Let's Embrace Winter Together!

Our Downhill Ski School will take you to the next level in your skiing while you have fun learning! Our ski instructors are certified by the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA) and the Canadian Ski Coaching Federation (CSCF) to ensure high quality lessons.

Downhill Ski School 2024-2025 Season

High Park Ski Club has an instructor fleet of over 40 instructors capable of teaching from beginner to expert level in a variety of disciplines. Whether you want to ski more confidently across the whole mountain, tackle the bumps and steeps, or even learn to become an instructor, we have sessions to meet your interests.

Best of all, lessons are complimentary on every day trip!

NOTE: ALL members and guests MUST read and acknowledge the club waiver (during registration process) to participate in any lesson, clinic, or guiding.

Overnight trips

Members get complimentary guiding from our instructors on overnight bus trips within Canada. Explore new terrain with your instructor, and get ski improvement tips to help you conquer the mountain. Guiding is available for STEP 4 and up.

If you aren't yet at STEP 4, join us on a day trip to build your skills and prepare for your overnight trip!

Downhill Skiing - Regular Lessons

Members get a complimentary lesson on every regular day trip with the club.

Lessons provide the opportunity to have fun in a safe, guided environment, while improving your skills and making friends. High Park Ski Club lessons are modeled after the CSIA STEP program that is used by many resorts in Canada. STEP levels range from STEP 1 (beginner) to STEP 9 (Expert). If you are new to the club find all the information you need to sign up and what to bring here

If you do not know what level you are in, when you sign up for your first day trip, choose to take an assessment so that an instructor can put you with the right group. Here is a handy chart indicating the basics for each step level and what is required to advance to the next step level.

Members must wear a helmet during lessons, clinics, and guiding. Also, members must pre-register for the lesson or program when you sign up for the day trip. Sorry--no walk-ups!

Will I be required to sign a waiver?

Yes, all members/guests must sign the waiver as a condition of registration and participation. Click here to review the waiver.

Downhill Skiing - Special Clinics

In addition to our regular day trip lessons, we offer several unique clinics that you won't find at any other club! Join us for these clinics in order to develop targeted skills for skiing the whole mountain. With the exception of IT, you can attend a single session of any clinic. All clinics run in the morning only, aside from IT.

All programs or clinics require at least 3 participants to run. If fewer participants register, you'll instead receive a regular lesson.

Instructor Training (IT) - STEPS 7+

Are you interested in becoming a ski instructor? A great first step is to take the HPSC Instructor Training (IT) program.

Ski with our course conductors as you prepare for the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) Level I Certification course. The program delivers a combination of ski improvement and practical teaching techniques incorporating up-to-date CSIA methodology. If you already have your Level I and are training for your CSIA Level II, IT will give you a great on snow refresher and review. Almost all current club instructors participated in Instructor Training, so this is a great program for members who aspire to teach with the club.

Instructor Training participants are expected to commit to attending all sessions. Space is limited and course leader approval is required prior to attending.

Dates: Sat. Jan. 4; Sun. Jan. 5; Sat. Jan. 11; Sun. Jan. 12; Sun. Jan. 19 (5 full-day sessions)
If interested, please contact Mike Romano at skimike69@hotmail.com

This program fills up quickly so don’t delay in contacting a program leader.

Mogul Masters Steps 7-9

This program is designed for a wide range of abilities covering introduction to advanced mogul skiing – lessons are taught in separate groups based on ability. Whether you’re new to moguls and wanting to get more comfortable making turns in the moguls or an experienced pro bump skier looking to improve your control, speed, or line, we’ve got you covered!

Dates: Sat. Feb. 8, Sat. Feb. 15, Sun. Feb. 23, Mon. Feb. 24, Mon. Mar. 3
Contact Ken Harper for more info harperken885@gmail.com

Ski the Steeps Steps 7-9

These classes offer tips to make skiing the steeps easy and fun. Join us whether you enjoy the challenge here in Ontario or want to master the steeps for your weekend or charter trips.

The emphasis is on building control and confidence in a safe and relaxing environment.

Dates: Sun. Feb. 2, Mon. Feb. 10, Wed. Feb. 12, Sun. Mar. 2
Clinic Leader – Jacqui Snyder

Carving Clinic Steps 7-9

Master the art of carving your skis with exciting precision. There is nothing as exhilarating as leaving a knife edge track in the snow that other skiers can admire from the chair lift.

This morning clinic will elevate your skiing to master beautiful pure carved turns.

Dates: Mon. Jan. 20, Wed. Jan. 22, Mon. Feb. 3, Wed. Mar. 5
For more information please call or text RON SABOURIN at 416 258 5858

Skiing with Mindfulness Steps 6-9

Mindfulness emphasizes paying attention to the present moment, and noticing what is happening with your thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and external environment. Research suggests that it is effective for stress and anxiety.

In this clinic led by Peg McPhedran, HPSC instructor and yoga and meditation teacher, you will develop ski technique, breathing technique, and relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and increase your skiing enjoyment.

Dates: Mon. Jan. 27, Wed. Feb. 26, Mon. Mar. 10
Clinic Leader: Peg McPhedran

Skiing in the Zone Steps 6-9

If you are looking for the tools to move from Yikes to Yeah!, this session is for you. In Skiing in the zone you will learn practical techniques from the world of sports psychology and performance management to set aside your fears and ski with confidence in challenging situations.

Dates: Sun. Feb. 9, Sat. Mar. 1
Clinic leader: David Manning

Gate Training Program

An excellent way to improve your skill proficiency. Develop more confidence with a little more speed, rhythm, and direction control. Then everything becomes easier. The program will focus on skills and tactics in a variety of course settings (both Slalom(SL) and Giant Slalom (GS) with gates and stubbies) and is open to members in Step 5 to 9. Offered on Saturdays at MSLM, before club races start.

Helmets are required as in all groups, and the morning gate training session will run from 9:45 – 10:55 just before the club races begin.

Dates: Saturdays @ MSLM Jan 4, Jan 11, Jan 18, Jan 25, Feb 1, Feb 8

Club Races

We plan to offer 6 club races at MSLM open to all levels. During or after your morning lesson, your instructor for the day will take you to the race course for an opportunity to try the club race. You only compete against other members in your same ability category. We award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category. Challenge yourself to compete in a fun race against your club and classmates! You must wear a helmet to race.