Winter Sports Company Avis 

The 9 week ski patrol course in Revelstoke has been an amazing and really effective way of getting a foot in the patrol would door.

I Signed up to the course with the intentions of starting a career in the patrol industry. fast forward to the end of the course and I have collected all the required base qualifications and certificates to work as a patroller on any mountain in Canada and many other countries around the world. As well as gaining full time employment on bike patrol for summer at Revy !!

For someone coming over on a visa with a expiry date it is an extremely time efficient way of getting into a patrol operation as well as entering equiped with key knowledge and skills.

The Revelstoke patrol crew are awesome with a very diverse range of skills. a extremely dialed operation. you are learning from the best !!

As for general living, you don't need to stress, the food is amazing and will keep you primed as well as awesome vibes from a household full of diverse yet like minded people.

Revelstoke itself is a wild mountain with some jaw dropping terrain both inbounds and out in the backcountry. no matter your ski level you will progress and probably find plenty of spots to push your skiing !! The town has an awesome vibe and really is a very dedicated outdoor community.

And why Winter Sports Company itself ?, it is run by two of the coolest and caring people I know. Rik and Emma are both amazing and are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. this isn't another one of those large scale companies that are determined to just put bums on seats. from the get go when you call WSC you are calling Rik directly. there is no palming off to the marketing wing. Living with them In Revelstoke I was able to see first hand just how hard they work and how evenly they spread their attention to everyone in their courses.
every season they are asking for feedback, reviewing and updating their courses to dial them in even more and ensure they are staying at the arrows head with regards to quality of training.

If I were you I'd be giving Rik a call.....

Lachie

This is my second course now with the winter sports company and I still have nothing bad to say about them. This year I took part in the ski patrol course at revelstoke and it’s been the most fun skiing I’ve ever had.

Living in revelstoke has been a really great experience because you feel more like you’re apart of the town and the Canadian way of living rather than just being based at the ski resort. Living with 14 other people is definitely an experience but it’s been a good one, the group bonded so well and the group dynamic in the house has always been positive. The revelstoke course doesn’t offer ski in ski out but that hasn’t been an issue what so ever, living a couple minutes drive from the resort has actually been quite nice because it gives you somewhere to rest away from the slopes ready for the next day instead of living and breathing the ski resort.

The course its self has been amazing, very intense but amazing. I’m sure Rik will tell you on the phone but if you’re considering a ski patrol course make sure you are ready to work hard. The skiing days are long and tiring but everyday is always rewarding, being the first up on the mountain hours before the public especially on a powder day is one of the best things to experience and you get to do that everyday, being the last off the mountain is also great too because who doesn’t love skiing while watching the sunset.

Overall this course has been perfect right from departure to return.

Rik has been incredibly helpful and honest throughout this process. Him and Emma have been so good at coordinating and planning out our season and it has been the best winter of my life. Fairmont is a small, extremely friendly resort which has been amazing to work at. The training at Pano has been incredible and has made everyone such a better skier.
Trust Rik about getting the full 2 years of your visa, you will regret it if you don't.

During my time here in Revelstoke, I have had nothing but positive expereinces.

The instriuction I have received on the mountain has been exceptional, the instructors we have had each bring a veriety of knowledge and expereinces allowing us to see the spectrum of teaching styles and approaches. They are all easy going and have been able to answer all questions I have about the mountian, technique, instructing etc. Despite a couple inital concerns, the the communication between Winter Sports, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and us training instructors has been pretty constant and we have had ample oppertunity to shadow current instructors, practice our own technique and then also to ski for ourselves.

The whole atmosphere in the house has been relaxed, friendly and encouraging. Ryan (Valley Retreat) has been so good catering to us with the food being delicious every night.

The value of the course has been great so far and I would highly recommend it to any good skier looking to begin a career in snowsports and improve their skiing at a world class venue.

WSC feels like home, their hospitality is great and Rik and Emma are awsome! I'm currently doing the patrol course in Revelstoke and it is what I expected it to be! Don't expect it to be easy, you'll need to work for the certifications but its all worth it!

Joined the ski patrol course in Revy, and really enjoyed it. The course is well organized and thought-through, accommodation was great and Rik (aka man behind WSC), who stayed with us most of the time was extra-helpful. The course is a great ramp for getting into resort operations as it touches on pretty much all the subjects needed for patrolling.

The Ski Instructor Course with Winter Sports Company has been truly amazing so far. The accommodation is fantastic, providing a relaxing and welcoming space to get to know everyone and hang out; the instructors teaching us have all been brilliant and full of energy; and the mountain itself is epic - amazing long runs, off piste moguls, and beautiful tree glades to explore. It’s been so much fun that I have decided to extend my stay!

