SNOW SCHOOL TRAINING

ONGOING TRAINING

Ongoing (Paid) Training

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Ongoing (Paid) Training 〰️

Ongoing Training 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.

Group of skiers ascending a snowy mountain slope with rocky cliffs in the background.

Teaching Steeps Internal Designations

  • At Whistler Blackcomb we have access to a lot of amazing big mountain/freeride terrain. A lot of that terrain comes with varying consequence and requires a specific set of riding skills, class management and decision making. That’s why we created these Teaching Steeps Designations, essentially a “how to teach in steeps” session.

    These designations are not opportunities to learn everything about teaching in steep terrain, but more an assessment on what you know already. Attending our Elective (unpaid) Intro to Steeps and Advanced Steeps sessions will help you prepare for your Teaching Steeps sign offs.

    You can refer to the Safety Manual for details on what terrain you can access with the various programs and designations.

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

    These Teaching Steeps sessions are paid 6 hours from 9.30 and includes some pre-course reading and a quiz. Learn more here.

  • Teaching Steeps 1 is a designation that will allow instructors to teach higher level students in specific terrain as per the snow school run list progression. 

    Please watch the 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 joing our elective Intro to Steeps training sessions on Fridays before taking part in the Teaching Steeps 1 designation.

  • A progression from Steeps 1, some teaching experience and terrain knowledge is needed to take the Teaching Steeps 2 course. Typically this takes at least one season of teaching regularly in this type of terrain.

    Taking the advanced steeps elective sessions on Wedesdays is recommended to practice steeps skiing skills before taking this course.

  • The Teaching Steeps 3 internal designation is the next level up from the Teaching Steeps 2. It is designed for pro’s and programs wanting to access the terrain within the resort that has very high consequence. Read more about the process here.

    You should have experience teaching and riding in TS2 programs and terrain.

Teaching Steeps Information
A person in an orange jacket and helmet skiing in mid-air over snow-covered trees with a mountainous landscape and cloudy sky in the background.

Park Safety Internal Designations

  • 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 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 6 hours from 9:30-3:30 pm.

    This year we have changed the program to be one day where the Trainer will go through the Orange sticker and Green sticker and you will only be given the one you have been signed off for.

    See below for the descriptions of each

  • The Orange Snow Park Safety Sticker certifies that you can safely use and teach basic skills on small park features within Snow School learning areas. This includes features like boxes or small jumps created in Snow School zones.

    However, this sticker does not grant access to the Whistler or Blackcomb Parks

  • The Green Snow Park Safety Sticker certifies that a skier or rider can safely use small park features and demonstrate basic skills within the park.

    With this sticker, you’re approved to ride the Snow School features in the learning areas and the Whistler Park. However, it does not grant access to the Blackcomb Park.

Snow Park Safety More Information
Aerial view of snow-covered pine trees in a forest.

Tree 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 before your session. Check out these other videos for more tips on skiing/ riding in to the trees