SNOW SCHOOL TRAINING

Preseason Training (Paid)

  • It is all of the training you need to do before you start your first day of work. This included some online training, indoor sessions and on snow training sessions with the pod you will be working in. All of this will need to be completed before your first day of work.

  • Your preseason training includes the online training, and indoor session and an on-snow training session.

Ongoing Training (Paid)

  • This is our own internal training that can help you level up your teaching skills. Some of these you need to be recommended by your supervisor and/ or be a returning staff to be able to attend depending on the session.

Elective Training (Unpaid)

  • Elective training is voluntary sessions you can attend to learn something new, practice your skills for your next certificate, and try out new terrain depending on what you're interested in. We have many different kinds for sessions including morning session, women only sessions, level 2, 3, 4 practice sessions, steeps, and park to name a few.

Preseason Paid Training New and Return Staff

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Preseason Paid Training New and Return Staff 〰️

All New Staff Preseason Mandatory Training

If you are new to Whistler Blackcomb you will need to complete the following training sessions in order to start work. Sign up here: TBD. You will need to create a new login using the email address that we have on file for you. 

NB WBSSU instructors will be assigned training sessions - please look out for an email from WB Snow School. 

See the list below for all the training you’ll need to complete before your first day of work. Click the drop down menus for further descriptions of each

  • Online training will be send to you automatically.... 

    How to access The Lift - Online Training 

    NB You will be automatically assigned "Wage & Hour" and "My Schedule - Powered by Legion" - you are NOT required to complete these unless you also have a job in an additional department. 

    Visa information task – if you are an international hire who has not entered Canada yet, please upload a copy of your letter of entry and the approximate anticipated end date of your visa. This usually depends on your home country and the end date of your insurance. 

    Background Check Task – this is mandatory to complete if assigned to you. 

    • For international employees who do not have SIN and need to authorize a background check, leave the social security number box blank. 

    • Then, if your country has an equivalent of the social insurance number, you can put this in the National ID box. 

    • If you do not have an equivalent, please put the your passport number in the National ID box. 

  • Presented by Employee Experience; this approximately 2.5 hour walking tour and trade show. You will pass key areas in Whistler Village, learn about Whistler and our company as a whole including company policies and our core values then have an opportunity to chat with different departments at new staff Trade Show. 

  • This is a 2 hour indoor training session to learn how the Whistler Blackcomb Snow School Works. The "nuts and bolts" of safety, guest service, snow school policies, procedures and structure.

  • Full day 6 hour on hill session for new staff to learn about the daily operations, policies, and expectations specific to their home pod. This session meets at 8am at your home pod location which is noted when you make your selections and in your confirmation email. Please wear your uniform and be ready to ski or ride. 

  • Full day 6 hour on hill session for new staff to learn more about teaching tactics you can use at WB. This session meets 8am at your home pod location. Please wear your uniform and be ready to ski/ride. 

Return Staff Preseason Mandatory Training

Welcome back! see the list below to see what training you need to complete at the start of the season

Click the drop-down menus for further descriptions of each session

  • Online training will be send to you automatically.... 

    How to access The Lift - Online Training 

    NB You will be automatically assigned "Wage & Hour" and "My Schedule - Powered by Legion" - you are NOT required to complete these unless you also have a job in an additional department. 

    Visa information task – if you are an international hire who has not entered Canada yet, please upload a copy of your letter of entry and the approximate anticipated end date of your visa. This usually depends on your home country and the end date of your insurance. 

    Background Check Task – this is mandatory to complete if assigned to you. 

    • For international employees who do not have SIN and need to authorize a background check, leave the social security number box blank. 

    • Then, if your country has an equivalent of the social insurance number, you can put this in the National ID box. 

    • If you do not have an equivalent, please put the your passport number in the National ID box. 

  • 2hr indoor session.

    This session is focused on what’s new this year at Snow School in relation to Safety, Guest Service, Snow School policies and structure. Sign up for this will be through instructor.snow.com

  • This usually an on-hill session with your pod supervisor where you will review any changes to your area, safety procedures, teaching expectations and any pertinent information for your operations. Sign up for this will be through your supervisor or on instructor.snow.com

Ongoing Paid Training

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Ongoing Paid Training 〰️

Steeps Internal Designations

  • Item description

  • Steeps 1 is a training course that will allow instructors to teach higher level students in specific double black terrain as per the snow school run list progression. 
     
    Please watch this 10 min video before attending the on snow portion of the course. It covers in detail the decision making process , class management principles and the skiing standard. It is recommended that you take an intro to steeps training session before taking part in the steeps 1 certification.

  • A progression from Steeps 1, some teaching experience and terrain knowledge is needed to take the steeps 2 course. Typically this takes at least one season of teaching regularly in this type of terrain.Taking the advanced steeps session is recommended to practice Steeps skiing skills before taking this course.

