The Winter Sports Company has been providing professional Ski and Snowboard Instructor Courses for over the past decade. Originally founded on the slopes of Sun Peaks, B.C, Canada. The Winter Sports has since grown and can now be found around the globe.
We have a range of courses, taking you from your very first steps into the Instructing world to Ski Patrol or pure adrenaline Heli-days. Our reach, contacts and logistics now include Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan & Argentina, giving you every opportunity to follow the winters and forge a full time career.
Our Team
Rik Dyson
Director
Omni-present
Rik first qualified as a water sports instructor in the late 90s before a successful career organising adventures on sea and snow for high-calibre clients worldwide. He’s now returned to his first love of instruction and combined it with his passion for the mountains. With a wealth of knowledge and over 25yrs of experience in logistics, travel and adventure, he is ready to help you reach your goals.
Emma Dyson
Director
Often referred to as the Admiral, she is the glue behind the scenes. Keeping the beating heart of the WSC pumping ensuring all operations are covered. With over 2 decades of experience you will be glad that she is on your team. Found between the UK and Canada.
Rob Hayward
Operations Manager
Sun Peaks
Rob has been the Winter Sports Rep at Sun Peaks for the past five years, and nobody knows the resort better. Rob is qualified for Level 2 in the BASI and CSIA systems and is a fountain of knowledge for trainee instructors. Always on hand to help, he can be found both on and off the slopes. Working with our clients and ski schools, he ensures a smooth program throughout the season.
Rob Filipe
Resort Rep
Hidden Valley & Sun Peaks
Rob has been the Rep at Hidden Valley for the past two seasons and, more recently, backing Rob Hayward up as a rep at Sunpeaks. As an ex student of the WSC, he is an experienced, dual-certified instructor with his Level 2 in the CSIA and CASI systems and is well on his way to his Level 3. He’s a calm level headed member of the team, always on hand to help and is part of the family with the Hidden valley crew, with the students always saying that he becomes more of a friend than just a Rep.
Freya Davies
Logistics & Marketing
UK
Brought in through our WSCollective program, Freya found her niche within the team, migrating towards the planning and implementation of our systems. She has become a fantastic asset and primarily deals with customer care during their onboarding process. A skier at heart and a serious contender on the national tennis scene.
Mike Ractliffe
Manager
Hidden Valley
Mike is our Canadian-Scottish hybrid blending the best of both worlds. He is ultimately responsible for training and managing the resort over at Hidden Valley. Often the go-to guy for problem-solving and our man on the ground in Canada, he is a Level 3 instructor for the CSIA, has an endless supply of answers for all our problems and is responsible for successfully preparing our interns for their Level 2.
Abbie Morris
Fitness & Nutrition Consultant
Devon
Board sport and fitness junkie Abbie is a sports science graduate, sports massage therapist and qualified nutrition coach. Currently working with the Fire Fighters Charity as an exercise therapist & Operating freelance with a new venture “from. AM”, her mission is to promote functional wellness and fitness for life’s demands. Years of working in gym settings coaching all populations, she has developed a wholesome approach to wellness and specific functional fitness.
Wil Comrie
Level 4 Senior Examiner
Panorama
On the front line is where you will often find Wil, responsible for the implementation of our training programs at Panorama, his dedication and drive is responsible for our incredibly high pass rate at Level 2. We are lucky to have him onboard and he is a real asset to the team.
Harry Drain
CSIA Level 3 Trainer & rep
Panorama
Always there to back up Wil and provide his unique style of teaching. Whilst he instructs by day, he is also on-hand to provide support when needed. Again ex-student of the Winter Sports Company, he is living proof that our programs can set you up for success.
Josh Tarr
WSC Cameraman
All over the place
Josh has been behind the camera for nearly 2 decades, shooting footage in some of the most remote areas of the world chasing Bears, Elephants, Rhinos, Hippos and more recently the Winter Sports clients. With clients such as the BBC, Netflix and National Geographic under his belt he also finds time to fit the Winter Sports Company in and get some quality time on the snow whilst doing what he loves the most.
Maci Coughlan
Social Media
Billericay
Maci has just completed our 7 week fast track program and stayed for a full season. She makes us look good on the social end whilst Freya takes care of the business end. Her work ethic puts us to shame and between Maci & Freya they have all the login codes to our social media. Without them we would be completly lost.
