February 2020 | Page 3 of 3 | Snow Season Central

What jobs are available at ski resorts and which should you apply for? This article gives a brief overview of the types of jobs available at ski resorts and the positive and negative aspects of each. This will help you decide on which job to apply for when planning to work a winter season.

View latest jobs

Ski Resort Jobs

Rental shop: One of the better jobs to get at a ski resort is working in the rental shop. You get to interact with people in the shop all day and the job is indoors, which is big bonus in places where it gets particularly cold. Moreover, in contrast to solo jobs such as lift operations, you are surrounded by the people you work with so there is always someone to talk with. Often, you are able to take ride breaks during the day when it is quieter. You get to learn a bit about skis and snowboards too. A downside is that the work can often feel quite repetitive.

Repairs shop: Probably even better than the rental shop. As repair shops stay open until late in the day in order to tune all the rental skis and boards, repair shops usually do shift work. This means that you can potentially work five days a week but still get in five days riding. Also, the job is one of the more interesting ones as you learn plenty about skis and snowboards and the various machinery such as the stone grinder, the p-tex repair and the edge sharpener. You also get the satisfaction of repairing someone’s board or skis and their appreciation when they pick the gear up.

Lift operator: This job involves a lot of snow shovelling in order to keep the loading and unloading ramps smooth for riders. Additionally, you will be expected to greet all the skiers and boarders, particularly on the busier and beginner lifts. You will be outside the whole time which can get very, very cold at some of the colder resorts. If the lift is a detachable chairlift (a lift is detachable when it detaches as it moves around the terminal, slowing the chair down for easier loading for riders), there will be plenty of simply standing around monitoring the lift. On the other hand, there is usually a great vibe among the lift crew and you get to know the mountain really well. You often get ride breaks during the day, and the break is often quality riding as you are already up on the hill. You also get absolute first tracks on every powder day as you make your way to your lift in the morning.

On-mountain food and beverage work: It can be pretty tough working the on-mountain food and beverage outlets. You generally get less ride breaks than jobs with peak periods (such as rentals) and the work can be quite mundane cooking burgers or working on a cash register all day. You tend to get less tips than working in a regular bar or restaurant. The same goes for being a restaurant chef, with work conditions being much the same as in any other restaurant – high pressure to get meals out on time. The plus sides include getting to know the team you work with in the restaurant or cafe, occasional tips and often cheap or free meals.

Bars and restaurants: These jobs are extremely sought after because of the tips you can earn as well as the fun of working in a bar. In many of the good bars and restaurants, you will be able to earn enough from tips alone to sustain yourself, so that you don’t even need the wage you earn. You also often get to work at night which means time during the day to ride. The downsides include that the work is much tougher than working in a rental shop, or even on a lift, because of the busyness and the need to serve people constantly. Also, because you will so often be tired after the night shifts, on many good snow days you will tend to just sleep in and miss a good day riding.

Retail shops: Working in retail shops on mountain will usually give you access to discounts on gear. The work is still pretty fun, being with the same group of people each day means making great friends. You also get to know gear well given that you will be chatting to customers about it most days. You may end up with less ride breaks though, given that people come in and out all day and the shops can get very busy.

Guest Services: This involves selling tickets and fielding inquiries from the public. The upside to this job is that you are indoors and you get to interact with people during the day which breaks the monotony of simply selling tickets. The downsides are dealing with angry and irrational customers (which will happen to you at some point regardless of how nice you are). It is likely that the resort management will keep a closer eye on you, being the face of the resort and you might not get that many ride breaks as people always need to be monitoring the counter.

Ticket Checker: Ticket scanning for 8 hours a day is tough going for anyone, particularly when it is cold. Like the lift operators, you are standing outside all day, but without the physical exertion of snow shovelling to keep you warm. This is usually one of the most difficult jobs for ski resorts to fill each season as many people quit during the season. Fortunately, many resorts are now replacing manual ticket scanners with gates against which to swipe your lift pass.

