 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey all, new here. Nice to see such a collection of ski adicts. 
Basically, I'm 18 and am looking to do a Season in my gap year between finishing A levels and going to Uni (2007/08 season). I don't know anyone else who skis to the same level as me and is interested in doing a season, so I'll probably look at going on my own.
I've been looking at companies such as alpineelements.co.uk and seasonairs.co.uk and am looking to go out to the snow not tied to a specific company for work, hence giving me the choice when I'm out there.
I'm willing to pay for the accomodation for 5 months, and then hopefully find some work when I'm out there. How hard is this?
I'm not really sure where I'd be best suited to do a season, although the vast majority of skiing I've done in my life (30+ weeks) has been in europe I'd quite like to give somewhere like Whistler a look. There are advantages and disadvantages to both though:
France etc
Pluses:
I know people who have done similar and can give me some advice along the way.
I'm comfortable with the slopes over there.
Slightly Cheaper
Drinking age is 18
Minuses:
I can't speak French to save my life. (big minus when it comes to looking for jobs, unless I'm wrong?)
The chalets I've been looking are very small (<6) and I'm taking a slight risk with the fact I might not get along with anyone out there.
The chalets are nowhere near as nice/big as the canadian alternative.
Canada
Pluses:
English!
The chalets look amazing, with hottubs/pool tables/etc and are very big (>12)
More snowsure
Earlier season (works in my favour)
Minuses:
Will require a work permit, which I imagine will be near impossible to get.
Drinking age is 19, boo. (Am 19 end of feb, so not a complete disaster)
More expensive.
I would imagine less people my age would be doing the same thing, although, again I could be wrong.
Anyway, that's my thought process at the moment. I really need some advice on this and I need to end up doing a season whatever happens! Skiing is my life. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Spikyhedgehog, I tink the drinking age in Alberta is 18, although it is 19 in British Columbia.
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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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Indeed, I'd probably be looking to do a season in Whistler or Fernie.
I wouldn't say I'm very clued up on American/Canadian resorts though. I've only skied in America once (Jackson Hole), and I've also been heli-skiing (awesome) with CMH north of Banff (undefined area).
Any largeish Alberta resorts to look into?
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Spikyhedgehog, welcome to snowHeads
Have you thought about what work you would want to do? ANd also, how much you would need to earn?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Spikyhedgehog, you need to look at www.natives.co.uk if you haven't already done so. Given your age and (lack of) experience I'd be inclined to either a) bum it and don't bank on getting work in resort or b) apply for a tour op job. Advantages of such a job are; ready-made social life, board and lodging, bit of cash. Positions which given you most slope time are KP/NP, bar, chalet host/assistant.
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Anything really, I'm not fussy and I'd say I have a fairly decent work ethic. I wouldn't want to sacrifice skiing time too much though. I don't want to really be paying for an instructors course though, by the looks of things they take a while and are only worth it if you are planning to do a few seasons. Which probably won't be the case for me as I'm off to Uni for 4 years and then going into the wide world of work.
I'd be looking at earning maybe £100 a week or less. Not a huge amount by any means, worst comes to worst I'll go out there and not work.
I'm working when my exams end right up until I'd be going away, so say from end of June to mid Dec. That'll provide me with a fair amount to play with.
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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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Spikyhedgehog, Please have a good read of www.natives.co.uk many of the questions you are asking and many you have yet to think of will be answered, generally by people who have been or are in the same position as yourself
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Is natives not generally concerning people who want to go out with a specific company for a season, as this isn't really something I'm wanting to do as I've heard some real horror stories about when people are tied down with a company.
That's the general impression I got from the site, I may be wrong though. I'll have a thorough look through later on tonight.
Thanks for all the input people, it'd be great to hear from people who have done/want to do a season who were/are the same age as me!
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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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Spikyhedgehog, I don;t think Lizzard was meaning to be patronising. She has a fair bit of experience in the business, and is offering you advice, and telling you the truth about your likely earninga. Taking a job with a company would guarantee you a roof over your head. Just heading out there alone can be a lonely business. As for Alberta resorts, Banff/Lake Louise is the biggest. Banff is better for seasonaires and nightlife too.
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You know it makes sense.
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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="Spikyhedgehog"]. Which probably won't be the case for me as I'm off to Uni for 4 years and then going into the wide world of work.
