Program Overview

---

Mountain Sport Technician Diploma Program

PROGRAM START MONTHS

2025/2026 January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October

*Program starts can depend on electives chosen. Speak to an advisor for more information

LENGTH OF STUDY

605 full time hours within 12 months

CREDITS

24

CREDENTIAL

Diploma

Cytech technical one and two

Accredited by Government of B.C. Private Training Institutes Branch (PTIB).

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This program teaches the basic fundamental skills necessary to become a part of the summer and winter outdoor tourism industry. Skill sets emphasized include snow safety, ski, snowboard, trail building, survival and winter camping. Students will be equipped to enter the retail, manufacturing and outdoor industry on an entry level. Note that this program replaces the previous Retail Manufacturing Manager Program.

In addition, through the bicycle mechanic course they will receive Internationally recognized Cytech Certification Students have an option to select either Principles of Digital Marketing and Media or Experiential Leadership and Guiding to include in their Mountain Sport Technician Program Diploma. Note that students selecting Experiential Leadership will be required to pay for WB lift access for up to 4 days of the course (not included in tuition)

Students who wish to take a course as an individual course are welcome to do so. Upon course completion students receive a course certificate for their individual course. For details see Course Pages

WHO IS IT FOR?

A program suited to a student seeking to learn more about mountain sports and the retail manufacturing industry, ideally those interested in Snow/Bike/Outdoor industries. No prior experience is needed but a passion for practical learning is beneficial.

Interested in finding out more about our gap year programs? Check out our student gap year page.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

**Upon completion of this program the successful student will have

reliably demonstrated the ability to:**

• Utilize skills fundamental in the basic relationship of retail and manufacturing as it relates to the Snowsport and Biking industry.
• Identify opportunities within the Biking and Snowsport industry to create products and businesses people desire.
• Create the steps necessary to start a new business within the industry.
• Develop a working knowledge of retail and manufacturing terminology, trends, and strategies.
• Demonstrate workflow models for trail building with safety of workers in practice.
• Demonstrate proper trail building construction techniques.

CERTIFICATIONS OBTAINED

• Program Diploma

POSSIBLE CAREER OCCUPATIONS

• Trail Builder
• Outdoor Leadership Positions
• Bicycle Mechanic
• Boot Fitter
• Ski/Board Tuner
• Production Manager in Ski/Snowboard Manufacturers
• Operations Manager Manufacturing
• Retail Assistant/Manager
• Sales Associate/Representative
• Promotional Representative
• Technical Representative

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition Fee Domestic| $10,000 CAD
---|---
Tuition Fee International| $13,500 CAD
Application Fee| $250 CAD
Textbook Fees| Up to $180 CAD*
Lab Supplies| $1,200 CAD
*Trip fees and Textbook fees vary according to courses taken and textbook providers. All textbooks may be purchased by students from publishers (online or print) directly.
Note that textbook and lab supplies will vary depending on electives chosen. These fees cover all of the core courses.

WAS GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 18 years of age or older
• All students must meet WAS Language Proficiency Assessment Policy.

PROGRAM SPECIFIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift 20 kg /44 lbs
• Students choosing the Experiential Leadership and Guiding elective will be required to have access to Whistler Blackcomb mountains during the course - a seasons pass or day tickets will be required at the cost of the student.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

• For students taking the elective of Experiential Leadership & Guiding, please see the equipment list attached
• Adventure Tourism Winter Equipment list 2020 new

SPECIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• None

COURSES –

*Note that some course dates may be altered due to Instructor

availability – please consult the course calendar for exact course dates posted 60 days prior to the course start date

Mountain Sport Technician students are required to complete the4 Core Courses and theCo-op work experience plus they must choose two electives from the table below.

CORE COURSES
All students will complete the below core courses| Program| Month| Hours
---|---|---|---
Bicycle Mechanic 1 & 2| Mountain Sport Technician| March
April
May
June
July| 60
Boot Fitting| Mountain Sport Technician| May
August| 40
Sustainable Trail Building| Mountain Sport Technician| May
September | 60
Ski and Snowboard Production| Mountain Sport Technician| October
November| 60
Co-op Work Experience| Mountain Sport Technician| | 300
ELECTIVE COURSES
Choose any two electives from the list below| Program| Month| Hours
---|---|---|---
Bicycle Mechanic 3| Mountain Sport Technician| June
August| 40
Principles of Digital Marketing and Social Media| Mountain Sport Technician| February
| 45
Event Planning| Marketing & Media/ Mountain Sport Technician| August
| 45
Videography| Marketing & Media/ Mountain Sport Technician| February
July| 45
Photography| Marketing & Media/ Mountain Sport Technician| April/May
November| 45
Experiential Leadership & Guiding| Adventure Tourism Winter & Summer| April| 45
| | |

INSTRUCTORS

• Chris Clark
• Dom Morin
• Sam McDonald
• Derek Rhodes

TESTIMONIAL

Adam Kubiš, Retail Manufacturing Manager Program (former Mountain Sport Technician Program)

“The Best School Ever! I remember those times in Slovakia when we were sitting in school and studying unimportant subjects. We had wasted 70% of the time by learning something which we had never used. The result was that we forgot everything after exams passed by… WAS has a different approach. Pick only the subjects you are passionate about and have fun by learning useful stuff. I have graduated in the Retail and Manufacturing Program. I can say that I had enjoyed every single hour. I remember every lesson. I have created connections with teachers at those lessons. Thanks to these connections, I’ve got a job in Prior Snowboards as a ski builder. Good times. LIVE.LEARN.PLAY.”