Welcoming spring
My winter in Whistler hasn’t turned out at all as I expected. It was much, so much better. I got an experience that I couldn’t have dreamed of. I did things I could only dream of and things I feared. Applying for a job as a ski instructor was a…
Facing your fears
Yesterday I was skiing on the mountain with my three year-olds. The morning was icy and I feared that they would all freak out. “Andrea, I’m scared”, I heard after 5 meters. “It’s ok, we’ll take it easy.” And so we did. The morning turned out to be amazing. We went…
Mission accomplished
I haven’t written anything in a while. I’ve been busy, working, skiing, training… Last time I wrote about taking my group of four year-olds up the mountain for the first time and now, two weeks later, it was my three year-olds’ turn. The moment I thought would never happen. It…
The youngest of the mountain
Don’t they look cute? All bundled up? These little Michelin men, with gigantic heads, their faces disappearing behind goggles and neck warmers? All in their orange vests with their names on it. All struggling to hold on to their skis, cradling it awkwardly like a very skinny baby. All dreamy…
A season in numbers
Winter is over. A lot has happened and I’ve got a bunch of good memories to take with me. Here a short overview of my winter in numbers. 202.468 vertical meters on the slopes 76 days worked 5 days of training 1 certificate gained 5…
This is why I love my three year-olds
At the moment I work in a ski field, teaching three to five year-olds how to ski. Every day is an adventure because every kid is different. It’s amazing to see all these little personalities. Here are some general things I love about working with these tiny humans. They will…
The day I became a ski instructor
It has been a beautiful, sunny, exhausting, social, exciting, nerve-wracking, fantastic, physical, meaningful, fun and jam-packed week full of learning experiences. As I walk towards the final meeting in a hotel in Queenstown, I think about just turning around. It’s been a great week, an exam week, but a great…
The heart of a skier
Skiing isn’t just a sport. It’s a lifestyle. I’m a rookie in this world. Studying for my instructor level 1 exam is finding out about all the things I don’t know. Where other people cruise down the mountain, I am thinking about lateral movement, if I’m supposed to feel this…
Could you be a ski bum too?
You’re looking on the internet for ski work, googling ski school after ski school and reading the gazillion blogs you find about working in the snow. And yet, you’re not sure you’re cut out for this or where to begin. A few years ago I was like this, thinking I…
Officially on the mountain!
After being nervous for so long in anticipation of the ski season, my new job and new environment, I have finally started work. My new job as a skiwiland assistant involves teaches kids how to ski in the early childhood center. I got all my ideas about being a kids ski…