But the people who have really made the trip are Rik and Emma, who are both very responsive and always around to answer any questions or deal with any issues or concerns you might have (however minor). Rik especially has gone out of his way to make sure everyone is having a good time and that we have everything we need whilst we’re out here, day or night (including 3am pick ups from the bar!)

I couldn’t recommend a trip to Revelstoke with the Winter Sports Company enough - you definitely won’t regret it!

Making the decision to do a season with WSC was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Fairmont is such a great place to work, Although it may be a smaller hill i was presented with great opportunities such as higher end lessons, basic toboggan training and great teaching terrain as well as meeting some amazing people! I hope to return here for another season.

i did a ski season in 2021/22 and it was truly the best experience of my life. I went with the level 1 and 2 internship in Canada. there isn’t a day that goes by where i don’t think about it. Rik and his whole team went that extra mile and made my experience amazing. i did my season in Panorama Mountain Resort and at first i was sceptical as i never heard of it before but when i got there, it was the most beautiful place i have ever seen. i have made friends for life through the winter sports company and the training that they gave me even for me into my second season at Banff Sunshine Village. I can’t thank Rik enough for all he did for me.

Having read the other reviews I agree with pretty much all that everyone has already said;

- Best value for money of all the instructor courses (lift passes alone cost about £1000 for a season regardless)
- Living conditions superior to expectations and what I had experienced on my other ski seasons.
- A smaller company allowing for Rik and Emma to provide a more personal experience.
- Training and development opportunities were excellent.

A few things that I would like to add that others may have not already mentioned.

For some joining the programme, it may be their first time away from home and a bit daunting. But Rik and Emma went above and beyond the whole way through.

I was hoping to join a programme with my girlfriend (who is a chef and was not wanting to become an instructor). All other companies I spoke to were fairly dismissive and offering solutions that were either not realistically feasible or very expensive. From the off, Rik and Emma went out of their way to figure out a way that it would work for both me and my girlfriend, often causing a lot of extra work and encurring extra costs for themselves. Even figuring out places that she could work, places we could stay that would be easier for her to get to work, logistical complications with getting to resort during the training period etc, for no extra cost.

One situation that sticks out was when we left Calgary for Panorama, my girlfriend left a suitcase behind, and although not technically being with the winter sports company Rik drove a 4 hour round trip just to pick up her suitcase for her no extra cost.

When we got to resort, and were fully trained as instructors, technically Rik’s work was done. But he stayed around for a month afterwards, solving any problems we had, checked up on us individually, organised social events, would drive people to town to where we could get cheaper groceries, lended equipment until people could afford to get their own, helped with rent until our first paycheque landed and more.

He would regularly take us out for meals, again often paying for my girlfriend who wasn’t on the course. His generosity is unrivalled. And all the time, he always wanted to be involved knowing what was going on and how we were all doing, and if someone wasn’t doing well what he could do to make it better. If Rik, or ‘Uncle Rik’ as he was coined, said something would happen when you paid for your course, it would happen or he would come up with a solution.

Rik also helped us to integrate with the 8 week programme who joined later, and a large amount of the group have decided to stay in Invermere/Panorama for summer. The other instructors and trainers were great, and the friendships expand beyond the training. I’ve found the locals aswell are incredibly hospitable and willing to help.

All in all, going across the world can be a scary experience, but Rik and Emma will do all they can to make it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible for you. Great people. Great experience.

I had a wonderful time here and I'm happy for choosing wintersport.

Before coming to Sun Peaks, I had never skied before and had only spent less than two weeks snowboarding. This kind of experience might have been rejected by other companies but Rik honestly shared his thoughts and suggested solutions such as training I can do in Taiwan or arriving early at Sun Peaks instead of just reject.

I chose the 18-week program. Being a non-native speaker, I faced some communication difficulties but Rik was patient and customized my needs.

For example:

1. Arriving a few days early at Sun Peaks to participate in private lessons as a preparation to avoid falling behind in training.
2. I booked breakfast for only a month and canceled for the rest
3. CSIA Level 1 training and examination during the program
4. CASI Park Level 1
5. Arranged a room change during the accommodation period.
You can always discuss your desires with Rik, and he will provide suggestions and try to meet your needs as much as possible.

