From the Sidelines to the Slopes: Bradley’s Story

Bradley first heard about Snow Camp through his local youth club, QCCA Dome. A youth worker mentioned there was an opportunity to try snowboarding, and something clicked. “I was just over the moon,” he says. “It was just a great opportunity to see what was out there.” Bradley had always been drawn to snow sports, but without access or a clear route in, it had felt out of reach. That conversation changed everything. Now a Snow Camp apprentice through Coach Core, Bradley is building the skills, confidence and career foundations he never thought possible a few years ago.

Finding his feet

Starting the apprenticeship brought a mix of nerves and excitement. Hearing from previous apprentices about what to expect helped settle him in, and it wasn’t long before Bradley found himself falling in love with teaching. Being on the ground with young people, supporting them through challenges, showing them what’s possible — that became his drive. 

“Just being there as a role model,” he says, “showing them it’s not easy, but that you’re able to do it.” 

It’s a message Bradley knows something about personally.

Working on himself 

Like many apprentices, Bradley arrived with things to work on. Public speaking was one. “I was a very shy person, I was introverted. I didn’t really like speaking to people.” But being in a role that required him to show up, engage and share his experience pushed him to grow. The proof, he says, is standing in front of a camera telling his story — something he wouldn’t have dreamed of before. 

Punctuality was another area. With support from his line manager Angus, Bradley put a schedule in place and has been working hard to stick to it. “In the future, this is something I really want to do. And to become the best that I want to be, I’m going to have to work on myself first.” 

That kind of self-awareness is exactly what the apprenticeship is designed to develop. 

A future taking shape 

Before Snow Camp, Bradley describes himself as someone who was “messing around” and didn’t know what direction to take. The apprenticeship gave him an outlet and, more importantly, a purpose. Teaching had always been there in the background (he’d done sports at college and loved it) but snow sports gave it a whole new dimension. 

“Snow Camp has enabled me to pursue what I wanted to do in my life, which is just help people really. That’s always just been something I’ve wanted to do.” 

His plans are clear. First, he wants to achieve his British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) Level 1, so he can teach at snow centres independently. Looking further ahead, he’s got his eye on a season abroad, gaining real-world experience inside a ski resort and understanding how the wider instructing industry works. 

Bradley’s story is still being written. But Snow Camp, and Coach Core, gave him the pen.