[quote]
Don't bank on it if you get hooked!
If you don't go the tour op job route you might be better going with a seasonnaire company regardless of whether its the best economic deal as its quite likely at your age you'll find quite a lot of property owners unwilling to rent to you regardless of how well behaved you actually are.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I think that it's probably wise to go with a seasonnaire company then.
Has anyone had any experience with the two websites I mentioned. I've had some bad feedback concerning alpine elements, none from seasonaires.
Does anyone have any other similar companies that maybe have slightly larger chalets/apartments in the european alps?
I'd love to do St. Anton, but I can't find anything similar for there.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have had many friends use seasonaires in Whistler, no problems.
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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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Spikyhedgehog, have you got your summer job sorted out yet? Perhaps do something that will give you experience for your winter season, such as bar work.
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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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I have my summer day job sorted, I was hoping to get some bar work as well, for the precise reason you mention.
Think is though, there's no way I could learn french as I'm actually terrible. So that kinda rules out French bar work? And then I'm too young to be doing Canadian bar work, I'm not really sure abou the Canadian visa as well tbh.
I'll probably just end up bumming it, finding cash in hand if I'm lucky.
Any crazyearly predicitons what the snow will be like this season? If it's anything like the last in europe that is another reason to go to canada..
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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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Spikyhedgehog, did you do French at school? Get a set of Michel Thomas French course CD's off ebay, download to mp3 and listen to them. If you go with a UK tour op, your bar clients will be mainly British anyway. The larger chalets mght need dishwashers or assistants.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I did, managed to scrape a B somehow at GCSE.
I shall look into it, although my current french extends to 'Une Biere, s'il vous plait'
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''Deux biere'' is more use 
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Who said I had any friends?!
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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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Spikyhedgehog, I'm in the same position as you, I'm 18 and going out next season.
I did a ton of research, ended up getting a place in tignes with 3 of my best mates.
I did alot of research on natives, and snowheads helped me with alot of stuff (thats where the contact for the apartment came from)
PM me if your looking for a bed in tignes, we might have a spare!!
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Wow, that sounds perfect. PM will be sent in a min!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think it should've sent.
But if not, you should be able to catch me on MSN at spikiehedgehog [at] yahoo.co.uk
Or give me an email to the same address.
Thanks.
John.
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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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Spikyhedgehog, all TO jobs quote remuneration as a package which includes board and lodging, lift pass, transport, insurance, ski equipment, rather small amount of cash. The fact that you have your own accommodation will make no difference because they've already rented accom (or have it in-house) and you're saving them nothing. The only TO I know of which will pay you the full amount if you supply everything yourself is TUI, but they don't tell you where you'll be placed until the last minute, thus leaving you no time actually to find any acommodation. (You can also expect them to tattoo a barcode on your head when you sign up, and require you to have your individuality surgically removed.)
Remember that if you go for the DIY season option you have to factor in travel expenses, insurance, season pass (at full public price) etc - this can often add a lot more than would-be bums think. US/Canada will cost you more for insurance.
You're a bit young for a bar job, but if that's what you want you don't necessarily need language. Look at English-run bars in resorts with a lot of UK visitors - eg Smithy's, Smokey Joe's in 2Alpes, Moris, Pacific in Val d'Isere, practically anywhere in Meribel ............. etc. You will certainly need bar experience though, unless you are pretty and have big tits.
My strategy would be work the first season and then bum the second in the same resort when you've got a few local/TO contacts for accommodation, casual work etc. If it was definitely only one season, I'd work it.
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You know it makes sense.
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I suspect that the kind of bar which was actively looking for staff with moobs might have a rather specialised clientele, most of whom could be rather scary. I have to say that I have never seen such a place in resort.
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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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Spikyhedgehog, Sounds like you may have had enough advice but I'm gonna throw some more at you....
Me and my girlfriend came out to cham for the season just gone - we were at the other end of the university experience to you, after 4 years we both wanted to get the hell out and go to the mountains. This is the approach we took, and why it wasn't the best;
We organised accomodation really early by looking on the chamonix websites- we ended up finding a nice appartment that by no means was the most expensive on offer. It was pretty small, but so was everything else.
We went out to cham at the beginning of November- pretty early but like you plan to we'd both worked two jobs all summer and had enough money for accomodation so chose to go out early and get the pick of the jobs......