Now let's talk about snowboard/ski training. The instructors here are not only exceptional snowboarder/skiers but also great trainers. We are guided by Level 3/Level 4 instructors. Besides their professionalism, they are also passionate, which helps us stay focused during training. My snowboarding skills improved beyond what I could have imagined when I first started (thanks to Rich/Jaron/Melissa/Nelson), and my skiing skills also improved significantly (thanks to Tori/Will/Rachel). I would also like to thank my roommate Tim and Joe for taking the time to teach me some basic skiing techniques, which helped me get through the training smoothly.

The weekly training sessions were well-balanced. We had four days of training per week, including teaching and riding. The remaining three days could be used for rest, self-training, or shadow teaching. The loading wasn't overwhelming which the training feel less exhausting.

Lastly, I would like to offer advice to those considering participating: You might want to consider staying an extra week in case you encounter a evaluator who always judge everyone subjectively like I did. In this case, you can immediately sign up for the next session.

During my time here, I get certifications for CASI Level 1, Park Level 1, CSIA Level 1, and CASI Level 2 riding. Although I didn't fully achieve my goals, I am grateful for choosing wintersport to arrange this journey. Hope to come back soon.

It was the best winter of my life! Rik and Emma were very helpful in organising everything and always available if you had any questions. I really enjoyed the ski training at panorama, the instructors were all amazing and helped everyone improve their own skiing massively. The winter sports company organised all our accommodation and provided a guaranteed job at the end of our training. I would definitely recommend the winter sports company to anyone wanting to do a gap year!

I would definitely choose WSC again for my daughters ski season as it was tailored made for Level 1 & 2 ski courses in Canada with great information from Rik and Emma who walked us through the whole process to get to Canada. Also the staff at WSC in Sun Peaks resort guided my daughter Millie throughout her first ski season from start to end - Thanks to Rob and Dawn.
Millie joined Sun Peaks ski school once she had her ski qualification Level 1 who were great to work for teaching all ages. I can honestly say that Millie seriously enjoyed her time out in Canada and it was a life time experience being able to meet and make new friends from all parts of the world plus an amazing experience to remember. Hopefully she'll be able to do another ski season with WSC again.
I would definitely recommend WSC and give them 5 out of 5 and can't thank them enough.

Lisa & Millie

Anyone who is considering a gap year or even travelling should begin their journey with the Winter Sports company. Not only do they offer great opportunities in many resorts across the world, they accommodate for everyone’s needs and wants with a wide range of courses/ programmes. Rik and Emma (owners) are very polite, helpful and dealing with them was very easy. There were no issue with contacting them and they were happy to help with the process where needed.

My experience was incredible from start to finish, meeting great people along the way. Winter Sports provide superb training for both Skiers and Snowboarders with highly qualified instructors who massively improve you irrespective of your skill level. There’s a great deal of support/ guidance in all aspects of your trip including Rik who’s quick to deal with any enquiries upon arrival to the end of the season. He also provides extra entertainment with his great stories and loved having a few beers with us! In all seriousness, Rik and Emma provide a very personal touch and unlike other major businesses in the industry you don’t feel like a number to a company.

The housing that Winter Sports provided in Panorama were luxury apartments, very spacious and comfortable. Another bonus is that the apartments were a 1 minute journey from the shuttle bus stop. The price of the package is very reasonable. Winter Sports I believe have the best value for your experience. Having met other instructors and staff who worked at Panorama, Winter sports 100% provided the best experience for the price (accommodation, transfer, training, qualification etc etc..) Many companies charged more with less benefits included. Not also to mention, the other activities Rik did for us out of his own pocket.

I’ve had a great 5 months away and visting Canada was always a dream. If you’re interested in doing a ski season or travelling during your gap year, the Winter Sports Company are the people to go with. Hats off to Emma and Rik for all their efforts and I wish them all the best in the future !

I went to Sun Peaks with Wintersports for an 18-week level 1&2 ski instructor and the ski patrol course.

The lodge we were staying at was at a great ski-in, ski out location which was very convenient. I stayed in a 3 people room. It was a bit crowded and one person had to sleep on a pull-out couch the entire trip but other than that the lodge was great. Two hot tubs, nice staff in the reception and overall, clean.

The rep we had at the resort was great and did handle most small mistakes or issues that we had. For example, when I missed my level 2 exams due to an injury, he reached out to the CSIA and booked me on the next one. He also helped us switch ski instructors every now and then, since a lot of the older men we got, had issues communicating with us younger women.

One thing I was disapointed with was the meal plan we were on. Unfortunately, we only had 4 resturants instead of 5, and only 1 breakfast place instead of 2. The staff at 3/4 of these resturants were extreamly uninterested in us and we were often shoved in a corner or forgotten. The breakfast can be described with powdered eggs. In my opinion, it just was not worth the money.

