FAQ

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Ski instructor and snowboard instructor course

General

What is an ‘Anwärter’ course?

Anwärter’ stands for ‘aspirant’ or ‘beginner’. So this is your first level of the Austrian training system for ski and snowboard instructors. With your Anwärter ski instructor or snowboard instructor diploma, you are qualified to teach children, beginners and slightly advanced ski instructors on the slopes. After obtaining your Anwärter diploma, there are two further levels: ‘Landes’ and ‘Staatlich’. These courses require a lot of extra experience and skills. The pace goes up, you have to go through the giant slalom, for example, and you learn to go off-piste with your group safely and responsibly.

For whom is the Anwärter training?

Are you a good and motivated skier or snowboarder? Do you want to pass on your passion to other people to give them an unforgettable experience? Would you like to spend a season (or a few weeks) in the snow? Can you answer all these questions with ‘YES’? Then you can become a ski instructor or snowboard instructor! But then you must first obtain an Anwärter diploma.

How do I enrol for a course?

You can enrol for a ski instructor or snowboard instructor course via the registration form on the website. Go through all the steps, fill in all required fields and make a down payment. Your participation in the course is now definitely for you!

How long does the Anwärter course last?

In just ten or twenty days, you will obtain an Anwärter diploma. You will spend ten days from morning to evening skiing and/or snowboarding, learning many of your own skiing skills, such as knowledge of materials, skiing techniques and teaching. TIP, make a summary of what has been covered every day, then at the end of the course, you don’t have to learn everything all at once. So it will be long and intensive days. Make sure that you start the training in a rested and fit state!

NB With the 20-day course you make sure that you understand all Austrian terms before the Austrian part of the course starts.

From what age can I start the Anwärter training?

For the Anwärter study programme a minimum age of 16 years applies on the day of the practical exams. There is no maximum age limit.

What happens if I fail the course?

It is, of course, possible that you do not complete the programme positively all at once, in which case you will have to take a resit for one or more components. You do not have to retake the entire programme again, but only retake those parts you have not yet passed. If you require a resit, please notify Snowsports Instructor by e-mail. You will then be informed of the date, time, location and costs of the resit.

What’s good to know is that in many cases you can work for the ski school. Because you have followed the course, you are allowed to teach children in the Kinderland. However, you are not yet allowed to go onto the piste independently with your group.

Practice

Of the participants who don’t make it, it is often in one of the practice areas. The ‘Schulefahren’ (the basic curves) and/or the ‘Eigen Können’ (the advanced technique) is then not enough. For this, you will have to train extra before you can start the resit. We, therefore, advise you to take part in our Anwärter training courses in Austria.

Theory

Every theory subject that is examined must be concluded positively. If you fail one or more courses, you must retake them. Theory resits will be retaken at a later date in Austria.

Teaching

If you do not pass the ‘teaching’ section, you will be given the opportunity to retake it during the course of the programme. If this is still insufficient after two times, you will be re-examined in Austria at a later date.

If you need a resit, please notify Snowsports Instructor by email. You will then be informed of the date, time, location, training sessions and costs of the resit.

How long is the Anwärter diploma valid for?

The Anwärter diploma always remains valid if you teach at least once every three years.

What different Anwärter courses are there?

There are various courses for ski and snowboard instructors in winter and summer. In terms of content, the courses are all the same and are carried out by Austrian ‘Ausbilders’ (instructors) with the ‘Staatlich’ diploma. Only the time of year and the location differ. With all programmes, you will obtain your ‘Anwärter’ diploma and you will be able to work at the ski school in Austria.

Summer courses

An advantage of the summer course is that it takes place during the summer holidays, so you have all the time you need! You can also be sure of your job as a ski or snowboard instructor more quickly, which is of course a pleasant advantage. The summer courses take place on the Hintertuxer Glacier, this glacier is open 365 days a year. The weather is often good during this course, but weather conditions on top of the glacier can be very variable, keep this in mind.

The weather is often good during this course, but weather conditions on top of the glacier can be very variable, keep this in mind.

Winter courses

In December and January, we are also organising two Anwärter courses. The course in December is our biggest course, after obtaining your Anwärter diploma you immediately continue with your new colleagues/friends to the ski school and start the season and your new adventure! Would you like to work only during the spring break? Then you can still follow a course in January after which you can go straight to the ski school.

Check our agenda when the courses take place exactly.

Can I retake parts of the course during the course?

