Poster: A snowHead
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Hello, I am a snowgroomer operator from Canada with over 20 seasons of experience in Canada, New Zealand, Japan and the U.S.. I am headed to England this spring with the idea of getting into the European ski industry. Does anybody know how to get a grooming job in Europe, all the websites I have found are for instructor and chalet/bar staff recruitment. I have a european passport so visas aren't an issue.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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canucklehead, welcome to snowHeads.
Do you speak French?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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A little bit of french, doing this now so that I can kind of plan ahead and try to learn the language I might need.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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canucklehead, England may not be the best location as there's very little actual skiing in England! Suggest trying individual resprt websites to start with, but there's this link:
http://www.compagniedesalpes.com/fr/contact_rh.htm
the "Compagnie des Alpes" is an umbrella organisaton copvering several of the larger French Alpine resorts. they may be able to help.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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thanks, just heading to England to get organised, think its a lot easier to line something up from there than the west coast of canada.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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canucklehead, Welcome. You can try www.2alpes.com - that's our local lift company, but you would have to speak French.
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Can you build parks? I'd say that there's still a bit market for cat drivers who can build N American style parks in Europe. Just an observation but unique experience you might be able to use to sell yourself into jobs.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I have experience in just about every aspect of grooming, primarily winch cats lately, but built the first Snowboarder Magazine Superpark at Big White and have just taken over grinding the Sun Valley superpipe.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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As an aside there are English and Norwegian lads amongst the groomers in Portes du Soliel and yes they speak french too.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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provide the snow and I will . Are there any groomers out there I can get a hold of?
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You know it makes sense.
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that's cool, I was just busy counting my euros to see if I could afford a new 600. I found I'm a little short though
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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oh, knew about swiss not in eu, but how hard are the work permits to get?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You can work for 3 months without a permit under the new legislation, you can get a seasonal employment permit unless you get a job that will employ you out of season, typically you get an L permit, then B then C or at least, I started on an L and then got the B, 2 more years for the C.
If you for example lived in France and work for a Swiss employer you then get a G permit......
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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obelix67, that's perfectly clear.
canucklehead, I want a 600 myself and I don't (yet) live anywhere near a mountain. When you get a job, can I trade you a bottle of Dole for a lift in your cab?
Morzine have a hockey team that were French Champions a few times. For a long time they had a Canadian coach, really nice guy.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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They are certain to be the next craze after the SUV trend wears off.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lausanne have a canadian coach as do Geneva - Lausanne have the worst defensive style I have seen outside little league - breaking before making checks - sigh
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David Murdoch wrote: |
canucklehead, I want a 600 myself and I don't (yet) live anywhere near a mountain. When you get a job, can I trade you a bottle of Dole for a lift in your cab? |
The 600 is nice, I got a ride in one in Tignes at the start of the season.
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we haven't seen any 600's over here yet, look decent on their website though. Isn't usually a problem giving rides here, we groomers are generally very bribable
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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canucklehead, they look awesome on the web site. But then, I'm a sucker for a decent set of hydraulics. Consider yourself bribed in advance.
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alright, now I just have to get access to a machine over there
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I started as a liftie and sarted to ride occassionally. Just really needed to express interest and some sort of comittment. They are quite easy to drive, just a steering wheel, throttle and forward-reverse switch or on some machines you have sticks instead of the wheel and direction switch. Learning how to work the blade and tiller, and understanding the many snow conditions is what is challenging. I'm still learning and will continue to learn as long as i do it.
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You know it makes sense.
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canucklehead, cool thanx, will hang around in the resorts if I ever get out to the snow, lol
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Quote: |
cat drivers who can build N American style parks in Europe.
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how do parks in europe differ?
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Poster: A snowHead
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What's up canucklehead. I too am a snowcat driver. I was wondering how you went about getting a job to groom in Japan?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Snowpilot, excellent thread resurrection.....@canucklehead posted in February 2006. He might still be around
Welcome to snowHeads
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hey @Snowpilot, If you are interested in driving Cat skiing and maybe learning to guide in Japan I might be able to help, might have some grooming contacts also.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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There are now a half dozen or so PB 600s in Scotland plus 3 with winches.
There are even two full size piste groomers in England though they havent had many piste hours on the clock There are also a number used by mountain rescue and for agricultural purposes.
If you go and ask at the piste patrol in val disere they may well allow you out with their drivers. A friend used to do that and even drive with them for free.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Hi, @Idris . Thank you for responding. I am very interested in driving cat skiing and learning to guide in Japan. That would be amazing. What do I need to do to get started?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Idris, Thanks for the response man, I would much appreciate an opportunity to drive cats for cat skiing in Japan. That would be rad. What do I need to do to get started?
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