Going out early worked really well for us in terms of jobs, because in November its still the 'inter-season' the only people in the bars are the locals- the kind of people who have jobs to offer or work for the people who have them. Having this time to get to know a few people is definitely a good thing, they get to know your character a bit etc. I've ended up getting a job that could have me staying in the Alps for a whole lot longer than originally planned.
What we should have done is to come out in November without accomodation. As it turned out most of the internet offered accomodation was seriously over-priced. A lot of the friends we made came out (many on their own) and stayed in bunk-hoses/hostels for the first couple of weeks whilst they got to know people and looked for locally advertised accomodation. This is pretty much half the price we payed. I've just moved into new place for the summer (locally advertised etc), 700 Euros pm for a proper appartment- big kitchen with gas oven, table etc, lounge, double bedroom plus bathroom. My winter accomodation was £1000!!! and the living space (sofa bed, table, kitchenette all in one room) was the size of my new lounge. It was really annoying to find out how much of a stitch-up our winter place was (this happened aroud December!)
There are loads of jobs in the Alps that require none or very little French. Transfer driving seems quite popular, its pretty flexible- I think if you get a decent company you can work as much or as little as you want- every driver I got to know seems pretty pleased with their work/ski ratio. The impression I got is that working for a tour company etc gives you less flexibilty, plus drinking seems to be more important than skiing- personal preference but thats not what I came here for.
Right, not the most concise explanation but hope it helps a bit..... 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Spikyhedgehog wrote: |
| Is natives not generally concerning people who want to go out with a specific company for a season, as this isn't really something I'm wanting to do as I've heard some real horror stories about when people are tied down with a company. |
Remember those TV programmes they had on slavery a month back? Well it is a bit like that but you can at least leave the tour operator plantation.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Spikyhedgehog, Firstly welcome to 's. This may sound patronising, but read through I am trying to be helpful.
You have a lot of skiing experience but this will not help you in resort if you go DIY, any employer is looking to use your skills. These are lacking at the moment, as a result the premium jobs will not be there for you. You do however have the necessary requirements for a TO. They are looking for outgoing, friendly individuals with a little of the language and with a enthusiasm for the product (skiing!).
You will have a roof above your head, lift pass, insurance etc. but very little money. Ignore the money issue, you have the opportunity to do something that you will enjoy and think of for the rest of your life. You will have another 40 years to work hard for a shekel or two. The memories of your gap year will be with you forever.
Go and enjoy your season. Ignore your yearning for the money side. You WLL not make money in the resort. Memories WILL be your fortune.
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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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Roy Hockley,
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You WLL not make money in the resort
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Not always true, if you start the season with enough money to cover accomodation (which it sounds like Spikyhedgehog, has done) then its more than possible to 'make' money. It may mean working a bit more tha originally planned but thats how I spent my seaon and the only regret I have is not puling myself out of bed earlier on my days off.
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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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You might try pm ing SZK about a boot fitting apprenticeship in Chamonix if you are keen to learn and dedicated but I suspect you would end up working hard and it definitely wouldn't be a casual job. Lots of his clientele are Brit/Scandi so it might work.
Otherwise taking a ski tuning course at say Anything Technical might tee you up for some workshop work.
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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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Some excellent advice there.
Just to clear up, I never expected to make any money in resort, just earn a little here and there to cover some expenses out there. Hence why I'd rather not use a TO, as then I'll have more time for skiing if I find a smaller more part time job.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is there an echo in here?
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Of course if your skiing is that good, you could find a job as a tour op ski guide...
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Is that possible without relevant qualifications?
And to be honest, I think it would be very difficult for me to find a ski related (read, responsibility) job at my age/experience?
Or am I wrong.
And, yes, I am reading Natives and not ignoring you all!
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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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| Spikyhedgehog wrote: |
Is that possible without relevant qualifications?
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Um, search on Natives for a thread started by dynamite last year. 
(edit to correct the username)
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 22-05-07 14:37; edited 1 time in total
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tour op ski guide != UIAGM SKi guide. You won't be taking clients down hairy couloirs, abseiling over cliffs and roping up over crevasses - you'll be taking second weekers down blue runs and assuring them that yes, of course they're good skiiers, resorts always undergrade runs to make them look easier, and if it were in another resort this could easily be a black....
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FAQ
