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Snowboarding

Endless Ontario Rain and Private Snowboarding Lessons

By Adam ⋅ January 17, 2006 ⋅ Email this post Email this post ⋅ Print this post Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

I’ve been trying to plan a getaway to Barrie (maybe even a return trip
to Blue?) but the weather is not co-operating. Furthermore, my Alberta
plans are slowly slipping away.

Must. Plan. More. Riding…

Oh well. Worst-case scenario is Jay Peak in two weeks. But when you’re used to riding every weekend, that’s a long time.

In the meantime I’m planning to head to Earl Bales tomorrow and teach a
couple of folks how to snowboard. This, combined with a comment from SnowMellen
in my Blue entry, made me think: there must be a serious biz in private
snowboard lessons. Not the type you get when you buy a package at a
mountain, mind you… but more personal, in-depth lessons from a pro
who works on their own.

Discussion

4 comments for “Endless Ontario Rain and Private Snowboarding Lessons”

  1. Be really, REALLY careful doing freelance snowboard lessons: most ski areas will bust & ban you if they see you teaching. I’m employed at the Ski School in the resorts where I work, but I’m lucky enough to be able to self-schedule.
    IntraWest, for example, will actually blacklist/ban you from ALL their resorts if you’re caught.
    Here in Colorado you’ll also be charged criminally (!). Not only are they losing income, but it’s a big insurance liability issue. Ugh.
    That’s why I left he Canadian resort scene: the resorts charge SO much for lessons, but pay instructors peanuts T_T

    Posted by Anonymous | January 17, 2006, 6:41 pm

  2. Don’t give up on your Alberta trip!! You can do it ^_^
    I used to live in Banff: did you know Sunshine Village is open until May 24th?
    It’s suuuper low-season (=cheap), but the weather’s still very winter-ey; so consider going anytime after Easter, you won’t regret it! It’s just as nice a resort as the ‘Lake
    Mellen
    http://www.snowmellen.net
    I’m really enjoying chatting with ya’, mind if I add your blog into my links page?

    Posted by Anonymous | January 17, 2006, 6:46 pm

  3. No kidding. That’s really interesting, I had no idea. I wonder how they discern between pros giving lessons and some dumbass like me teaching a couple of people how to ride.
    I didn’t get the sense the big Canadian resorts paid much, though.. seems like they all do it for the passes and little else. :|

    Posted by Anonymous | January 17, 2006, 10:24 pm

  4. Fo sho, add away. I put yours up when I read your Blue comment earlier. I’m surprised there aren’t more blogs on the topic out there, to be honest. This one has only been up a couple of months and the increase in traffic has been.. impressive.
    The Lake Louise trip seems to be falling apart, unfortunately. Can’t seem to get everyone’s schedules together, and I don’ t have enough Air Miles to get out to BC. I think it’s degenerated into a road trip to Tremblant/Saint Saveur/other hills out in Quebec when we get back from Vermont.
    This will be the first year I don’t get out to Whistler twice. :( I need to move out west.
    As for the May riding: I’m pretty sure I read somewhere last year that the vertical of the hill available on Blackcomb glacier in, like, May or June was the same as Blue Mountain. Though I could be wrong. ;) –adam

    Posted by Anonymous | January 17, 2006, 10:28 pm

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