We work together with two Austrian ski instructors. The association of Tyrol and Lower Austria. The latter, the NOESLV, is a little more accommodating than Tyrol. If you do not do your ‘Lehrauftritt’ sufficiently, you often get a chance to do it again on the last day. During the theory exams, you may retake two courses orally at the end of the 10-day course, in order to still be able to pass the Anwärter diploma.

What is the success rate?

In recent years we have built up a success rate of around 92% for all our courses!

Can I stay with Snowsports Instructor after the course and placement at a ski school?

Yes, you can follow our socials for nice updates. Also, our experience is that with every education we make the Snowsports family bigger. Many participants are still in contact with each other years later.

If you would like to blog about your experiences as a winter sportsman, please talk to us during a course or send us a message!

Does Snowsports Instructor guide courses or do you give the courses?

We make sure that you can focus as much as possible on Austrian education. The course itself is given by Austrian Ausbilders. With the Snowsports Instructor’s coaches, you will be able to train for the course and discuss the theory during the course. You can also ask the instructors for everything, both in the hotel and on the piste!

I am not yet sure if I can join, can I already apply for a course?

If you are not yet sure about participation, for example due to resits or other exceptional situations, you can still enrol. Please contact us, and together we will look for a suitable solution! Also take a look at our General Terms and Conditions.

Will I get my money back if I still have to do something for school and therefore cannot go?

It is possible that, due to circumstances, you will not be able to take part in the training after all. Give us a call and we will look for a suitable solution together. If you make use of the cancellation clause, you can, in most cases, cancel or reschedule free of charge.

See our General Terms and Conditions for more information.

Is it true that in summer the slopes are very icy on the glacier?

Of course, there is less snow in summer than in winter. Generally speaking, in July there is still enough snow for the Anwärter course. The weather in July can also be very variable. For example, one day you have sunshine and the next day you are suddenly in a snow shower.

How large are the groups?

We are not trying to make the groups too big. Usually, there are about 8 people in a group.

Which theory modules do I get?

The theory consists of several subjects:
1) Movement theory, which movements do you make with different skiing techniques?
2) Education, how do you organise a fun, educational and safe ski lesson?
3) Materials Science, all about ski and snowboard materials.
4) Teaching children, how do you give ski lessons to children?
5) First Aid in winter sports
6) Professionalism, what are your rights and obligations as a ski instructor?
7) Nature and environment, what impact does winter sport have on the environment?
8) Alpine science, this covers safety, avalanches, snow and weather.
9) English, the key concepts of the curriculum should also be explained in English
10) Tourism, what impact does tourism have on the environment?

– Not every part is examined.
– Each part of the exam must be sufficiently completed.
– There is an obligation to be present in theory and practice.

Ski instructor course

How well should I be able to ski?

A good guideline for estimating whether your ski level is sufficient to start training is the number of weeks of experience. Our experience shows that for most participants, 6-8 weeks of experience on the slopes in the mountains is sufficient to take part in an Anwärter training course. Of course, this is not a guarantee. It will be easier for some than for others. Participants with a sporting background and who already have experience with (sports) instruction can also complete the training positively with fewer weeks of experience. Participants with many weeks of experience may fall into the trap of having developed the wrong style that needs to be learnt.

As a ski instructor, you must be able to demonstrate controlled and rhythmic, long and short parallel turns on a red slope at the practical exam. In addition, you must be able to demonstrate two more basic curves at the practical exam.

If you feel confident and secure on your skis, then you are ready for it!

What practical exams are there?

The ski instructor’s practical exams consist of three parts:
1) “Schulefahren”, the demonstration of basic skiing techniques.
2) ‘Eigen Können’, the demonstration of advanced skiing techniques.
3) ‘Lehrauftritt’, an instruction assignment where you give 20-30 minutes of ski lessons to your own group.

– All practical aspects should be rounded off positively.
– There is an obligation to be present for all practice and theory.

What equipment do I need for the ski instructor course?

Material
We advise you to participate with your own skis, ski boots and ski poles, you are familiar with that. Before the start of the training, it is good to wax and sharpen these.

For the course, we recommend an all-round or all-mountain ski. You should mainly do exercises for novice skiers. So your equipment should not be too long, too stiff or too heavy.

Ski clothing
Whether you are following a winter or summer course, you will always take a complete winter sports equipment with you. When it comes to clothing, it is good to wear three layers. A first basic layer consisting of thermal underwear and ski socks to keep you dry and warm. A second layer is an insulating layer that stores heat and transports perspiration. The third layer consists of a waterproof layer and protects you against rain, snow and wind.