Ally Wagorn
Ski & Ride Manager
Panorama
Ally is the Mountain Sports Manager at Panorama Mountain Resort. She has 15+ years working in the Snow Sports industry in Canada and 30+ years sliding around on snow! On a bluebird pow day you won’t catch her in the office as she’ll be ripping it up in the infamous Taynton Bowl
Luke Hartigan
L3 CSIA Trainer
UK & Sun Peaks
Luke actually did his first season at Sun Peaks with Rob Hayward on a WSC 18 week course. Fast forward to today, he is returning for his 7th season and is now our “front of house” on the slopes. He is well on his way to completing his L4 and well versed in all aspects of the WSC programme. Having “been there and done it” Luke is now responsible for ensuring its your turn for success and is focused on getting you all across the finish line both on and off the slopes. Kicking and screaming if he has to!
Winter Sports Company
Why Choose the WSC?
Being a long way from home, if you had to deal with a part-time employee or the company’s directors every time you had a concern, a problem, an unfortunate event or wanted help getting a job? What would you prefer?
Who would resolve your issue faster, if at all? Well, this is precisely where we shine. Unfortunate events do happen. Your best-laid plans don’t always work out.
So imagine having the care and logistics of a company like the WSC in your back pocket. Genuinely supporting your goals before, during and after your winter endeavour. Our customer focus is second-to-none both on and off-piste. We are obsessed with your happiness. It puts a smile on our faces. We want you to succeed and will do everything we can to exceed your expectations. This is why we have a large percentage of repeat clients. This is why we are growing from strength to strength.
The rest is easy.
Make it a Reality
“This company deserves all the praise they’ve received. Coupled with first class organisational skills (which shone through with Covid, forest fires and flash floods) & the fantastic range of courses available, is a winning recipe. If you are thinking of a ski season or similar, you won’t do better imo. And if you’re a parent, my advice is don’t even look elsewhere. No one will care for your child more than Wintersports.”
Jason Taylor
28 Nov 2021
What do our training programs lead to?
A selection of previous clients stories and journeys from trainee to present day. Living proof that given the right environment to succeed you can realise your ambitions and specialise in whatever area you wish to strive in. Whilst these individuals have all put their own tracks down and branched off to various careers, they all have one thing in common and started their journey with the WSC. Be inspired but carve your own tracks.
Harry
Harry started off his career as a WSC Intern at Panorama and hasn’t looked back since. Choosing wisely to remain under the watchful eye of the resident CSIA Level 4 “Hall of Fame” senior co-ordinators he quickly climbed the ranks and gained his Level 3 in 2019. Now with his sights firmly on the elusive level 4 ticket he is heading down to New Zealand before returning as a prominent figure on the Panorama-WSC training team.
Rob
After a succesful career as an architect and businessman, he quickly realised that he wanted something different. Not happy with the monotony of one life. He decided to embark on a ski and snowboard instructor course. He took our popular 11 week level 1 & 2 program at Panorama and now dovetails his summers in Portugal with his winters working for the WSC in Canada.
Jari
Ex Finnish military field medical personnel and our resident Viking. Jari has been skiing for as long as he can remember and joined the Winter Sports team after completing his 8 week Ski Patrol training. He’s a qualified CSIA instructor, Ski Patroller & general mountain enthusiast and is always ready to find those perfect tracks and powder. He is now working in his home country, applying what he’s learnt within the industry and building skis and selling outdoor equipment
Charlotte
We knew when we met her at the airport that she wasn’t going to be the quiet one. Steadfast and determind to fill her CV with as much experience as she can get, she has now done 2 seasons with the WSC, after going through the Ski Patrol Program at only 17 and a further five weeks training two years later she gained her Level 2 CSIA. She is now chasing the winters and secured a job in Australia.
Craig
Craig completed the Ski Patrol program and was offered a position within the Mountain Bike Patrol team at Panorama for the summer. Now using his 2 year visa to its fullest extent he is now well on his way to getting his residency in Canada. With his ski patrol qualifications and his summer work secured he is now set to work back to back seasons.
Lawrence Clarke
Completed his 18 week Level 1,2,& 3 training program in Sunpeaks. He realised that the only way to climb the ladder is put all that training into fruition. WIth his mind set on another season in Sun Peaks he is now heading back out to work with the Snow School and work as a CSIA Level 2 instructor whilst training for his L3.
Now its your Turn
Find a course that suits you. Add your Bolt-ons experiences and create something special.
Ski coursesSnowboard courses
