Working Holiday Gap Year Programs After College in Canada

During my gap year, I had the incredible opportunity to work abroad in the Canadian mountains. Surrounded by amazing landscapes I gained hands-on experience in a dynamic environment. Whether assisting guests at a ski resort or living in the mountains, I developed valuable skills in teamwork, adaptability, and communication. The process for applying for an internship was made really easy as I was offered all the help I needed. This experience helped me grow personally but also professionally and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about doing an internship abroad.

The Slopes at Castle Mountain Resort in Alberta are of great quality! You won't get bored here, regardless of your skiing/board skills. The powder in the 2022/2023 season was off the charts ? Having skilled instructors help you though getting your level 1 & 2 was so helpful and having a helping hand when you first arrive in Canada was amazing and so easy! 100% recommend this program ?

EA Ski and Snowboard Training responded to this reviewJanuary 11, 2024

Kayleigh, we’re so glad to have supported you on the journey to becoming an instructor at Castle Mountain Resort. It’s our mission to make this process smooth and provide high quality training. It’s fantastic to know that our team made a positive impact on your development and that you had a lot of fun. Thank you for recommending our program! -The EA Team.

I’d always wanted to do a ski season but had never considered becoming an instructor as I didn’t think I was good enough. As soon as I heard you could get all the training you needed and a guaranteed job I was in! The whole process with EA was awesome, from speaking with their training consultants on the phone to finally arriving in Canada meeting the program reps and all the other interns. Almost instantly I had a massive group of new mates and over the course of the season we became a weirdly dysfunctional family! The training we received was incredible, i’d always thought I was a decent enough skier but the improvements we all made in just 3/4 weeks at the start (and over the course of the season) was insane! Would happily do this all again if I could!

Though I've had a great time in Japan meeting great people and getting the opportunity to ski amazing powder I don't feel as if I got what I paid for. Though I have thoroughly enjoyed ski instructing in the few months I've been here I was less to believe I'd have work and accommodation November through April. In reality though mine and the majority of the EA staffs contracts have not been extended due to lack of work available. I now can not afford to stay in japan until the date of my flight I was told to book in mid April and can not afford to stay on the meal plan not ski. Great few months but now feel as if I've been left out to dry march through April.

A piece of advice, if like me you were looking into this program but not sure if you are gonna do it, just take the plunge and do it, you won't regret it! Cypress is a beautiful mountain with a huge variety of terrain and mountain views on one side, and ocean views on the other, truly no other resort is quite like it, as for EA, these guys are with you from start to finish, making sure you have visas, accommodation, orientations all set up on arrival, they give you everything you need and are willing to help out as much as they can I cannot recommend this program highly enough, it's incredible and if you can, you should do it