Tips for instructors

[cwmscm]

I've seen this discussion at Epic and was wondering what Divas tend to do as far as tips to instructors. I tend to tip my 2 hour lessons $20 and my children's all day lessons $20 or $40 if there it is a private group lesson. I find that the instructors of the children's lessons tend to really appreciate the tip and give back at 100% of the value of tip. For example, my son's instructor kept skiing with him after the 2:30 cut off until the lifts closed. He also let me and my husband join the lesson whenever we wanted. My instructors also clearly appreciate the tips.

 

[Daria]

When our kids were little, I never thought of tipping their instructors And of course those were the days when we (DH and me) didn't take lessons. Several years ago, I signed up for a women's three day clinic (the best thing I have ever done by the way ) and we all chipped in on the tips. That was the first time I ever had a clue. Now, we take one lesson a year. It is a private all day with one of our ski instructor friends and give him a $100 tip. I know he can use the money and I essentially get the lesson for free because I can use coupons that I accumute at our home mountain (sort of a "frequent flyer" concept).

 

[itri]

I never had the slightest clue that you were supposed to tip until a couple of years ago. And I typically forget that I'm supposed to, so I often don't have much cash on me. I usually only take a $20 bill plus my credit card with me when I ski. If the lesson is fantastic, I don't mind giving $20, but if it's just mediocre, there's no way, especially since you're already paying anywhere from $80-100+ for a half-day group lesson out here.

Honestly, I kind of hate how we have to tip for EVERYTHING these days. And I know that the instructors don't get paid all that much. But it's hard enough to afford a lesson, let alone be expected to tip on top of it.

 

[ski now work later]

I tip $10/hr. for private lessons, and would tip $10 for a 2 hour group lesson for my kids. I, too, didn't learn about tipping early on but thankfully learned my second season. Also, when I've taken a 2 day clinic, I've chipped in $20-40 for a group tip. I only take private lessons with instructors who I choose, and only a few per season, so my days of "mediocre" privates are thankfully behind me for now.

I factor the tip in to the cost of a lesson and budget/plan for it (as if I have some kind of budget for snow sports :Hole. I used to wait tables in college, and I know how these tips can make all the difference.

I was watching a television show recently where 2 teenagers were going on a ski trip and needed stuff, and the Mom said that she once heard that taking up skiing was equivalent to ripping up $100 bills (or something like that). Made me smile. And then feel a little sheepish. Baa-a!

 

[cwmscm]

sounds like I may be on the high side for my kids lessons. But it does seem to have worked well in establishing a strong rapport between my kids, the ski school, and my husband and me. They tend to treat us pretty well.

 

[weasy]

Boy, I'm with you here. Having moved from Australia where tipping rarely happens I'm finding it so difficult here. Mainly, I just forget!! I've had 2 lessons so far and didn't tip for either and now I feel guilty, particularly about the second lesson which was great.

I've met a couple of instructors who say they don't work for tips but they are nice so I think I'll just take a little extra cash with me in future and tip if I find the lesson really good.

Honestly, I kind of hate how we have to tip for EVERYTHING these days. And I know that the instructors don't get paid all that much. But it's hard enough to afford a lesson, let alone be expected to tip on top of it.

 

[BackCountryGirl]

I haven't been on the site for a bit, primarily becuase I have been working non-stop. My staff just finished a really big week at Sunday River -- a kids festival, where all lifts, lessons, and rentals for children are free with a 3 night stay at any resort property. The numbers all week long were bigger than most of Christmas. Even today, when the temps were no higher than about 10 degrees, we had about 75 kids. The coaches worked so hard this week, but in many ski schools, it's feast or famine, with steady work coming only on holidays and busy weekends. And, like much in this industry, the level of business is very weather dependent. Tips, no matter how small, matter alot to the coaches. Before I started teaching, when my child was a ski school regular, I always looked at it this way -- that $10 or so per day had more value to the 22 year old between college and grad school than it did to me.

