A group of Winter Sports Company instructor interns together on the mountain

Panorama · British Columbia, Canada

Ski Instructor Internship · Panorama

WSC's main training hub. Qualify in three weeks, then choose a full paid season or a training-heavy one.

Length
19 to 23 weeks
Start
21 to 27 November 2027
Qualifications
CSIA Level 1 and Level 2
From
£6,950
Protection
ATOL protected

One Start. Two Ways To Spend The Winter.

Every internship starts the same way, with the same group, on the same mountain. Then the paths split, and you choose the one that fits: more pay, or more training.

First 3 to 4 weeks · everyone together

Level 1 Training And Exams.

12 days of CSIA Level 1 training, then 3 days of exams. Your accommodation and a meal plan of 15 dinners are included while you train.

Path 1 · Standard

Teach Full Time.

  • Full-time instructor job
  • 8 days of Level 2 training
  • Staff housing, paid by you
  • Finish early April

Path 2 · Hybrid

Train Like It's Your Job.

  • Part-time instructor job
  • 16 days of Level 2 training
  • 9 days of Level 3 training
  • Accommodation all season
  • Finish early April

Both paths · February to March

Level 2 Modules And Exams.

Modules in February, exams in March, 4 to 6 days in all, included on both options. On the Hybrid the exams come earlier, leaving March for Level 3 training. Pass, and you finish the winter as a CSIA Level 2 ski instructor.

Choose Your Path.

Same Level 1, same resort, same exams. The difference is what you do with the rest of the winter.

Swipe to compare

Option 1

Standard Internship

The classic full paid season.

From

£6,950

Hold your place with a £300 deposit

Hold my place Or WhatsApp us about the Standard
Length
19 to 23 weeks
Level 1 training
12 days, plus 3 days of exams
Level 2 training
8 days, plus 4 to 6 days of modules and exams
Level 3 training
Not included
Job
Full time, at Panorama or Fairmont Hot Springs, around 18 to 20 hours a week
Pay
Around $20 CAD an hour
Accommodation
First 3 weeks included, then staff housing around $680 CAD a month, paid by you
Finish
Early April

Option 2

Hybrid Internship

More training, more time on snow.

From

£10,650

Hold your place with a £300 deposit

Hold my place Or WhatsApp us about the Hybrid
Length
20 weeks
Level 1 training
12 days, plus 3 days of exams
Level 2 training
16 days, plus 4 to 6 days of modules and exams
Level 3 training
9 days
Job
Part time, at Panorama or Fairmont Hot Springs
Pay
Around $2,500 CAD across the season
Accommodation
Full season included
Finish
Early April

You don't need your visa before booking.

It's the thing everyone worries about first. Book your place, then we help you through the IEC Working Holiday visa process 7 days a week, with our PDF guide alongside.

Placed at Fairmont Hot Springs?

On either option, some interns are placed at Fairmont Hot Springs, a smaller resort close to Panorama. You still live, train and free ski at Panorama. Only your work is at Fairmont.

How Booking Works.

Small steps, spread out. Talk to us early if you need to adjust, rather than going quiet.

01

£300 deposit holds your place

Paid into our ATOL-bonded account, so your money is protected.

02

£1,000 deposit, 20 weeks before you fly

Due 20 weeks before you fly. For a late November start, that means early July.

03

Balance 12 weeks before you fly

The final balance, due 12 weeks before you fly. For a late November start, that means late August.

04

Pay it your way

Pay each amount when it's due, or spread it in equal weekly or monthly standing orders that run until 2 weeks before you fly.

Visa not approved? You can have a full refund, or move your deposit to a course that doesn't need a working visa.

What Past Interns Say.

The detail behind the winter

Want To Go Full Snow Geek?

The detail behind the winter, for anyone who wants to know exactly what they are signing up for. Open whichever catches your eye.
Click here
Why The Hybrid Costs MoreWhat the extra money buys you, line by line

Why The Hybrid Costs More.

The Hybrid is £3,700 more than the Standard. That's a lot of money, so here's exactly where it goes.

And the honest bit: you earn less on the Hybrid, because the job is part time. Your winter splits roughly into thirds.

Training
Work
Free skiing

A Hybrid winter, roughly.

Accommodation all season
Included
Your staff housing in Invermere is covered for the whole winter, so it's one less thing to organise. And because it's paid up front, if something goes wrong and you have to leave early, the unused accommodation can usually go on your travel insurance claim as an unrecoverable cost. Check your own policy, but it's real peace of mind.
Double the Level 2 training
16 days, not 8
Level 2 asks a lot more of your own skiing. Twice the coaching before your exams is the biggest difference between the two options.
Level 3 training
9 days
The start of your next chapter. This is training towards Level 3, not a Level 3 qualification this season.
What you give up
Wages
Hybrid pay is around $2,500 CAD across the season. The Standard gives you around 14 weeks of full-time teaching at around $20 CAD an hour.

So no, the Hybrid doesn't work out cheaper. It's more training and more time on snow, with your accommodation sorted. If that's worth £3,700 to you, it's the one.

