 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey guys,
Im just finishing my final year at uni in the UK (in Southampton) andI'm bored silly with work and need to get out there in the mountains and ski for a considerable period of time. I'm a fairly competant skier (8 weeks on the snow) but have only ever been to Europe so have little knowledge about the Canadian resorts, other from the research I've done.
I've done a lot of research and I've decided I definitely want to go to Canada and have been looking into the options of doing a ski instructor course (just a short one) for 3/4 weeks with one of the operators that run such courses, get my CSIA L1 qualification and then have the option of instructing for the season. I've got plenty of bar experience too so hopefully I'd be able ot get a bar/ restaurant job out there as well?
In terms of courses, again I've done a lot of research and theres a couple that stand out - The 3 week Fernie course from Nonstop (£2900) looks good, nice and early in the season and they're the only company running courses in Fernie which bodes well for instructor job prospects. Food and accomodation while on the course and a season-long Fernie lift pass. I like the look of the resort as well; small and cosy with great terrain and more or less ski-in ski-out, cheap to live, community feel, some nice bars etc etc. Another one which looks appealing is the 4-week Banff/ Lake Louise course with Basecamp (£2550) - again very early season (Early November), great resort, longer season, option to ski in 3 areas - slight downside being the fact that the ski areas are a bus ride away, but I think I'd get used to that. And again, they're one of the only companies that run courses in Lake Lousise which hopefully means it would be relitively strauight forward to get a job as an instructor (considering also that the training is provided by the Lake Louise Ski School. I've chosen to count out Whistler as I think it'll be a bit too hectic for me - having been to lots of French resorts I'm keen to get away from the commercialised 'ski-resort' feel and like the idea of Fernie and Banff, as in their own ways they sound very different to other European resorts.
Any advice or stories of expereices from Fernie or Banff are welcomed.. as well as debates about whether there are better ways to spend a ski season in Canada. I've considered the argument of not doing a course and just going out there solo, but I'm also quite lazy and like the idea that the first few weeks would be organised for me - and my skiing will improve hopefully, and I'll get a certificate out of it! (The prices don't seem too bad either for the two courses I've mentioned).
Apologies for brain dumping everything that's going through my head about this - it's a big decision and I want to make sure I make the right one before booking onto a course! Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi Willis1,
I've been to Fernie a few times and you're right, it's a great place. Great terrain and some of the best snow conditions i've experienced in 27 years of Skiing and Snowboarding. If you're looking to stay for the season, your best bet for accomodation is Downtown Fernie, not 'Fernie Alpine Resort'(try checking out ourfernie.com).
The ski-in/ski-out options are all up in the 'Resort'. Downtown is only 3 or 4kms away, $3 each way on the ski bus, takes about 10 minutes from town. Plenty of Bars and Restaurants to keep you happy if you stay in the Town. Up in the Alpine Resort there's only really Kelseys and the Griz Inn.
The only place so far that i've ever ridden chest deep snow, and it's never been too busy apart from the weekends. Even then the lift lines at weekends are nowhere near as bad as some European Resorts. Plenty steep or mellow terrain, natural hits, tree skiing to keep you happy. Fernie does have a real community feel about it and the Locals,in my experience, are really friendly.
It can get truly Baltic at times though. I've had a few days in Fernie where the mercury was below -30c with windchill.
Definitely different to European Resorts, not in a better or worse way, just different. You could pick worse places to spend a season.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Willis1:
Mrs MA and I have been to Fernie once, and were unfortunate enough to experience moderate snow conditions in mid-winter (February) ie freeze thaw/slush/ice on bottom half of mountain and no powder. Still had a good time - although (because of the snow conditions and weather) we didn't love the ski area. We did love the cat skiing at nearby Fernie Wilderness Adventures though - (we did have powder there!) - highly recommended. Meanwhile, on our two visits to Banff, we had great snow both times, including powder at Lake Louise and Sunshine.
So, as ever, it's just the luck of the draw......
Banff is definitely more of a happening town - in fact we thought Fernie was a bit of a one horse town. It's quaint(ish...) but not much atmosphere and there's a lack of shops, bars and restaurants, especially compared to Banff. But as you say, it's a fairly long bus ride to some of the skiing around Banff - 30 or 40 mins each way to Lake Louise, as I recall?
Still, not a bad choice for you to have  .....
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi Willis we have been writing a resort guide and doing research about sk jobs in Canada it is work taking a look at http://www.snowjobz.co.uk. There are plenty of companies you can sign up with linke Working Holiday Club, but you can contact the resorts directly which will be cheaper for you...
Any questions let us know will be happy to help and point you in the right direction
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Fernie with NonStop.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mike Pow,
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Fernie with NonStop
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Any particular reason, Mike P? Would love to hear about your experiences of you've had any? 
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| Willis1 wrote: |
Mike Pow,
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Fernie with NonStop
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Any particular reason, Mike P? Would love to hear about your experiences of you've had any? |
They're the best in my opinion.
Not been on one of their courses, but had my own company - In the Powder based out of Kicking Horse - when they started out.
Rupert the main guy is a gentleman. They've been going the longest and have some of the best instructors in that part of BC as course instructors.
The CSIA 'way' is very good IMHO. I'm CSIA certified.
Great pathway to instructing as a career.
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FAQ
