Skiing and snowboarding in Zermatt is on a vast scale… 29 peaks over 4000m. Zermatt town lies at 1500 metres but all three of the well connected ski areas soar to at least 3100m (10,200ft!). The Gravity Park is 400m long with progressive rails, boxes and kickers. With excellent snow conditions and some of the longest runs in Switzerland, Zermatt is and ideal place to spend 10 weeks to become qualified as a BASI ski or snowboard instructor.
The town is a mix of modern bars and traditional hotels. The Hennu Stall offers some of the best on mountain après ski in the Alps with live bands rocking late into the evening. Later on you can make use of Zermatt’s vibrant night-life. This ranges from traditional Swiss restaurants to buzzing bars and clubs to the compulsory curry house. Schneewichen is defiantly worth a late night visit too. McDonald’s has managed to squeeze in there, but if that’s not your bag, you’ll find restaurants ranging from sushi to fondue!
Having successfully partnered with leading British Snowsports School, European Snowsport and ES-RIDE in Verbier for the last 5 years, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership in Zermatt, delivered by BASI ISIA and ISTD coaches. All the coaches have vast amounts of experience within the BASI system – our extremely high pass rates reflect the excellent standard of coaching that you’ll receive.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect but my ten weeks in Zermatt have more than exceeded my expectations; a combination of excellent snow, skiing and people have made it an amazing three months. The training though tough was very enjoyable mainly due to our trainer who never failed to impress with his first class skiing and quick wit. Having completed the course I am finishing the season working here for the Swiss Ski and Snowboard School, I hope to come back and work again in the future!” Georgie Zermatt 2010
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
We stay in an awesome little hotel, The Rhodania, which is in the centre of the town, within walking distance to all the lifts and shops. All the comfortable rooms are twin and en-suite and there’s WIFI available in the hotel or an internet point for use by guests.There’s storage for your ski, boards and boots downstairs as well as a ski/board waxing area.
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Breakfast and dinner are catered for by an awesome chef, who as well as knowing the importance of a square meal, is also a fountain of knowledge about the area and surrounding mountains. The food is a mixture of local Swiss fare and other European cuisine including the famous Raclette night – will you be up to the challenge?!
The Rhodania is also linked to the famous North Wall Bar, where skiers and climbers, locals, seasonaires and tourists all come to share their day’s stories. Proudly selling the cheapest beer in Zermatt and constantly showing ski and snowboard movies, it’s the perfect place to have next door!
THE RESORT
Zermatt is on a vast scale. On the way up the mountains, you are surrounded by fantastic scenery - 29 peaks over 4000m. All three of Zermatt's ski areas soar to at least 3100m (10,200ft). This translates into excellent snow conditions and long runs to the village (8 to 13km). Zermatt is the largest Summer ski resort of the alps with skiing & riding available every day of the year. On top of that you have the option to ski over to Italy, go for a pizza for lunch and ski / ride back in a day. The resort also has various areas that are superb for free riding. You can take the t-bar and gondola to 3500m to the Stockhorn-peak. Zermatt also offers two different parks and a Half pipe, with a progression from beginner features to massive pro-size kickers and rails.
The longest run is from the Klein Matterhorn into town. At 3820m, the Klein Matterhorn lift is one of the highest cable car in the world. Currently there are two snow parks and two half pipes - one at Blauherd, the other between Trockener Steg and Furgg.
Zermatt offers an endless variety of activities for weekends. Some highlight are sledging, curling, ice-skating, concerts and spas. As evening activities go, Zermatt has plenty of bars and an endless number of restaurants that serve food ranging from traditional Swiss meals up to crocodile steaks with a pint of Guinness! Zermatt is absolutely car-free which means that only electric cars and horse sledges cruise around the town. Peaks trainees favourite bars are the Puberlapub and the Schneewitchen. They attract young locals and tourists and have special events every night of the week. As well as these there are numerous other bars and venues that offer all kinds of music and prices.
Many mountain restaurants have picture post card views of the Matterhorn's North and East faces and are authentic old chalets. They are cosy with fantastic mountain food and that unique Swiss atmosphere - the sounds of yodeling and Alpenhorn are distinct possibilities. In Zermatt après is plentiful. There are bars, restaurants and night-spots to suit every taste and pocket. Truly cosmopolitan, Zermatt has an easy, relaxed atmosphere.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Our partner snowsport school, European Snowsport will employ a number of instructors part time after our instructor course. You'll have to pass an interview with the Ski School Director and have your BASI Level 2 qualification. It's an awesome opportunity to start working as an instructor immediately.
Work in one of the oldest ski schools in the world! The official ski school Zermatt was founded in 1929 and has a long and proud history of teaching excellence. Until recently the clientele was made up by the rich and famous from Europe America. More recently Zermatt has shaken off its exclusive image and has appealed to a wider rage of skiers and snowboarders wanting instruction on some of the best slopes in the Alps. The Snowsports school is housed in a magnificent timbered building in the centre of Zermatt.
We have had clients love Zermatt so much that they stayed on over summer to work in a hotel and started working in the ski/board as instructors in the winter. Others have gone on to get jobs in New Zealand, Andorra and on dry/indoor-slopes in the UK.
The C.V...