Also, make sure you have good gloves, you will do well to have two pairs during a course or season. You can also think of some thinner gloves during summer training. Good materials are a ‘must’ for a ski instructor. If you still need new materials, take a look at our webshop!

During all courses there is an obligation to wear helmets.

Am I eligible for the job guarantee?

In recent years we have built up an extensive network of ski schools in Austria. This enables us to offer a job guarantee for ski instructors. There are a number of important conditions for this:

1) Diploma
You have to apply for a ski instructor course and obtain your Anwärter diploma.
2) Availability
You must be available at least in the high season (Christmas and/or spring break) or for the whole season (mid-December to mid-March).
3) C.V. + motivation letter in German
You must submit a CV and motivation letter in German with a passport photo at the latest one month before the start of the high season.
4) Language
You must have a good command of the German language. The ski school boss often wants to talk to you on the phone beforehand and has the last word.

Snowboard instructor course

How well should I be able to snowboard?

A good guideline to estimate whether your snowboard level is sufficient to start training, we do on the basis of the number of weeks of experience. Our experience shows that for most participants, 6-8 weeks of experience on the slopes in the mountains is sufficient to take part in an Anwärter training course. Of course, this is not a guarantee. It will be easier for some than for others. Participants with a sporting background and who already have experience with (sports) instruction can also complete the training positively with fewer weeks of experience. Participants with many weeks of experience may fall into the trap of having developed the wrong style that needs to be learnt.

As a snowboard instructor, you should be able to demonstrate controlled and rhythmic, long and short turns on a red slope during the practical exam. You are also expected to have some basic freestyle skills, such as an ollie and a 180. And you must have experience with the carving technique. In addition, you will have to demonstrate two more basic turns at the practical exam.

If you feel confident and confident on your snowboard, then you are ready for it!

Which snowboard practical exams are there?

The snowboard practical exams consist of three parts:
1) ‘Schulefahren’, demonstrating basic snowboarding techniques.
2) ‘Eigen Können’, the demonstration of advanced snowboarding techniques.
3) ‘Freestyle’, a number of piste tricks, such as ollie/nollie, tail manual, nose roll/tail roll, 180 and a number of switch turns.

– All practical parts should be rounded off positively.
– There is an obligation to be present for all practice and theory.

What material do I need for the Snowboard course?

Snowboard material
We advise you to participate with your own snowboard and snowboard boots, you are familiar with that. Before the start of the course, it is a good idea to wax and sharpen them.

For the course, we recommend an all-round or all-mountain snowboard. You will mainly need to do exercises for novice snowboarders. So your material should not be too long, too stiff or too heavy.

Snowboard clothing
Whether you are following a winter or summer course, you will always take a complete winter sports equipment with you. When it comes to clothing, it is good to wear three layers. A first basic layer consisting of thermal underwear and ski socks to keep you dry and warm. A second layer is an insulating layer that stores heat and transports perspiration. The third layer consists of a waterproof layer and protects you against rain, snow and wind.

Also, make sure you have good gloves, you will do well to have two pairs during a course of training or season. You can also think of some thinner gloves during summer training. Good materials are a ‘must’ for a snowboard instructor. If you still need new materials, take a look at our webshop!

During all courses there is a helmet obligation!

Am I eligible for job placement?

In recent years we have built up an extensive network of ski schools in Austria. However, the demand for snowboard instructors is lower than for ski instructors, which is why we offer job mediation for snowboard instructors. There are always a number of vacancies for snowboard instructors, but this is much more limited. So try to contact several ski schools or snowboard schools yourself! And if you can also ski, you can also do a dual instructor course. This considerably increases your chances of getting a job! However, we do have a number of important conditions for job placement:

1) Diploma
You must apply for the snowboard instructor course and obtain the Anwärter diploma.
2) Availability
You must be available at least in high season (Christmas and/or spring break) or for the whole season (mid-December to mid-March).
3) C.V. + motivation letter in German
You must submit a CV and motivation letter in German with a passport photo at the latest one month before the start of the high season.
4) Language
You must have a good command of the German language. The ski school boss often wants to talk to you on the phone beforehand and has the last word.

Dual instructor course

What is a dual course?

