The Swiss Ski School Kleine Scheidegg employs over 40 ski instructors. One of them is Barbara Zurbuchen. We accompanied the 32-year-old from Grindelwald at work.

Barbara Zurbuchen lets a little snow trickle over the treasure chest and - abracadabra - it opens. The contents make children's eyes light up. But right from the start.

It's just dawn when we set off in the car towards Grindelwald shortly after 7am. A lot of fresh snow has fallen during the night. It's cold. Cloudy. Foggy. On the Wengernalp Railway up to Kleine Scheidegg, we can only glimpse the beautiful mountain world of the Jungfrau Region. Barbara Zurbuchen is already waiting for us at the top. She is a ski instructor at the Kleine Scheidegg Swiss Ski School. We are allowed to accompany the 32-year-old at work. She will be teaching the youngest of the youngest from 10am to 12pm. Livia, Julie, Charlotte, Noelia and Eliana are just three years old. They all come from Grindelwald. And they all know each other from the playgroup. Their one-week beginners' course as part of the Swiss Snow Kids Village ends today, Friday. Are they ready for the second level yet?

The first level includes, among other things, "familiarising yourself with skis and snow", "braking with aids" and "first changes of direction". This is what it says in the "Swiss Snow League - Swiss Snow Academy" booklet, which is recognised throughout Switzerland. At the end of the course, Barbara Zurbuchen decides who has passed - and who has not. "Two are ready for the next level, I've already filled out their booklets accordingly, for the other three I'm still waiting for this morning." And this one needs to be well prepared. We take a sledge down to the practice area. Everything Barbara Zurbuchen needs for the course is stored in a small wooden shed. Carpets, ropes, cones, stickbies, brooms, Smarties and much more. The ski instructor uses the materials to create a fantasy world. The aim is for the little ones to learn to ski in a playful way. She is not bothered by the snowfall. "I like this weather," she says.

With the help of the magic carpet, a kind of conveyor belt, we make our way back up to the ski school headquarters on Kleine Scheidegg. The children are just arriving with their parents. And with them Marcel Homberger, CEO of the ski school. His daughter is one of Barbara Zurbuchen's pupils this week. The ski instructor helps the little ones put on their bibs. And everyone gets a group sign. "Hans is coming too," the ski instructor gives him a name. The children are delighted. Then they sled down to the practice area together with their parents. Marcel Homberger also bucks the kids' five pairs of skis. "At this age, the equipment is usually hired," he tells us. At the bottom, the adults say goodbye. "If the parents stay on site, this can lead to an unfavourable learning environment in some situations," says Barbara Zurbuchen. And so nothing stands in the way of the start of the course.

Barbara Zurbuchen has been working as a ski instructor for 13 or 14 years, but she can't remember for sure. She has been teaching in Grindelwald for four years, the first season now for the Swiss Ski School Kleine Scheidegg. She ended up in the Eiger village because of her husband. Previously, Barbara Zurbuchen taught in Zermatt. "Skiing has always been part of my life. I grew up in Homberg, next to a ski lift," she recalls. She even used to ski to school. She says of her job: "I have the best job in the world, I can pursue my favourite hobby - and use different languages at the same time." Yes, Barbara Zurbuchen runs around 50 per cent of her courses in English or French. Ski instructor in winter, lifeguard in summer? Just a cliché in Barbara Zurbuchen's case. When there is no snow, she has a normal office job.

"I have to go to the toilet," says one of the children. "Not me, I've got nappies on," replies another. Conversations like those that take place between 3-year-olds. Barbara Zurbuchen helps them take off their skis and put them back on again for the toilet. Afterwards, she is back in the fantasy world. She tirelessly goes up and down the piste. She helps her protégés to get back on their feet if they can't do it on their own - and calls out again and again: "Brake, brake! "Imagine you're a butterfly, now spread your wings with your skis at the back." The imagery works wonders. At least for most of them. The skis form a point at the front. The standstill succeeds. Time flies by. An hour has already passed. Time for a short break. The equipment shed is quickly converted into a snack room. There is warm tea, a "Farmer" bar, "Dar Vida" - and at the end a jelly baby for every child.

Barbara Zurbuchen was in the ski club as a child - before she started as a ski instructor. Today, "Bärblä", as she is known to everyone, is a certified snow sports instructor, ski expert, kids' expert and training manager. As the latter, she trains ski instructors throughout Switzerland. It's the variety that Barbara Zurbuchen likes so much about her job. From beginners to advanced to professionals. From young to old. "I've even travelled with people over 75," she recalls. Individual lessons are also regularly booked. Right next to us, an adult beginner is taking a private lesson. What is the biggest difference between the various courses? "Children learn faster, have more confidence and are more adventurous," says Barbara Zurbuchen. "Adults think more about what could happen." She adds: "With cracks, you can hone your technique, have completely different conversations - and get to ride more yourself. All in all, Barbara Zurbuchen totals 120 to 150 snow days per season. She is rarely out on the ski slopes in private. When she does, she prefers the black piste "Black-Rock" in the Grindelwald-Wengen ski area or the blue piste "Gemsberg" in the Grindelwald-First ski area.

The break is over. Refreshed, the course continues. "I want to go on the lift with you too," Barbara Zurbuchen hears again and again. A good sign. "It means they trust me," says the ski instructor. It's almost 12 o'clock when the cloud cover suddenly opens up. Blue sky, sunshine - and the Eiger within reach. Meanwhile, the children are slowly fighting fatigue. Fortunately, the two hours are up and all the gold coins have been found. Marcel Homberger helps with the return transport again. But not before his daughter has proudly shown him what she has learnt. She goes onto the rope lift on her own, rides down the track - and brakes.

Back on the Kleine Scheidegg, the big moment. And sure enough, the treasure chest can be opened. It is filled with children's surprise eggs. "The joy of the children. Their shining eyes. That's the best reward," says Barbara Zurbuchen. And the hug she receives from each child as she says goodbye. "A beautiful sign of gratitude".

By the way: four of the five children have passed the course, but that's not really of interest at the moment. The treasure they found is the number one topic.

The course is not quite over for the ski instructor. Barbara Zurbuchen drives back down to the practice area and stows the equipment in the woodshed. She then takes some time to talk to us in the ski school lounge. But then she has to get going. She quickly eats a sandwich before the next course starts. Individual lessons with a member of the Racing Academy Kleine Scheidegg "RAKS".