Snowhawks Raven Ski and Snowboard School

What Snowhawks Raven Ski and Snowboard School does

Snowhawks Ski & Snowboard School, founded in 1984, operates as a private direct-to-consumer ski and snowboard instruction organization serving families, youth, teens, and adults across Ontario, Canada, with two regional divisions — Snowhawks Raven in Toronto and Snowhawks Ottawa. The company runs structured multi-weekend programs (Saturday/Sunday January–March), holiday camps (Christmas and March Break), adult getaways, and all-inclusive destination trips (Mont Tremblant, St. Moritz, Saas Fee, Banff). Core youth programs include Snow Kids (Grades 2–4), Hawks/Hawks Plus (Grades 5–8), and Raven/Raven Plus/Raven X Press (Grades 5–12) across Mount St. Louis Moonstone and Blue Mountain resorts, with optional add-on modules for Freestyle, Ski Race Team, and Instructor-In-Training (IIT). Supporting services include equipment rentals ($175–$235 per season), Snowcast weather reporting, and a meal plan. Programs are priced at $250–$1,720 for domestic packages and up to $5,056 for international destination trips.

The technology stack is intentionally lean and operational: CampBrain provides online registration with account management and waiver processing, while Bustrak enables real-time GPS bus tracking for parents. All instructors hold CSIA and/or CASI certifications, and the proprietary IIT program (operating 35 years) creates a self-reinforcing talent pipeline with guaranteed employment upon certification. Distribution relies exclusively on luxury motor coach transportation via Coach Canada, with extensive pickup points across GTA neighborhoods and Ottawa — combined with exclusive access to private lunch rooms at partner resorts, this constitutes a meaningful distribution advantage.

The revenue model is fundamentally tuition-based, with program fees bundled to include instruction, lift tickets, supervision, and bus transportation. The business is highly seasonal (peak January–March, registration in September) and weather-dependent. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company, and was inducted into the CSIA Hall of Fame in 2024, an honor limited to two recipients annually in Canada.

Name

Snowhawks Raven Ski and Snowboard School

Legal name

Snowhawks Ski & Snowboard School

Website

https://snowhawks.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Snowhawks Ski & Snowboard School is a privately held, 40-year-old Ontario ski and snowboard instruction organization operating in Toronto and Ottawa. It serves youth, teens, adults, and families through seasonal bus-based programs, holiday camps, and international destination trips at partner resorts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ski and Snowboard Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Schools (Instruction & Coaching) (THAAAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Winter Sports & Snow Training Schools (Ski, Snowboard, Ice Sports) (MPAKAJAI), Winter Sports Schools & Activity Centers (Ski, Snowboard, Snowmobile) (THAAAKAI)

Keywords

• Ski and snowboard instruction
• Youth ski programs
• Adult ski lessons
• Ski school transportation
• Winter sports education

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Seasonal Program Fees: Tuition-based revenue from multi-weekend ski and snowboard programs for youth and adults. Programs include transportation, instruction, lift tickets, and supervision. Pricing varies by program type, duration, and included features (meals, freestyle options, race training).
2. Equipment Rentals: Seasonal equipment rental program offering skis, boots, poles, snowboards, and helmets. Full-season rentals from before Christmas through season end, with growth-exchange policy.
3. Destination Travel Programs: All-inclusive international ski trips to destinations including St. Moritz, Switzerland and Mont Tremblant, including flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, lift tickets, and guided instruction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Snowhawks Raven Ski and Snowboard School delivers structured, multi-weekend ski and snowboard instructional programs for children, teens, and adults in Ontario, operating Toronto (Snowhawks Raven) and Ottawa divisions. Each program bundles door-to-bus pickup, instruction, lift tickets, supervision, and optional equipment rentals, with additional seasonal holiday and destination travel offerings to Mont Tremblant and St. Moritz.

