My everyday life as a snowboard instructor
My everyday life as a snowboard instructor
What could be better than spending your working day where others go on holiday? Today, I'm taking you behind the scenes to show you what my day as a snowboard instructor here in Montafon looks like. Spoiler alert: it's more than just turning!
The early bird catches the powder
My day starts at 7 a.m. in Bludenz. While the valley is still slowly waking up, I set off for St. Gallenkirch. My first stop: the depot. Grab my board, tighten my boots and off to the ski school office. Here we have our morning briefing – who has which group, are there any special circumstances or new information?
The reward for getting up early
At 8:15 a.m., we take the first gondola up the mountain. This is the magical moment: we are the first ones on the mountain! Before the crowds arrive, we take advantage of the freshly groomed slopes for a few runs together. The crunch of snow under the board is the best wake-up call you can imagine.
Team spirit and preparation
At 9:20 a.m., all of us ski and snowboard instructors meet for the big morning briefing. This is where all the information is passed on again.
At 10:00 a.m., things get serious: the guests arrive! As a snowboard instructor, your first job is to check everyone's equipment:
- Are the boots secure?
- Are the bindings adjusted correctly?
- Does everyone have their ski pass and know where we're having lunch?
Before we hit the slopes, we start with a warm-up together. Whether it's fun tag games or targeted stretching exercises, the focus is on having fun from the very first second.
Curves, edges and Kaiserschmarren
From 10:00 to 12:00, the mountain is ours. We work on our technique, refine our style and enjoy the snow. Between 12:00 and 13:00, things quiet down – or maybe not! During lunch, we eat together with our guests, recharge our batteries and laugh about the morning's adventures.
The final sprint and après-work
After the second lesson (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), it's time to tidy up. Together, we dismantle the children's area. And because we can't get enough of snowboarding, we often add on a private session before floating back down to the valley in the gondola.
After a quick check-out at the office, we end the day in traditional fashion: a short get-together in the market hall to review the day's experiences before heading back to Bludenz.
