01The mountain
Three Mountains. One Lift Pass. Hardly Any Queues.
Sun Peaks sits in the interior of British Columbia, away from the wet coastal weather, so the snow is light, dry and usually under blue sky.
For a trainee instructor, the terrain split matters more than the size. Most of the mountain is intermediate, which is exactly what you teach on. Your season goes on the slopes your future clients will ski, not in a lift line.
“Sun Peaks books up fast. It's our CrossFit resort. It's just good at everything, a safe bet.”
Your office
“You came out here to learn to teach. Days like this are why you'll keep coming back.”
02The numbers
Big Enough To Grow Into.
Three mountains and 896m of vertical. Enough terrain that you'll still be finding new runs in March.
Top lift, 2,093m
Sun Peaks village. Ski-in, ski-out.
Figures from Sun Peaks Resort and SkiBC, checked October 2026. Older guides still say 4,270 acres and 137 runs, from before the terrain expansion. Shading approximated from run positions on the 2025/26 Alpine Trail Map. Not to scale left to right.
- 4,400
- acres. Second largest in Canada.
- 896m
- of skiable vertical
- 144
- runs across three mountains
- 8km
- longest run
- 13
- lifts, 4 of them high-speed quads
- 15,800
- riders an hour lift capacity
- 6m
- of dry powder a year
- 2,000+
- hours of sunshine a year
Terrain split
10%Beginner
58%Intermediate
32%Expert
Beginner and intermediate terrain is 68% of the mountain. It's where you'll teach all season.
- Summit
- 2,152m on Mt Tod
- Bowls and glades
- 2 alpine bowls, 16 gladed areas
- Terrain park
- 1 park, 10 acres
- Snowmaking
- 250 acres
- Cross-country
- 37km groomed, 19km backcountry
Average temperature
Cold, not brutal. Layers and a good neck warmer cover it.
Busy, not crowded
2024/25 was a record season, with hotels 90.7% full from November to February. The slopes still stay quiet, even at weekends. Busy resort, steady lessons.
Where beginners go
The Learning Zone by the Sunburst Express and the 5 Mile run, the busiest part of the mountain. Expect to teach here early on.
Where you go after work
Upper Mt Tod. The Challenger run is about 2km of expert terrain.
What the snow is like
Dry interior powder that arrives in frequent small storms rather than big dumps.
03Your winter
A Sun Peaks Season, Month By Month.
We run three programmes at Sun Peaks. Here's where each one sits in the winter, from late November to early April.
Ski instructor internship
CSIA Level 1 and 2 Internship.
Winter 2027/28. 19 to 23 weeks. £7,200.
TrainingLevel 1 in your first 3 weeks, including exams. Then 8 days of Level 2 training during the season.
Paid teachingAbout 20 hours a week at about $20 CAD an hour.
Level 2 modulesFebruary.
Level 2 examsMarch, while you keep teaching.
Starts 21 to 27 November 2027 and finishes in early April 2028. About 20 hours a week at about $20 CAD an hour once you pass Level 1.
For Level 2 instructors
CSIA Level 3 Internship.
Starts 20 November. Full season. £5,200.
ArriveFrom 20 November, with accommodation and 10 dinners for the first 2 weeks.
TrainingLevel 3 training through the season, 22 days in all, plus 6 days of modules.
Paid teachingAbout $21 CAD an hour, 20 to 25 hours a week.
ModulesFebruary.
ExamsMarch. Not included, booked separately.
12 to 13 weeks of paid work alongside your training. You must already hold CSIA Level 2.
For Level 2 instructors
CSIA Level 3 Training Blocks.
Winter 2026/27. No job, no exam. From £2,650.
Block 110 Jan to 6 Feb. £3,750, or £4,400 with a lift pass
Block 26 to 27 Feb. £2,650, or £3,300 with a lift pass
Training and modules with Sun Peaks Level 4 trainers. Block 1 adds three movement days with Jason Simpson. Accommodation and the exam are not included.
Before you fly
On the internship, three things have to happen first. You pass the snow school's interview, you get your IEC working holiday permit, and you pass Level 1 in your first three weeks.
Where you live
We arrange your accommodation, and you stay in the same place all season. You don't move after Level 1. The first three weeks are included, then it's about $650 CAD a month. Your wage roughly covers rent and food. Bring savings for days off and kit.