How Your Season RunsLate November to April, in six stages
Winter Sports Company group on their first day at Panorama Mountain Resort

How Your Season Runs.

Late November to April, in six stages. Steps 1 to 3 are the same for everyone.

  1. 01

    21 to 27 November 2027

    Arrive

    Land in Calgary, then 2 nights in Banff with shopping, a welcome meal and a night out. Then on to Panorama.

  2. 02

    First 3 to 4 weeks

    Level 1 Phase

    12 days of training, with accommodation and 15 dinners included.

  3. 03

    3 days, then 2 days

    Level 1 Exams And Staff Training

    Pass, and you're a qualified CSIA Level 1 instructor. Then familiarisations, uniform hand-out and orientation training with the ski school.

  4. 04

    After Level 1

    Work And Level 2

    Standard: full-time teaching and 8 days of Level 2 training. Hybrid: part-time teaching, 16 days of Level 2 and 9 days of Level 3 training.

  5. 05

    February to March

    Level 2 Modules And Exams

    Modules in February. Standard: exams in March. Hybrid: exams earlier, so your Level 3 training can run in March.

  6. 06

    Early April

    Finish

    Both options finish in early April.

Where You LiveTwo homes in one season

Where You Live.

Two homes in one season. A fortnight up the mountain, then what often feels like the most grown-up of our resort options.

The Approach Hotel at Panorama Mountain Resort

First 2 weeks

The Approach Hotel, Panorama

You start in the resort itself, for the first 2 weeks of Level 1 training. Everything you need for those early days is right there.

Lounge in the Windermere Point staff apartments, Invermere
Kitchen in the Windermere Point staff apartments, Invermere
Bedroom in the Windermere Point staff apartments, Invermere

The rest of the season

Windermere Point Apartments, Invermere

Then everyone moves down to staff housing in the town of Invermere. Proper kitchens, a proper sofa, and a real town on the doorstep.

Rooms
Modern 2 to 3 bedroom apartments, 2 per room, some ensuite
Couples
Can share
To the hill
Resort bus stop across the road, about a 25 minute ride
Rent
Standard: around $680 CAD a month, paid by you after the first 3 weeks. Hybrid: included all season.
Getting ThereFlights, transfers and arriving at Panorama

Getting There.

Fly with us and your transfers are included. Book your own flights and the transfer is still included, as long as you arrive within the time window we send you.

Fly into

YYC

Calgary

Transfer to

Panorama

Included

What's Included And What's NotThe full bill, before you book

What's Included And What's Not.

Included on both options

  • CSIA Level 1 training and 3 days of exams
  • Level 2 training, plus 4 to 6 days of modules and exams
  • Accommodation for the Level 1 phase, and 15 dinners over the first 3 weeks
  • Employment offer from the resort's ski school
  • Season lift pass, for training and as staff
  • Visa assistance 7 days a week, plus our PDF guide
  • SIN number appointment support in Canada
  • Airport and resort transfers within Canada
  • 2 nights in Banff on arrival, with a welcome meal and a night out
  • CSIA membership and video analysis
  • WSC goodie bag, and discounts at resort shops and on big-brand equipment
  • Hybrid only: accommodation for the full season, and 9 days of Level 3 training

Not included, budget for these

  • Return flightsaround £750
  • Travel and medical insurance£900 to £1,200
  • Food outside the meal planaround $150 to $200 CAD a week
  • Equipment, if you need it£450 to £1,200
  • Single room supplementask at booking
  • Standard only: staff housing after the first 3 weeksaround $680 CAD a month

We'd rather you saw the full bill now than found it in February.

Who It's For, And Who It Isn'tWhich option fits you, and who should look elsewhere
Ski instructor interns celebrating passing their CSIA Level 1
Ski instructor interns riding the chairlift together
Interns holding their CSIA Level 1 certificates after passing

Who It's For, And Who It Isn't.

Standard

Great for

  • Gap year and career break skiers who want the classic full season
  • Intermediate to strong intermediate skiers

Not for

  • Anyone who wants accommodation included all season
  • Anyone after a training-heavy winter

Hybrid

Great for

  • Skiers who want maximum training and to climb the certification ladder quickly
  • Anyone who wants simple budgeting, with accommodation included all season

Not for

  • Anyone who needs full-time wages
  • Anyone shopping for the cheapest headline price

Who Can Apply.

Both options, same rules. Different passport? Talk to us, there may still be a way.

  • Aged 18 to 35 with a UK, Irish, Australian or New Zealand passport, so the IEC Working Holiday visa is open to you
  • An intermediate to strong intermediate skier
  • Able to show $2,500 CAD at the border
Other Ways To Do A SeasonDifferent resort, different board, or less time to spare
Skier in Taynton Bowl, Panorama Mountain Resort

Taynton Bowl · Panorama

Arrive In November A Skier. Leave In April An Instructor.

Before You Decide, Take These.

Free guides for internship skiers. Read the comparison and cost guides before anyone's price list, ours included.