The Austrian qualification system has worldwide recognition. If you have successfully completed all parts of the course, you can officially call yourself an Anwärter ski instructor and snowboard instructor. Not many can do this! With this Anwärter level, you can start working as a ski instructor almost anywhere in the world. With the dual instructor course, you will be skiing and snowboarding for sixteen days! It is a super fun and instructive course in which you learn all the ins and outs.

Do you earn more as a dual instructor?

As a dual instructor, you don’t get paid more. Your hourly wage is determined on the basis of your level (Anwärter, Landes 1, etc.) and years of experience. However, you do have the advantage of guaranteed and varied work.

Landes Instructor course

What is a Landes course?

The ‘Landes’ course is your second level of the Austrian qualification system. With your Landes diploma, you are qualified to teach advanced and more advanced students on and off-piste (but still within reach of the lifts of the ski area). During this programme, your technique will be further refined and your pace will increase significantly. So there are more demands on your skills!

The Landes ski instructor course consists of three courses: Landes 1, Landes 2 and an Alpinkurs. During this programme, you will take on many mogul skiing and off-piste activities. You will also learn more about Schulefahren and the Giant Slalom (GS).

The Landes snowboard instructor consists of two courses: Landes and an Alpinkurs. During this course, you will learn a lot about freestyling and off-piste. Furthermore, you will learn a lot more about Schulefahren and the Giant Slalom (GS).

For a Landes course, you must be in possession of avalanche equipment: beeper, probe and shovel.

With which course do I go offpiste?

From your Landes train on ‘Gelände’, offpiste. For skiers, Landes 1 already offers off-piste training and mogul skiing. At the Alpinkurs you actually go into the mountains and learn everything you need to know to teach groups off-piste.

Take a look at the Landes course for more information!

When can I do the Landes course

The Landes course is for Anwärter ski and snowboard instructors who want to get even better, go even faster and learn a lot more about skiing or snowboarding!

After you have obtained your Anwärter diploma, you have to teach at the ski school for at least three weeks before you can start this course. If after that you would like to learn more and teach better groups as well as earning more, you can enrol for the Landes course.

How long does the Landes course take?

A Landes ski course consists of three parts:
Landes 1 takes ten days
Landes 2 takes ten days
Alpinkurs of seven days
Each part is completed with theoretical and practical exams.

For snowboarders, the course is shorter:
Landes takes ten days
Alpinkurs takes seven days

The Landes course is organised throughout the winter season. Please contact us to ask when this is!

What additional skills should I have?

During the Landes training, the level and pace go up considerably. You must have experience with the Giant Slalom (GS), moguls and off-piste. You will also have to perform all the techniques of the ‘Schulefahren’ even better.

For snowboarders, the level and pace also go up a lot. You must have experience with off-piste and the Giant Slalom (GS). You will also have to perform all the techniques of ‘Schulefahren’ even better. And of course, more freestyle techniques are expected of you. Think of an easy/medium line kicker jumping (with grab), a 50-50 on a box, ollies, nollies, tail press, nose press, switch turns, nose roll, tail roll and backside and frontside 180’s.

What material do I need for the Landes course?

Because you also go off-piste with the Landes programme, an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe are compulsory to carry with you. In addition, you can think of special off-piste skis/snowboard, race skis/snowboard or a freestyle snowboard. You can take some stiffer, longer and heavier material to keep control at higher speeds.

All courses are subject to a helmet requirement! .

Preparation

Online Webinar

Can I find the presentation of the online webinar somewhere?

After a webinar we will send the presentation to you by email. Please make sure that you enter the correct e-mail address when you register for an event.

Is the free trial training for skiers and snowboarders?

Yes, the trial training in SnowWorld Zoetermeer is for both skiers and snowboarders. This way you will get an idea of the training and your own level.

Trainings

Skitraining | Snowworld

Snowsports Instructor organises ski training courses in Snowworld Zoetermeer prior to a course. These training courses are in preparation for a ski instructor course. Intermediate training for the shared training. Or training for a practical opportunity.

During the four-hour ski training, we focus on improving your ski position and turn rhythm. We do this by means of a number of ski exercises and video analysis in which we will analyse each turn phase and improve it with tips and tricks. We train on your own skills and the basic turns that need to be demonstrated at the exams in Austria. In this way, you will be well prepared for the training or resit and increase your chances of success for your Anwärter diploma!

Check our agenda when all courses take place.

