Summit team site

Team
 Handbook
WINTER 2026 / 2027

We are fully aware that our instructors make Summit what it is. Every time you go out and give a lesson, you must try to exceed our client’s expectations. Every time you put on your Summit jacket, you represent us and add to the reputation we have all created.

To make sure everyone is able to give great lessons, every day, we want to offer all the support and encouragement you might need through the winter. If you ever have any worries or questions, then we are always just a phone call away so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This handbook should outline what you can expect from us and what we expect from you. It is a condition of your contract that you adhere to the contents of this handbook, therefore it is important that you read and understand it. Feel free to call if you have any questions at all.

Your responsibilities to us

  • Instruct and entertain clients at all allocated lessons.
  • Create a fun and safe learning environment.
  • Promote Summit at every opportunity.
  • Project a professional image to all clients / suppliers / other snowsports schools.
  • Pass on any relevant client feedback to the Summit office staff.

Our responsibilities to you

  • Create a supportive and encouraging working environment.
  • Give you as much work as you want / can take.
  • Pay instructors on time and in full.
  • Pass on all feedback from clients to instructors.

Work outside of Summit

Your permit to be in Zermatt is valid only with your Summit contract. Any other employment of any kind must be cleared with Henry, Erica or Paul before you accept it.

Although we don’t necessarily have a problem with you finding extra work in resort, this must have no adverse effect on how you do your job for Summit. You will not be given permission to work for another school. Teaching ‘on the black’ is a sackable offence.

General Conduct / Professionalism

a) Work hours

  • Be at least 5 minutes early for lessons.
  • Manage time and lessons.
  • Be clear on our promise to clients booking an ‘No Limit full day’. They can choose the start and finish time (within the lift / piste opening times).

b) On the mountain

  • Keep yourself and your clients safe at all times.
  • Maintain responsible, professional relationships with all clients.
  • Act in a friendly and professional way towards fellow Summit instructors, instructors from other schools and all other workers on the mountain.
  • Be responsible at après ski. Maintain professional behavior. You must not be in bars, in your uniform after 6pm.
  • No smoking while in uniform.

c) Skiing off piste

Only Summit instructors who are on the Federal list for teaching off piste are permitted to leave the marked ski pistes while wearing Summit uniform (except in those areas specified by us). More info on off piste here

d) Uniform

  • There will be a CHF 100 deposit kept against the Summit jacket and pants.
  • If your uniform is damaged beyond ‘normal’ wear and tear, you will be required to pay for repairs or replacement.
  • The deposit will be retained by Summit should the uniform be returned damaged or in need of cleaning.
  • You will need to pay CHF 100 towards the other Summit layers (which are yours to keep)
  • All uniform must be kept in a clean and presentable fashion.
  • Uniform must be worn in full on the mountain when teaching and may not be used for skiing in your free time.

e) Helmets

  • You must wear a helmet whenever teaching children

f) Off the mountain

  • Project a good image and promote Summit at all times.
  • Be aware that you are representing Summit when you are out (especially wearing Summit clothing) at any time.

g) Social media

  • We welcome any promoting / sharing of Summit on social media platforms.
  • Please keep any work related posts positive and always aim to promote Summit / Zermatt in a positive light.
  • Be aware that social media posts and interactions reflect on the school, Zermatt and our industry.

h) Photography and video

  • We try to take plenty of photographs of everyone skiing / riding throughout the winter.
  • We are happy to share these images etc with you for your personal use. Feel free to share on social media (credits to the school / photographer are always welcome).
  • Please do not pass images on to 3rd parties without express permission from the photographer.
  • These images should definitely not be used in any way to promote any of our competitor schools.
  • We reserve the right to use images of you for any Summit marketing purposes now and in the future.

i) Confidentiality

  • Company information can be valuable to our competitors.
  • Please refer any 3rd parties requesting information on the company to a member of the management team.
  • For instance, any Summit document (including your contract and this handbook) or any knowledge you may have of our bookings system should be treated as confidential.