First chair
“Fresh corduroy, an empty run and the sun coming up over the Monashees. That's your commute now.”
04The village
A Village, Not A Party Town.
If you want a big night out every night, go to Whistler or Banff. But if you'd rather stay clear of the crowds and the long bus journeys, Sun Peaks is your place.
Ski-in, ski-out.
The village is pedestrian only and the runs come straight into it.
Everything you need.
Restaurants, bars, ski shops, a supermarket, a pharmacy and a liquor store. Kamloops is about an hour away.
Days off.
Dog sledding, tubing, snowshoeing, cross country trails, a spa and yoga. Or Tod Mountain all day.
A small community.
Compact, friendly and walkable. By January you know half the village by name.
“There's enough going on to wake up with a dusty head. Weekends bring DJ sets, comps, festivals and big nights out with your mates. Just don't expect to be dancing on tables every night.”
Life in the village
05Your course
Your Ski Instructor Course At Sun Peaks.
Two internships run here: the Level 1 and 2 internship most people come for, and a Level 3 internship for qualified instructors. Ski only, ages 18 to 35.
Ski Instructor Internship, Sun Peaks
Level 1 training and exams, Level 2 training, modules and exams, a season lift pass, three weeks of accommodation and 15 dinners when you arrive, a guaranteed instructor job after Level 1, transfers and visa support. Flights, insurance, rent after Level 1 and food are on top.
- Season
- Winter 2027/28, 19 to 23 weeks
- Starts
- 21 to 27 November 2027
- You leave with
- CSIA Level 1 and Level 2
- Paid work
- About $20 CAD an hour
- Price
- £7,200
Level 3 Ski Instructor Internship, Sun Peaks
For qualified Level 2 instructors. 22 days of CSIA Level 3 training with Level 4 trainers, plus 6 days of modules in February, all built around a paid teaching job of 20 to 25 hours a week for 12 to 13 weeks. Exams are not included. Your first two weeks of accommodation and 10 dinners are included. Flights, insurance, rent after that and food are on top.
- Season
- Full season
- Starts
- 20 November
- You need
- CSIA Level 2
- Paid work
- About $21 CAD an hour
- Price
- £5,200
Snowboarder? The internship here is ski only. See our snowboard instructor courses.
Want Level 3 training without the job? Our Level 3 training blocks run in January and February, from £2,650, so ask us on WhatsApp.
Weighing up resorts? Compare all our locations.
“I came back as a qualified ski instructor with incredible experiences, a better CV, and no debt!”
Jez, Sun Peaks intern. Read Jez's internship review
What Past Interns Say.
Read Before You Choose.
Free guides, written by us for people in exactly your position. Read the cost and comparison guides before anyone's price list, ours included.
Internship Comparison Guide
How much of each internship is training, exams, paid work and free skiing, side by side.
Read the guide ›
Ultimate Internship Guide
Training, exams, accommodation, resort jobs, visas and costs on a Canadian internship.
Read the guide ›
Resort Comparison Guide
Big White, Sun Peaks, Panorama or Revelstoke. Size, snow, housing and who each one suits.
Read the guide ›
CSIA Qualification Guide
Every CSIA level, what the exams ask of you and what each one lets you teach.
Read the guide ›
Skiing Ability Guide
Are you good enough yet? The standard, in plain words, with a way to check.
Read the guide ›
The Real Cost Of A Canadian Season
The whole sum, from flights and insurance to food and kit.
Read the guide ›
How To Book Our Courses And Internships
From first chat to first chairlift, step by step.
Read the guide ›
Visa Pool Entry Guide, Part 1
How the IEC working holiday pool works, and when to get in it.
Read the guide ›
Insurance Guide
What cover you need, and what to check before you buy it.
Read the guide ›
Girls On Tour
For women heading out on a season, by women who have done it.
Read the guide ›
What Nobody Tells You About A Season In Canada
The bits the brochures leave out, from people who have done it.
Read the guide ›
Travel And Flights Guide
Flights, transfers and getting to the mountain without stress.
Read the guide ›
Fitness Guide
Turn up fit. The plan that gets your legs ready before you fly.
Read the guide ›
What To Take
The packing list for a Canadian winter.
Read the guide ›
Clothing Essentials
Layers, gloves and what is worth spending money on.
Read the guide ›
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