It’s Christmas day. I’ve just finished my seventh consecutive one-hour private lesson. No lunch, no bathroom breaks, just a constant stream of beginner skiers. I’m exhausted and fuming as I come to the realization that not one single guest has offered me a tip. Not one.
Here’s the thing: no one should expect tips, they are to be earned. No matter how low your hourly wage is, in any service based job you are rewarded according to your customer’s level of satisfaction. That being said, I was angry. On a holiday that’s meant to be shared with your loved ones, I was out in the elements with a smile on my face reassuring each and every person I was entrusted with on their wobbly road to skiing success. One could safely assume that at least one out of seven students would tuck a bill into my hand and thank me for taking such good care of them. No such luck for me.
Tips for ski or snowboard instructors can be very unpredictable. Depending on the country and/or resort in which they’re based, tipping culture varies vastly. The US is by far the most consistent country in which to receive tips. It’s even rumoured that New Yorkers are the highest tipping customers. New Zealand on the other hand is notoriously bad for tips, mainly because it isn’t part of the service industry at all. Canadians are inconsistent, but tend to have thoughts along the lines of: “I paid a ton for this lesson, so I shouldn’t have to fork out more.” This has prompted the ever-popular joke:
“How do Canadians differ from canoes?”
Canoes tip.
It does indeed also comes down to perception. When paying an excess of one hundred dollars an hour for a lesson, many guests are under the impression that a large portion goes directly to the instructor. This could not be more wrong. Not only do instructors receive a relatively low hourly wage, at many resorts they’re only paid for the hours during which they actually taught.
So I come back to my original question: how much do you tip an instructor? The answer is: anything! Even a small amount is a gesture of appreciation. We understand that not everyone has the same means, but when choosing to partake in a luxury service, putting a few extra dollars in your teacher’s hand is a drop in the pan. That being said, here are a few guidelines:
- Group lessons: between $10-20 a day at higher end resorts (think Vail, Whistler or Okemo) for a full day. Tips are not expected, but are highly appreciated.
- Private lessons: As a general, rule tips are frequent if not a given for this type of lesson. $15-25 an hour would be an estimated average amount, though at the big name resorts those numbers could increase significantly. Bottom line: if you were happy with your lesson, a little extra for your instructor is definitely in order.
Instructors make the experience of learning a difficult sport fun and safe. They dry little one’s tears when they’re afraid and teach skills that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Much the same as any service, be it food, hospitality or otherwise, excellence deserves reward.
Winter is coming,
K
@TheSkiGypsy