 Poster: A snowHead
|
Boss has ok'ed the "career break", so I'm off to Whistler in a couple of weeks until May. Sorted!
I have spoken to a couple of people on these forums already, but was wondering if there are any other fellow snowheads to bump into.
Before I end up completely broke, I am after a bit of advice from the general collective.
I'm going out on Fly Zoom airlines. Anyone have any knowledge of what I can get away with in the "ski bag" without it costing me?
I'm just trying to sort out the pesky working permit stuff at the moment so I can try to fund part of it and get some local experiance whilst doing the CSIA/CSCF courses.
Has anyone else been through all this application stuff? I'm using BUNAC, and it seems I may well need to make a "day trip" out of Canada to say seattle to then re-enter to present the working permit papers when they finally come through.
It also seems many of the jobs need a police (CRB in uk?) "this person is not a criminal, (or if he is we have never nabbed him for anything) " letter. Would the CRB check eg for ski instuctors through snowsport england do the job?
Finally, does anyone know the best (read reasonable cover but cheap) insurance to cover long terms stays? My annual snowcard only covers me for the 1st 31 days. Best I have so is £155 with AUL.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 22-12-05 20:39; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
paulhothersall, you lucky bug.
Can't help much with any answers, but have a good, er, season 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Likewise I can;t answer any of those questions, but good luck and wil see you out there - we fly out BA on 25th feb for two weeks. One of my mates is out for the season and I think he's already arranged to meet up with stuarth from this 'ere forum.
We *were* considering the career break thing but given that we've entirely failed to sell our house it's a bloody good thing we decided not to risk it just yet!
Maybe next year, eh?
We'll be staying up at this place
http://www.whistlerbb.com
which I can highly recommend for shortish stays, probalby a bit expensive long term. Are you sorted for accomodation? can recommend some places to try if you still need to sort yourself out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I'll be there with a friend, arriving 3rd February, skiing 6 days before moving on. Middle 2 days skiing with Extremely Canadian. Otherwise playing it by ear.
We ski at about SCGB Gold standard. I've never been to Canada before. How about you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| snowball wrote: |
I'll be there with a friend, arriving 3rd February, skiing 6 days before moving on. Middle 2 days skiing with Extremely Canadian. Otherwise playing it by ear.
We ski at about SCGB Gold standard. I've never been to Canada before. How about you? |
no idea what SCGB Gold standard is. Is that drinking the resort rep under the table during an evening or leaving them in the snow dust trails behind you on the piste?
Never been before, and only a week to go now, woohoo!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anybody flown with BA from Heathrow to Vancouver?
The BA site says:
Snow ski equipment
You may take:
One pair of skis and ski poles or a snowboard or a monoski
One pair of bindings and boots
If you are on a flight where the baggage weight allowance applies:
The equipment is included in the baggage allowance
Normal excess baggage charges apply
If you are on a flight where the baggage piece allowance applies:
The equipment is carried as one piece of baggage
Normal excess baggage rates apply
Now we're on a piece allowance flight and my reading of the above info is that the skis AND the boots combined count as one piece of baggage.
Can anybody confirm that even though these will be seperate pieces they count as one. Reason I'm checking is that an extra piece of baggage carries excess charge of £90 EACH WAY!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flown BA before and they always count ski bag and boot bag as one piece of luggage
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Cheers, I thought that was the case (sic). Just had images of trying to get helmet, boots and clothes in a case.
Only a week now and can't wait after looking at images for this week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is it work sending your skis and boots ahead of you as luggage? Excess Baggage (excess-baggage.com) send air freight to Vancouver for £3.79 per kg for 25kgs. Makes it £95 quid or thereabouts. Worth thinking about if you're relocating for a long period, I reckon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| paulhothersall wrote: |
| snowball wrote: |
I'll be there with a friend, arriving 3rd February, skiing 6 days before moving on. Middle 2 days skiing with Extremely Canadian. Otherwise playing it by ear.
We ski at about SCGB Gold standard. I've never been to Canada before. How about you? |
no idea what SCGB Gold standard is. Is that drinking the resort rep under the table during an evening or leaving them in the snow dust trails behind you on the piste?
|
In our case we ski mostly off-piste and enjoy the steep and deep. Any inside knowledge of good lines (and good places to eat) would be welcome.
Of course the occasional steeper piste is fun too, and the occasional drink, but I'd be no good at drinking anyone under the table.
