Ski Instructors
Job description
These individuals teach various downhill skiing or snowboarding techniques to individuals or groups. They teach them warm-up exercises, safety rules, and preventive measures. They help them improve their ability level and technical skills. They are self-employed or work for ski resorts.
Environment
- Climatic conditions
- Humidity
- Uncontrolled ambient temperature
Main tasks
- Organize classes depending on the number of individuals enrolled.
- Ensure the well-being and safety of skiers.
- Choose slopes in accordance with the ability level of students.
- Fill out student progress reports, if applicable.
- Answer questions from students during classes and advise them.
- Maintain order and discipline during the class.
Training and requirements
Formation
Also required
- Certification from the Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance (CSIA), the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI), or the Programme d’enseignement des sports de glisse (PESG [Boardsports Teaching Program]) required.
Sometimes required
- Experience in skiing or boardsports in all weather conditions considered an asset.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Teaching
- Oral expression
- Result evaluation
- Judgment and decision-making
- Critical thought
- Human resource management
- Active listening
- Learning strategies
- Data collection
- Time management
- Service oriented
- Coordination
- Persuasion
- Equipment selection
- Active learning
- Operations and control
- Information processing
- Social perception
- Solving complex problems
- Material resource management
Abilities
- Dynamic physical flexibility
- Verbal skills
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Overall coordination of the body
- Limb coordination
- Peripheral vision
- Auditory attention
- Oral comprehension
- Distance vision
- Perception speed
- Information processing speed
- Reaction time
- Tolerance to bright light
- Overall balance of the body
- Spatial orientation
- Colour perception and distinction
- Speed control
- Hearing sensitivity
- Limb movement speed
- Awareness of issues
- Information organization
- Memorization
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Hand-arm stability
- Visualization
- Inductive reasoning
- Classification
- Depth perception
- Near vision
- Sound origin identification
- Night vision
- Core strength
- Deductive reasoning
Knowledge and attributes
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to adapt
- Knowledge of customer and personalized services
- Capacity to work in a team
- Versatility
- Tolerance to stress
- Vitality
- Sense of observation
- Availability
- Capacity to facilitate a group
- Spoken bilingualism (French and English)
Interests
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work in sales or client service
- Work in the arts, culture, music, or leisure
- Work in hotels, restaurants, and tourism
- Self-employment
- Work in contact with nature and animals
- Exercer une activité sportive ou physique
- Work outdoors
- Teach or educate
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness (CNP 54100)
Skill type
Art, culture, recreation and sport
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Last update: January 29, 2026
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