Snowboardtraining | Snowworld

Snowsports Instructor organises snowboard training courses in Snowworld Zoetermeer prior to a course. These training courses are in preparation for a snowboard instructor course. Intermediate training for the shared course. Or training for a practical opportunity.

During the four-hour snowboard training we focus on improving your snowboard position and turning rhythm. We do this by means of a number of snowboard exercises and video analysis in which we critically analyse and improve each turn phase. We train on your own skills and the basic turns that need to be demonstrated at the exams in Austria. And of course, we train the freestyle part and the carving technique! In this way, you will be well prepared for the training or retake and you will increase your chances of success for your Anwärter diploma!

Check our agenda when all trainings take place.

Ski training | Austria

Snowsports Instructor organises a two-day ski training prior to a ski instructor course. You will travel to Austria two days earlier and get the opportunity to get used to the snow and your equipment. Our experience has taught us that it is very good for British participants to be able to ski for a while. In addition, you will receive training from an English-speaking ski instructor who will handle the ski position and ski techniques with you. You will receive two days of four-hour ski training, we will focus on improving your ski position and turning rhythm. We will do this by means of a number of ski exercises and video analysis in which we will analyse each turn phase and improve it with tips and tricks. We train on your own skills and the basic turns that need to be demonstrated at the exams in Austria. In this way, you will be well prepared for the course and increase your chances of success for your Anwärter diploma!

Check our agenda when all training sessions take place.

Snowboard training | Austria

Snowsports Instructor organises a two-day snowboard training prior to a snowboard instructor course. You will travel to Austria two days earlier and get the opportunity to get used to the snow and your equipment. Our experience has shown that it is very good for British participants to be able to board for a while. In addition, you will be trained by an English-speaking snowboard trainer who will go through the snowboard position and snowboarding techniques with you. For two days you will receive a four-hour snowboard training, we will focus on improving your snowboard position and turning rhythm. We will do this by means of a number of snowboard exercises and video analysis in which we will analyse each turn phase and improve it with tips and tricks. We will train on your own skills (freestyle and carving technique) and the two basic turns that have to be demonstrated at the exams in Austria. In this way, you will be well prepared for the course and increase your chances of success for your Anwärter diploma!

Check our agenda when all courses take place.

Online German course

How good should my German be?

All ski instructor training and snowboard instructor training courses are provided by Austrian instructors. In Austria they speak German with a dialect, so basic knowledge of the German language is needed. Luckily you can prepare well for this with Snowsports. The most important thing is that you can understand the language, you can prepare for this by following the German news or watching a German cartoon. Besides listening, you also need to be able to speak, introduce yourself and what ‘small talk’ is enough. You have to stand in front of the group and then give a lesson as an exam assignment. During the theory, you will deal with material from a textbook, so you will also have to read and write down the answers to the exam in German. This will be judged on content, so a grammatical error is not a problem at all.

Snowsports has a Online German course in which we discuss professional terms and the basic knowledge of understanding, speaking, reading and writing in German. Everyone who would like to improve his or her German language skills is advised to follow this language course!

Can I do more than just the Online German course?

A classic German proverb reads “üben macht den Meister. In other words, practice makes perfect. For example, you can follow the German news or watch a German cartoon. Some even choose to watch German series.

How long does the Online German course take?

You can do the Online German Course entirely in your own time. You can plan an hour or two a few days and then you’ll be well on your way!

Equipment

Is it better to buy or rent my equipment?

It is actually an investment you make. If you are going to rent skis or a snowboard for a whole season, it will cost you claws with money. A pair of skis or a snowboard can easily last for two or three seasons. We, therefore, advise you to invest in a good ski or snowboard.

Having your own ski or snowboard boots is a must. Remember that sometimes you have to walk long days on those shoes. Then it’s nice if they fit well. Let your new ski- and snowboard boots be shaped in an oven to your foot. Many people also have a sole in their shoe for an extra good fit.

You can always contact us at contact for personal advice.

Where can I best buy my equipment?

For ski boots, it is best to visit a boat fitting expert. At Ski Equipment UK you can find boot fitting experts and all your other equipment!

During the course

Locations

Ski instructor course | Kitzbüheler Alpen | December

The ski instructor course in December takes place in the Kitzbühel Alps, this ski region is located right in the east of Tyrol. We are staying at hotel Fischer, this hotel is located in the picturesque village of Sankt Johann in Tyrol. The training starts at the beginning of December, it’s still nice and quiet on the slopes and you don’t have to wait long at the lift. Most of the participants always take part in this course, because it is directly linked to the Christmas holidays. After obtaining your Anwärter diploma, you will go straight to your new ski school to start a great adventure!

