About Snow Challenge

Snow Challenge was set up in January 2007 as a result of frequent requests from ski training schools in the region of Western Alberta and The Kootenays. Two of these schools had been dealing with training courses for several years and wanted a course which focused more on showing people a bigger selection of what this region had to offer. Along with training the attendees for a future in snow sports they were tasked with supplying ongoing support for past participants no matter what their chosen path upon course completion. With the brief being this extensive it was by no means easy to fulfil but after starting low key and with vibrant owners in Jon and Stephanie Rose Snow Challenge has raised the bar in quality and experience.

About Jon

Jon is now the co owner of Snow Challenge along with his wife Stephanie. After leaving college, Jon worked in the building industry and became a senior surveyor for a UK government agency before giving it all up to pursue his passion, sport. Before joining the snow sports industry Jon had played sport all his life and has been skiing in Canada for 9 years, the last four of those seasons as a full time skiing instructor. During this time he has worked for both the Nakiska Snow School and the award winning SOS School of Skiing. Rather than head south chasing the snow Jon spends his summers sailing yachts around Europe as he is a qualified Commercial Yachtmaster.

Asked to comment on making the move and doing the job, Jon says “Although I enjoyed the job I was doing it was always little more than a job. My passion was sport and I’d always dreamt of being involved in ski instructor training and coaching at some level. When it came to the decision to quit what we had known for over 10 years it was daunting but not as difficult as I’d expected. I have absolutely no regrets and would do it all over again if I had to. There’s no better feeling than being handed a home made thank you card from a 6 year old or being given a big hug from a 6’ 6” rugby player because you’ve just helped him have the experience of a lifetime.”

About Steph

After leaving school Stephanie began work with the NHS as a medical physics technician. By the age of 32 Steph had decided that 14 years in the same field was enough and started to plan the next step.

Steph has also been skiing in Canada for 9 years (no surprise there) and has also spent the last four as a full time snow sports professional, but where as Jon stuck with ski training and instructing Steph had always wanted to move into ski patrol. After one year as a level 2 skiing instructor she did. Steph has worked on pro patrol at both Nakiska and Panorama mountains and is also a qualified Yachtmaster.

Asked to comment on making the move and doing the job, Stephanie says - “I attended the skiing instructors course to improve my skiing but to my surprise, enjoyed the teaching as well. As soon as I started work as a ski patroller I could safely say I’ve found my perfect job. Its hard work and can be a bit daunting but beats my old job hands down. I can’t wait for the new season and never thought I would look forward to going to work”

Web www.snowchallengecanada.com  
There are tons of ski training courses and ski instructor training courses out there for future skiing instructors but don’t be fooled by pie-in-the-sky promises. One false move and you could find yourself in a “yard sale.” At Snow Challenge, you’ll improve your skiing and become a certified skiing instructor with unparalleled guidance from the industry’s top trainers and ski training courses. What’s more, we’re the only company to offer dedicated career service. We use our commercial contacts and industry relationships to help you become gainfully employed at a Canadian resort. Challenge yourself to be the best you can be by taking ski training courses from Snow Challenge.