Product overview

Snowhawks Raven Ski and Snowboard School is a ski and snowboard instruction organization operating two regional divisions (Toronto and Ottawa) in Ontario, Canada. The company offers structured youth, teen, and adult ski/snowboard programs centered around bus trips to partner ski resorts. The Toronto division programs include Mount St. Louis Traveller (Snow Kids, Hawks, Hawks Plus with optional meal plan, ski race team, and freestyle add-ons), Blue Mountain Traveller (Raven Plus, Raven, Raven X Press), Holiday Programs (Christmas Traveller, March Break Camp, March Break Traveller), Adult Programs (Wednesday Adult Getaway, Spring Destination Trip to St. Moritz), and Specialty Programs (Instructor In Training, Freestyle, Ski Race Team). The Ottawa division offers similar youth programs including Gatineau Traveller, Laurentian Traveller, Snowhawks Express, destination trips to Banff and Switzerland, and spring break programs. Supporting services include equipment rentals through the Pro Shop, snowcast weather information, and bus transportation via Coach Canada luxury coaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Christmas Traveller Multi-day ski and snowboard program at Mount St. Louis Moonstone during the Christmas school break for Grades 1-12, with full-day and half-day lesson options.
• March Break Traveller Multi-day ski and snowboard program at Mount St. Louis Moonstone during March Break for Grades 1-12, with full-day lessons, half-day lessons, and no-lesson options.
• March Break Camp Six-day, five-night guided ski and snowboard trip to Mont Tremblant during March Break for Grades 5-12, including accommodation, meals, lift tickets, and evening activities.
• Snow Kids Full-day ski and snowboard lesson program for Grades 2-4 at Mount St. Louis Moonstone with bundled supervision and a 100% satisfaction guarantee after three sessions.
• Hawks Half-day ski and snowboard lesson program with free-ski/free-ride time for Grades 5+ at Mount St. Louis Moonstone, designed for intermediate to advanced participants.
• Hawks Plus Full-day ski and snowboard lesson program at Mount St. Louis Moonstone for Grades 5-8, combining structured instruction with group free runs and optional race or freestyle add-ons.
• Raven Half-day ski and snowboard lesson program at Blue Mountain with half-day free-ski/free-ride time for Grades 5-12 across eight weekend sessions.
• Raven Plus Full-day ski and snowboard lesson program at Blue Mountain for Grades 3-12, focused on technique refinement from beginner to expert levels.
• Raven X Press Free-ride ski and snowboard program at Blue Mountain for Grades 9+ experienced participants, providing transportation and lift tickets without lessons.
• Wednesday Adult Getaway Wednesday ski and snowboard program for adults 19+ at private Ontario ski clubs (Osler, Craigleith, Alpine, Devil's Glen), offered in 1-day, 4-week, and 6-week formats with luxury coach transport and après-ski socials.
• Spring Destination Trip - St. Moritz Eight-day all-inclusive ski trip to St. Moritz, Switzerland (March 20-28, 2027) including round-trip flights Toronto-Zurich, transfers, seven nights at Club Med Saint-Moritz Roi Soleil, meals, open bar, six-day lift pass, and five days of guided skiing.
• Instructor In Training (IIT) 35-year-old training pathway preparing advanced skiers and snowboarders aged 14+ for CSIA and CASI Level 1 certification, with guaranteed employment with Snowhawks upon successful completion.
• Pro Shop / Equipment Rentals Full-season ski and snowboard equipment rental program ($175-$235 plus HST) including skis, boots, bindings, poles, boards, and helmets, with a growth-exchange policy.
• Ottawa Programs Full suite of Snowhawks ski and snowboard school programs delivered in the Ottawa region, including Gatineau Traveller, Laurentian Traveller, Snowhawks Express, adult programs, destination trips, and spring break programs.
• Snowcast Weather and snow condition information service providing resort snowcasts and trail conditions for partner ski clubs including Alpine, Blue Mountain, Craigleith, Devil's Glen, Mount St. Louis, Mont Tremblant, and Osler Bluff.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years of continuous operation in Canadian ski instruction market
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance (CSIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational certification body for ski instructors. All Snowhawks instructors are CSIA certified. CSIA has been certifying pros for over 75 years. Snowhawks IIT program prepares members for CSIA Level 1 certification.
• Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational certification body for snowboard instructors. All Snowhawks snowboard instructors are CASI certified. Snowhawks IIT program prepares members for CASI Level 1 certification.
• Canadian Ski Coaches Federation (CSCF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoaching federation supporting ski race programs. Race coaches are certified by CSCF for the Ski Race Team specialty program.
• Mount St. Louis MoonstonecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ski resort partner for Toronto programs. Snowhawks has exclusive use of private lunch rooms. Convenient proximity to Toronto (~1.25 hours). Best snowmaking system in southern Ontario.
• Blue Mountain ResortcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOntario's largest public ski resort (720 vertical feet, 2.5 miles wide). Partner for Blue Mountain Traveller programs. New Orchard Bowl provides 30% more skiable terrain and new high-speed 6-person chair lift.
• Club Med (Saint-Moritz Roi Soleil Resort)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll-inclusive resort partner for St. Moritz destination trip. Provides accommodation, meals, open bar, and guided skiing for Snowhawks spring destination program.
• Sporting Life Inc.supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCanadian sporting goods retailer. Major sponsor with logo placement on Snowhawks website. Also offers gift card program for Snowhawks membership benefits.
• Coach CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury motor coach transportation provider. All coaches equipped with washrooms and seatbelts. Staffed by Snowhawks adult chaperones for supervision.
• Mont TremblantsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDestination ski resort for March Break Camp and holiday programs. 'The giant of the east' offering extensive terrain variety for experienced skiers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Banff Sunshine Ski School: Ski school at Banff Sunshine Village in Alberta offering group lessons, private instruction, and multi-day programs for all ages. Comparable as a Canadian ski instruction business; Snowhawks Ottawa even offers destination trips to Banff.
• Mount St. Louis Moonstone Ski School: The resort-operated ski school at Mount St. Louis Moonstone, one of Snowhawks' primary partner resorts. Direct competitor for family instruction at the same venue, though Snowhawks differentiates via bus transportation, supervision, and multi-weekend program structure.
• Blue Mountain Resort Ski School: Blue Mountain's in-house ski and snowboard school providing lessons for all ages and ability levels. Direct peer operating at one of Snowhawks' primary partner resorts, though owned and operated by the resort itself rather than as an independent school business.
• Whistler Kids (Whistler Blackcomb Ski School): Whistler Blackcomb's children's ski and snowboard school program offering multi-week and seasonal instruction for youth and adults. Directly comparable as a structured ski/snowboard instruction school serving families, though operating at a larger destination resort scale versus Snowhawks' regional hill focus.
• Sun Peaks Ski School: Sun Peaks Resort's ski and snowboard school in British Columbia offering structured children's and adult lesson programs. Comparable as a Canadian destination ski instruction provider with seasonal youth programming.
• Mont Tremblant Ski School: Mont Tremblant's resort-operated ski and snowboard school offering group and private lessons for children and adults. Directly comparable as a ski instruction provider serving families at a Quebec destination resort used by Snowhawks for its destination programs.

Others

• Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance (CSIA): National certification body for Canadian ski instructors and a key strategic partner of Snowhawks. While not a direct competitor, CSIA sets the certification standards Snowhawks instructors meet and represents the broader Canadian ski instruction ecosystem.
• Club Med: All-inclusive resort operator and Snowhawks' destination trip partner (Saint-Moritz Roi Soleil). Not a competitor but an adjacent player in the premium family ski vacation market that Snowhawks accesses for destination programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SnowhawksOttawa
• Facebookfacebook.com/SnowhawksOttawa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snowhawks-raven-ski-and-snowboard-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Snowhawks Raven Ski and Snowboard School