Lake Wanaka is considered one of the best ski areas in the Southern Hemisphere, and without question one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Lake Wanaka is truly awesome.
Located in the spectacular Southern Alps of New Zealand, Wānaka is the perfect base to enjoy the best skiing in New Zealand, with three unique ski areas Cardrona, Snow Farm and the cream of the crop – Treble Cone, surrounding the town centre. You’ll be treated to uncrowded pistes, world-class training, stunningly unique views, and an incredible nightlife.
With such a variety of terrains, you can build up to tackle some of the tougher trails, so you’ll always have new challenges to explore, go big or go home. You’ll never get bored in Wanaka, but if you do get a little twitch, then you can go full-pow-hunter and explore the largest heli-ski area in the Southern Hemisphere and shred untouched freshies all day long!
Out of the three resorts in Lake Wanaka, SIA’s courses (as always) are ran in the biggest and best of the bunch – Treble Cone. The largest resort in Wanaka, Treble Cone has the most incredible views, the most varied terrain, steeps for all experience levels and loads of long runs. Tag on some heli-ski and you’ve got yourself the experience of a lifetime!
With our New Zealand ski instructor courses, you won’t just learn how to become a ski instructor. You’ll also enhance your interpersonal skills to become a better communicator. When it comes to the skiing, you’ll get the best and brightest instructors who’ll equip you with everything you need for your level 1 and level 2 certification. This will allow you to teach skiers up to intermediate parallel ski level.
If you’re looking for the best ski instructor courses in New Zealand, look no further. If you have any questions about this amazing course or any of our other opportunities here at SIA Austria, contact us today.
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What's Included
We pride ourselves on the fact that Ski Instructor Academy offers the very best value, fully comprehensive and quality filled programs on the market. We offer the best ski instructor course in NZ and know that you’re going to love it!
(*Cost Option)
The Training
We have teamed up with Rookie Academy for our NZ programs. An international collection of the highest qualified trainers and examiners with decades of experience in the industry… Legends of the slopes (and YouTube superstars)!
On this course you will train towards the NZSIA Level 1 and CSIA Level 2 ski instructor qualifications. This truly all-mountain program provides an unparalleled combination of on-hill coaching including on-piste, off-piste, powder, bumps and back-country, combined with some awesome off-hill extras such as avalanche awareness, sports science and biomechanics.
Through the training, you’ll understand how to develop and assess skiers in multiple tactics and terrains. You’ll attend technical seminars, receive regular assessments on your skiing progress, and your qualified level 4 trainers will give you personalised video feedback every week so you can understand how you’re progressing.
The Accommodation
For our 8-week ski instructor course in Wanaka, you will be based from the very sociable, Wanaka Hotel with amazing central location to allow you to get up into the mountains, hit the après scene or enjoy everything the area has to offer.
Onsite there is Scroggin Café serving breakfast, lunch, coffee and cakes daily. The Bullock Bar with TAB, Pokies and plenty of local atmosphere. Bullock Bar Grill, serving great value Pub Meals every night from 6pm. Amigos Mexican Grill for Hot Mexican and Cool Margaritas Daily from 5pm.. Hook into the free Wi-Fi to connect with family and friends.
A well equipped Guest Kitchen, self-service laundry, secure ski storage, free off-street parking and 24 hour reception are all available to Basecampers to make life easy breezy.
Amazing private gardens where you can unwind and listen to the wonderful sounds of Wanaka birdsong.
The Activities
You’ll have plenty of days off to explore the gorgeous scenery in NZ, whether you explore the national park surrounding you, go bungee jumping, take a jet-boat adventure, jump out of a plane (parachute highly recommended) or hit the town on a short trip into lively Queenstown, there’s tons to do and plenty of ‘best days ever’ to be had.
Beyond the big nights out, Wanaka has plenty of activities to keep you entertained. You can catch a movie at uber-cool Cinema Paradiso, take in the most spectacular lakeside sunrise with new friends and watch in awe at the world’s best riders at the incredible Burton Open! In the ski areas, you can go back country touring, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Don’t forget to take advantage of the famous heli-skiing available in Treble Cone – an absolute must-do experience!
Once your course is finished you should take a trip to the North Island and visit Hobbiton – a must for any Lord of the Rings fans.
Want To Work?
If you wish to put your new qualifications to the test then our NZ courses can be combined with a full season working in Japan for the winter season. Spend your winter waist deep in heaps of fluffy powder in some of Japan’s top snow schools and experience all of the wonderful culture Japan has to offer.
On the 13-week courses you can supplement your training course in NZ with part-time work opportunities within Wanaka township in local bars, restaurants and hotels with our program for a minimum of 1 day on the weekends and 2 evenings during the week.
Simply let us know this is your working goals and we can arrange this for you.
*Suitable visa required to work in NZ, Japan, Europe & Canada
I loved every second of it! Fantastic coaches for skiing and boarding, would definitely recommend Ski Instructor Academy to anyone thinking of becoming an instructor or furthering their instructor qualifications.
I had the BEST time of my life becoming an instructor with SIA!! Didn’t know how to ski when I got there, had the strongest passion imaginable for skiing six weeks later!!
Amazing experience! Loved the people, the skiing and the environment, best choice I ever made!”
