Ski instructor from Australia looking for work in europe

A snowHead

Hi, Ive been ski/snowboard instructing in Perisher ski resort, Australia for 3 years now and I really want to continue working as an instructor over my summer. Ive been to europe several times and love it so would prefer to work here. Plus instructors in canada and japan dont get treated well and get paid crap and its nearly impossilbe to get a US visa.
Originally when I came I was promised a job in Switerland but it turns out its impossible for non UE citizens to get a visa here.
I am told Austria, Spain or Norway would be the best place to look as france you have to pass a ridiculously hard test and the pay is rather dismal, and italy is just as hard.
I have my APSI level 1 Alpine instructor but so far am finding its worth squat here in Europe.
I am leaning towards trying for Austria as my mother is German and I am hoping I will pick the language back up pretty easy.
What I am looking for though is any information on if other countries are better (work hours, pay, accom, apre ski etc), and what the best thing for me to do right now is (what language to learn, qualifications to get etc)
Any help at all would be much appreciated because I am looking at going home and spending another summer not on the snow do the thing i love best.

A snowHead

You're gonna struggle with the visa. Like, really struggle.

In St Anton, Austria, with the basic anwarter qualiification, working four hours a day six days a week earns you 1300 euros a month, minus 90 euros for ski school accommodation. You won't always get that much work though.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

clarky999, just out if interest, what is the accommodation like? And is it 90 Euros a week?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

tedimatt, don't know where you heard the pay in France is bad, it's possibly the best in Europe.

However, you do need to be very highly qualified to work there which includes passing the speed test.

I don't much about visas - do any of those countries take part in the working holiday visa scheme? You may have more luck if you get your ISIA stamp first.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

rob@rar, nope 90 a month. It's two to a room, small but new and fairly nicely fitted - in a big apartment block. Theres a serperate bathroom shower off to on side, but the kitchen/hobs/fridge are in the main sleeping bit - which is kinda useful for cooking fry-ups from your bed!

I prefer the accommodation in Saalbach, which is just shared rooms in a lovely ld wooden house, traditional furniture, big shared loungeand kitchen - but there are too many instructors for this too work in St Anon. Pay is a bit less in Saalbch too, but much nicer si school work for. Something like 1.20 euros a night for the accomm there.

You'll need to Register first of course.

tedimatt, do you have a work visa for the UK? If you have no luck on the continent you could try The Ski School at Cairngorm, strikes me you will find it very hard in Europe with an L1 especially if the recession continues to affect the numbers of Uk skiers heading over there. However amazing snow and, ironically, the recession is having the opposite affect up in Scotland with record numbers last season and if things carry on the way they are now potentially another bumper season in 10/11. Last year in busy periods customers were being turned away because there simply weren't enough instructors (that's with a compliment of something like 50 to 75 instructors on the books IIRC) so if this season follows suit, or is better, they might just need some extra people. No guarantees mind you and they've already done their hiring of full timers for the season but it might be worth a punt for a part time post and the pay is pretty reasonable.

BTW, as others have said the pay in France is very good to be honest but you're right that you have to pass a test.

Best of luck with the job search Very Happy

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

tedimatt, if your mother is German are you not entitled to a German passport? T'would make things a fair lot easier....

After all it is free

Thanks, I was told by my swiss friend about the pay so not sure that true or not. but I still ehar its extremely hard to get work, sees they care more about ahving work cup race skiers as instructors rather then people that are really good at teaching. Also though my mother is german, her parents gave up citizenship to become australian, sucks for me, but i doubt they were thinking bout that at the tim.

tedimatt, I think you have two issues. The visa and your qualifications. Your problem is that your lack of qualifications will prevent you getting a visa being based on being a professional ski instructor - whereas, if you were an EU citizen, the lack of qualification would restrict where you work.

So, if you want to work year round, then you're going to have to focus on those qualifications. ISIA minimum. ISTD ideally.

If you want to work over our winter and earn good money then you're probably on a fools-errand. It's not going to happen unless you're a "name" (ex-racer or professional skiier).

But if you want to work over our winter and use that as the basis for further improving your skiing on the way to getting those qualifications then roga's suggestion is a good one. The Scottish resorts will give you some summer skiing and the opportunity to consolidate and improve your skiing / boarding.

Another option might be to try to get some full time work in one of the indoor snow slopes in the UK. These slopes really struggle in winter to get enough qualified staff and I wouldn't be surprised if you could both get a full time job. I realise it's not very glamorous, but it'll give you more experience and the opportunity to train.

Trying to be realistic and helpful - rather than p*$$ on your parade.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Thanks, ill check the indoor places out too. Im not too worried about pay, I know I wont get rich as an instructor, just make enough to get by and be able to get back home.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

You will still have the visa issue in the UK though, unless you qualify for a working holiday visa.

snow reports

Check Norway out majority of schools do not require specific qualifacations they will test you themselves money is fairly good and schools are relaxed although accomadation not so cheap. Try Geilo and Hemsedal with both resorts having a fairly good british market. When I worked in Norway, Geiloilia ski school often had foreign instuctors.

You could look for a job with a tour operator - chalet hand or similar - and do some ski-guiding, nothing serious or off-piste, just showing people around the slopes?

I always found this useful in a new resort, although I admit I am not sure of the legality of it.

Cheers Tim

You know it makes sense.

tedimatt

You have been misinformed about Japan.

The Niseko Resort Area on Hokkaido has a very big English language speaking client base. There is plenty of work at a good pay scale. The living is quite comfortable.

And if you are an Australian under 30 years of age, you can apply for a working holiday visa quite easily.

The snow's rubbish at the moment, but it's set to change dramatically in the coming week.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Help!!

Ski instructor from Australia looking for work in europe

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