As cheesy as it sounds helping people reach their goals is one of the big reasons we put on a lot of these trips and program. It’s especially rewarding to see our instructor graduates go on to make careers for themselves in the snow industry. Our man George Bell graduated from the Level 1 and 2 instructor course in New Zealand last summer and is now diving head first into teaching. Let’s check in and see how he did it.
Andy: George bud, glad to see you back again this winter! Why don’t we start by you telling us a bit about yourself.
George: Well I’m from the North East of England originally, I started skiing on a family holiday to Spain of all places. That carried on to many more family trips to the French Alps and from there I knew I wanted to get into the snow industry. I’ve just finished a media degree at the University of Lincoln in the UK and am hoping to one day bring those skills into ski videos.
A: Sounds like you’re on the right path to achieving your goals. How did you get turned on to the NZ instructor course last year?
G: Well I knew I wanted to find a program that would help me get my level 1 and 2 instructor certifications and I had to do it in the summer so I wouldn’t need to take any time out of Uni. I’m a sucker for a flash website and the Basecamp one drew me in, once I looked into the program more Mt Ruapehu sounded like a no brainer. The biggest resorts in NZ, deepest snowpack and skiing on an active volcano, it sounded like a pretty wild scenario to me.
A: Sounds like it ticked all bases for you. How was your timing with Uni?
G: It worked perfectly, I finished school and had two weeks to relax at home before setting off to the other side of the world. After the course finished I went straight home and pretty much straight into a lecture with a great goggle tan.
A: I bet that goggle tan got you a few confused looks. What did you like about the course?
G: I loved the training, like every 20 year old guy I thought my skiing was pretty hot but the trainers thought differently. I pretty much had to rebuild my skiing from the ground up to make it more efficient but it’s so cool being able to look back at the difference 10 weeks made. The living scenario was pretty awesome, LKNZ lodge is about as good a location as you can get in Ohakune and it’s a super comfortable base of operations. I actually stayed there for a few days again this winter before I moved into my house.
A: Any challenges with the course here?
G: The weather can be a bit tough in NZ when storms roll in. All of the resorts are above the tree line so there is not much shelter when it gets really messy up there. It does however make you a way better skier, if you can smash it here at Ruapehu you know you can ski anywhere.
A: So with all the different summer ski options what made you decide to come back here?
G: The skiable terrain here is amazing, there is more terrain than you can ski in a season and I had a lot more zones I wanted to explore on the volcano. The mountain just kind of draws you back in, even this year with a different snowpack the runs I thought I had figured out are different again, it’s always evolving up there. The whole area is kooky but brilliant, it’s very different from anywhere else I have skied or lived but in a good way. I don’t know how to describe it really, you need to check it out to understand. Everyone who comes back year after year are amazing folks with a great outlook on life, it’s a good crew to be around.
A: It’s definitely a bit of a magical place here. How is it working this year compared to being on the course last season?
G: Getting set up with a job was pretty easy. I knew all the trainers from last season and they gave me some help with the application and great references. Once I had the offer I got a kiwi working holiday visa online in a couple days. No waiting pools, lengthy applications or visits to embassies, pretty much put in your passport and a credit card number and you’re away. Work is super sociable and its easy to find likeminded people to hang with so that carries on well from last season. I do miss Linda’s meals at the lodge though.
A: How is the actual work teaching?
G: Its pretty entertaining, I’m teaching a lot of kids which is super entertaining, you get a really cool mix of kids that love it and others that are absolutely terrified by skiing, either way it never gets old. I get a really cool group of local kids every Sunday for the full day, I can’t wait to see how good they will be by the end of the season.
A: So what’s next after this winter?
G: I already have a job and a visa lined up to do a ski season in Japan, a few of the guys from the course last summer worked at APPI on the main island and have gotten me a job there for this coming winter. After that it will be back to Ruapehu in 2018, I really want to pass my level 3 and move on to become a trainer. It looks like I have a potential job in America for the 18/19 winter in the Lake Tahoe area so I will probably take that one. No end to skiing in sight!
A: Looks like you have it all sorted out, great effort George.
Well there you go, another person proving that going skiing is a way better opportunity compared with living in the real world. If you want to spend your summers skiing make sure you check out the New Zealand courses we have on offer.
Ticket To Ride New Zealand Options
-Andrew