Car park attendant: Surprisingly, this job is one of the hidden gems. The work involves directing cars into their spaces in the morning and helping out with directions. You get to work early (likely around 6am), but the advantages are that you often get huge ride breaks during the day (as people don’t leave until the afternoon), and you can even get a few tips.

Night Cleaner: Again, another surprising gem. You would start late (perhaps around 10pm) and work through the night until finished. This leaves every day to ride.

Resort Transportation: This involves guest transfers by bus or shuttle. You will need a driver’s license to undertake the role, and possibly a special bus permit as well. The advantages are being inside during those cold days. The disadvantages are that you work on your own for the most part (so less chance to get to know your workmates), and the shuttles usually need to go during the whole day, so less chance for ride breaks.

Jobs for Those with Experience

Ski and snowboard instructor: This can be great if you have the relevant qualification. However, the ski and snowboard schools are usually hierarchical so that return instructors get precedence for the lessons over the new instructors. Junior instructors may earn very little in bigger resorts – in some cases not enough to even support themselves for parts of the season. Be prepared to bring extra cash if you are a junior instructor at a larger resort. Kid’s instruction can often be characterised less as instructing and more as child minding on the bunny hill while the parents head out for the day. On the other hand, the advantages are obvious if you are getting work. Plenty of ride time, potential to earn tips, supreme knowledge of the mountain and you will be out there for every powder day of the season, plus the satisfaction of teaching people to ride.

Avalanche crew: These guys work on avalanche priming and bombing for the mountain as well as looking out for avalanche areas and providing rescue in case of an avalanche. You will also scope out unopened terrain and make sure it is safe in terms of avalanches to open. You need to be extremely competent on skis or a snowboard to do this job. Mostly, the crew are on skis as they are more versatile in getting around the hill. These guys are probably some of the best skiers and riders on the hill.

Ski patrol: You will need to be very capable on skis to do this job. Boarders are quite rare for patrol, due to a lack of versatility. The job can be long, and can be tough when you have to deal with serious injuries. Usually these guys have worked a number of snow seasons and in many cases this is their full-time professional work.

Park crew: One of the most sought-after jobs because you get to maintain and, in some cases, design the terrain park. You are in the park all day and if you love jumps, jobs and rails then you get to do this all day – maintaining the park in place and testing new features.

Snow-making: These jobs usually start before the season officially opens in order to prepare the runs for opening day. You usually work through the night, which leaves the day for riding if you aren’t too tired. The downside is that your job becomes redundant before the end of the season as snow-making usually finishes before the official resort closing date.

Snow groomer: Similar to snow making, you work through the night preparing the runs for the next day. The upsides are getting to crank your own music as you wind your way up and down the slopes, the fact you only work nights and so have, in theory, every day free to ride, and that you get to use a cool piece of machinery. The major downside is having to work through the night every night which can ruin your sleeping pattern and make it difficult to get up for the best powder days.

Jobs at Ski Tour Companies

Many European resorts have tour companies running full package ski holidays for tourists. These tours provide everything to guests, from pick-up and transfer at the airport, to guidance around the mountain and chalet accommodation and food. Be aware that these jobs can be considerably hard work, often involving up to six days a week, and can be much more taxing than the resort jobs mentioned above.

Ski and chalet host: You generally work six days a week on with one day off. It will involve picking up guests from the airport and being their guide for the week – settling them into the hotel and skiing around the mountain with them. It can involve long days and some of the guests can be quite frustrating. It can also be demanding very early on when guests ask questions about the mountain to which you do not know the answer. But you can end up with decent tips, and usually the pay includes accommodation, food and a season pass so all you need to pay for is going out. There is usually a good vibe among the tour operator workers as well and lots of places will give you discounts if you bring your guests in. However, for pure ride time on mountain, there are better jobs.