  • Item description

Park Safety Internal Designations

  • Attending our Elective (unpaid) park sessions will help you prepare for your snow park safety sign offs. Please join us to discover the fun and freedom of freestyle and develop your skills.

    All staff that are going into a terrain park while in uniform (with or without a class) need to be signed off by a snow park trainer. 

    Sign offs can be obtained by attending a Park Safety session (paid) or by holding an equivalent certification to a Snow Park Safety level. 

    Please consult the SS Safety Manual for details on equivalency and areas that can be accessed with Snow Park Safety designations. 

    Accessing a terrain park should always be with a group who intends to use the park features - we do NOT allow strictly riding through the park for fresh snow. Pre-Riding to inspect features is expected before hitting the features.

    Upon being signed off, each staff member will have an 'internal designation' attached to their Proconnect profile and needs to obtain their orange sticker or green sticker from their trainer, supervisor, or the training department. 

    These snow park safety sessions are paid 5 hours from 9:30-2:30 pm. Please review the expectations of our internal Snow Park Safety 1 and 2 sessions below.

  • What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.

  • What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.

Tree Well Safety Training

  • Some of the best quality and deepest snow on the mountain can be found in the trees. The trees also provide an added challenge for advanced and expert skier creating an excellent opportunity for skill development.Skiing in the forest also brings an adventure component to the sport and these runs can feel like a little excursion in nature. 
     
    This training is designed for instructors who often teach in this type of environment.In this session you will learn to identify and recognize the hazards ( terrain, tree wells, types of tree runs.).You will also learn tree skiing skills, class management skills and some basic emergency skills. By the end of this training you should be able to ski and manage your group with confidence in the trees.

  • Before going on to the on Snow portion of the training please read the Tree Skiing Session Outline and view this short Tree skiing safety video  Short Video: The importance of a partner in the trees 

Elective Training (Unpaid)

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Elective Training (Unpaid) 〰️

At WB we are very proud of the amount and quality of our elective training program. From AM session before you start work, to Full Day sessions that run 6 days of the week, we try to provide a very comprehensive training program. 

To attend any training session you must sign up beforehand and read the accompanying details for each clinic. (See the tab "Training Clinic Sign Up") 

Please note that all sessions listed on this page are considered Elective and Unpaid Sessions. These are voluntary and not part of your work expectations. If injury occurs on one of these sessions, you will not be eligible for Workers' Compensation. 

You do however have limited coverage through either your short term disability plan (if applicable) or an insurance plan called CHUBB. If you do become injured on an elective session, please seek first aid and report it to your supervisor so that they can help connect you with one of these options. For those without short term disability, you will be charged a one time $30 fee near the start of the season to take part in CHUBB (this is not optional - and very worth it if you are indeed injured). Details of this program can be forwarded to you by your supervisor. 

At the beginning of the season, you will be asked to sign a Training Waiver as part of your assigned online training. It is mandatory that this waiver is signed before you participate in any training. 

Morning Sessions

Everyday starting from: TBD

Morning session is one of the greatest privileges for instructors. It is a great way to experience the conditions in order to plan your day and improve your teaching/skiing/riding skills. In order to make sure that we keep this privilege, please stay with your session leader and be on time. Sessions start at 7:40 at each base. If you are late, you will not be permitted to load. 

  • Blackcomb - meet at the Gondola at Blackcomb Base 

  • Whistler - meet on the patio across from the Whistler Village Gondola. We will load after First Tracks guests have loaded. 

  • Creekside - meet on the WKids patio closest to the Creekside Gondola 

Blackcomb/Creekside Bases special notes: 

  • You must be in uniform to participate in session on Blackcomb and Creekside 

  • On any days were we have 15 cm or more of overnight snow (as per the 6am snow report), session will wait and load with public. The rule does not exist on Whistler because Fresh Tracks allows for earlier clearance by Patrol. 

Please Note: There are days that due to heavy snow and operational delays that session may be cancelled or delayed. We will try to communicate these through our Facebook page and Whatsapp channels. 

If you are found not following any of the following AM session policies, your opportunity to participate in training will be suspended. 

  • Do not load without a session leader 

  • Stay with a session leader until you are released 

  • Warm up before you slide 

  • Your First run is to be at 60% of your speed and challenge level on groomed /on piste terrain. 

  • Adhere to the designated routes outlined by your session leader 

  • Give each other space to avoid collisions 

  • Do not pass the session leader unless instructed to do otherwise. 

Morning Session Policies 

AM Sessions 
All sessions will be led by a designated leader who will call for clearance at the top before sliding. 
Whistler: 905-2333. You can use the Mountain Host hut at the top to call using just 2333. 
Blackcomb: Use a cell phone and call 604-905-2323. 
These numbers are connected to Alpine Office on each hill and will give you clearance to proceed with session. 
 