 

[valli]

I do generally tip ski instructors generously, but I have to admit I still wonder why we do. I mean, I used to teach riding lessons, but would never have expected a tip for teaching a lesson, nor do any of the other horse trainers I know expect it. We don't tip tennis pros, soccer coachs, or any other sort of sports professional I can think of. Of course we tip wait staff, but we also don't pay wait staff in excess of $100 per hour. I know resorts often don't pay ski instructors a fair wage, but aren't we subsidizing this system by tipping?

 

[BackCountryGirl]

Maybe it's a regional thing, but the golf and tennis pros that I know (who are ski instructors in the winter) are always tipped for lessons.

 

[Slidergirl]

I'm a tipper. Maybe because I know how much it costs to live around here. I feel sorry for those kids who work 2-3 jobs here or are trying to work and go to school. I know how much I'm being paid at the resort for my job and I know that I sure couldn't live off of it if I had to. I tip minimum 20% at local restaurants, more if I know the server. I tip my hair stylist $30. When I'm staying at a hotel, I always leave money on the desk for housekeeping. Since I'm am employee at PCMR, I can get lessons at a huge discount. I'll still tip as though I were paying full price. Tips are a part of life here in the U.S. We're not feeding the system by tipping. It's just how it is.

 

[SkiBam]

I'm sure many of you have heard the story (true or not) of the ski instructor (we'll pretend it was a guy), who at the end of the lesson told his students to always remember to make nice S-shaped turns. He drew a big S in the snow to illustrate. Then he added that at the same time they should always keep their skis parallel - and, to illustrate, drew two parallel lines down through the S.

 

[Jilly]

SkiBam - that sounds like Serge P!! I took my level 2 with him eons ago. When I took my first go at the 3 he was doing the inside modules. Still was doing them last year. So I decided to ask him about my 2 years ago. All he said was that students he taught were all getting their silver (25)pins!!

At our local bump I've never gotten a monetary tip. I taught a group of ladies one year and they all got me a skiing troll. He sits on my desk at work. But at Tremblant, they tip and I was informed, by the other instructors, to take my tips. I'm not working there for the money. I need the experience, so they are nice. So I collect them over the week and take Hubby out for dinner!

 

[SkiBam]

Hey, Jilly, I had Serge P. for my level 2 as well - though mine was much more recent - 2005.

I do get tips from my groups at the end of the season and it actually makes me a tad uncomfortable as I'm not some young kid struggling to make ends meet. But it's pretty much a tradition in both groups I teach for, so I accept graciously! One group last year gave me something useful: a gift card to the liquor store, so we stocked up on wine.

I'm curious: what's your "local bump"? It says you're in Bay of Quinte - is that Belleville? And is there really a ski bump near there? (Wait, come to think of it, I once skied at a place near Napanee - is that it?) Do you teach regularly at Tremblant?

 

[Jilly]

SkiBum - if you skied at Napanee then I can say, no body needs to know! Nacona has been gone for many a year. I teach locally here at Batawa. See Ski Canada (english version) page 54. We got a chair!! I teach temp at Tremblant. They haven't been busy enough for any temps yet. I'm temp as I can't say what weekends I'm available.

I'll PM you about Friday the 30th!

 

[White tara]

Hmm. I just found out about the tipping business. I guess I'll start tipping for the good lesson. I guess it feels weird. But I dont mind if the lessons are good. I've had some good instructors who stayed with me beyond lesson time and now feel kind of guilty I didn't tip.:(

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I feel funny chiming in, but I think this discussion warrants both sides being represented, and have noticed other instructors adding their thoughts.

First of all, there are as many types of instructors out there as there are people. Some are in between college and work, and doing it for the free season pass, the experience, camaraderie, or simply to improve their own skiing. Others, teach as a hobby on their days off, and finally there are a minority that pursue it as a career.