Of course, even if our sort of skiing doesn't sound like your thing, it would be fun to meet another snowhead!
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sat 7-01-06 1:36; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| magriggs wrote: |
| Is it work sending your skis and boots ahead of you as luggage? Excess Baggage (excess-baggage.com) send air freight to Vancouver for £3.79 per kg for 25kgs. Makes it £95 quid or thereabouts. Worth thinking about if you're relocating for a long period, I reckon. |
Mr flyzoom FAQ says 2 bags, total 20Kg with £5 per kilo. I reckon I am about 9kg over, and that is without skis! Cyptically they have a "one sporting item carried free". I am hoping (although likely kidding myself) that I can squeeze 30Kg of skis, boots and a king wing in one ski bag as "one sporting item". I'll let you know how many 100's it really cost later. check-in in 3 hours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
HI paulhothersall, just got back from Whister at the weekend, had a great 2 weeks there.
The first week the freezing level rose so we had rain in the village and lower mountain, but up high was still ok. The second week the level fell, thankfully, and we were skiing good powder and the base was building nicely. You'll have a great time.
I will be back out Feb 23rd, maybe catch you then.
By the way, do be careful of bumping in to other Snoheads, that darn STUARTH takes it a little too literally 
Re BUNAC, i have friends out there on that this season, and it is working well for them. Also, because of teh slow start to teh season and lack of staff, i hear there are plenty of "under the table" jobs about. But of course, you didnt hear that from me.
49 sleeps
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Robbie, yes you should make sure you and Stuart have a bit of space next time - maybe you on Whistler and him on Blackcomb 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
tee hee hee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
geetee, who do you know at the Star? We know most of the hosts there, so odds on we know them too! Small world.
I don't know an easy way from Whistler to Silver Star without having a car. You could do it with Greyhound - but that's via Vancouver and takes forever. Or back to Vancouver, and then fly over to Kelowna. There are interresort transfers from Whistler to Sun Peaks, and from Sun Peaks to Silver Star though, so perhaps you could do it that way with a stop off in Sun Peaks too?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Do you know Davie and Mhairi?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Okanagan, sorry - should have put your id against that last post 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Okanagan, By the way, thanks for the info. That's what I had found out so far. I knew about the shuttle via Sun Peaks but because of the times we'd have to stay in SP for at least one night each way. We have a 2 year old so I'd rather have as little disruption for her as possible which is why I'm thinking that driving is probably the best option. I don't fancy the idea of the bus either because of that! And flying would still involve 2 - 3 hours to YVR from Whistler. I've posted on Epicski as well to see if anyone has advice/useful info but feel free to bombard me with what you know. Any info on SS is gratefully received. I've already been looking through the website but I'd love some personal info too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| geetee wrote: |
| Do you know Davie and Mhairi? |
Yep. I kind of guessed that they might be who you meant!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Okanagan, It is a small world, isn't it?! Do you know them well? They were climbing friends of my parents who helped setup a climbing club called the Langside (or the Langy) in Glasgow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
geetee - we've known them for about 8 years, ever since we first skied at Silver Star. Get David to show you the pictures of skiing in India, with ponies as the "lift" if you get the chance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Okanagan, he's a bit of a legend in our family and one of my mum's favourites is Davie playing footie with the penguins when he went to Antartica
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
geetee, yes have seen some of those Antarctic pics too. He's one of those rare people whose life story would make a great book - I know Mhairi's talked about doing one (it's one of the reasons they originally bought a PC) but I don't know if it'll ever happen.
Saw your epicski post too - we've used the daycare at Silver Star since Okanagan junior was only 5 months old and never had any problems with them. Two rooms on the daycare (rather than skischool) side - one for under twos, and one for toddlers. Usually very quiet midweek - have known staffing ratios to be 1:1 at times - and despite the number of kids they must see over the course of a season, the staff somehow manage to remember ours from one season to the next.
Feel free to PM me if you want any more specific info - although to be honest in David and Mhairi you'll have the best guides going, so anything we can tell you will probably pale into insignificance in comparison.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Fri 6-01-06 15:18; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Okanagan, Thanks and I'll take up your kind offer of PM-ing if that's ok.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
day one on the hill and met Stuarth already!
just got my internet working out here now, and back online for snowheads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
keep us update, paul 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| paulhothersall wrote: |
| ...... I get the impression this is not the resort for a recovering alcoholics..... |
Keep an eye out for Charles Kennedy, he's plenty of time on his hands at the moment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
