How to get paid for doing what you love: the best ski jobs

Happiness is getting paid for what you love to do. If you're Canadian and love skiing you're in luck: here are the best ski jobs that combine your passion with a career.

The most popular job in the skiing industry is the ski instructor.

• Ski instructors teach skiers of all skill levels, from beginner through advanced, how to ski and improve their skills and techniques.

To work as a ski instructor in Canada, you’ll need to get yourself certified.

• One way to get certified is to apply and register for instructor courses at the Canadian Alliance of Ski Instructors (CSIA).
• The CSIA is a member-based, not-for-profit organization that offers ski instructor programs from Level 1 through Level 4.
• The good news is you don’t have to get your Level 4 certification to start earning money.
• You can start teaching, with limitations, upon successfully completing Level 1.

In terms of requirements, you’ll need hard skills like being a technically sound skier and knowing first-aid. However, you’ll also fare better if you have soft skills, too, and a natural ability to teach others. Plus patience, especially with beginners!

Another popular career path is in ski patrol.

• The role of the ski patrol is to be the first-line response for anyone in danger or hurt on the slopes: in essence you’re the paramedics on the slopes.

To consider pursuing this job, you should be adept at handling extremely stressful situations.

• Remaining calm in often scary and life-threatening situations is also an absolute must.
• Being a highly skilled skier is essential.
• You will also need to be fully trained in Advanced First-Aid (AFA).

To become a ski patroller, you’ll need to get the proper training. The birthplace of Canadian ski patrol programs is The Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP), so you’ll want to consider it as a starting point.

• The CSP has Standard First Aid accreditation from the Human Resources Development Skills Canada, which is an accreditation widely recognized in the workplace.

For those that want to work in and around the resort, there are plenty of seasonal, part-time or full-time ski resort job opportunities too.

• You could help operate and maintain the slopes like lift operators, snowmakers or trail groomers do.
• Consider jobs at the pro shop if you’d rather be indoors,.
• If technically inclined, there are roles for ski equipment maintenance and service.
• If you enjoy working with people, there are sales roles where you can show off your knowledge of the latest ski gear.

There are also many niche ski jobs in Canada.

• If you have a passion for adventure and want to share that passion with like-minded folks, consider a career as a ski mountain guide. This job is similar to being a ski instructor, but lessons are on non-groomed areas of the mountain.
• For those that love the sport of alpine ski racing, becoming a coach might be the right fit for you.