What inspired you to work for Project Snow?
Getting out there can be challenging. Navigating visas, managing logistics and figuring out how to get the most from your time away can seem overwhelming. I created Project Snow to help streamline the planning and pack as much as possible into a winter experience.
It is important to me that there are plenty of opportunities to grow personally and develop relevant life skills that you can use no matter what your next step is. Plus the snow and the food in Niseko is unreal!!
Describe a typical day at work.
I start my days chatting with candidates that are considering our courses and getting them all of the details they need. I'll then work on the season's logistics, marketing and social feeds. During the season I am out in Japan ensuring everything runs smoothly while getting some time in the powder as well.
The team bringing you the season of a lifetime - Tristan Muller (Project Snow) & Bryan Cleaver (Next Stage Snowsports).
Why do you do what you do?
I love helping people get out and travel! I've been fortunate to have seen quite a bit of the world and appreciate how much I've learned from those experiences. I'm always amazed at the opportunities that present themselves that you would never of found otherwise. It's also important to me that I have a good balance of work and outside time and Project Snow helps me achieve that.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Seeing the stoke on someone's face after an incredible day on the mountain! You get a feel for it when watching videos and talking with people but until you're out there in the Japow you just can't fully understand it. I love helping those looking for an unforgettable experience get out there to make it happen.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
When running a business, each day throws new curve balls at you. For any challenge I start with the mindset that there are usually multiple solutions and I just need to find them. Each morning I generally meditate to put me in a calm and open mindset to tackle each day.
It is guaranteed that challenges will be a part of life no matter what you do. I believe that it is important to see the opportunity to learn from anything that comes your way as we can't control life but we can choose to be positive and ready for anything.
Tristan with his partner MJ in Santiago, Spain after finishing the Camino.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Don't over plan and be present. I didn't realize how much of a planner I was until we were preparing to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I kept wanting to make sure we had our next accommodation set unsure that we would find a place. Took a while but was able to let go a bit and found that a big part of any experience is to just go with the flow and see where it takes you.
If you're concentrating on just the next part of whatever it is you're doing you miss out on what's right in front of you. Choose to live in the now and experience it for all that it is.
What makes Project Snow special?
Our level of attention to each individual on our courses. Before the season we speak with everyone to specifically determine what their goals are from their time with us and we check in periodically to ensure they're on track.
One common goal is to enhance their skiing or snowboarding skills and everyone develops at slightly different timeframes. This is why we created our Performance Guarantee which covers extra training towards specific skill sets at the end of the course to ensure everyone gets to the level they're after.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
The main reason is that we have a very high level of engagement as we only specialize in Niseko and limit spaces on our courses. We ensure the right balance of training, down time, cultural experiences, future season planning and life skills so no matter what your next step is you've developed as a person as well as a better skier or snowboarder.
What makes Project Snow easy to market to potential participants?
Choosing the ultimate destination and including most everything in our courses. Niseko is the powder capital of the world. Combine that with Japan's amazing people, culture, and food and you have a recipe for an incredible experience. Also, we understand how much is involved with planning a trip away and have incorporated the most elements possible into all of our options so it is show up and go for all of our course participants.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
At Project Snow, our mission is to provide a comprehensive snow-sports instructor training course that shares our passion for travel with a commitment to helping individuals build and enhance their personal skill sets. We strive to empower individuals to become skilled instructors while nurturing their love for travel and personal development. We aspire to be the premier destination for instructor training, offering an exceptional educational experience that prepares our students for a lifetime of adventure, professional opportunities, and personal fulfillment.
It's critical to ensure the conditions are up to par. Tristan out sampling the recent snowfall.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
Our main hope would be that everyone's self confidence has developed from successfully navigating their training and exams. Also, that their communication skills are enhanced through the teaching portions of the course, the industry meet and greets and the introduction to personality types. Finally that we've helped open up future options regardless of what direction they take from our CV, online presence, and hiring video development.
How do you help support participants?
Our support starts from the first day of communicating with a prospective participant helping them understand the different options and considerations of doing a season. We then help plan out visas, gear, insurance, flights and budgeting.
During the season we are onsite in Niseko managing the day to day and helping with any personal items that may arise. After the course we are always available to assist with future job interviewing, visas, and general career counseling.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Do I need to know Japanese? All training, exams and program elements are in English. You'll learn some basic terms to help connect with the locals but most speak some English so it is easy to get around.
Do I need to have ski or snowboarding experience? No, because we have a learn to ski program which is called The Primer. It starts with group lessons and then on to the level 1 instructor certification. For those who are already at a strong intermediate level we have The Epic, which includes both level 1 and 2 instructor certifications along with backcountry and freestyle training.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
It’s amazing at how much you take in and grow when abroad. Gaining a better understanding of different cultures can help you build relationships and collaborate more effectively. This leads to a more informed worldview which can help you approach problem-solving in a more nuanced way. For example, almost every future role will require working within a team and with a stronger understanding of how people communicate and react you will be able to recognise and bridge gaps driving your leadership ability.
Experiencing different cultures, and seeing with your own eyes the gaps that exist between different levels of society will build empathy. As the world becomes more globalized, people with strong intercultural skills, empathy, and resilience are highly sought after. And all of these soft skills will help dramatically with any direction you end up taking in life.
Roy's Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand. "We are so fortunate to have such an incredible landscape to explore in our backyard."
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
It shows a level of respect and appreciation for the country and culture that you are visiting. Everyone appreciates how difficult it can be to learn a new language. When you make the effort instead of assuming they'll speak your language you instantly start to make connections with people.
Also, I love the smiles you get! It doesn't matter if you're grammar is perfect as locals will be able to figure it out. Start with little phrases and go from there.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
A little planning will go a long way. Research visas and the country's travel rules. Always have travel insurance. Learn about the culture and some of the language of where you are going.
There are so many great videos on YouTube available now for every destination. Grab a quick photo and then get off of your phone. Be present and experience what's happening right in front of you.
Most importantly, get out there! You can't plan everything but you'll be amazed at how you'll figure things out along the way.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
There is so much value to be gained by travel but I believe empathy to be the key. Defined, it is the ability to understand and share the feelings, perspectives, and experiences of others. It's like stepping into someone else's shoes and genuinely caring about their emotions and well-being.
When we empathize, we can connect with people on a deeper level, show compassion, and offer support when they need it. Instead of chasing content for the socials I think it is crucial to be present and truly take in the experiences.