Chef: Similar to working as an on-mountain food and beverage chef, chalet chefs are expected to work under pressure and produce high quality food to demanding guests. Usually, chalet chefs are more experienced than on-mountain chefs and will require experience in order to be considered.

Nanny and childcare: This involves looking after the kids while the parents go out to ski. While this is not a job which immediately springs to mind when looking to work a snow season, it has a number of advantages, including being one of the best paid jobs. Nannies tend to make pretty decent tips (the parents are extremely grateful to anyone taking their children off their hands for a day!), and you do not need to deal with the stress of irritated guests. The downsides are that it can be a bit isolating being only with kids all day, and you don’t get many ride breaks during the day which means you can only ride on days off.

Hotel / Area manager: These jobs require you to manage a hotel, its staff and keep the guests happy. This is a professional undertaking so, while the remuneration matches this, it comes with the accompanying responsibility. This also goes for other professional jobs such as a financial manager.

Kitchen and night porter: Working overnight, you will generally keep watch over the chalet and/or help clean up the kitchen after the guests’ meals are done. Plenty of ride time, but the job is anti-social as it often involves working at night by yourself.

Cleaner and chamber person: Usually requires you to make beds and tidy up the chalet during the day. This eats into your ride time, but at least you’re indoors and the job is not too taxing, in general.

Other Options for Work

Don’t forget that many ski resorts are located at permanent townships so you will find the usual range of jobs that you could usually find in a small town.

Some people love the mountain life and end up working as lawyers, doctors, in the bank, in the supermarkets, as a mechanic or a plumber and spend the weekends skiing. There is no reason why you can’t search outside the obvious ski resort jobs when looking for employment.

A classic story is the seasonal worker who, having secured an awesome job for the season, arrives only to find that he or she has a terrible boss, intent on making your season miserable and ruining your happy days on the slopes.

Here, we’ve laid out the most common types of bad snow bosses, and below we’ve drawn on experience working in the snow to give you some advice for dealing with a bad boss while working a snow season.

While these strategies are not foolproof, they may go some way to solving the problems you have at work, and get you feeling good again about your season. More importantly, they will hopefully give you more time to get out onto the slopes.

Types of Bad Snow Bosses

1. The one who sees you as a pawn and places no trust in you. After all you’re only there for a season, so who cares how you feel?

This boss works you to the absolute bone, giving you as little time as possible to get out onto the slopes. In the eyes of this boss, you are only there for a season or less, so who cares if you miss the best powder days of the season?

The strategy: This one requires putting in place strong boundaries between working hours and play hours. While you are at work, work well and hard. If you are already one of the best workers in the team, this will give you much better coin to raise working hours with your boss.

If you show you’re ready to pitch in when things need to be done, you have a much stronger case when you remind your boss that you would like more time on the snow. Be willing to compromise to get more time on the slopes.

Also, if you raise this issue with management, they are more likely to listen to you if you are a good worker. A bad reputation for working at their company can mean huge headaches for them finding staff in the future, so they want to keep you happy if possible.

2. The boss who knows it all and won’t listen to advice from newbies.

This boss knows everything there is to know about the snow and won’t listen to anyone who hasn’t done at least five seasons at the snow. Culprits may include, in particular, ski patrol, avalanche crew, trail park crew and upper management.

The strategy: Ask a lot of questions, and show a lot of interest in their jobs. Often, this attitude comes from a position they don’t want to invest in training you, seeing as you are only a seasonal worker. However, if you start asking genuine questions out of curiosity, they are more likely to start to take on suggestions if you seem like you’ve taken the time to train and educate yourself a little.

3. The boss who is looking for a promotion, so gives you all the crap jobs while taking credit for anything good.

The strategy: This one is a tricky one, as usual strategies for this type of boss would be for long-term employees. However, it is likely that this will be a situation for a number of people, not just you. Get together a group of you and approach your boss about the types of tasks you are getting. If you confront a boss like this, they will often be very willing to listen as they don’t want their bad management style filtering out into the organisation and ruining their chances of promotion.

