Cheers for that interesting, thoughtful discussion. I did seven years chasing winters from Down Under as an instructor, and everything you said hit home. Teaching skiing gave me a new language, a constant technical challenge, lifelong friends, stupidly good snow and fun, an insight into business through private clients from every industry you can imagine. And my wife. Plus lots of skills that you don't even realize you are getting--like making something out of nothing when it's pissing rain and you've got 15 beginners lined up on ice, or winning over a customer who has had a bad experience with someone else and is getting a freebie after complaining to the ski school boss. I found that the instructors who did best were the ones who genuinely enjoyed teaching, and who always wanted to get better at teaching and skiing. Sounds kind of obvious, but I met plenty of guys who hated their students. They never lasted. One thing you didn't mention was money. If you play your cards right (and don't drink everything you earn) it can be a real job with a real income. Once I had the repeat clientele hooked up, I was always astonished to head back home with 15 or 20 grand in my pocket after a season skiing champagne pow in North America. Wait, you mean I got paid to do that? Actually I do have one complaint about your conversation--you seriously misrepresented what it's like to ski and teach in Japan. I came over for a random season after having visa problems elsewhere, and it seems I forgot to leave. Still here 20 years later...
I really like to listen to this interview and the one with the snow plow operator. I live in a ski resort but always work outside the industry. I must say i do love to teach. I was keen to do the certificate level one and only said so to my wife two days before i saw your video. I definitely found a great passion for skiing many years ago. Thanks for your work Tom.
Expat living in Denmark, cultural insight here: it's funny how biased this interview is with respect to Denmark being one of the most "ski-distant" in Europe, with nexto to no mountain culture. For example: "we experience people that want to leave their home country and ski" - well, yeah, because the nearest place to ski is about 12h drive away, haha. :)
As a Bilingual Japanese-English speaker and a Japanese language tutor for a couple years. This just might be a right up my alley
Cheers for that interesting, thoughtful discussion. I did seven years chasing winters from Down Under as an instructor, and everything you said hit home. Teaching skiing gave me a new language, a constant technical challenge, lifelong friends, stupidly good snow and fun, an insight into business through private clients from every industry you can imagine. And my wife. Plus lots of skills that you don't even realize you are getting--like making something out of nothing when it's pissing rain and you've got 15 beginners lined up on ice, or winning over a customer who has had a bad experience with someone else and is getting a freebie after complaining to the ski school boss. I found that the instructors who did best were the ones who genuinely enjoyed teaching, and who always wanted to get better at teaching and skiing. Sounds kind of obvious, but I met plenty of guys who hated their students. They never lasted. One thing you didn't mention was money. If you play your cards right (and don't drink everything you earn) it can be a real job with a real income. Once I had the repeat clientele hooked up, I was always astonished to head back home with 15 or 20 grand in my pocket after a season skiing champagne pow in North America. Wait, you mean I got paid to do that?
Actually I do have one complaint about your conversation--you seriously misrepresented what it's like to ski and teach in Japan. I came over for a random season after having visa problems elsewhere, and it seems I forgot to leave. Still here 20 years later...
glad you replied
I really like to listen to this interview and the one with the snow plow operator. I live in a ski resort but always work outside the industry. I must say i do love to teach. I was keen to do the certificate level one and only said so to my wife two days before i saw your video. I definitely found a great passion for skiing many years ago. Thanks for your work Tom.
you’re welcome
Expat living in Denmark, cultural insight here: it's funny how biased this interview is with respect to Denmark being one of the most "ski-distant" in Europe, with nexto to no mountain culture.
For example: "we experience people that want to leave their home country and ski" - well, yeah, because the nearest place to ski is about 12h drive away, haha. :)