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big mountain pathway

The groundbreaking PSIC Big Mountain Pathway is designed to improve the skills of ski instructors who want to advance their skiing in double black terrain, coach freeride athletes, safely guide their students though extreme and steep terrain and further instill the adventure of skiing into advanced skiers. 
 

The Big Mountain pathway starts at Level 2. Entry into the pathway works as follows:

  • PSIC Professional Ski Instructor Level 1, 2 or 3 all enter the pathway at Level 2. Certification from other organizations must be a minimum of Level 2.  

  • PSIC Professional Ski Instructor Level 4 or equivalent enters the pathway at Level 3.
     

The PSIC Big Mountain Course Schedule for winter 2025/26 is now available. This year’s lineup includes expanded offerings at Mount Washington, Sun Peaks, Kicking Horse, Castle Mountain, Fernie, Red Mountain, Norquay, and Whistler Blackcomb. We’re also proud to offer a Women Only Big Mountain course designed to create space for connection, growth, and challenge in an inclusive setting.


PSIC membership is required to register for any course.

This program is developed in collaboration with Derek Foose, a member of the PSIC's leadership team, and some of Canada’s leading big mountain ski coaches. View more details in the press release.

level 2 big mountain coach certification

The following information provides an overview of the PSIC Level 2 Big Mountain Coach Certification Course (equivalent to Level 2 PSIC Instructor certification). 

 

Purpose of the Level 2 Program:

The purpose of the Level 2 Big Mountain program is to introduce coaching and guiding in Big Mountain Terrain. Big Mountain Terrain is a general term used here to describe Moderate and Advanced off piste terrain. This terrain is ungroomed and is typically found at Treeline and Alpine elevation.


Duration:

  • 5-day Course (Skier Development & Terrain Exploration and Coaching & Guiding Development)

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Program Summary:

View Level 2 Detailed Program Summary

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Price:

$950 to $1110 (location dependent) per 5-day course

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level 3 big mountain coach certification

The following information provides an overview of the PSIC Level 3 Big Mountain Coach Certification Course (equivalent to Level 3 PSIC Instructor certification). 

 

Purpose of the Level 3 Program:

The Level 3 Big Mountain program aims to enhance your versatility and adaptability in Big Mountain skiing, guiding, and coaching skills, building upon the foundations set in the PSIC Big Mountain Level 2 certification. Big Mountain Terrain refers to advanced off-piste terrain, typically found at treeline and alpine elevations. This includes steeps, entrances, bowls, couloirs, chutes, drops, cornices, bumps, trees, and various snow surfaces like powder, ice, crud, mixed, slush, spring, and wind affected layers.


Duration:

  • 5-day Training Course, including both Skiing (Skier Development and Terrain Exploration) & Teaching (Coaching and Guiding Development) skill development

  • 3-day Evaluation Course

 

Program Summary:

View Level 3 Detailed Program Summary

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Price:

$925 for 5-day Training Course / $575 for 3-day Evaluation Course

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level 4 big mountain coach certification

The following information provides an overview of the PSIC Level 4 Big Mountain Coach Certification Course. 

 

Purpose of the Level 4 Program:

The Level 4 Big Mountain program aims to enhance your versatility, adaptability and creativity in Big Mountain skiing, teaching and guiding skills, building upon the learnings in the PSIC Big Mountain Level 3 certification. Big Mountain Terrain in context of the level 4 refers to expert off-piste terrain, typically found above treeline elevations. This includes steeps, entrances, bowls, couloirs, chutes, drops, cornices, bumps, features and cliffs, and various snow surfaces like powder, ice, crud, mixed, slush, spring, and wind affected layers.

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Duration:

The Level 4 Big Mountain Coach Program consists of mandatory and optional components.

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Mandatory components:

  • Online e-learning (approximately 2 hours)

  • Online Managing Risk on Snow certification (3 hours)

  • Skiing, Teaching and Guiding Development Start-Up Camp (4 days - on snow) 

  • Evaluation Completion Camp (4 days - on snow)

 

Optional components:

  • Guiding top-up camp (2 days)

  • Bumps top-up camp (2 days)

  • Skiing development (3 days)

  • Teaching development (3 days)

 

Program Summary:

View Level 4 Detailed Program Summary

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Price:

Various - coming soon

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