Take a look at our agenda when exactly this course takes place.

Snowboard instructor course | Fieberbrunn | December

The snowboard instructor training in December takes place in Fieberbrunn, this ski area has been part of the popular ski area of Saalbach – Hinterglemm – Leogang since 2016 and is known for its freeride possibilities. You will stay in the luxurious hotel Alpine Resort located directly on the slopes. The training starts at the beginning of December, it’s still quiet then and you don’t have to wait for the lift and have all the space you need on the slopes to train. Many participants always take part in this course, as it is directly linked to the high season. After obtaining your Anwärter diploma you will go straight to your new snowboard school to start a great adventure.

Check our agenda to see exactly when this course takes place.

Ski + Snowboard instructor | Hintertuxer Glacier | Summer

The ski and snowboard instructor course in summer takes place on the Hintertux glacier at 3250 metres. This is the only glacier in the world that remains accessible to fanatical winter sports enthusiasts all year round. During this time of the year, there are mainly competition skiers and a few ‘lost’ tourists. So you don’t have to wait long at the lifts and you have plenty of space on the piste to train on the practice parts. On the glacier, the weather conditions can be very variable, even on one day you can experience sun, snow, rain, wind and lightning. Even though the training takes place in summer, you should take your entire winter sports equipment with you and think extra carefully about sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy, the UV rays still come through. In summer skiing or snowboarding is a unique experience and you’re sure to keep up with it for the rest of your life!

Check our agenda when exactly these courses take place.

Course programme

What does the course programme look like?

Every day you will be the first to go on the piste for practical training. You then practice the basic techniques and improve your own skills. Of course, you will also learn how to teach skiing lessons to beginners and slightly advanced skiers or snowboarders. After skiing or snowboarding, you will have theory, here you will learn even more about teaching, methodology, didactics and movement theory. After theory is dinner and in the evening you can still study the theory and practice. You can do this independently or together in the study room, in your bedroom or in the bar. Throughout the course, there will be guidance available to cover the practice and theory in English as well. In preparation for the theory exam, there is a trial exam. And for the practical exams, we give a number of important tips. This way you will be well prepared for the exams!

Keep in mind that a may vary depending on the time of year, the location and of course the weather plays an important role.

Will the theory exams be conducted in German?

Yes, the whole course is in German. This means that the theory exams are also in German. They don’t pay that much attention to your grammar when they check it. What matters most is that you know and understand everything. If you don’t know the answer in German, you can sometimes also write it down in English. As long as your Ausbilder (Instructor) understands what you are writing down.

Do we get tips and tricks to make it as fun/learning as possible for children and adults?

During the programme, you will do a lot of exercises that you will be able to do with your lesson groups in the near future. You will also do a day of ‘Kinderunterricht’. You will do all sorts of exercises and games for children. If you would like to know more exercises, you should enrol for the 20-day course. Included is the Kids Expert training. If you have a good understanding of movement and technique, you could also start thinking up your own exercises for your own lessons.

Working in Austria

How do I register for work at the ski school?

Snowsports Instructor helps you find work at the ski school! For skiers, we even have a job guarantee and for snowboarders, we offer job mediation, because there is less work for snowboarders. We have the following important conditions for a job guarantee and job mediation!

1) Diploma
You must apply for an Anwärter programme and complete the programme positively.
2) Availability
You need to be available at least in high season (Christmas and/or crocus) or for the whole season (mid-December to mid-March).
3) C.V. + motivation letter in German
You must submit a CV with a passport photo and German motivation letter at the latest one month before the start of the high season.
4) Language
You must have a good command of the German language. The ski school boss often wants to talk to you on the phone beforehand and has the last word.

Can I also teach only during the holidays?

Holiday periods are always the busiest at the ski schools. Ski schools, therefore, need extra people during this period. If you are only able to work in Austria during the holiday periods, then that’s a good thing for the ski schools!

How much do I earn at the ski school?

An important question, of course! In addition to your level of education, the salary of a starting ski instructor or snowboard instructor depends on a number of other factors that may differ from one ski school and ski area to another. First of all, your hourly wage is important. As a 1st-year Anwärter ski or snowboard instructor, you earn €10 per hour with a 24-hour working week €960 net per month. If you obtain your Landes diploma, you will earn approximately €12.50 per hour.