4. The bully.

Unfortunately, a common boss in any industry, the bully stands over employees, excludes some from activities and work, and perhaps even goes as far as threatening or harassing you.

The strategy: A bully will only go as far as you let him or her. While unpleasant, the best strategy is to ask for a meeting and very politely, but very firmly, lay out what the unacceptable behaviour is. If the behaviour escalates or continues, you will need to go above your boss. Make sure to document the bullying actions, and get witnesses if you can.

5. The poor communicator and employee as a boss.

This guy or girl is just plain incompetent, or simply doesn’t know how to communicate what he or she wants. This can lead to misunderstandings, and often a frustrated customer who takes it out on you.

The strategy: Remember that not everyone knows how to communicate. There are different styles. You need to work out your boss’ style and then play to those strengths. If they like details, learn the details. If they are more hands-off, take some initiative with your work. But, above all, if you are not clear, ask questions until you are absolutely clear. Even if this makes you feel a little slow asking all the questions, it’s much better to be certain in advance than a fool in retrospect.

6. The bum.

It’s not just first-time seasonal staff who can be lazy. Some ski bosses make their way up the industry simply by returning year after year. These bosses lack motivation and don’t give you any of the support or training you need to do your job, making your season that much more stressful.

The strategy: While this boss can seem cool at first, it can get quite annoying when nothing gets done and it’s you left dealing with angry customers. You should make sure it’s not you who has to deal with the angry customers if something goes wrong that was your boss’ issue. Once enough angry people stomp through his or her door, the bum boss might start to actually do some proper work.

A few things to keep in mind

1. A gentle look in the mirror

Before you get too upset, it’s important to also take a step back and an objective look at your own behaviour. What is actually making your boss act the way he or she is?

Are you showing up to work hungover every day and unable to function? You need to be a little honest about what is happening to get your boss on your case.

2. Just because you hate your boss, doesn’t mean you hate everyone

You might have a terrible boss at work, but don’t let that spoil all your other friendships with your co-workers. In fact, these are the guys that might be your allies to help you get through the crappy days with your boss.

It also means that you don’t necessarily want to just start slacking off at work – the jobs you don’t pick up will inevitably be picked up by your co-workers and it’d be a shame to wreck your days riding together because they feel you’re not pulling your weight at work.

3. Cool your heels just a little

If your boss gives you a perceived sleight, don’t necessarily fire straight back. You want to see a pattern of bad behaviour before you take action. Everyone gets grumpy at work from time-to-time, including your boss, and including people living the dream working at the snow.

4. Check your comms

Are you communicating with your boss properly? Or do you have just completely different styles of communication? What some people may take as obvious is not always as clear to others. Take a moment to look at how you communicate with your boss and whether you, or he or she, could be more direct in making requests.

Often, a poor working relationship between a boss and employee comes down to both sides misunderstanding what the other wants from them.

5. Voice your concerns

If you stay silent, you will suffer silently. Following on from the above, communication is generally critical in dealing with a bad boss. If there is a real problem, you should make a time to sit down and politely but firmly talk through your grievances with your boss.

You may have to go to your boss’ boss if you don’t feel comfortable. Remember that finding seasonal staff is quite hard for businesses each season. They don’t want to lose you seeing as they’ve gone to all the effort to hire you and train you for a short winter season.

They may be willing to reach a compromise solution more readily than you think, for example offering you a transfer to another area of the business.

6. Written is better than spoken, your honour

If you are facing serious problems, like harassment or bullying, you should make sure to document the incidents somewhere – whether on a note pad, or an email to yourself. If there are serious incidents and other people witness these, you should also make a note of this.

Written evidence holds more weight than he-said, she-said, in general, so if you ever are called upon to describe the incidents, you will have notes at hand.