All staff must load with a session leader. 
Stragglers will not be allowed to load after session has left the base. 
Anyone skiing/riding without a session leader will be suspended from AM session for the remainder of the season. 
Staff are required to sign up in advance for AM session using Proconnect. 
 
CSIA/CASI/PSIC Session leaders will be allowed to load with AM session. They will be part of the WB snow school sessions, wait for clearance and abide by the same rules as WB SS Sessions. 
 
SAFETY FIRST - All Participants are required to do a physical warm up before sliding and are to ski/ride at 60% of their normal speed and challenge level on at to allow the body and brain to warm up. 
 
*Note that there may some blackout days over holidays or busy periods. These will be communicated by management and will be unavailable for sign up in Proconnect. 
 
Blackcomb Mountain: 
7:45 AM upload from the bottom of the Blackcomb Gondola 
Uniforms mandatory for all participants. 
15 cm rule: On days where the 6:00 am Snow Report has recorded 15 cm or more of new snow, Session will have to wait and load with public. 
Terrain Availability: 
Session will be restricted to the following runs until public has loaded: 
Wishbone, Zig Zag 
Wishbone, Cougar Milk, Buzz Cut to Zig Zag 
Easy Out to Big Easy or Countdown. Upload Catskinner Chair or use Slingshot if groomed. (If Slingshot is sketchy and there is a need to go to the base, travel across to Zig Zag to avoid skiing under lifts. 
Raptor’s Ride - not for 1st run to allow for a proper warm up first 
 
Whistler Mountain: 
7:45 AM upload from the Whistler Village Gondola (we will use the WKids entrance door) unless otherwise instructed by validating staff. 
If First Tracks is running, uniforms will not be required. (Early season before this program is running, instructors will need to be in uniform) 
All staff to load with session leaders and be identified to scanners as being part of morning session. 
Terrain Availability: 
Session leaders will not be permitted to ski under lift lines and will remain on ‘on piste’ runs for the first lap. (on powder days, this means that the run has been groomed underneath for an even surface) 
(avoid Roundhouse Roll, Raven, Seppo’s). 
After the first run there are no terrain restrictions as Session will be skiing with First Tracks guests. 
 
Creekside: 
7:45 AM upload on Mondays and Wednesdays 
Uniforms mandatory for all participants 
Staff to be scanned using the Kids snow school entrance 
Call Alpine Office for clearance at the top of the Creekside gondola. If Big Red has been cleared for First Tracks, then session will be able to use that lift, otherwise will proceed to the creekside base using it’s designated route. 
 
15 cm rule: On days where the 6:00 am Snow Report has recorded 15 cm or more of new snow, Session will have to wait and load with public. 
Terrain Availability: 
Same as listed for Whistler Mountain. 
Designated route from top of Creekside gondola down = Crossroads to Lower Dave Murray 
Session leaders will always remain in bounds, and not permitted in Marginal, Closed or Permanently Closed areas. 

Full Day Sessions

We offer many different types of full day skiing or riding sessions to help you develop toward your goals. 

To find out what is being offered, you can consult Proconnect (Training Clinic Sign up) or view our Training Calendars. 

  • For a description of ski based sessions click here. 

Our Full Day Skiing & Riding sessions start at different times and on different mountains. Please sign up for each session and read the clinic notes carefully. 
 
Please adhere to the following guidelines. Failing to do so will jeopardize your ability to participate in future sessions. 

  • 1 Full day session per person per week. That means between Sunday and Saturday of a given week, you only sign up and attend 1 full day session. With a staff of close to 1500 people, this allows for a more equal opportunity for everyone to participate. 

  • If you are a Part Time employee, please do not exceed 12 full day elective training sessions in a given season. 

  • If you are a Casual employee or from another Vail Resort, please wait to sign up until 24 hours before the clinic start time and do not exceed the amount of work days you have completed in that season (to a max. of 12 full day elective sessions) 

  • Wearing your uniform on session is discouraged, but allowed if you are called off work and join up with a session. 

  • If you are going to be late, please call the scheduling team and they will try to forward the message on. It is likely that the session will start and leave without you so please leave LOTS of time to get to your location and be EARLY. 

  • If you are not going to be able to attend a session, please REMOVE yourself from the session with 24+ hours notice so that others may take your place. 

Indoor Sessions

On slope training is not all we do! 

Come join us for free fitness sessions and indoor teaching-based clinics. 

The free fitness classes included yoga, myofascial stretch and range of motion classes.

Please sign up in RPOS to attend a session. 

Monday: Yoga with Panda

Tuesday: Myofascial Stretching

Wednesday: Assessment and Development sessions at Blackcomb Kids from 4:15 - 5:15 pm. 

Sunday: Yoga with Bob

(A+D will not run during training black out times like Xmas and Easter)