The majority of snowboarding resorts offer instructional classes for riders off all skill levels. To obtain a position as a snowboard instructor you must complete a rigorous curriculum of course work and on-the-mountain training. Snowboarding instructors are often granted free access to the slopes and terrain parks of the mountain resort.
Certification/Qualifications
It takes more than just knowing the basic turns and maneuvers to be an effective snowboarding instructor. Most snowboard instructor training courses involve an on-the-mountain training session, which allows facilitators to gauge your level of skill. According to Snowboarding Essentials, most snowboard instructor classes based in the United States center around the American Association of Snowboard Instructor's Curriculum, which includes a written exam at the end of the session. After passing the level one exam, you can enroll in higher learning classes.
Level One
Once you receive your level one certification, you'll have the qualifications to teach novice riders the essential techniques. At the beginning of the class, you'll have to teach your students how to strap their boots into the snowboard and how to safely enter and exit the ski lift. According to Nonstop Snowboarding, level one instructors also demonstrate the five fundamentals of snowboarding, including how to choose a stance, braking, maintaining proper balance and shifting your body weight between the edges of the board.
Level Two
Level two snowboard instructors have the ability to teach students with an intermediate level of skill. In the level two class you'll teach your students have to connect their heel-side and toe-side carves down the mountain slope. As a level two snowboard instructor, you'll also be responsible for demonstrating how to ride in the switch stance as well as how to execute high-speed turns. Level two snowboard instructors also help students to learn how to adapt to numerous types of snow conditions.
Freestyle Instructor
While certain snowboard instructors keep their students on the snow-covered slopes, others hold class in specialized facility known as the terrain park. Freestyle snowboard instructors must go through a grueling training program that involves riding on metal rails, fiberglass boxes and inclined ramps. A level one freestyle snowboard instructor will teach his class how to perform a basic Ollie as well as how to ride up the vertical wall of the half pipe ramp. Level two freestyle instructors often demonstrate more advanced maneuvers including grabs and 360 spins.
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