In my opinion SIA is your only choice to become a ski instructor. For me, it was difficult to chose between all the different schools but I have never regretted the decision to choose SIA. The course was very well planned, organised and worth every dollar I paid for it.
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EXPERT KNOWLEDGE
During this course, you will be supported on an ongoing basis by our highly qualified and experienced training team who have been coaching in NZ for 30 years!
Quality Service Assured
We will bend over backwards to make sure you have the very best time with us on and off the slopes. Our in-resort team will be on hand to ensure that you enjoy the best ski instructor course in NZ! When it’s over, you’ll be counting down the days until your next SIA experience.
INTENSE TUITION
Your course will be packed full of training from start to finish with professional coaching each week. Intimate group sizes will allow you the personal attention you need to improve your skills and motivate you to push yourself further.
VERY AFFORDABLE
Here at Ski Instructor Academy we pride ourselves in both the quality and value of our many courses. We honestly believe that we offer the best ski instructor courses in NZ, and other locations around the globe.
FAQs
You will earn your NZSIA L1 and CSIA L2 Instructor Licences, these are internationally respected instructor qualifications which you can use to teach in most countries around the world.
You must be competent and have enough ski knowledge and time on snow so that you can ski a red piste run in parallel, with a hip width stance, demonstrating outside ski balance and little body rotation. If you don’t think you’re up to this level then you can still join, just get in touch to find out how.
If you want to work after your course then our Job Assist can help you with applying to partner ski schools once you are qualified. Of course, you need to be legally allowed to work, so a working holiday visa or suitable passport / right to work will be required wherever you wish to ply your new trade.
During these strange times we want you to feel safe and secure when it comes to your course fees and your booking.
Our Covid Confident Money Back Guarantee gives you complete peace of mind and flexibility when it comes to your booking with us.
This means that if your course is cancelled by SIA prior to your arrival date, for whatever reason, you can choose one of the following options:
- Switch your instructor course free of charge to a later date or destination
- Receive a full refund of your fees
Our guarantee applies to all travellers whether you have already booked your instructor course, or are considering booking. Meaning, you can book with confidence and look forward to an amazing season with SIA.
Read more about the Covid Confident Money Back Guarantee here…
2021/22 was the first season post-Brexit and added some red tape to what would historically have been a normal season for students from the UK. To work anywhere in the world now, incl. Europe, Brits will need a visa or permit to work. The Authorities here in Austria have said that they plan to have a ‘seasonnaire permit’ in place at some point in the future to allow workers short-term access to the employment market during the winter season.
Whilst this is potentially great news, there has still – 3 years on – been no further news on this ‘seasonaire permit’ and so it will be highly unlikely that anything will be in place anytime soon, which does still leaves uncertainty on what will be required from UK nationals working in Austria in the future.
As of yet there is still no further news or update on the Austrian ‘seasonnaire permit’ or any other pathway to enable Brits to work in Austria or any other EU country via any independently accessible work visa or any alternative method. (latest update: 1st February 2023)
You must be a minimum of 16 years old before you arrive into resort on our Austrian Courses.
You must be a minimum of 18 years old before you arrive in resort for our Canadian or Argentinian Courses (unless parental consent is obtained).
You must be a minimum of 18 years old to join any of our courses or internships which rely on a working holiday visa or work permit.
Although SIA courses are amongst the largest in the World, we generally manage to maintain very intimate training groups of between 4:1 and 8:1, but with absolutely no more than 10:1 students per trainer in Austria, Argentina, Canada, France and NZ. This allows us to match similar ability levels per group and means no student should ever feel as if they are falling behind, or being held back because of the group they are in.
We have various options for accommodation on our courses, all of which are very comfortable. We use a combination of shared apartments, houses and chalets. There are options to to include a single room, half board meals or both! (subject to availability and supplement). See our Accommodation page for more details on your options.
YES! As an employed instructor, ski schools will offer you subsidised staff housing as part of your employment contract. This is generally basic living, but a fun and very social environment with your fellow instructors and not to mention a very cheap way of living in a ski resort, with most ski schools only charging between €4 and €10 per day.
Note: If your course does not include a Job Guarantee or you do not wish to take up your position then accommodation will only be included during your course dates.
Sure! We love it when friends come together and share this amazing experience – after all sharing is caring! We can make sure you live together and also work in the same ski school together too so you can enjoy the time and make memories forever… just be sure to let us know who you’re travelling with.
We are so confident that we offer the very best value courses in the industry that we have our SIA Price Promise. We pride ourselves that we offer more training, higher quality coaching, better off-hill programs and more fun aprés events than any other course.
That’s why if you find a better value comparable course anywhere, not only will we match the course cost, but we will also give you an additional €100 off your course fees for good measure!
Get in touch to find out more about our Price Promise.
Yes! Once you have booked and paid your deposit then you will have the ability to pay off your course how you see fit as long as our minimum criteria has been met (see T&C’s). You can decide how much and how often you pay to suit your circumstances as long as your course fees are paid in full prior to your course. We do not add any interest charges for payment plans.
As much as we love dogs at SIA the simple answer is no.
Dogs are not allowed within SIA Accommodation. Ski Schools also ban pets from their accommodation.
No problem, you can check out our full FAQ’s here for answers on equipment, training, qualifications, jobs, payments and more.
If you’re still not sure, then Contact Us and we can answer your specific questions for you.