Who is this course best suited to?

Anyone who wants to gain a Level 1 qualification, or work in a resort for a full season, at an affordable rate, and start working in the industry as soon as possible!

How good do you have to be at Skiing before the course?

You should be able to ski red runs confidently, and be comfortable on black runs.

If you would like to head out to the resort before hand in order to have a week or two's skiing and dust off the cobwebs please speak to your course advisor, as this is something we can arrange.

Is the course hard to pass?

No, the course is not hard to pass. There are two components which you will be evaluated on; your skiing (demonstration) ability and your ability to teach the fundamentals of skiing. All of these aspects are trained to each candidate during the course, and the evaluation of your skills is on going. The “lower end” skiing (snowplow turns etc.) is all taught to you on the course and serves as a great foundation for you to improve your skiing skills.

How likely is it that I’ll get a job?

We don’t believe in job guarantee’s, it can force you into a position that you don’t want, and also gives your employer zero flexibility. However, this course is 4 weeks long, all with your prospective employer meaning that it is the longest job interview that you will ever have. So your chances of gaining employment as an instructor a extremely good. At the end of the day, this course has been run in order to give Lake Louise the opportunity to gain staff.

What happens if I don’t get a job afterwards?

If you decide that Ski Instructing is not for you (or if the forces that be make that decision for you…) but you still want to spend the season working in resort then there are plenty of other options. Firstly the Lake Louise HR department is right next door to the ski school, and being early season they are looking for tons of staff from lift assistance to restaurant staff, and if none of these are right for you then there’s always the town of Banff which is full of bars and hotels, or one of the other ski resorts. So in short there’s plenty of opportunity for you to take advantage of!

If I get a job for the season, where would I stay?

If you work through Lake Louise, as an instructor or filling one of their many other roles, they provide staff accommodation in the Lake Louise village. It’s pretty basic, but you’ll be with all the other staff so it is great fun! It is also really well priced, and it works out at about $8 per day that they’ll take off your salary. If you wanted to stay in the town of Banff, then Basecamp can help you find somewhere and you can remain in our course accommodation. Speak to you Basecamp course advisor for more help on this.

Will I need a visa for this course?

You won’t need a visa for the course alone, but if you plan on working out there after the course a visa is a must. You will need to obtain a Canadian working visa, and should contact your local embassy for more advise on this immediately.

Can I upgrade my course to the Level 2 after booking?

Absolutely, it all depends on our availability. If you stay out for the full season you will have plenty of time to upgrade your qualification to Level 2.

What if I'm travelling on my own?

The majority of people will do this course as solo travellers. There is a large Basecamp community in resort, and your Resort Manager will make sure you're quickly introduced to everyone.