Time off

  • Unless you book time off, we will always try to book you a lesson.
  • We will endeavour to give you time off whenever you would like (outside of the peak weeks).
  • We limit the amount of instructors taking time off at any one time, therefore time off is allocated on a first come first served basis. The more notice you give us for time off requests, the more likely we will be able to oblige.

Peak Weeks

  • You should manage your season so you are ready for these weeks, they are busy an everyone in the team will be working and adding to their hours. Take time off to prepare before or recover after!


Peak week dates for winter 2026/27
Xmas/New Year 26/27: 19/12/2026 – 03/01/2027
Half term ’27: 14/02/2027 – 19/02/2027
Easter ’27: 21/03/2027 – 03/04/2027

Pay

a) General

We pay by the hour and your hourly rate is stated in your contract.

A ‘No Limit’ full day gives the clients the freedom to choose start and finish times (while the lifts / pistes are open). We pay 7 hours for each of these days. There is no guarantee as to the number of hours you’ll actually work on ‘No Limit’ full days (although they’re generally with the kind of clients who take nice lunches and tip well) so just let us know if you’d rather we didn’t allocate these bookings to you.

Any hours worked not teaching (i.e. off-snow) will be paid at a rate of CHF 20 per hour.

b) Request hours

If a client specifically requests you for a lesson, we will pay you an additional CHF 5 per hour for those lessons.

c) Rollover hours

If you take a lesson and that client then books additional lessons with you, we will pay you an additional CHF 5 per hour for those lessons. If a client books additional lessons but you are unable to take them, then we will still make sure you receive the rollover bonus.

d) Second languages and disciplines

We do not pay extra for second languages or disciplines, it does however mean you are available for more work.

e) Lesson No Shows / late cancellations

If a client does not turn up for a booked lesson or we notify you of a cancellation after 8pm the night before, you will be paid 2 hours cancellation pay. If you are rebooked, you do not get the 2 hours pay from the cancellation but will be paid for the new lesson as normal.

f) Closed mountain days

If some lifts are closed due to bad weather, lessons will continue on those lifts that are open (unless both you and the client agree to postpone or cancel the lesson). If all lifts are closed or there is no suitable terrain open to teach the client on, lessons will be cancelled and you will not be paid for that lesson.

g) Salary payments

Your salary will be paid directly into your bank account by the 7th of the following month. You are welcome to check the hours our system says you have worked at the end of each month. If you do not check your hours, we will pay you for the hours we have on record. We do not accept queries about ‘hours discrepancies’ after the wages are paid.

Communication

a) Mobile phones

All instructors are required to have a mobile phone (with mobile data) and must be contactable during the day and early evening. While working, it is imperative that your phone always has adequate battery life and that you’re able, without wifi, to make a call to the ski patrol / office / guests in an emergency.

b) Team gatherings

There will be regular Summit social events and meetings throughout the season. These are not obligatory but are a great chance to be part of the Summit team and share experiences with us and your fellow instructors.

c) With office / management

If you have any issues with your work, your clients, other instructors on the mountain or any of your colleagues do not hesitate to get in touch.
You can turn to your Summit mentor, any of the Summit coaching team or to Henry, Erica and Paul directly for support. 

Procedures

a) Accident / Injury

Following an accident on the hill (involving you or your clients) that required the attendance of piste patrol or a visit to the doctor, the instructor must complete the Incident Report Form on the Summit team website at the earliest opportunity.

b) Illness

If you are unable to teach a lesson due to sickness, inform the office as soon as possible. As soon as you think there’s a chance you might not be well enough to teach, let us know so we can make a contingency plan.

c) Time off / sick pay due to illness or injury

Time off for illness or injury must be supported by a valid doctor’s note signing you off work. Sick pay is paid after 3 days off work in each case.