But Can You Write a CV?
Picture this: You’re on the first chair, the air is crisp, and a blanket of fresh powder covers everything in sight. Your life revolves around moments like this—the pursuit of the perfect line, the thrill of competition, the community of people who just get it. The last thing on your mind is probably a corporate-style document like a CV.
For most of my skiing life, I would have laughed at the idea. A CV? For a skier? My resume was my footage, my results, the sticker on my helmet. My references were the people I shared a lift with and the coaches who saw my potential.
But then, the game started to change. I wanted to land a better sponsorship deal. I saw an opening for a dream coaching job in the Alps. I got an offer to be part of a film project that required more than just showing up with my skis. I quickly realized that in a world where skiing is both a passion and a business, your on-mountain skills are only half the story. The other half is professionalism.
Your “skiing CV” isn’t about trying to land an office job. It’s your professional passport. It’s the tool that gets you noticed by the right people—the brand managers, the resort directors, and the film producers who can help you build a sustainable career doing what you love.
Why Your Skiing Needs a Professional Footprint
Still skeptical? Let’s break down exactly when a well-crafted CV can be your lift ticket to the next level.
- Landing Serious Sponsorships: A local shop might sponsor you based on your Instagram, but major brands want to see the whole package. They are making a business investment. A CV that outlines your competition history, media appearances, and previous brand work shows them you’re a professional athlete, not just a talented hobbyist.
- Securing High-Level Instructor & Coaching Roles: The top-tier ski schools in places like Verbier, Aspen, or Whistler receive applications from all over the world. A clean, professional CV detailing your certifications, experience, and teaching philosophy immediately puts you at the top of the pile.
- Becoming a Brand Ambassador: This is more than just getting free gear. It’s about representing a brand’s values. Your CV can showcase your communication skills, your social media reach, and your unique story, proving you’re the right person to be the face of their company.
- Getting into Film Projects or Expeditions: When a production company is putting together a team for a backcountry film, they are assessing risk. They need to know you have the right avalanche safety certifications, the physical conditioning, and the experience to be a reliable member of the crew. Your CV is the document that proves it.
- Planning Your Next Chapter: Let’s be real, a competitive career doesn’t last forever. Whether you want to become a sales rep for a ski brand, move into resort management, or work in marketing, your skiing CV is the foundation for your next career move, translating your on-mountain achievements into professional qualifications.
How to Build Your Ultimate Skiing CV
Forget the standard, boring templates. Your CV needs to be as dynamic as your skiing. Here’s what to include:
- The Header: Key Stats at a Glance
This is the first thing they’ll see. Make it count.
- Your Name
- Contact Info: Phone & Professional Email
- Social Media: A clickable link to your main platform (e.g., Instagram).
- Primary Disciplines: Freeride, Freestyle, Slalom, Skimo, etc.
- Home Mountain/Base: Where you spend most of your time.
- Professional Profile (Your Elevator Pitch)
A short, powerful paragraph (3-4 lines) summarizing who you are.
- Example: “A dedicated and versatile professional skier with 8+ years of competitive freeride experience and a PSIA Level III certification. Passionate about creating high-quality digital content and representing brands with authenticity and enthusiasm. Proven ability to perform under pressure in challenging mountain environments.”
- Key Achievements & Competition Results
This is the core of your CV. Use bullet points for easy scanning.
- List your most impressive results first. Be specific.
- Example: “1st Place – Freeride World Tour Qualifier, Kicking Horse, 2024”
- Example: “Top 10 Finish – Engadin Skimarathon, 2023”
- Film, Photo, & Media Experience
Show that you’re comfortable in front of a camera.
- Example: “Featured Skier – Warren Miller’s ‘Daymaker’, 2022”
- Example: “Cover Athlete – Freeskier Magazine, Photo Annual, 2023”
- Sponsorships & Brand Partnerships
List current and past sponsors. This demonstrates your experience in a professional capacity.
- Certifications & Specialised Skills
This section is crucial for showing you’re a true mountain professional.
- Ski Certifications: PSIA/CSIA Levels, etc.
- Avalanche Safety: AIARE 1, 2, or Pro.
- First Aid: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), etc.
- Additional Skills: Fluent in other languages, drone pilot license, expert in ski tuning, etc.
The Final Polish: Your Professional Headshot
You’ve built this incredible document that showcases your talent and hard work. Don’t let it be let down by a blurry selfie from the chairlift where you’re wearing reflective goggles. Your photo is your digital handshake.
I ran into this exact problem. I needed a professional-looking photo for my portfolio but didn’t have the budget for a photographer. After some searching, I found a game-changing tool: the Adobe Express PFP creator. ‘PFP’ stands for ‘profile picture,’ and this free tool is perfect for us.
I uploaded a high-quality photo of myself in my ski jacket (good lighting, no helmet or goggles). In one click, the AI in the tool cleanly removed the messy background of the ski lodge behind me. I then replaced it with a simple, solid dark gray color. The difference was staggering. It took me less than five minutes, and I went from having a casual photo to a clean, professional headshot that made my entire CV look more legitimate. It’s a small detail that screams “I take my career seriously.”
Your career is more than just a passion. It’s a business. And you are its CEO. By taking the time to create a professional CV, you’re not just listing your accomplishments; you’re investing in your future. You’re making it easy for the right people to say “yes” to you. Now go get that opportunity.