Great Year for Rookie Academy Colorado Instructor Courses after Copper Mountain Move

Copper Mountain, May 27, 2009: Offering ski and snowboard instructor courses in Colorado for 6 years, the Rookie Academy had its most successful U.S. winter after making a move to Copper Mountain for the 2008-2009 season.

With a seventeen year history and hundreds of graduates working in resorts around the word the Rookie Academy is well known in the snow sports industry. And its owners regularly field enquiries from ski and ride school directors looking for instructors.

New Colorado base Copper Mountain allows them to offer an attractive training proposition to keen skiers and riders. Few snow sports instructor training course providers can boast the same mix of respected training, an option to ride seven world class resorts and introduction into the industry for graduates.

"Copper Mountain has been a great move for the Rookie Academy," says Academy founder and veteran instructor trainer, Dean Hunter. "The Ski-Ride training terrain is the best I have worked on in 17 years training instructors. It's been a big part of us achieving the best pass rates we have ever achieved on our U.S. courses."

Enjoying skiing and riding Summit County's famous powder, all skiers passed all exams and all but one snowboarder, who completed the course, passed all exams. And more than a little fun was had along the way.

"The Rookie Academy was an incredible experience on and off the slopes," says Huw Gardener a 12 week ski instructor course graduate. "The training was excellent and will definitely help me to keep improving in the seasons to come."

Ryan Ordway, an 8 week snowboard instructor course participant, was equally happy with his time in Frisco with the Rookie Academy. "I would recommend this course to anyone, snowboarder or skier. You will have the best time of your life."

Huw and Ryan are two of many "Rookies" that come to Colorado from all around the world to pursue their passion for riding or skiing a little further. This year's graduates came from as far away as Lithuania but also included a Colorado local. And graduates of previous years have included a landscape contractor from Northern California, two I.T. workers and semi-retired people.

Many course participants are from the United Kingdom and are taking a gap year or career break. So they come from a country where skiing and riding opportunities are limited and usually restricted to short vacations. It is not surprising then that these British students relish the opportunity to take their riding or skiing to a whole new level and, possibly, turn it into a job.

There are other ways to start an instructing career. Resorts offer traineeships and gap ski and snowboard instructor courses abound in Canada.

But the Rookie Academy thinks it has found a winning combination of ski and snowboard instructor course destinations in Copper Mountain and, new course option, Big Sky, Montana. Both offer amazing riding, great off-snow attractions and the perfect kick start to an international snow sports instructing career.

Company Profile: Rookie Academy's Anthony Hunter has been running snowboard instructor training and ski instructor courses in Colorado, USA, for 6 years. Using expertise gained in 17 years training instructors in New Zealand , his team of trainers, led by Dean Hunter, now offer courses based at Copper Mountain, Colorado, and Big Sky, Montana, USA. Copper courses offer training across up to seven world class resorts and the training terrain at Big Sky spreads across thousands of acres. Courses at both destinations for the 2009-2010 winter season are available at early bird prices – offering a saving of up to US$1000 – until June 30th. These well-respected courses, offer the skills, technique and experience needed to start a snowboard or ski instructing career the right way. Using extensive contacts in the industry to secure eligible graduates jobs is part of the service.