The entry requirements for Whistler Ski School are very high. For the children’s school, it doesn’t really matter—it’s mostly about keeping the kids entertained—so even a Level 1 instructor can apply, and if there’s an opening, the chances of getting in are pretty good. But the adult school is the real challenge. The requirements are: first, you must hold a formal Level 2 instructor certification; second, you must have two years of full-time (i.e., five days a week, eight hours a day) teaching experience in an adult school; third, you must have a recommendation letter from the principal of your previous school. Even with all that, many people are eager to get in, desperate to join as soon as possible.
The salary of Whistler Ski School instructors is something many are curious about. Recently, my mention of eastern snow enthusiasts diligently studying techniques and taking exams sparked some discussion. Below is what I’ve gathered through hearsay (some sources are from Whistler’s Human Resources). Generally, instructors start at a base pay of $10.25 per hour, and every additional qualification adds $0.50 to the base. Level 1 instructors earn $10.75, Level 2 $11.25, and so on. Then, having a snowboard license adds $0.50, speaking French adds another $0.50; this includes speaking Cantonese, which also adds $0.50, and Mandarin adds another $0.50. Having a Telemark instructor certification adds $0.50, and having a park certificate adds another $0.50. Seniority and other factors are calculated based on non-teaching hours. When actually teaching, private one-on-one lessons are paid hourly, while group lessons are paid per student. Some say the range is from $12 to $19 per hour, which seems fairly accurate. Generally speaking, after taxes, the actual take-home pay is around $1,200 every two weeks, $1,500 during busy times (like Christmas and spring break), plus tips (especially for private lessons in the adult school, where tips of over $100 are common, and guests often invite instructors out for meals or drinks if they’re happy).
The instructors’ uniforms have been from DNA (Descente in North America) in recent years, but I’ve heard they’ll switch to Arc'teryx next year. Lupo is thrilled and has already started spreading the word. Full-time instructors not only get free season passes for themselves, but also for their entire families, including as many kids as they have. Part-time instructors only get their own. Instructors also get 50% off meals on the mountain and 50% off when buying ski boots at SureFoot (which is quite a contrast compared to us Chinese snow enthusiasts who spend $1,500 on a single pair of boots). Additionally, there are two training sessions per week led by highly skilled, senior-level instructors, which is extremely helpful for improving personal technique—don’t forget that regular lessons cost money, and group lessons don’t teach much anyway.
Instructors are either swamped or twiddling their thumbs. On weekends and holidays, even with both full-time and part-time instructors working, it’s still not enough—the mountain is packed with instructors in uniform herding students around. The warm-up for advanced classes is usually a double black diamond, while beginners stick to the magic carpet. One advantage of teaching is that you don’t have to wait in long lines—there are dedicated entrances reserved for ski school groups. Otherwise, at Emerald or Harmony, waiting for half an hour during busy times is common. But when it’s quiet and class schedules aren’t full, idle instructors don’t get paid (no work, no pay). To make ends meet, they often have to swallow their pride and take on other jobs to supplement their income. I can’t speak for other places, but I know at least a few instructors at our shop work as servers or busboys, sometimes even showing up in their uniforms. Margot’s shop even has instructors working full-time as servers. One more thing—instructors are seasonal workers. Before the end of the snow season, lower-tier instructors start getting let go, and once the season is over, everyone except the most senior management (probably the principal) scatters to find other means of livelihood. Just recently, I’ve seen familiar faces among the summer workers doing construction or mowing lawns. Of course, many migratory instructors head down to the Southern Hemisphere to teach skiing. Two summers ago, a Level 4 instructor named Eric died while logging—he was a veteran executive with at least 10 years of experience. There are also plenty of Level 4 instructors who work part-time as salespeople or boot fitters at ski shops.
Whistler instructors are very proud. When a newcomer joins, they’ll often ask where you got your instructor certification. If it’s not from Whistler, they’ll often turn away and make a face, showing a bit of disdain. Whistler is the most expensive place in Western Canada to get certified—Level 1 costs nearly $500, Level 2 almost $600, and that’s not even including the lift ticket. In Vancouver, Mount Seymour offers the full package of course and lift ticket for just $300. Even though many know that getting certified in Whistler is relatively harder, a large number of people still sign up, which is why Whistler can consistently offer Level 1 classes every week without issue.
Whistler attracts countless expert skiers with its majestic mountains and excellent snow. Aside from those with other careers or financial security, many prefer to remain independent rather than work as instructors at the ski school. Among these people, there are quite a few Level 3 or Level 4 instructors, so on powder days, they don’t have to miss out on skiing because of teaching duties. For them, nothing is more important than enjoying the freedom and pleasure of skiing on their own terms.
Still, every year, the competition to work at Whistler Ski School is fierce. Those who are leaving often register online or directly with HR beforehand to indicate whether they’ll return the next year. Whistler naturally prefers to rehire those who are already trained and familiar with the procedures. As a result, opportunities for newcomers are quite slim.
This post has been synced to Whistler Old Chen’s Weibo