See all free guides
Internship Comparison Guide front cover

Internship Comparison Guide

How much of your winter is training, exams, shadowing, paid work and free skiing. A realistic breakdown rather than brochure fluff.

Read the guide ›
Ultimate Internship Guide front cover

Ultimate Internship Guide

Training, exams, accommodation, resort jobs, visas and costs, plus what life is actually like on a Canadian instructor internship.

Read the guide ›
Resort Comparison Guide front cover

Resort Comparison Guide

Big White, Sun Peaks, Panorama or Revelstoke. Mountain size, snowfall, accommodation, nightlife, terrain, and who each one genuinely suits.

Read the guide ›
CSIA Qualification Guide front cover

CSIA Qualification Guide

Level 1 gets you in the door, Level 2 makes you employable, Level 3 makes it a career. What each one lets you teach, and what the exams ask of you.

Read the guide ›
Skiing Ability Guide front cover

Skiing Ability Guide

Work out your real level, what each course expects on day one, and whether to train now, arrive early or pick a different programme.

Read the guide ›
Real Cost Of A Season front cover

Real Cost Of A Season

The course fee is the headline, not the total. Flights, insurance, food, kit, the visa, and the money you have to land with.

Read the guide ›
Course Price Calculator front cover

Course Price Calculator

Course fee, flights, insurance, food, kit and spending money. Move the sliders and watch the real total, with no hidden extras.

Read the guide ›
How To Book front cover

How To Book

When to secure your place, what happens if you leave it late, and how to avoid losing the resort, room type or programme you wanted.

Read the guide ›
Visa Pool Entry Guide, Part 1 front cover

Visa Pool Entry Guide, Part 1

When to enter the IEC pool, what to do while you wait, and how visa timing affects booking, flights, insurance and resort work.

Read the guide ›
Insurance Guide For Internships front cover

Insurance Guide For Internships

The cover you genuinely need for an internship, and the gaps that catch people out. We are not brokers, so this is advice rather than a sales pitch.

Read the guide ›
Girls On Tour front cover

Girls On Tour

A big sister chat to calm those nerves and answer the common concerns of travelling on your own.

Read the guide ›
What Nobody Tells You front cover

What Nobody Tells You

Jet lag, supermarket prices, and the quiet week in January when your hours drop. The bits that never make the brochure.

Read the guide ›
Travel And Flights Guide front cover

Travel And Flights Guide

How we get you from your door to the slopes. Baggage allowances, booking windows, transfers, and why an ATOL certificate is worth having.

Read the guide ›
Fitness Guide front cover

Fitness Guide

Arrive stronger and fitter for long training days, exams, cold weather and the occasional ego check from Canadian terrain.

Read the guide ›
What To Take front cover

What To Take

A packing checklist for the whole season. Ski gear, travel essentials, documents, tech and the things people always forget.

Read the guide ›
Clothing Essentials front cover

Clothing Essentials

Base layers, ski socks, gloves, helmets and après layers. What to wear for a full Canadian winter, and what not to bother buying.

Read the guide ›

Straight Answers.

The questions people ask before they choose, answered the way we would on WhatsApp.

What's the difference between the Standard and Hybrid internship at Panorama?

Both start with the same 3 to 4 week Level 1 phase. The Standard then gives you a full-time instructor job with 8 days of Level 2 training. The Hybrid gives you a part-time job, 16 days of Level 2 training, 9 days of Level 3 training and accommodation for the whole season.

Do I need my visa before I book?

No. You can book first and we help you through the IEC Working Holiday visa process 7 days a week.

Where will I live at Panorama?

For the first 2 weeks you stay in the resort at the Approach Hotel. Then you move to staff housing in Invermere, in modern 2 to 3 bedroom apartments with 2 people per room. The resort bus stop is across the road and the ride takes about 25 minutes.

What happens if I'm placed at Fairmont Hot Springs?

You still live, train and free ski at Panorama. Only your work shifts are at Fairmont Hot Springs, a smaller resort close by.

Which airport do I fly into?

Calgary. Your transfer to Panorama is included, as long as you arrive within the time window we send you.

Why does the Hybrid cost more?

It includes accommodation for the whole season, twice the Level 2 training and 9 days of Level 3 training. You earn less because the job is part time, but you spend far more time training and skiing.

Am I protected if something goes wrong?

Yes. We are ATOL bonded and you get an ATOL certificate when you book.

How do I pay?

A £300 deposit holds your place. Then a £1,000 deposit is due 20 weeks before you fly and the final balance 12 weeks before you fly, or you can spread it in equal weekly or monthly standing orders that run until 2 weeks before you fly.

What if my visa is not approved?

You can have a full refund, or move your deposit to a course that does not need a working visa.

Winter Sports Company instructors in the mountains at the end of the season

Fancy a chat? Grab a pen and paper.

Not Sure Which One? Talk To Us.

Tell us what you want from the winter and we'll tell you which option fits, even if the answer is the cheaper one. WhatsApp the office on +44 7535 424781.

Panorama internship

From £6,950

Hold my place

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