Gap Year Ski Courses

Gap Year Skiing: From student to ski instructor

Choose freedom, adventure and challenge with a skiing gap year in the mountains.

If you’re a keen skier or snowboarder, you’ve probably already considered a ski season. A year out is a great time to do it.

We host and support students every season on gap year courses, so we’re here to help you have the time of your life and do something constructive while you’re at it. Let’s dive into how a gap year skiing can change your life.

Gap Year Group

Now that Archie’s course has come to an end and he is on his way home, I wanted to say thank you to you and all the Alltracks team for everything that you have done for him. He has had a fantastic season and has passed Levels 1,2,and 3! This is way beyond his, and our, initial expectations. He has been very positive and complimentary about each of the coaches that he has had and has loved skiing with them all.

He has also made a lot of good friends through the course, that he will miss enormously and is already talking about next winter at Whistler.

Thank you for arranging this experience for him.

Sara S.
Parent

“I am having an amazing time out here in Whistler, loving it so much. Great people, great town and great atmosphere.”

Monty S.

“Our son, straight from school embarked on the Alltracks ski instructor course. We were delighted with the way the course was handled from a parents perspective. Paul was superb and on hand to answer any questions. In Whistler our son was well supported and the team in Whistler even provided a birthday cake for his 18th, (which ment a lot to us as we were so far away). He has now been in Whistler working as a ski instructor on a two year visa and has also completed the Level 3 Alltracks programme. We can’t speak highly enough about the care and service Alltracks offer. It has been a life changing experience for our son.”

Rhona
Parent

Gap Year Skiing: Become an instructor

Join one of our courses to get qualified, then choose to hone your all mountain skills, take an instructor job for extra teaching experience, or get stuck into learning about avalanche safety backcountry skiing.

Check out our courses below or get in touch with our team to discuss your options. We’ll help make your gap year skiing the best experience of your life.

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ALLTRACKS Skiing Gap Year courses: time well spent

Our courses offer you the best of both worlds: a great time doing something you love which results in a practical qualification to boost your skill set.

Read on for five great reasons to spend your gap year skiing with ALLTRACKS.

  • We’re skiing gap year experts

    ALLTRACKS has been running gap year skiing courses for young people for almost 20 years, so we’re a safe pair of hands. Being a proud member of the Year Out Group means we subject ourselves to rigorous external assessment and hold extremely high standards so you know you can trust us. What’s more, we’re one of the only providers to be both ATOL and ABTOT Bonded so you’re financially protected, whether you book flights through us or not.

  • You’ll gain internationally recognised qualifications

    Canadian and British Ski Instructor qualifications are recognised at many resorts across the world (although not all), opening the doors to numerous future possibilities. Your credentials will be highly respected at international ski schools, giving you a great way to ski and save well into the future.

  • We can help you find paid work

    Although an instructor job is not guaranteed after all of our courses, we’ll train you up and give you a foot in the door to start earning right away. Many of our students go on to work on the mountain, so you not only get paid, but you’ll be able to practice those new skills and stay among your new group of friends too. The opportunities of employment vary according to which course you choose, so feel free to contact the team to chat through the options. It’s important to understand that some years there are more applicants than jobs after the regular instructor courses, and job offers can come at short notice. If you’re absolutely set on working straight afterwards, go for one of our internships which have a 100% success rate in working immediately after the training course.

  • Gap year skiing teaches you skills for life

    Off the slopes, you’ll find your hard work pays off in other ways too. Beyond your flash new ski technique learned during a skiing gap year, you’ll have learned how to live, learn and work in a new environment. What’s more, instructor training will improve your communication skills as you figure out how to teach in an adaptable and engaging way – crucial for virtually all management jobs.

  • You’ll be having a ball

    Let’s not forget the main aim here – you’re signing up to a season in the snow, taking your all-mountain skiing to expert level, making new friends at one of the world’s best ski resorts and having experiences you’ll remember forever. ALLTRACKS Gap Year skiing courses bring like-minded people together for the time of their lives, and we know you’re going to love it.

Gap Year Skiing FAQs

Q: What is a “gap-year ski course”?
A: A “gap-year ski course” is a programme that combines ski (or snowboard) training with an instructor qualification: typically for people using a gap year (between school and university, or before a career) or a break from work. It gives you the opportunity to spend a season in a ski resort, improve your skiing, and (with successful certification) become eligible to work as a ski instructor.

 

Q: Do you need to already be an expert skier to do a gap-year ski instructor course?
A: Not necessarily. Many gap-year instructor courses accept intermediate-level skiers who are competent on piste. What matters most is that you have a reasonable base of skiing ability and the willingness to learn. That said, more advanced skiers may have more opportunities, especially for higher-level certification or freeride/off-piste skiing.

 

Q: What kind of qualification will I get?
A: Courses like these often lead to internationally recognised instructor qualifications – for example via standard systems such as BASI (in Europe) or PSIC or CSIA (in North America) — which allow you to legally work as a ski instructor (subject to local rules, usually including certification level and local regulations).

 

Q: What kind of people is a ski-instructor gap year good for?
A: Gap-year ski courses often suit:

  • Students between school and university, or between university and career, looking for a mix of adventure and structured activity.

  • People wanting a “career break” or “life reset,” combining work, travel, and training.

  • Ski enthusiasts who want to improve fast, get certified, and possibly work professionally — whether short-term (seasonal) or long-term.

 

Q: After the course, can I work as an instructor anywhere in the world?
A: It depends. Qualification recognition (and legal ability to work) may depend on the instructor system (PSIC, BASI, CSIA, etc.) and local employer/resort regulations. Many of the well-known certification systems are internationally recognised, which makes working abroad possible — but for certain countries additional local certifications or licences may be required.

It’s wise to research your target country or resort’s requirements before committing – but chat to our team if you have any questions or concerns! We’ve had countless instructors come out of our courses, who all had to start somewhere.

 

Questions about Alltracks courses?