Switzerland is famous for chocolate and cheese. Both amazing in their own right, but are nothing compared to the awesome ski resorts she boasts within her borders, and Zermatt is the jewel in the crown.
Located in the spectacular Swiss Alps, Zermatt is the ultimate place to enjoy elite skiing in Europe, if not the world. With the magnificent Matterhorn towering high into the heavens for views to die for, you’ll be treated to uncrowded pistes, monumental terrain, world-class training, and an incredible nightlife.
With pistes of gargantuan proportions, the cross-border ‘Matterhorn Ski Paradise’ boasts 360km of marked pistes across Zermatt and Cervinia you can build up to tackle the top-to-toe 2,279 vertical challenge, skiable in one go over a distance of 16km. Even the best of us will have jelly legs after that one!
THE COURSE
Our Zero-to-Hero Program in Zermatt is unparalleled in the industry and something we are very proud to offer. You will spend the full season in the Swiss Alps training and working as a ski instructor with the chance to achieve BASI L1, L2 & L3 in one season.
You will start with an amazing 8 week experience in Zermatt being coached by some of the best in the business to gain the L1&2 qualifications you need to teach in the mountains. You won’t just learn how to become a ski instructor though, you’ll also enhance your interpersonal skills to become a better communicator. Once qualified, you will work the full season as a ski instructor with our friends at PDS Snowsports, combining ski school work with the highest quality L3 coaching. The perfect combination and perfect winter season.
Note: L3 coaching and PDS employment is only included in the full season program.
If you’re looking for the best ski instructor course in Switzerland, look no further. If you have any questions about this amazing course or any of our other opportunities here at SIA Austria, contact us today.
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What's Included
We pride ourselves on the fact that Ski Instructor Academy offers the very best value, fully comprehensive and quality filled programs on the market. We offer the best ski instructor course in Switzerland and know that you’re going to love it!
(*Not included in 8wk program)
T&C’s apply to PDS Employment, incl. holding the right to work and suitability
The Training
We have teamed up with PDS Snowsports for our Swiss programs. An international collection of the highest qualified trainers and examiners with decades of experience in the industry… Legends of the slopes!
On this course you will train towards the BASI Level 1, BASI Level 2 and BASI L3 ski instructor qualifications. This truly all-mountain program provides an unparalleled combination of on-hill coaching including on-piste, off-piste, powder, bumps and back-country, combined with some awesome off-hill extras such as avalanche awareness, sports science and equipment tuning.
Throughout the training, you’ll understand how to develop and assess skiers in multiple tactics and terrains. You’ll attend technical seminars, receive regular assessments on your skiing progress, and your qualified level 4 trainers will give you personalised video feedback so you can understand how you’re progressing.
The Accommodation
For our 8-week ski instructor course in Zermatt, you will be based from the very sociable, Bahnhof Hotel with amazing central location to allow you to get up into the mountains, hit the après scene or enjoy everything the area has to offer.
Onsite there are common areas to relax with a living area, dining area, fully equipped kitchen and laundry room, Hook into the free Wi-Fi to connect with family and friends.
A secure ski room with boot warmer will keep your kit safe during your stay.
Once working for PDS Snowsports you will move into more permanent staff accommodation in a village local to Zermatt with other snow school instructors, the ideal way to spend a season in the mountains.
*The rental cost for the staff accommodation will deducted from your monthly salary.
The Activities
You’ll have plenty of days off to explore the gorgeous scenery in Switzerland, whether you explore the surrounding area, go paragliding, enjoy a tobogganing and fondue evening, jump on a heli-tour or hit take a day trip into beautiful Zurich, there’s tons to do and plenty of ‘best days ever’ to be had.
Beyond the big nights out, Zermatt has plenty of activities to keep you entertained. You can catch a cable car to the ice museum glacial caves, take in the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets with new friends and watch in awe as the world’s best riders hit the slopes! In the ski areas, you can also try out ski touring and cross country skiing.
The Job
The full season program includes employment with PDS Snowsports in Zermatt or Verbier. The competition is fierce so you need to make sure you meet all the requirements set by PDS.
- It would be beneficial (but not essential) for Students to have previous experience working with children or adults in a coaching or teaching environment.
- Student must be at an good, intermediate level — able to link turns on red runs
- Must hold the right to work in Switzerland (EU Passport or other right to work)
Step 1 – Complete your online booking form and pay your course deposit. This secures your place amongst other hopeful candidates.
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 – The official interview process begins with SIA and PDS, usually held in August — actual date TBA. The interview will be a telephone / Skype interview and may consist of two rounds.
Step 3 – If successful you will receive an official acceptance email inviting you to join the program. If unsuccessful, you will be offered a place on the 8-week program, an alternative internship program or a refund of your deposit.
Step 4 – Winter begins!
*Suitable passport or visa required to work in Europe
I loved every second of it! Fantastic coaches for skiing and boarding, would definitely recommend Ski Instructor Academy to anyone thinking of becoming an instructor or furthering their instructor qualifications.
Absolutely life changing! When I first arrived I was quite unsure of what to expect, coming from a small town in the UK and feeling really nervous. The course exceeded anything I could of ever dreamed of; meeting what are now my best friends and spending 3 months living the ski dream!
The coaches and examiners are second to none, offering the best advice and guidance (special shout outs to Jamie, Anne and Martin!) And to top it all off, I am now a Landes 1 Lehrer! If you are looking to be a ski instructor, choose SIA!
