Basecamp delivers world class instructor courses around the World and together with our partners in Banff and Lake Louise we are proud to offer our Banff Ski Internship.
This course has it all – opportunities to learn and work in the ski instructor industry in one of the best ski areas on the planet! If you are looking for a ski season in Canada, look no further than this amazing 22 week internship training program, aimed at those students looking to work as a snowsports instructor in Canada’s Best Ski Resort. Our 22wk Internship differs to most in Canada, in that it offers dedicated level 2 coaching as standard and the option to upgrade to include full season accommodation within your course price.
You will have the option to select the full season accommodation upgrade within the booking form should you wish to have your winters lodgings prearranged by Basecamp and stay with your fellow interns for the season. If you are unsure about upgrading you can add this on at a later date but be aware the deadline is the 1st October.
*Those who do not upgrade to full seasons accommodation must find their own lodgings after the level 1 exam has finished. Basecamp will offer guidance and help with this where possible.
You will train towards the CSIA Level 1 certification in the first four weeks of your arrival in Banff and after successful completion of the exam, you will begin to live the dream of becoming a fully fledged Lake Louise Ski Instructor for the entire winter season!
On your days off you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings, be it on the mountain or in the 3 world class resorts which make up Banff; Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt Norquay. You can also enjoy the fantastic night life and extra activities such as snowmobile tours, dog sledding, zip lining, heli or cat skiing, ice hockey games and wildlife tours to name a few.
Spaces are extremely limited for this program and each participant must complete an interview process in order to be accepted into the Banff Internship and access our top quality ski instructor coaching program at Lake Louise. Contact the Basecamp team today to find out more.
Available Courses
Course timeline
Here’s a guide to your course, broken down by key weeks in the calendar.
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Week 1-3
You'll arrive at Calgary airport, where you'll be met by our team. Once you've been transported to our Banff accommodation and you've dropped your baggage off, you'll get a tour of the stunning town. Now the training begins! You'll have three weeks of intensive training to get you ready for your CSIA Level 1 exam.
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Week 4
In your fourth week, you’ll take your CSIA exam. You’ll be pleased to hear that we almost always have a 100% pass rate – but of course, this comes down to your hard work and dedication. Once you’ve passed this, you’re ready to be an instructor!
*Anyone who has not upgraded to the full season accommodation package will at this stage check out of the course lodgingsand move into alternative accommodation arranged by yourself.
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Week 5-16
Put your skills into practice. You'll be teaching guests at the Lake Louise Ski School! You’ll also have access to internal training to get you up to speed, and you’ll work up to 40 hours a week as a paid instructor.
You will work towards your Level 2 qualification through additional training. What’s more, you can even train yourself up as a dual instructor to make yourself a highly employable double threat!
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Week 17
If you wish, you can sit your Level 2 exam – and thanks to your employment at the Lake Louise Ski School, you’ll get this at the discounted staff price.
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Week 18-22
You’ll enter your final few weeks much quicker than you expect, having had the experience of a lifetime. By this point, you should have achieved your Level 2 qualification, and you can hone your freestyling and avalanche safety skills. And, if you've done a good job, at this point you can secure your spot in the ski school for the following season!
The essential details
Basecamp has a long-standing reputation as offering the best Canada ski and snowboard instructor courses in Banff. We can also offer you a job at the end of your course thanks to our partnership with the Lake Louise Ski School, the biggest and best in the area. You’ll receive your instructor training and take your Level 1 exam before Christmas, and once you’ve passed, you’ll be able to work for the rest of the season at the Lake Louise Ski School!
This course is exclusive and always in very high demand, so you need to snap up a spot quickly.
What's Included
Available qualifications
The Job
Once you’ve completed your level 1 qualification, you’ll be contracted with the Lake Louise Ski School between December and April. The starting wage is a fantastic $15 an hour – and that’s without considering tips and bonuses!
You can work up to 40 hours a week, depending on availability, so you’ll never be overworked. This leaves plenty of downtime for you to explore Banff and have the time of your life!
During this time, you’ll also have time rostered into your working week for high quality level 2 coaching to work towards your CSIA 2 qualification, you can take this when you feel ready or when your coaches tell you it’s time.
What You'll Need
- Qualify for a Canadian working holiday visa (IEC)
- Or, be a Canada or US Citizen
- Be a strong, intermediate skier
- Enjoy a passion for outdoor sports
- Be, athletic, outgoing and fun
- Customer service experience advantageous
- Have good communication skills
- Have a good work ethic
How to Apply
Step 1 – Complete your online booking form and pay your course deposit. This secures your place amongst other hopeful internship candidates. This does not guarantee your place on the internship yet, but rather the deposit secures you in our pool of candidates that will go for final interviews.
We will review your details to make sure you meet all the requirements and we can get a feel for your goals for the season.
Step 2 – Apply for your working holiday visa for Canada through IEC — if you already have an approved working visa you’re in a great position!
Step 3 – The official interview with Lake Louise will usually be held in July/August — actual date TBA. The interview will be a telephone / Skype interview.
Step 4 – If successful you will receive an official acceptance email inviting you to join the Banff Internship program.
Step 5 – Winter begins!
FAQs
You’ll need to come equipped with a few essentials, including warm clothing and your own boots and skis. We offer exclusive deals with Head, one of the best providers of ski equipment out there. Get in touch with us to find out more or get advice on the best equipment.
Because this course comes with guaranteed jobs, it’s exclusive and in high demand. That means we have a limit of 8 snowboarder and 16 skier spaces.
Whether our want to take in the fresh mountain air with a short walk into Banff or jump on the local bus you can be assured that you are within easy access to all Banff has to offer.
Whether you are taking our accommodation for the solely the level 1 training and exam block only or you are upgrading to the full season package, your Basecamp accommodation will be in a superb self-catered apartment sharing with your fellow apprentices. One of the best parts of an experience like this are the friends you make along the way, and so being able to stay together and share in this incredible opportunity is incredible. Even more so if you can do it for the entire winter!
If you’re looking to get qualified and immediately start working as an instructor, this is definitely the course for you! You’ll complete your Level 1 qualification within the first three weeks, and you’ll complete the full course with a Level 2 instructor qualification. As long as you have a working holiday visa, you’re all set!
We ask that you can do parallel turns consistently and confidently on all greens, blues, reds, and some blacks. We expect that tough conditions slow you down and affect your technique. We expect you have done some easy, open off-piste and are starting to try carving on fast, open runs. Generally having 3–4 weeks on snow prior to the course is enough, and the most important thing is a good attitude to improving and learning new skills!
The Level 1 isn’t too hard to pass as an entry level qualification. Participants will be assessed on their ability to perform and teach on the mountain. We get a 100% pass rate year in, year out. The Level 2 in a big step up from the Level 1; however, the training you receive prior to the exam puts you in an excellent position to pass. We usually see an 85–90% pass rate at Level 2 in Banff.
The majority of people who do this course are solo travellers. There is a large Basecamp community in resort, and your Resort Manager will make sure you’re quickly introduced to everyone.
The money question! Minimum wage in Alberta is $15/hour so that is what you can expect. Hours depend on how busy the school is but can vary between 20–40 hours a week, meaning prospective season earnings of around $6,000. More information on various wages can be found here – https://www.basecampgroup.com/blog/much-can-ski-instructor-earn/
As an instructor at the Lake Louise Ski School, you are able to sign up to staff training sessions, which happen regularly, and have First Tracks sessions most mornings before work too when you can ski with other instructors before lessons start. Being part of the ski school is the best place to be – to ski with experienced instructors, ask their advice, learn from them, and naturally become a great ski instructor yourself!
