Ski Internship @ Whistler Blackcomb – WBSSU Program

WBSSU Internship

YES are proud to present the Whistler Blackcomb Snow School University (WBSSU) Internship program. The opportunity of a lifetime, this program is designed to recruit new staff into the ski school, and provides all the training you need to be able to work for the full season in the #1 resort in North America!

Program Overview

YES has been offering instructor courses in Whistler for over 25 years, and together in partnership with Whistler Blackcomb snow school, we bring you this amazing internship that will lead you into working a full season (or more!)

The program covers the training portion of your internship. Once you get into town we can help get set up with your bank account, cell phone and everything you need. You will spend three weeks learning about the Whistler Blackcomb way of life, improving your own skiing and preparing for the CSIA Level 1 certification. You will take the exam, do a little shadowing with a working instructor and then get straight to living the dream of working as a fully fledged Whistler Blackcomb Ski instructor for the entire season!

Spaces are strictly limited for this selective program, and each participant must complete an online interview process with YES and Whistler Blackcomb in order to be accepted into the WBSSU Internship.

As you are pre-interviewed for a job, all candidates who successfully complete the training program and pass the Level 1 CSIA course will be offered a full-time instructor position by Whistler Blackcomb. You will start work immediately after the completion of the program.

In order to be eligible for this program, you MUST have a valid work permit to work in Canada. See below for more information.

Here’s What’s Included:

GENERAL

WB Accommodation (4 weeks)
Whistler Blackcomb Lift Pass (during training)
Accommodation - for the full season (pay as you earn or pre-pay the full season)
Staff Uniform (once working)
Resort rep available 24/7
Staff Discounts and pro deals on equipment
Weekly YES social après
YES hoodie
The greatest time of your life!

TRAINING, EXAMS, MANUALS & MEMBERSHIPS

Professional on-snow training
CSIA Level 4 Instructors
Training to ski using the CSIA methodology
Training to teach in the CSIA methodology
CSIA Level 1 Certification
- CSIA Level 1 exam fee
- CSIA Membership (valid for 1 year from the successful completion of your L1)
Basic snow school operations training
Staff induction and safety training
CSIA Level 2 Training: train with top instructors once employed
CSIA Level 2 Exam: Optional, paid by WB once you are working
- Schedule certification with your supervisor when you are ready, you will be refunded most of the cost after you pass the exam

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

Meet and greet package
- Group meet on arrival – assistance in getting from the airport to downtown Vancouver
- Social group dinner
- 1 night hotel stay in Vancouver (shared rooms)
- Assistance to get SIN card
- Transfer to Whistler accommodation next day
Full season accommodation
- Pre-pay accommodation for the full season – keep all your salary to live on!

So you want to be a ski instructor?

You should! Here’s why:

How good a skier do I have to be?

As long as you are linking turns on a blue run (low intermediate) we can accept you on the course and turn you into a ski god or goddess!

YES I want to work as a Ski Instructor. How Do I get In?

Stage 1 – Contact YES at info@yestours.com to make sure you meet all the requirements (see below) and we can get a feel for your goals for the season. We are also happy to call you to chat through the program – just email us your phone number to set up a time.

Stage 2 – Apply for your working holiday visa for Canada through IEC – if you already have an approved working visa you’re in a great position! We can provide you with a very helpful guide to the process.

Stage 3 – Book in to the program online and pay a $1,000 deposit to secure a place on the program. Send us an up-to-date copy of your CV or resume by the end of June to be submitted to WB.

Stage 4 – Informal online pre-interview conducted by YES around the end of June, to help prepare you for your WB interview.

Stage 5 – The official interview with Whistler Blackcomb will be held in July/August – actual date TBA. The interview will be online with a senior member of the WB Snow School.

Stage 6 – If successful you will receive an acceptance email inviting you to join the WBSSU program around early September, time to start planning your arrival in November!

Requirements

The competition is fierce so you need to make sure you meet all the requirements set by Whistler Blackcomb. If you don’t have the right experience yet, it’s not too late to find a volunteer opportunity where you live to get some experience.

Candidates must have previous experience working with children or adults in a coaching or teaching environment.
Candidates must be at least an intermediate level skier – able to comfortably link turns on blue runs.
Candidates must have a legal right to work in Canada, usually a valid Canadian Working Visa

Program Pricing

Our WBSSU program is now open for bookings for 2023/24. Please contact us at info@yestours.com before booking to confirm availability and to let us know how you meet the requirements outlined above.

Early bookings will be able to lock in at last year’s prices:

WBSSU Program: $7,750

Optional add-ons:

Meet & Greet Package – $250
Full Season Accommodation pre-payment – $2,250

Program Dates

The WBSSU program runs from late-November 2023. The exact start date will be confirmed after the summer. Our current working assumption is a start date of November 22nd.

BOOK NOW

More Info

ACCOMMODATION

For your season you will be fully embedded into the Whistler lifestyle. Accommodation for the program is offered by Whistler Blackcomb, in twin share rooms. The first 4 weeks’ accommodation are covered under the cost of the program. On successful completion of the course, you will have a guaranteed bed in WB staff housing and the rental cost will be deducted from your wages by WB. It is probably the most affordable accommodation in Whistler!

This year we are offering an optional add-on full accommodation package for $2,250 – this will cover your accommodation in staff housing for the full season until mid-April. That way you will be able to budget once you are here knowing that your rent is already covered.

WORKING VISA LINKS

For more information about obtaining a Working Holiday Visa for Canada, visit the Canada International Experience Canada website. There is a useful guide to the application process here.

Note the following:

Depending on your nationality and / or age there may be restrictions so please view the IEC link for more details as it is country specific.
If you hold more than one nationality you may want to consider applying more than once, or check which nationality has a better chance of success as it varies considerably by country.
You must have obtained your own visa before you can join the program, there is no possibility of being sponsored for a visa by either by YES Tours or by Whistler Blackcomb.
The “Working Holiday” visa is the only option for most candidates.
If you are lucky enough to be a Canadian citizen or have Canadian permanent residence you can definitely join us too!

MEET & GREET ADD-ON

You can now choose to join our meet and greet for just $250. This will include:

Meeting in Vancouver
1 night in a Vancouver hotel (shared rooms)
Assistance to get SIN (Canadian tax number)
Transport to Whistler
Assistance to set up your bank account
Assistance to get you cell phone SIM
Assistance checking into your seasonal accommodation

FULL SEASON ACCOMMODATION ADD-ON

You can pre-pay your accommodation for the entire season if you prefer for only $2,250.

This covers your accommodation in Staff Housing until mid-April when your employment ends. Otherwise your rent will be taken directly from your pay each pay period by WB.