I would bet that most of us would continue to teach even if we never received a tip. On the other hand, we figure into our anticipated seasonal income that a certain percentage of our students do tip, and have come to rely on that to pay our living expenses.

The vast majority of career instructors have to keep a night job, thus limiting in my opinion the quality of their skiing and instruction during the day.

I also know that many of us prefer to ski with students that are appreciative and fun to be with, rather than catering to demanding and unpleasant high rollers who dish out 100 dollar bills at the end of the day.

I do think it is important to recognize that very few ski areas reimburse their instructors for proffessional training and certification expenses, or insurance expenses. Many instructors have dedicated years to gaining the knowledge necessary to really make a difference for their students.

While the guest spends many hundreds of dollars for an all day private, it is only after many years of employment and personal traning experience that an instructor can hope to see at best maybe 30% of the lesson expense in wages. Often times the instructor earns closer to 8-15% of the lesson cost.

Additionally, a work day is at best 7 hours, though often much less, but we are expected to show up for the days we are commited to work, in some cases 7 days a week during holidays, and it is not unusual to work 50%, or in this economy 25%, of the time that we are in uniform. We also need to remain available to teach throughout the day though we are not compensated for being on call!

While it is clearly a choice to teach, it would be untrue to say that tips do not matter to those that have made it a career. Our european colleagues experience vastly different work and compensation conditions. Similar to restaurant workers, who do receive tips.

I still think the best "tip" is a huge smile and the thank you for helping a student experience an epiphany type of moment in their skiing. But, as one of the replies seemed to stress, please let your ski school know if you think their fees are excessive, and ask them how much the instructor earns if it helps you make a decision in regards to tipping.

 

[perma-grin]

Well put snoWYmonkey! While I greatly appreciate tips in the form of cash. I still have to say that my best tip ever, was from a student who has now pasted on to a better place to ski. At 83 Lillian was still taking lessons and skiing with me on a weekly basis. The very best tip she ever gave me (and there were many over the years) was when she told me, that she felt that if it wasn't for taking her weekly lesson with me, she probably would have quit skiing years ago. That she was very greatful for my patience with her and encouraging her to keep at it, that you are never to old to learn something new. She's been gone 8 winters now and I still miss her and her determination to master "that perfect turn". She made me feel like all of the thousands of hours that I have put into my teaching and training were put to good use and appreciated. And tipping just doesn't get any better than that!! The reality of the situation is we get so much more from our students than they will ever know and yes a smile and a heartfelt thankyou is always greatly appereciated!!

 

[Mafia_Princess]

I teach in Toronto at a place like Jilly's bump. A lot of little kid parents tip (a concept I didn't know existed till I worked there). It's often not money though. I've gotten small monetary tips, home made cookies, boxes of chocolate.. One 3 year old's mom worked for Bic and brought a gift bag of fun pens and pencils and stuff. Anything I've ever gotten has been really appreciated.

 

[Christy]

I've taken many lessons and just yesterday I noticed a little gratuity guide in the lesson office. I had no idea this was done. I've taken a number of group lessons and it never came up either. *sigh*

Any West Coasters want to chime in on this? I know on the east coast you guys tip way more people than we do. I have east coast friends who tip everyone from house painters to garbagemen, whereas here in Seattle, that's just not done. But I guess I saw the sign here in WA...

 

[marge]

I am generally a good tipper for waitresses and such. However, for other things I only tip for service "above and beyond". No one tips me for doing my job. My dh gets tipped every once in awhile but usually only for service above and beyond. I have no trouble tipping for someone who does an excellent job (though I think everyone should ALWAYS do an excellent job regardless of potential for tips).

I also tend to agree that after everyone gets tipped there is not much money left to go around. :( My family does not make a HUGE living but we manage to get around and do some fun things. The tipping puts a huge dent in things. When we were in Steamboat there were 6 different bus drivers to tip just between airports and delivery to the condo. That can get pretty darn pricey. :(

I like to see people do their job well and do it happily, then I'll consider tipping. . :D