Secondly, the number of hours worked in the month is important. In high season you work 6 days a week, 4-6 hours a day, 4 hours a day group lessons and you can often still give private lessons for 1-2 hours a day. In low season you will most likely work fewer days or fewer hours per week. In addition to these two points, your accommodation costs also play an important role in what you have leftover in the month. In addition, you can also find out whether there are ski instructor prices in the ski area for lunch and whether there is ski instructor beer in the après-ski.

And what you should not forget, of course, is the unforgettable (and therefore priceless) experience you get in return!

What can I expect from the accommodation at the ski school?

The ski school provides accommodation for a fee. You often share the house or the ski instructor’s house with a number of colleagues. If you come to work at a large ski school, up to 50 ski instructors can live in an apartment complex. If you work at a smaller ski school, you will be given accommodation with a number of colleagues in a Gasthaus. In both cases you will share common areas such as a living room, kitchen and bathroom. You can compare this to a student residence. But then you are in a cosy winter sports village between the mountains!

In some cases there are also possibilities to get a single room. You need to indicate this with your application.

What does a working week at the ski school look like?

A working week at the ski school starts on Sunday and lasts until Friday. For group lessons, you work 2 x 2 hours a day, from 10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 15:00 for example. Before the group lessons start you should already be present to help build up the children’s land, participate in a ski or snowboard instructor training, shovel snow after fresh snow has fallen or with other chores. As an Anwärter teacher, you can also give private lessons before or after the group lessons and earn extra money. At the end of each working day, it is important to sign off the hours actually worked and have them signed off!

Each ski school has its own working hours depending on the season and has its own rules for attendance and work. All this will be explained to you as soon as you arrive at the ski school.

What does a season at the ski school look like?

The weather and location play an important role for the duration of a ski school’s winter season. A ski area up to 2000 metres has a considerably shorter season than a glacier area that goes over 3000 metres.

By far the majority of ski schools and ski areas are located near mountains that go up to an altitude of 2000 – 2500 metres, here the season is from mid-December to mid-March and thus lasts three months. A ski school season at a glacier area can start as early as the autumn holiday in October and continues through to the May holiday, i.e. it lasts six months.

A season at the ski school consists of several seasons:
Pre-season or low season: all weeks before the Christmas holidays
High season: Christmas holiday, crocus holiday (is often the whole month of February), Whitsun holidays
Mid or low season: all weeks between Christmas and crocus
Low season or low season: all weeks after the crocus (except Whitsun)

In the high season, there is almost guaranteed work for ski instructors. In the other season, you have to take into account that there is not always a lot of work.

What can I expect from ski lessons?

Of course, giving ski lessons is super fun! You can pass on your passion to others and you will work in a beautiful environment for a whole season. In the beginning, it is of course still a bit exciting and you have to get used to it, of course, it is all-new, even though you have been on winter sports many times yourself. But once you have taught a number of guests how to ski, the appreciation you get in return is priceless!

You can give different kinds of skiing lessons, or get them from the ski school. You can choose where you prefer to go to. The ski school divides groups in different ways, first by age categories, so you can teach small children in the children’s area, older children or adults.

The level is also an important classification, as an Anwärter ski instructor you will mainly teach beginners and slightly advanced skiers. Beginners have never really been on skis before and slightly advanced skiers have already done so, so they don’t have to repeat all the first steps. In order to teach advanced and advanced skiers, you will need to obtain your Landes diploma.

In addition, there are two types of ski lessons within the ski school. In the beginning, you will only be assigned to group lessons, if it turns out that you are doing well, you can also be assigned private lessons. With private lessons, you should already have some experience in ski lessons.

A number of basic principles apply when giving ski lessons. For example, you need to have a lot of patience and give people time to get used to the materials and skiing techniques. You don’t learn skiing in one day and it takes a lot of practice. You will also have to give a fun, instructive and varied ski lesson that applies to everyone. Of course, you will learn all this during a 10-day or 20-day course! Do you already feel like it?

Do I get a ski pass from the ski school?

When you obtain your Anwärter diploma you are officially a ski or snowboard instructor. With this diploma, the ski school can register you with one of the Austrian ski instructor associations. As soon as this is done, you will receive a ski pass from the ski school! You will receive all or part of this ski pass. This varies per ski school and depends on how long you will be working at a ski school. As soon as you have signed up for a training course and you know where and for how long you want to work, we can tell you exactly.

