Sugar Bowl Resort is seeking passionate, skilled, and guest-centered H2B Certified Ski Instructors to join our Snowsports School team for the upcoming winter season. This is a role for people who love snow, love people, and love the craft of teaching - those who find as much joy in helping a nervous first-timer find their footing as they do carving a perfect turn themselves.
Sugar Bowl's Snowsports School is one of the best places in United States to be a Snowsports professional. Our season-long training programs, supportive team culture, and stunning Donner Summit terrain make this more than a job - it's a community.
Note: Experience level and corresponding compensation will be determined by management based on certifications, experience, and demonstrated skill.
Why Sugar Bowl?
Sugar Bowl Resort has been proudly independent for over 80 years and is one of the oldest ski resorts in California. Situated atop beautiful Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl has a storied past with ties to Austrian ski culture, Hollywood and Walt Disney. This special community helped bring skiing to “sunny California” since December 1939. Since then, it continues to attract adventurous winter sports enthusiasts alike.
Who you are
You hold a current ski instructor certification (level II or higher), and bring the technical skill, energy, and warmth to match. You connect easily with people of all ages and abilities. You are organized, safety-conscious, adaptable, and you bring a growth mindset to your teaching every day.
Experience & Qualifications
- Must be eligible for and able to obtain H-2B visa sponsorship - this is a required condition of employment for this role
- Current ski instructor certification: PSIA Level 2 Alpine certification required; PSIA Level 3 Alpine certification preferred
- Cross-certification in snowboard instruction preferred
- Snowboard instructors must also be certified to teach skiing at a PSIA L2 or national equivalent
- Children's Specialist certification preferred
- Expert skiing ability required to apply
- Creative, innovative, and able to manage groups of guests in an organized and safe manner
- Ability to build positive working relationships across departments and contribute to a collaborative team environment
- Punctual, reliable, and committed to showing up dressed, equipped, and ready to go by your scheduled start time - assignments may begin as early as 7:00 AM
What you will do
Instruction & Coaching
- Deliver high-quality group lessons, private lessons, and/or coaching sessions as assigned by Snowsports School management
- Participate in and contribute to our Seasonal Shredders program and other specialty coaching tracks
- Apply progressive, guest-centered teaching methodology that meets guests where they are and moves them forward
- Maintain a safe, organized, and engaging learning environment at all times
- Participate actively in our season-long instructor training and professional development program to continuously sharpen your craft
Guest Experience & Team Culture
- Deliver a warm, professional, and memorable experience for every guest - from first contact to final run
- Communicate effectively and positively with guests, families, homeowners, and fellow resort staff
- Serve as a living example of Sugar Bowl's core values in every interaction
- Foster a spirit of collaboration and mutual support with fellow instructors and other resort departments
- Assist with cleaning assignments shared by Snowsports School staff
- Perform snow shoveling as necessary to maintain safe, accessible work areas
- Support other resort departments as operationally needed
Physical Requirements
This is a physically demanding, outdoor role performed entirely on the mountain in Sierra Nevada winter conditions. Candidates must be able to meet the following requirements:
- Ability to ski at a strong advanced/expert level for extended periods throughout a full workday
- Prolonged physical activity on snow including skiing, walking in ski boots, and standing on varied terrain
- Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions typical of Donner Summit, including heavy snowfall, high winds, freezing temperatures, ice, flat light, and reduced visibility - full days, every scheduled shift
- Ability to lift, carry, and assist with equipment and materials weighing up to 75 pounds
- Ability to perform snow shoveling and general physical maintenance tasks as assigned
- Sufficient cardiovascular endurance to sustain high-output physical activity at altitude (approximately 7,500 – 8,383 ft elevation)
- Visual acuity to navigate mountain terrain and monitor guests in varying light and weather conditions
- Must be able to dress appropriately for and safely tolerate sustained exposure to heavy winter weather
Winter Benefits
- Seasonal training opportunity
- Tiered equipment reimbursement based on qualifying hours, available upon return the following season
- PSIA/AASI Certification reimbursement, available upon return the following season
- Additional $20.00/hr for private requests
- Employer sponsored 401k plan after 1000hrs (and 1-yr)
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Free ski and tubing passes for employees
- Free ski passes for dependents
- 50% off food at our cafeterias
- Free group ski and snowboard lessons for employees
- Excellent discounts on competitive and non-competitive Snow Sports Programs
- Employee discounted lift tickets for family and friends
- Lift ticket discounts at tons of resorts including 24 destinations thanks to the Mountain Collective
- Hotel discounts
- Employee ski reciprocal programs