Develop your mind. Challenge your body. Ride the Edge of your ability and beome an Apprentice Instructor sharing your passion for snowsports with other kids!
Grades:
Ratio:
Ability:
Sport: | 9-12
1 instructor, about 10 kids
Must be in White or above
Skiers and snowboarders |
| Dates: | SATURDAYS: 12 weeks - Nov 27; Dec 4, 11, 18; Jan 8, 15, 22, 29; Feb 5, 12, 19, 26 [2010-11 Season]
MONDAYS: Clinics from 7-9 pm - Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, 20; Jan 10, 17, 24, 31; Feb 7, 14, 28 [2010-11 Season] |
| Bonus Trips: | Teen Night (December 18)
MLK Day
Spirit Mountain (March 5) |
| Cost: | $429 + weekly trip fees |
Check availability | Register
What is an Apprentice Instructor?
An apprentice instructor is a Blizzard member who is learning to teach skiing and/or snowboarding. This program is offered exclusively to Blizzard members who want to improve their skills and become professional instructors. You must be in 9th grade or above and you must be in color level White or above. Past Blizzard apprentice instructors have gone on to teach at mountain resorts including Vail, Beaver Creek, Purgatory, Snowbasin, Park City, Kitzbuehel (Austria), and Perisher (Australia). Several have even become supervisors and managers at destination ski and snowboard schools. You could, too!
We'll teach you everything you need to pass Blizzard's prestigeous Rainbow Exam, consisting of written, skiing/riding and teaching components (up to color level White). It usually takes 2 - 3 years to become a Rainbow, with one year focused on technical skills and one year focused on teaching skills. This multi-year program begins in early December with dryland (indoor) clinics. On-snow clinics run throughout the season on Monday nights at Hyland Hills. Pass the Rainbow exam and become a paid instructor the following season! You will be paid the same as other Blizzard instructors but will team teach in the Mite/SuperMite program with an adult instructor until you are 18 and out of high school. Then you'll be invited to join Blizzard as a full instructor.
Blizzard also encourages apprentices to become professionally certified. Snowboarders are certified by the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI). Skiers get certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). The first step in the process is Level 1 Certification. Blizzard apprentices are prepared very well for this certification exam because your apprentice training is targeted at Level 2 Certification. (PSIA & AASI have three certification levels.)
Dryland Clinics
Apprentices start in early December with dryland (indoor) clinics. You'll study how people learn, how to teach them, and the terminology and technical knowledge you'll need on the hill. Dryland clinics are held from 7-9p at Hoigaard's in St. Louis Park.
On-snow Clinics
During on-snow clinics, you'll learn to perfect the demonstrations instructors do in class, learn how to teach in front of a group, and learn to move the group safely up and down the hill. On-snow clinics are held from 7-9p at Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area in Bloomington beginning in January. An all-day Sunday clinic is also offered to help apprentice instructors prepare for the Rainbow Exam.
Saturday Trips
Each Saturday, you will be assigned to shadow an instructor during one lesson session. Your role will be to participate in demonstrations, assist with class handling, observe the teaching methods, learn to do movement analysis, and learn to develop lesson plans to help members become better skiers and riders. As you advance (generally your second year), you'll get opportunities to teach portions of classes yourself under the supervision of the instructor. You'll also attend your own lesson to keep improving your skiing or snowboarding skills.
How Does It Work?
Each week you are contacted via email (evite) or phone, whichever you prefer, to make a reservation for the upcoming trip. We'll tell you the trip date, destination, bus times and any special events for the day. You must RSVP by the reservation deadline (typically Thursday at 8pm) if your child wishes to attend. If you attend, you pay the weekly trip fee which covers the lift ticket and round trip transportation. If your child doesn't attend for any reason (sick, birthday party, family conflict) and you cancel by the reservation deadline, there is no charge. If you make a reservation, do not cancel, and do not attend, you will be charged a nominal No-Show Fee. (See
pricing for details.) We always process charges
after the trip so we only charge those who actually attend.
If you want to drive instead of riding the bus, respond accordingly on your evite or contact the office by the reservation deadline. We will have a discounted lift ticket (rates vary by area) waiting for you at the Blizzard Table inside the chalet. We can charge this to your credit card on file, or you can pay by cash/check at the Blizzard Table.
Expert Instruction By Adult Staff
All Blizzard lessons are taught by adults at least 18 years old and out of high school. New instructors attend professional development clinics and team teach for at least a season before teaching their own group. Many instructors have been with Blizzard for five, ten and even twenty years. Put your mind at ease knowing that Blizzard instructors are trained by PSIA/AASI certified clinicians and go through background checks before hitting the slopes with your children.
Gear & Equipment (
more info)
BLIZZARD MEMBERS MUST HAVE THEIR OWN SKI/SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT.
Weekly rentals at local snowsports areas are NOT available. Why?
Lines can be long and significantly impact our quality lesson time
Changing your gear all the time makes it hard to learn
We do not have staff available to assist members in the rental lines
Our staff is not legally able to sign the waiver required for minors to rent gear
Here are four ways to get great gear at great prices:
Purchase a season long rental from Hoigaard's. You'll receive the expert knowledge you expect, a perfect equipment fit for your child and quality equipment you can trust. All for the same price as renting about four times.
Check out a local gear swap, typically held in the fall for discounted, used equipment.
Check out Blizzard's online gear swap for used equipment exclusively from Blizzard members.
Purchase new equipment from Hoigaard's using your Blizzard Member discount.