About Local Snow

Who Built This

I'm a ski instructor. I've worked in Argentina, New Zealand, Spain, Chile—different continents, different resort cultures, different approaches to the same job. That perspective showed me something: the current system has fundamental problems that hurt instructors, clients, and the snowsports industry as a whole.

The Economic Reality

Ski schools operate like managers or representatives for instructors. And like any management relationship, they take a cut. But in what other industry does a manager take more than 50% of the talent's earnings?

In many school setups, the school gets paid per person per hour while instructors get paid a flat hourly rate regardless of how many students they teach. A group lesson with 6 people? The school might charge €60/hour per person (€360 total) while the instructor earns €25/hour. The math doesn't add up for the people doing the actual work.

And booking platforms? They charge 15-20% commissions on top of that, plus subscription fees for basic features like managing your own calendar or setting your own pricing. Tools that should be standard are locked behind paywalls.

The Visibility Problem

Schools often act as a screen between clients and instructors. But clients aren't just buying a lesson—they're trusting someone with their safety, or more importantly, their kids' safety. They have every right to know who that person is, see their qualifications, and make an informed choice.

The best instructors deserve to be visible. The system shouldn't hide talent behind institutional branding.

Risk vs. Reward

Being a ski instructor comes with real risks. Physical injury, liability exposure, unpredictable income, seasonal uncertainty. We take on all of that, and yet most of us can't make a comfortable living from it. That's not sustainable, and it's not fair.

Instructors need tools that help them manage their business, own their client relationships, and earn what they're worth—without sacrificing half their income to middlemen.

What Local Snow Is

Local Snow is a free directory where instructors list their profiles and clients find them directly. No commissions on lessons. No subscription fees. No hidden costs. Just a small €5 lead fee when an instructor chooses to respond to a booking request.

I'm not trying to destroy ski schools or booking platforms. Schools serve a purpose—they provide structure, insurance, training programs, and consistent work for instructors who want that. But there should also be space for independent instructors to operate fairly, and for school instructors to build their own reputation and client base.

This isn't a war between independents and schools. It's about building a bridge.

The Verification Process

I manually review every instructor who applies for verification. I check certifications, qualifications, and professional credentials. The badge doesn't mean someone is the best instructor in the world—it confirms they're legitimate, qualified, and take their work seriously.

Clients deserve to know who they're working with. Instructors deserve to be recognized for their qualifications. That's what verification is for.

Why Spain First

I've worked here. I know the resorts, the instructors, the local dynamics. Starting focused made more sense than trying to build a worldwide directory on day one. If this works in Spain and helps instructors make a better living while giving clients better access to great instruction, maybe it expands. If not, at least I tried.

The Goal

I want instructors—independent and school-affiliated—to have affordable tools that give them ownership over their work. I want clients to connect directly with the people who teach them. I want the snowsports industry to be a place where talented instructors can build sustainable careers doing what they love.

This isn't about getting rich or scaling into some venture-backed startup. It's about fixing something broken. If Local Snow helps even a handful of instructors earn more and a handful of clients find better instruction, it's worth it.

Get in Touch

If you're an instructor in Spain—independent or working for a school—create a profile. If you have feedback or questions, email me at [email protected].

That's it. No manifesto, no corporate mission statement. Just trying to do better.