When did you apply for your job?
I initially made contact once I had booked onto the NONSTOP Snowboard course in Fernie and then again after gaining my Level 1 qualification i.e. as soon as we got back to the UK in April 2004.
Did you organise your own visa? If so, how much did it cost and how long did the application procedure take?
Yes we organised it through BUNAC which at the time cost us £150 and we had to take out insurance through them for the duration of our stay. The whole application procedure took about 6 weeks.
How much are you being paid?
We’re on CAD$10 an hour when teaching and CAD$9 per hour for non teaching hours. We ended up getting only about 2 hours teaching a day but there were other areas to work in such as lift operator jobs. However, friends of ours who had their visas sponsored by the ski school were restricted to working in the instructor role for which they had been employed. We were told at the beginning of the season that we should get a minimum of 20 hours per week but it hasn’t worked out like that.
How much do you spend a week/month? Do you earn enough to live off?
Because we worked extra hours in other departments we earned about CAD$100 a week between the two of us. We found it was only just enough to live off and we didn’t go out that much!
How much is your rent?
CAD$800 a month for 2 people in a studio; by comparison with our ski school employees we have the cheapest accommodation on the hill without having to share with loads of other people.
How many jobs did you apply for and where did you hear about them?
The CASI website (www.snowpro.com) gave me all the information and contact details I needed. About a year before I did the NONSTOP Snowboard course I e-mailed roughly 10-15 ski schools in Canada and America and kept a note of the ones I’d had good feedback from. I did some research on the resorts I was thinking about and chose the one I felt most at ease with.
Do you feel you are a good instructor compared to your colleagues?
I’d say so YES!
Would you work in the resort you're in at the moment again?
Yes, we have already been asked back to work next season and they are arranging our visas.
Is your ski school a good employer? What training do you get outside of lessons? Are you planning on taking any more qualifications?
Yes, I have found they really listen to their staff. I have made some suggestions this season which they have put into place. We have training sessions every morning and in the afternoon too if people are free. I’m taking more snowboarding qualifications and I plan to get my ski instructor qualification soon.
Simon Gains was awarded ‘Snowboard Employee of the month’ for March for going above and beyond the job requirements.
Dianne Mack received ‘Snowboard Employee of the month’ for December which was her first month as an instructor and ‘Snowboard request hours performer of the year’, given to the person who gets the highest number of private requests!
