rewarding!

2009??? Where has the time gone...

 

[ride_ski]

Sorry about the downs, but the ups are way impressive !!! You go girl!!

Skisailor, soon you'll have your own collection of "ups"

 

[VickiK]

Interesting that many of you hadn't thought of doing it on your own- that it was "someone else's suggestion/ idea".

Agree. That's why this site is so inspiring!

 

[abc]

I became an instructor recently (2nd season). My motivation has more to do with teaching than with skiing. And it's mostly just a hobby for me.

To the cringe of the professionals, I'm one of those "hobby instructors" who had no intention of turning it into a make-a-living profession. That doesn't mean I don't take it seriously though. From time to time, I had to tell myself not to get too stressed out about it, and make sure I'm still enjoy doing it.

For me, it's a natural progression. I've taught in classroom and taught kayaking part time. I know all along I enjoy teaching, whatever the subject. And years of (on and off) teaching also taught me the teacher is the one who end up learning the most.

why did you make the decision to spend all day, every winter day outside in the cold teaching skiing? As opposed to just continuing to do what we love to do (ski) on your own for your own enjoyment.

I still keep my day job. So I'm not out there "all day, every winter day". Only some weekend days. (may add one or two weekday nights if my day job allows come next season)

Of all the thing I dislike about teaching skiing, cold wasn't one of them. But then, I'm not teaching at a big mountain. So if it's cold, we can come in to add clothes easily.

To me, the appeal of ski instructing is 90% about teaching and 10% about skiing. So, it's almost entirely different activity than the skiing I normally enjoy on my own. I enjoy teaching and will teach. If I'm not teaching skiing part time, I might have been teaching computer programming!

A part of me thinks a fringe benefit would be that the training I would get would improve my own skiing (which is always a good thing....) and be a way to get access to those instructors who could possibly help me break through to the next level.

That, turned out to be one of the unexpected fringe benefit. As much as I anticipate some improvement of my own skiing in the process of teaching others, the training benefit far exceed my expectation!

Starting out skiing as an adult, I accumulated a lot of bad habits, habits that I didn't have the patience to re-work to get rid of during my own free skiing time. The time spend in instructor training, and during teaching sessions, end up being the time I spend to work on those missing fundamentals. The dividend was significant. (because of this, perhaps I should change to say ski instructing is more like 30% skiing instead of just 10% skiing)

At least in my area, the price of entry to become an instructor is pretty low. So it's easy enough for anyone who's curious about it to give it a try for a season. A lot of things, it's hard to tell how much you like it until you actually try it.

 

[KatyPerrey]

Found this is in the mail today.

 

[ride_ski]

@KatyPerrey , Congrats! What an accomplishment. Maybe one day I'll be able to take a lesson from you.

 

[Jilly]

@ride_ski you should!!

Congrats KatyPerrey. Nice to know the PSIA appreciates it too!!

 

[Skisailor]

Found this is in the mail today.

View attachment 3855

Woo hoo!!
Congratulations Katy!