Global ski resorts are hoping it's downhill all the way for Chinese skiers whose increasing presence on the slopes is leading to a blizzard of change for a sport once considered the exclusive domain of the elite.

Chinese skiers are flocking to world-class ski resorts, and Canada has been hiring increasing numbers of Chinese or Chinese-speaking instructors, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission.

"More Chinese people are coming to Canada to ski and we are hiring more Chinese instructors," said Derek Galpin, the commission's chief representative in China.