Big White is AWESOME! GAP Programs... I'm jealous...

Yeah, the Ski/Snowboard Instructor GAP programs, I am a bit envious. And since it is the title, I will tell you about them.

"Ever been to
Big White, Canada...?"

Have you seen the groups going round with the Big White Ski Pros? The same groups day after day? Sometimes down at the Magic Carpet, others around the mountain?

They are all being taught to ski/snowboard and to reach the skiing and teaching standards - initially Level I, then progressing to Level II. 

11 weeks of skiing/snowboarding. 11 weeks of intensive training. 11 weeks accommodation in luxury homes. 11 weeks living on a mountain in Canada. 11 weeks of world class ski and snowboard instruction. 11 weeks making forever friends. 11 weeks of an experience of a lifetime... food, transfers, course and exam fees... flights... mentoring... shadowing options... opportunity to secure future employment as a ski/snowboard Pro...?

I love the smell of fresh powder
in the mornings.

Sounds pretty good eh? And it is all free! Okay, that bit is a lie. So yes, I am envious. I know, I am a ski pro already, I know I live at Big White, I know I live the dream life. But I got here the hard way... (I am from Wigan, England... do you know any Ski Instructors in Canada, who come from Wigan? Didn't think so...)

The three main program operators at Big White are Snow School, Snow Rehab and Nothin But Snow. All have a great programs and reputations. I know the guys at NBS better than others so I will play favourites and talk about them :)

They are AWESOME! There, done. That earned me a beer! I hope. Leigh, Sam... I am waiting.

Leigh and Sam hard at work... Feeling for you guys, try and smile.

For the next sentence please read in a James Earl Jones voice doing Darth Vader - 
'What does this experience of a lifetime cost, Luke?' Let us consider what is included... Father... If you break out the major items, you are probably looking at-

• Season Pass - $1000 - this includes night skiing 5 nights per week.
• 11 weeks shared accommodation ("Luxury, Luke" Darth again, "I know, Dad, I'm not dumb, I have the Force too you know" last bit was Luke... if you didn't know), and we are talking, granite, hardwood, pool, gym, heated floors, steam showers, ski in/out and private hot tub... Yes, private hot tub - I said it... Cuddly toy too... 11 weeks at $300 (+ taxes) per night, for six shared? What you want me to do the math for you? Okay $23k (+ taxes) - lets call it $4,000 each.
• Flights - $1500?
• Five days of full day lessons, x 11 weeks? $150 x 55 = $8,250
• Food - probably five breakfasts and five dinners a week - $250 per week = $2,750
• Level 1 course and exam $400.
• Level 2 course and exam is extra I think.
• Transfers - $200
• Mentor and guide - dunno... four million dollars...?
• Experience of a lifetime...? Priceless. (MasterCard stole that tag line from me - true story).

We are going to be ski instructors...

Total cost in the region of $20k. For the experience of a lifetime... $20k...? Not bad. Life is not about buying stuff, life is about fitting as much in, in the gap between being born and the other thing... So, good value? It is why it is called GAP programs... What? No, it has nothing to do with the gap between A' Levels and Uni... it is the other gap - in between born and buried. Yes it is... Yes... It Is. Whatever.

Look, all these companies are reading this, jumping up and down yelling in their heads "He's wrong, he's wrong! It is a lot less...!!!" I know... keep reading... and keep your goggles on.

And at the end, you are a CSIA trained and qualified ski instructor? Qualifications that will be attractive to ski resorts all over the world from Canada, to Australia, to New Zealand to Japan... Qualifications that will enable you to travel the world whilst being paid...? And... not just paid, being paid to ski? How many employees give you a free ski pass, free top quality outerwear? Yes, you have to buy some skis and boots... boohoo. I was in the Army, I got to travel to places were people were trying to jump all over my head... Er... can I have a ski pass instead please...?

What...? We can teach skiing... all over the world...?

I am a ski pro and I love my job but it took a while - British Army - six years including the First Gulf War, United Nations - three years in Former Yugoslavia (I did dodge bullets) BA, MBA, multi million dollar land development company and... going bankrupt, then hedge fund consultant (that kinda ended with the FBI... yes the American one). All before I got to be a ski pro (told you, I took the hard path).

Experience of a lifetime... $20k... expensive? Er no, not at all. Actually it is not that expensive; it is a lot less (Happy now guys?). Less...? Really? Yes, much less - go check out their websites. (Last bit is the 'call to action' it is marketing jargon) and here are their websites. (How convenient is this?)

Nothin But Snow - www.nothinbutsnow.com
Snow Skool - www.snowskool.com
Snow Rehab - www.snowrehab.com

Please note the spellings, I think (hope) it is intentional...

Listen to the voice...

Next step - ignore the voice. You know that voice in the back of your head that says go get a job, get a career, save your money, follow the path to retirement? That voice? Ignore it, you have one life, go and live it while you can, the rest of the stuff? Yeah, that will come.

No! Ha ha...!

Oh, and I also run Sólido Properties (Darth again please) the best seasonal property management company... at Big White... that writes a blog... sometimes the writings are accurate, and er... true, and er... sometimes they are less self indulgent... ha, who am I kidding... 


Last bit, my pitch... if you find yourself fully qualified as a ski instructor, with an employment position offered at Big White, and needing a place to live... Come find me :)