Ski With Payam

About

Meet Payam

Payam brings years of ski experience and a passion for teaching, making every lesson feel personal and fun.

A snowy ski resort with numerous people engaging in skiing activities. Various colorful skis and snowboards are organized on racks in the foreground. Skiers, dressed in winter gear, are scattered across the snow-covered landscape. A mountain slope looms in the background, with a ski lift visible on the right and a small building nearby.
Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.

My Story

My journey on skis began in one of the most unexpected—and unforgettable—moments of my childhood. I was about six years old, and my family was escaping Tehran in the 1980s during the missile attacks. We were stuck for hours in traffic on a road that happened to pass by a small ski hill called Abali. Out of nowhere, my parents decided to put me in a ski lesson to keep me safe and distracted. That was my first time on snow… and the moment skiing quietly anchored itself in my life.

Back then, winters were colder and snowfalls heavier—at least that’s how I remember them. The street beside our home became a natural playground whenever snow closed the schools. People brought out tubes, sleds, and sometimes even skis. That mix of excitement, snow, and community is something I still carry with me today.

Growing Up

As I got older, my parents took me more frequently to Dizin, one of Iran’s top ski resorts. Over the years, I also skied in Shemshak and later Tochal, gradually developing my skills through many seasons of recreational skiing.

When I reached university, I earned my driver’s license—and that changed everything. Suddenly, I wasn’t waiting for rides; I was driving myself and my friends to the mountains. Those road trips to Dizin became their own adventures, filled with stories, friendships, and a lot of learning (both on and off the slopes).

Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.
Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.

A Pause—and a New Beginning

Life took me across continents—to the Netherlands and then Canada—and skiing naturally took a back seat. Eventually, I found my way onto the slopes again at Whistler, bringing with me all the gear I had carried across the world. But soon after, COVID hit, and with the arrival of my son, skiing paused once more.

Then came the real restart

CARV introduced their smart ski insoles, and I bought them out of pure curiosity and passion. But the real motivation came when my son turned four. I had always dreamed of the day we would glide down the mountain together. To make that dream real, I needed to rebuild not just my physical conditioning but also my technical foundation—so I could guide him properly, safely, and confidently.

And it worked.

After each of his lessons, we would ski for an extra hour together. Those small, consistent moments built his confidence and joy for skiing. Soon he was truly skiing—not just sliding.

By his second camp, a friend’s child joined as well. I shared the same enthusiasm and methods with him, and he, too, quickly leveled up. Seeing both kids thrive on the slopes reignited something deep in me: a passion not just for skiing, but for teaching, mentoring, and helping others experience that sense of progress and freedom that skiing offers.

Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.
Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.

Becoming a Ski Instructor

My passion for skiing—and especially for helping others grow—eventually led me to Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports (VASS), a non-profit dedicated to teaching skiing and snowboarding to individuals with disabilities. Joining VASS was a turning point. Not only did I earn my CADS Level 1 certification there, but I also had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary team. Teaching people who may otherwise never have had access to snow sports was deeply humbling and incredibly rewarding. It strengthened both my skills and my sense of purpose.

Soon after, I decided to pursue the path of becoming an official ski instructor. I completed my CSIA Level 1, and immediately set a goal to achieve Level 2. That was the moment I truly understood the saying: the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know. I poured myself into the process—studying, practicing relentlessly, filming my skiing, analyzing my own movement patterns, and seeking feedback from some of the best coaches I could find: Tom Gellie, Lavro Klecina, Ari Gabo, Eric Donner, Tom Bazeley, James Cannon, Ryan Williams, and many others.
With their guidance and a lot of dedication, I earned my Level 2 shortly after my Level 1

Skiing and Technology

My relationship with technology has always blended naturally with my skiing. I was one of the founding backers of Carv on Kickstarter, long before it became widely known. I instantly fell in love with what they were building. For me, Carv isn’t just a teaching tool—it transforms skiing into a more engaging, fun, and even competitive experience. I can still remember the early days when some elite skiers were skeptical about it. I couldn’t blame them, but as someone from the tech world, I saw its potential right away. Tools don’t replace coaches; they enhance the learning journey and personalize the feedback in ways that were never possible before.

Alongside Carv, I also rely on Cardo Systems radios during training. Communication is everything. There have been so many moments when I couldn’t clearly hear my coach’s cues on the mountain. Cardo solves that instantly. When used properly, it’s a game changer—for both teaching and learning.

Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.
Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.

Where I Am Now

Despite a busy life filled with family, work, and multiple passions, I continue to invest deeply in my skiing. There is a unique joy—a feeling of effortless flow—when you ski fluently down a mountain. And as someone whose professional world revolves around computers and long hours at a desk, skiing provides the perfect balance: movement, nature, challenge, and growth.

Today, I am part of the Big Picture Skiing Academy, an elite year-round development program that keeps me up to date on modern technique, biomechanics, and teaching trends while continually improving my performance.

Alongside my training, I teach in the Adult Learn to Ski program at Cypress Mountain, usually once a week. I’ve also begun offering private lessons for those who want more personalized attention, deeper progress, and a coaching style that blends technique, technology, communication, and genuine enthusiasm.

Ski Moments

Snapshots from lessons and snowy slopes where memories take shape.

A snowy ski resort with tall pine trees lining the left side and ski lifts running across the scene. In the foreground, two skis with a red and black design are visible, suggesting someone is seated on the ski lift. In the background, several skiers can be seen navigating the slopes, creating a lively winter sports atmosphere.
A person wearing a green helmet, sunglasses, a red sleeveless top, and blue shorts is skiing uphill on a snowy slope. Other skiers are visible in the background, making their way down the piste. The scene is set in a mountainous area with snow-covered trees in the distance.
Skiers glide across a snowy landscape with snow-covered trees lining the background. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the white snow. Three people are dressed in winter clothing, two wearing helmets and ski gear, while a scenic mountain view stretches into the hazy distance.
A snow-covered landscape with mountains in the background, surrounded by dense forests. Skiers and snowboarders can be seen making their way down the slope. A line of ski lifts runs parallel to the trees. In the distance, there is a small lodge or building at the base of the mountain.
A snowy landscape with a rack holding multiple pairs of skis and ski poles. Nearby, a snowboard is resting in the snow. Trees line the background as mountains and a partly cloudy sky stretch expansively, creating a serene winter scene. A skier dressed in winter attire is seen in the distance.
A person wearing a green helmet, sunglasses, a red sleeveless top, and blue shorts is skiing uphill on a snowy slope. Other skiers are visible in the background, making their way down the piste. The scene is set in a mountainous area with snow-covered trees in the distance.