Just Got Your A-Level Results? Why Now Could Be the Time to Book a Ski Instructor Course

A-level results day has arrived. After months of exams, revision and wondering what the future might look like, you finally know your grades.

For many students, the next step is university. But what if you’re not completely sure that university is right for you yet?

What if you’d rather spend a winter doing something completely different, challenging yourself, improving your skiing and gaining a qualification that could lead to a career in the mountains?

A ski instructor course could be the perfect next step.

Take a Different Path This Winter

Choosing what to do after A-levels is a big decision. You don’t necessarily have to have your entire career mapped out at 18.

A gap year can be an opportunity to experience something new, develop your skills and come back with a much clearer idea of what you want to do next.

And instead of simply taking a year out, you could use that time to work towards a professional qualification.

A ski instructor course gives you the chance to spend a winter in the Alps while developing your skiing, gaining internationally recognised qualifications and experiencing what it’s really like to work in a ski resort.

Why Become a Ski Instructor?

If you’ve always loved skiing, becoming a ski instructor can turn that passion into something much more.

You’ll spend your winter in the mountains, train with experienced coaches, meet people from all over the world and develop skills that you can take with you beyond the course.

It’s also an opportunity to find out whether a career in the ski industry is something you’d genuinely enjoy.

At Altitude Futures, the 10-week Verbier Gap Course combines BASI Level 1 and 2 training with life in one of the world’s most famous ski resorts. The course is designed for people on a gap year, those looking to improve their skiing and anyone considering ski instructing as a new career.

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert Skier

One of the biggest misconceptions about ski instructor courses is that you need to already be an incredible skier.

You don’t.

For the Altitude Gap Course, you need to be at least 18 and confidently able to ski a red run, along with having the motivation to train hard and improve.

The whole point of the course is to develop your skiing.

Over the winter, you’ll work with experienced coaches and spend hundreds of hours on the mountain developing the technical skills, confidence and teaching ability needed to become a qualified instructor.

Altitude’s coaching team includes BASI Level 4 instructors and trainers, giving trainees the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced coaches in the BASI system.

What Will You Get From the Course?

It’s much more than simply spending a winter skiing.

You’ll be working towards your BASI Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications, while gaining experience in a professional ski-school environment.

You’ll also develop:

• Advanced skiing technique
• Teaching and communication skills
• Confidence on different terrain
• Mountain awareness
• Experience working with other skiers
• A network of friends and contacts within the ski industry

And, of course, you’ll experience living in the Alps for an entire winter.

What Happens After the Course?

For many people, the biggest attraction isn’t just getting qualified — it’s what comes next.

Altitude Futures operates its Gap Course alongside Altitude Ski School. Successful trainees have the opportunity to work within the ski school after completing their qualifications, giving them the chance to put their training into practice and start gaining real teaching experience.

This means your winter doesn’t necessarily have to end when your course finishes.

You could qualify, start teaching and discover that ski instructing is something you’d like to pursue further.

Why Book Now?

If you’ve just received your A-level results, you may be thinking about your options for September.

University isn’t the only route.

If you’re considering a gap year, now is the perfect time to start planning your winter.

Altitude’s 2026/27 Gap Courses are already open for bookings, with 10-week courses starting in November, January and February.

The earlier you decide, the more time you’ll have to prepare your skiing, organise your travel and accommodation, and get ready for an incredible winter in Verbier.

Could This Be Your Next Step?

You might have spent the last two years working towards your A-levels. Now you’ve got the results, it’s time to think about what’s next.

Maybe that’s university.

Or maybe it’s something completely different.

If you want to spend a winter in the Alps, dramatically improve your skiing, gain your BASI qualifications and potentially start working as a ski instructor, an Altitude Gap Course could be the perfect way to spend your gap year.

Don’t just take a year out. Make it count.

Ready for your next adventure?

Bookings for the 2026/27 Altitude Futures Gap Courses are now open.

Find out more about the BASI Gap Course in Verbier and start planning your winter.