Become a mentor to young skiers and snowboarders while learning skills for a lifetime — and a fun college job, too!

Apprentice Instructors (9th-12th grades) is for skiers and snowboarders in Color Level Brown or above who have a passion for teaching others and want to improve their own skills to become professional instructors. Apprentice Instructor alumni have gone on to teach at Vail, Beaver Creek, Purgatory, Snowbasin, Park City, Moonlight Basin, Big Sky, Bridger Bowl, Kitzbuehel (Austria), Perisher (Australia) and more! Several have become supervisors and managers at destination snowsports schools. You could, too!

How Does It Work?

• This multi-year program begins in early December with Dryland (indoor) Clinics. You’ll study with Blizzard Master Instructors about how people learn and how to teach skills (Teaching), and the terminology and technical knowledge (Technical) you’ll need to succeed on the hill.

• Saturday or Sunday, you’ll shadow instructors during a lesson. Observe their teaching methods, learn movement analysis, demonstrate for the class, assist with class handling, and discuss lesson plans to help members become better skiers and snowboarders. You’ll even get to teach portions of classes yourself under the supervision of the adult instructor! You’ll also attend your own Color Level lesson to keep improving your own skiing or snowboarding skills.

• Tuesday nights, you will attend on-snow clinics from December through February at Hyland Hills. You’ll learn to demonstrate skills, teach in front of a group, and move the group safely around the area.

• At the end of the season you will demonstrate your knowledge through the challenging Rainbow Exam, which consists of a written test, demonstration of your personal skiing or snowboarding skills, and an on-snow teaching exam. A select group of Blizzard teens have passed this exam throughout the history of Blizzard. Most Apprentice Instructors become certified by the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) or the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and can teach at snowsports destinations around the world!

The program fee includes PSIA-AASI manuals for the first season and PSIA-AASI student membership during subsequent seasons!

Share your passion for snowsports and become a professionally certified instructor!

Do you have additional questions?  FAQ