James: We had the start of the week off post-Level 1 but the celebrations were…. nonstop! Everyone was feeling extra ‘sendy’ and so a group of us built a kicker in one of the bowls at Lake Louise, the first backflips were landed and, somehow, we all came out of it unharmed. If you’re into park riding, Banff is definitely the place you’ll want to be. There are parks at each resort with so many features from small to XL. Coaching resumed on Thursday and we were back exploring our favourite spots. This was the time to decide to continue training for the Level 2 certification or take part in AMP (All Mountain Pro) if you just want to focus on your performance.

Top tip: Take a few days off from the celebrations as this is a great time to recover and get ready for Level 2.

Highlight: Dogsledding through the Rockies – such a mood booster. Playing with the friendly huskies was an incredible moment.

Heather: This week we were fully back into the groove and developing our technique at a higher end. We know all the resorts well by now and training at three resorts exposes us to a lot of terrain. Lake Louise is huge, 45 minutes from Banff. There’s a World Cup downhill, and the powder bowls on the backside are epic freeriding zones. Sunshine Village has the best snow and some fun tree skiing. It’s high so the snow quality is awesome. And Norquay is the closest to Banff – smaller than the others but it’s got some real steep terrain and moguls to get your legs working.

For us doing AMP, we had our first weekly challenge – short turns on a black run. Complete all the weekly challenges and we ski Delirium Dive – a madly steep backcountry zone accessed from Sunshine Village.

We had a tech session on working as an instructor and a few former Nonstopers who work in snow schools in Banff came down to chat with us and offer some advice. It really hit home that by completing this course you are opening up a career path that will enable you to do something that you love, day in, day out, with the most amazing office views.

Top tip: Think about what you want out of the season. Level 2 and AMP are both awesome options.

Highlight: Charging through the Lake Louise back bowls.

J: I picked up a heel injury which side-lined me for a bit, but this week I was back on snow. Training for Level 2 stepped up and we started to work on teaching skills more. We all took about 15-20 minutes each day to instruct the rest of the group. I was quite nervous at first as it can be hard to know what to say. Once I realised everyone was in the same position, it was a lot of fun. Dodgeball went down at the end of the week. A group of us headed to the leisure centre to hurl balls at each other. Double points for a face shot.

The nightlife in Banff is awesome and there’s always something going on. There are a lot of bars and pubs and one nightclub, The Dancing Sasquatch. Tuesdays at Wild Bills is one of my favourite nights – and features a bucking bull and karaoke.

Top Tip: Don’t be afraid to look a little silly whilst teaching, making mistakes is the best thing you can do. I learned a lot from mine this week and my teaching improved so much because of it. And if you get injured like I did (it happens!), try not to get too frustrated, just give yourself some rest and don’t forget to ice!

Highlight: Learning how to be a better instructor. Once you get into the flow, teaching is awesome.

J: Since our Level 1 the season has been flying by. This week we really pushed our skiing in more challenging terrain, steeps and bumps. We’re gearing up for the Level 2 CSIA Training which is a 2-day course you must take before the Assessed Training part. During the week we all headed to High Rollers for a bowing battle. It was competitive, we sucked, but totally hilarious, plus there are 30+ different beers to try. Friday was one of the best events Nonstop set up for us. We headed into the wild, built a bonfire and then a small kicker over it. It was unreal. The ‘undisclosed location’ was beautiful and a great place to sink a few beers under the stars.

Top tip: Try to stay focused during coaching sessions, there is so much you can learn from them, it will make your Level 2 that much easier.

Highlight: Wilderness bonfire in the Rockies with the crew. I even got to make and try S’mores (marshmallow with chocolate sandwiched between a cookie and heated over the fire with a stick) for the first time.

J: The week started off with our second round of private coaching sessions. With Level 2 only one week away this was a great opportunity to hone in on our skiing. The session was at Norquay, a great resort for working on technique – the Cascade lift is quick and the run off from it is probably the perfect pitch for working on all round ski improvement. On Friday a group of us hiked up Tunnel Mountain which overlooks Banff, it took around an hour to get to the top, and the views were beautiful. And don’t say we’re not committed. The nightlife was pretty much non-existent this week with everyone revising in the evenings to make sure they were prepared for the Level 2.

Top tip: Revise! You’ll thank yourself after the Level 2 as you do need to remember a few pieces of terminology.

Highlight: Chilling out at the top of Tunnel Mountain with the crew and looking out over the Rockies.

J: Due to my persistent heel injury, I was sadly unable to take my Level 2 this week. Everyone else was prepared and ready to tackle the Level 2 Assessed Training component – 2 days where both skiing and teaching are assessed. We had super high pass rate and it was awesome to see all my friends so stoked. Get ready for some big nights, Banff definitely broke a number of people by the time the week was over. On our last day we all got our fancy-dress game on at Sunshine Village and took over the hill. The sun was shining and the drinks were flowing at Trappers Bar by the end of the day. The best way we could’ve spent our last day all together. This was followed by the farewell presentation and awards evening which was a great way to end the season. I am staying in Banff post course and saying goodbye to everyone was much harder than I thought. You make some friends for life on this course and I would recommend it to anyone, you won’t regret it.

Top tip: It’s okay to cry

Highlight: Seeing all my friends pass their Level 2

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