Another thing I was disappointed with was the communication. Sometimes I had to send email several times to get an answer from Rik or Emma. I still have not received an answer on my email regarding the weather and navigation invoice that I sent over a month ago.

Worth mentioning is that the price went up 3% a couple of months after booking. This was however, communicated well in an email.

Some improvements for WSC could be working on is communication and setting the right expectations.

All in all, I had a good experience with Wintersports and a great time in Sun Peaks gaining my level 1,2 and ski patrol license.

If you want the greatest 6 months of your life, the Winter Sports Company is your golden ticket. After scouring the internet for a company which offered ski instructor gap year experiences, I stumbled across the WSC, whose competitive pricing and personal touch won me over. Within hours of my first email to them I was on the phone to Rik who talked me through the whole experience. Both Rik & Emma were super helpful with everything from Visa info to what skis and equipment to bring. The transport and accommodation operation ran smoothly and was excellent. The instructor training we received was superb, ran by highly trained professionals and it’s safe to say we all improved astronomically. Rik was always on hand if we ever had any issues. The group I went out with was great and we had loads of fun over the season from attending weekly Ice Hockey matches to skiing powder in Taynton Bowl, and dancing till dawn with Rik at an 80s disco night.

I met some excellent people over the season, and it has truly been a once in a lifetime experience, thanks Uncle Riky and WSC

When I talked to Rik and Emma for the first time, I knew that WSC is the company for me! They gave me good advice on all the programs and helped me organize my visa. During the time in Panorama, Rik was either there to go out with us or in the UK, but always reliable when we had worries or questions to talk to us on the phone.
The group was perfect, not too many and all about in the same age. We all became good friends and enjoyed living together. The accomoations as well in Panorama as in Invermere were excellent, way better than what I expected.
The trainings with the local instructors were always super fun and prepared us well for our exams. The resort was perfect to work at but also to improve your own skiing since there is so much terrain to explore.
I am so thankful for everything and I really recommend WSC. Even as the only German I didn't have any problems and I'm excited to motivate more to sign up with WSC.

Overall I recommend WSC and the WSC Panorama ski instructor internship because it was a superb experience where i made many great memories and friends. I found the season great as a gap year activity, however as with anything like this, it is expensive and no one that i know made their money back at panorama. We made enough money to live off but not enough to earn back the initial costs.

I chose WSC because it is the best priced ski internship that i have ever seen, especially because with WSC i was not charged any extra fees that i didn't know about…Which other companies seem to do.
Personally i regret spending the extra money on some of the Bolt ons that i did not need so don’t feel any pressure to get any of them.

A concern i had with WSC was that at times it seemed that Rik would (understandably) be too busy to give people the attention that they wanted. For example there seemed to be a few missed emails but nothing major. However me and the other interns thought Rik was a top bloke with a lovely team.

In have just finished the season with WSC and what a-season it has been! The company who offers guaranteed jobs upon passing your exams to be an instructor are the cheapest by far of any other provider who offers a similar service. Rik and the team are incredible, they offer such a personalised and friendly service. They always have all the time in the world for me before and throughout the season available by phone, text or email. They looked after me from day one and supported the whole process of visa's etc. to meeting at the airport and getting me settled into Canada. They have a wealth of experience to go above and beyond in setting helping set up bank accounts, phone plans and much more. The program itself has been excellent and I love how planed in advance it was throughout the whole season so I could see exactly what I was doing and where. Accommodation has been excellent throughout and very affordable.
I trained at Panorama Mountain Resort and then spent the season in Alberta at Hidden Valley Ski Resort. The pay is phenomenal as a Level 1 Instructor and I was able to save a lot of money to then travel at the end of the season. Alongside working I spent time training through organised sessions to prepare me for my Level 2 exam that took place back at Panorama at the end of the season. The season at HV had some pros and cons. The cons was mainly that the resort is small so not as much terrain to play up but this was counteracted by the organised trips each month to bigger mountains in Banff. There were so many pros but specifically compared to Panorama was the pay, guaranteed hours every week and a more personalised time and support both on snow development and personally from the staff there. It has been the best six months of my life!
I additionally also really like that Rik and the team have been in touch throughout the season asking for feedback and input to make positive and proactive changes to improve their service and my experience.
Finally, although the program has come to an end for me, Rik and team are still fully available and supporting my next steps in continuing to instruct. Even offering helpful advice and support to go elsewhere and away from the WSC which is just so lovely.
Anyone would be foolish to use any other company to pay more and just be a number on a spread sheet.

Thank you so much Winter Sports Company!