To enhance your CV for future employment, Peak Leaders have devised a course structure which includes a wide range of complementary qualifications and skills. Having completed your Peak Leaders' course, a well presented CV listing qualifications you have gained, with good references, is key to gaining a job.
YOUR PORTFOLIO...
Understanding customer service and developing your people skills are modules taught on a Peak Leaders' course. As with most jobs, being an instructor often involves starting at the bottom of the ladder in a snowsports' school. Although the money is limited at the beginning, you will be working in the most fabulous outdoor office in the world doing something you love with like minded people. You should also, in a good snowsports' school, expect to receive personal development training, qualifications and job / income prospects. Once you have built up a portfolio of skills and a reputation with clients who want you as their instructor, your salary will increase.
JOB SEARCH...
Peak Leaders commitment to helping trainees does not end with the completion of your course. We will give you information and advice to help secure the job you want
FORMER TRAINEES...
From the Andes to the Southern Alps to the Rocky Mountains, wherever you qualify with Peak Leaders, remember, you may be head hunted for jobs the following season. Destination resort managers look out for good Peak Leaders'trainees who finish the course well qualified, with good CVs and references. In 2005 there were 12 former Peak Leaders' trainees employed at Sunshine Village alone as instructors, with others working elsewhere in Canada, Europe, North America and New Zealand.
VISA & WORK PERMIT ADVICE:
Europe - UK citizens do not need a visa to travel or work in Europe. If you do not hold a European passport you should contact the local embassy of the country you want to visit or your foreign office before applying for jobs.
Canada & The U.S.A - You can go to Canada for up to 6 months as a visitor and no visa is necessary as long as you are on a full British passport and do not do paid work. If you get a job, you have to apply either from your country of origin or in Canada itself (which will take up to a month to process). If you do the latter, you will have to leave and re-enter Canada with the new paperwork from outside its borders. Many ski and snowboard schools in Canada and the U.S.A have some jobs which include work permits specifically for their international employees. Alternatively, BUNAC run a Work Canada program which allows those aged between 18 & 30 to work and travel in Canada for up to 6 months. BUNAC will issue you with a "Work Authorisation Certificate". When you arrive in Canada, you take this certificate to Canadian Immigration along with your passport and they will issue you with a stamped visa.
New Zealand - A working holiday visa is a good option for job seekers going to New Zealand. This scheme allows UK and Irish citizens to stay in NZ for up to 12 months and allows you to work to supplement your travel. There are 8,000 visas available to UK citizens and 1,000 for Irish citizens. There are some Working Holiday Visa Conditions, you must:
- Be a British or Irish Citizen residing in the UK or Ireland respectively at the time of applying
- Be aged between 18-30 years
- Not accompanied by children on your visit
- Have a passport valid 3 months beyond your intended departure date from NZ
- Upon arrival, provide evidence of NZ$4,200 in funds
- Upon arrival, provide an outward flight ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase one (approx NZ$2,000)
QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTS
The Zermatt instructor course boasts a highly qualified team of coaches in Zermatt. All your coaches are qualified to the highest level within the BASI system. They are all fully qualified to BASI Level 4 and aside from being awesome skiers and riders, will ensure that everyday with them is memorable and ensure your time in Zermatt is a once in a lifetime experience!
Rowena, the Ski School Manager has been in Zermatt for 8 seasons. She is a powerful and accurate skier who has both BASI ISTD and the Swiss Patent qualifications. She has also competed for Zermatt in Boss des bosses for 5 years and came second in the Zermatt Bumps Competition in 2011. “When not on the slopes I spend my time improving my fairly poor windsurfing skills and trying not to fall off my bike cycling in London!”
Federico is a CSIA and ISIA qualified skier with years of experience in Italian race clubs, teaching experience in Verbier and Zermatt and a background in personal training. Federico is a very natural skier who is as happy in the gates as in the bumps and tackles all terrain aggressively. The Italian’s technical knowledge is second to none and he is able to articulate this knowledge very clearly to others. The ES team benefited from this last year hugely as Federico was the Technical Director of skiing in Zermatt. Federico gained his BASI qualifications with Peak Leaders in Verbier, so understands what it's like to be a trainee!
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AVALANCHE AWARENESS
You will learn to recognise the conditions under which avalanches take place and how to avoid them! You also learn what to do in an emergency situation if an avalanche occurs. This gives the essential knowledge and skills to feel confident with a guide in the backcountry away from marked trails and patrolled areas. This module provides essential training for skiers and riders and covers avalanche theory, snow stability and search and rescue techniques.
BACKCOUNTRY INTRODUCTION
You will be shown how to bring together the skills you have learned on the avalanche awareness course and will be introduced to navigation and route selection with a view to backcountry travel. You will learn about risk assessment, using a beacon, shovel and probe, avalanche dangers, snow conditions and building shelters.
FIRST AID COURSE
The Emergency First Aid course covers: emergency action principles; airway and breathing emergencies; cardiovascular emergencies/strokes; CPR; bleeding management; shock and prevention of disease transmission.
INSTITUTE OF LEADERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AWARD IN LEADERSHIP
Peak Leaders have the amazing opportunity to provide trainees with training and certification through the ILM. It will provide a huge in-site and knowledge into what it takes to be a leader in any profession.
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