Will I get a ski instructor’s suit from the ski school?

When you obtain your Anwärter diploma you are officially a ski or snowboard instructor. With this diploma the ski school can register you with one of the Austrian ski instructor associations. As soon as this is done, you will receive a ski instructor’s suit from the ski school! For a ski instructor suit you have to pay a deposit, which you will get back after the season or after your last working day. This may all sound very official and like a lot of rules and regulations, but this is how it is laid down by law in Austria. You can only teach in a ski instructor’s suit with the name of the ski school on it. Wearing a ski instructor’s suit is something you do with pride!

Can I work all winter?

When you agree with your ski school that you want to work for an entire season, you enter into an agreement. They have to make sure that you have a job. In the low seasons, this may be less than in the high seasons. In this extra free time, you could meet up with friends and family or recover from the busy weeks. If you just want to work, you can see if you can work for a travel organisation as a guide. Some people are looking for a side job in the hospitality industry.

Can I choose whether I teach adults or children?

In principle, your ski school decides whether you teach children or adults. Of course, you can always indicate your preference. If everyone indicates that they would like to teach children, it is possible that you will teach adults after all. This is often still exchanged.

How long does a whole season last?

The season is always over faster than you think, unfortunately. Usually the season starts at the beginning of December with the last preparations and really goes off from the Christmas holidays. The last months/weeks are always the most fun. Then there is time to go on the slopes yourself and do fun things with your colleagues. April is often the last month with all kinds of parties to ‘celebrate’ the end of the season.

What does a job guarantee mean for ski instructors?

In recent years we have built up an extensive network at ski schools in Austria. This enables us to offer a job guarantee for ski instructors. There are a number of important conditions for this:

1) Diploma
You have to apply for a ski instructor course and obtain your Anwärter diploma.
2) Availability
You must be available at least in the high season (Christmas and/or Krokus) or for the whole season (mid-December to mid-March).
3) C.V. + motivation letter in German
You must submit a CV and motivation letter in German with a passport photo at the latest one month before the start of the high season.
4) Language
You must have a good command of the German language. The ski school boss often wants to talk to you on the phone beforehand and has the last word.

Does the job guarantee apply to both large and small ski schools?

Yes, if you would like to work at a small ski school we will take care of that. All ski schools are first-come first-served, so make sure you indicate in time which ski school you would like to attend or contact a ski school.

What does job placement mean for snowboard instructors?

In recent years we have built up an extensive network at ski schools in Austria. However, the demand for snowboard instructors is lower than for ski instructors, which is why we offer job mediation for snowboard instructors. There are always a number of vacancies for snowboard instructors, but this is much more limited. So try to contact several ski schools or snowboard schools yourself! And if you can also ski, you can also follow a dual instructor course. This considerably increases your chances of getting a job! However, we do have a number of important conditions for job placement:

Can I teach at a ski school and combine travel?

Yes, ski schools are often very busy during the holiday periods, but outside it is always a bit quieter. These quiet periods you could work for travel agencies such as Husky. Put this in your email with CV and motivation letter and we will get to work!

Can I teach in other countries with my Anwärter?

The Austrian ‘Anwärter’ is recognised worldwide as one of the best training courses. With your Anwärter diploma, you can start working as a ski teacher anywhere in the world.

Can I change ski schools during the season?

Switching to another ski school hardly happens during a season. We see that new ski instructors almost always have a super click at their ski school. That is why they often want to stay there. It is also difficult for ski schools. They buy a lift pass for you, which they can throw away if you suddenly go to another ski school.

Unfortunately, it can happen very often that you and the ski school don’t get along. In that case, try to talk to your ski school first. If you cannot find a solution, you can always contact us. Then we will look for a suitable solution together!

Can I be placed at a ski school with a few friends?

Often this is possible. Include in your email with CV and motivation letter who you would like to be placed with at a ski school. Then we will get to work on it.

I already have a ski school where I can go to work, is this a problem?

This is very good. Our job guarantee and job mediation are entirely without obligation. Have you already found a ski school, but are you also registered for the job guarantee or job mediation, then you can send us a message with the good news so that we do not place you with another ski school a second time!

After graduation, can I wait a year before I start teaching?

Yes, that is possible. In principle, your Anwärter diploma is always valid, as long as you teach at a ski school at least once every three years.

If you still have questions, take a look at the frequently asked questions or feel free to ask us a question. Click on dates and prices below to register for a free online webinar or to enrol a course.