If I could go back and do it all again I would, without a doubt! Apart from the extreme goggle tan I went home with, there wasn’t any negatives. The instructors, people and area were amazing, even if you aren’t a great skier or haven’t skied at all go for it, that’s what I did and I now can proudly say I have my Landes one qualification.
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EXPERT KNOWLEDGE
During this course, you will be supported on an ongoing basis by our highly qualified and experienced training team who have been coaching in Switzerland for decades!
Quality Service Assured
We will bend over backwards to make sure you have the very best time with us on and off the slopes. Our in-resort team will be on hand to ensure that you enjoy the best ski instructor course in Switzerland! When it’s over, you’ll be counting down the days until your next SIA experience.
INTENSE TUITION
Your course will be packed full of training from start to finish with professional coaching each week. Intimate group sizes will allow you the personal attention you need to improve your skills and motivate you to push yourself further.
VERY AFFORDABLE
Here at Ski Instructor Academy we pride ourselves in both the quality and value of our many courses. We honestly believe that we offer the best ski instructor courses in Switzerland, and other locations around the globe.
FAQs
You will earn your BASI L1 and BASI L2 Instructor Licences, these are internationally respected instructor qualifications which you can use to teach in most countries around the world. You will also receive 4 weeks of L3 coaching during the season.
You must be competent and have enough ski knowledge and time on snow so that you can ski a red piste run in parallel, with a hip width stance, demonstrating outside ski balance and little body rotation. If you don’t think you’re up to this level then you can still join, just get in touch to find out how.
The full-season program is partnered with PDS Snowsports meaning successful applicants will gain full season employment at PDS.
The 8-week version will conclude by early December, meaning that employment in Europe, Japan and Canada are all possible too. Get in touch to find out how our Job Assist can work for you.
Of course, you need to be legally allowed to work, so a working holiday visa or suitable passport / right to work will be required wherever you wish to ply your new trade.
See our Essential Visa Guide for more info…
During these strange times we want you to feel safe and secure when it comes to your course fees and your booking.
Our Covid Confident Money Back Guarantee gives you complete peace of mind and flexibility when it comes to your booking with us.
This means that if your course is cancelled by SIA prior to your arrival date, for whatever reason, you can choose one of the following options:
- Switch your instructor course free of charge to a later date or destination
- Receive a full refund of your fees
Our guarantee applies to all travellers whether you have already booked your instructor course, or are considering booking. Meaning, you can book with confidence and look forward to an amazing season with SIA.
Read more about the Covid Confident Money Back Guarantee here…
2021/22 was the first season post-Brexit and added some red tape to what would historically have been a normal season for students from the UK. To work anywhere in the world now, incl. Europe, Brits will need a visa or permit to work. The Authorities here in Austria have said that they plan to have a ‘seasonnaire permit’ in place at some point in the future to allow workers short-term access to the employment market during the winter season.
Whilst this is potentially great news, there has still – 3 years on – been no further news on this ‘seasonaire permit’ and so it will be highly unlikely that anything will be in place anytime soon, which does still leaves uncertainty on what will be required from UK nationals working in Austria in the future.
As of yet there is still no further news or update on the Austrian ‘seasonnaire permit’ or any other pathway to enable Brits to work in Austria or any other EU country via any independently accessible work visa or any alternative method. (latest update: 1st February 2023)
You must be a minimum of 16 years old before you arrive into resort on our Austrian Courses.
You must be a minimum of 18 years old before you arrive in resort for our Canadian or Argentinian Courses (unless parental consent is obtained).
You must be a minimum of 18 years old to join any of our courses or internships which rely on a working holiday visa or work permit.
Although SIA courses are amongst the largest in the World, we generally manage to maintain very intimate training groups of between 4:1 and 8:1, but with absolutely no more than 10:1 students per trainer in Austria, Argentina, Canada, France and NZ. This allows us to match similar ability levels per group and means no student should ever feel as if they are falling behind, or being held back because of the group they are in.
We have various options for accommodation on our courses, all of which are very comfortable. We use a combination of shared apartments, houses and chalets. There are options to to include a single room, half board meals or both! (subject to availability and supplement). See our Accommodation page for more details on your options.
YES! As an employed instructor, ski schools will offer you subsidised staff housing as part of your employment contract. This is generally basic living, but a fun and very social environment with your fellow instructors and not to mention a very cheap way of living in a ski resort, with most ski schools only charging between €4 and €10 per day.
Note: If your course does not include a Job Guarantee or you do not wish to take up your position then accommodation will only be included during your course dates.
Sure! We love it when friends come together and share this amazing experience – after all sharing is caring! We can make sure you live together and also work in the same ski school together too so you can enjoy the time and make memories forever… just be sure to let us know who you’re travelling with.
We are so confident that we offer the very best value courses in the industry that we have our SIA Price Promise. We pride ourselves that we offer more training, higher quality coaching, better off-hill programs and more fun aprés events than any other course.
That’s why if you find a better value comparable course anywhere, not only will we match the course cost, but we will also give you an additional €100 off your course fees for good measure!
Get in touch to find out more about our Price Promise.
Yes! Once you have booked and paid your deposit then you will have the ability to pay off your course how you see fit as long as our minimum criteria has been met (see T&C’s). You can decide how much and how often you pay to suit your circumstances as long as your course fees are paid in full prior to your course. We do not add any interest charges for payment plans.
As much as we love dogs at SIA the simple answer is no.
Dogs are not allowed within SIA Accommodation. Ski Schools also ban pets from their accommodation.
No problem, you can check out our full FAQ’s here for answers on equipment, training, qualifications, jobs, payments and more.
If you’re still not sure, then Contact Us and we can answer your specific questions for you.