7. The option to quit

If it is really intolerable, remember that you are only there on a seasonal basis and you have the option to quit if you really need. Plenty of switch jobs throughout the season, including to work at a different business in the same resort.

Once you have settled into the season, you will have a bunch of contacts at other businesses around the resort. Use these to help find yourself a new job, which can ease the stress of finding new work halfway through the season.

You can’t enjoy your snow season without the right gear. The list below is not exhaustive as each person will be different. However, it gives a general indication of the gear to bring when working a winter season – otherwise you will surely up buying it and paying hefty resort prices.

Hardware

Snowboard or skis / + bag: Depending on where you are working, you may want to bring different types of skis or snowboards. For example, are you working at a resort with deep powder, such as in Japan or western Canada? If so, you may want a wider snowboard or set of skis to help float through the deep, white stuff. If you plan on working at a resort with more on-piste riding, such as in Europe, you might need to look for narrower equipment more suited for the purpose. Check out whether to snowboard or ski to help you out on whether to ski or snowboard.
Boots: If you are working an entire season, boots are the one item on which it is worth spending that little bit extra to buy a new and comfortable pair. Sore or cold feet lead to reduced riding while ill-fitting boots mean clunky riding. Those who prioritize their boards or skis over boots have their priorities upside down. You do not want to be wasting your days off work boot punching (widening), finishing your day early because your feet hurt, constantly falling over because the boots do not respond to your feet, or wasting time at the top of each run to adjust your boots.
Goggles: Important for the low light days when the snow blends into the mist and you cannot discern bumps. They are equally important for snowy and stormy days when snow is blowing into your face. Make sure to get lenses tested to the correct UV standard. Sun off the snow can be particularly harsh on skin and eyes. Make sure also that your goggles have good anti-mist capabilities. A good investment is the goggle oil which replenishes anti-mist. Also, remember that your goggle tan is a key to your credibility at the snow in the eyes of some!
Helmet: Helmets are now very popular for people heading into the back country and tackling the bigger features in the terrain park. Modern helmets fit quite comfortably and are a wise investment for seasonal workers whether hitting beginner or intermediate terrain.

Clothing

Your best bet is to build a wardrobe which allows you to layer – extra layers on cold days and fewer layers on warmer days.

Ski or Snowboard Pants: While tourists can get away with jeans for a day or two, seasonal workers need a pair of decent, waterproof pants. Go for lightweight and breathable.
Thermal underwear: As part of your layering strategy, buy long-sleeve thermal tops and pants. They can be worn without much bulk on colder days and provide a good amount of warmth.
Shirts: Both t-shirts and long sleeve shirts are useful. These can be worn over your thermal top when out on the hill, or even as the outer layer once spring skiing comes around. You will also need a number of shirts to wear around at night after a long, sweaty day on the mountain.
Tops / Fleeces: These can be worn over your thermal top and shirt to provide extra warmth on cold days. Look for breathable cotton – the type you would use for hiking. Try to avoid wool as when wool gets wet it tends to absorb more moisture, which keeps you cold, and become heavy, which weighs you down.
Jacket: Jackets are extremely important and you should invest in a decent jacket if working the whole season. Big, thick, water and wind proof is what you should be looking for. As with boots, it is worth spending a little bit extra for a sturdy, warm jacket that will last the season.
Socks: Remember that thicker socks do not necessarily keep your feet warmer. It is circulation which keeps you warm. Where there is less circulation, such as in thick, tight socks, less blood flows to your feet making them colder. You should be able to wriggle your toes when wearing your socks and boots. The best socks feel comfortable and fill out the boot so the boot is not loose.
Gloves / Mitts: Gloves or mitts are clearly an essential item to keep your hands warm. For many people, mitts are preferred and keep your hands warmer as you are able to your fingers together which increases circulation. Inner gloves are popular among some seasonal workers for extra warmth.
Face mask / neck warmer: For Canadian winters, or anywhere else that dips below -15c / 5f, you will want a face mask to avoid bad frostbite on your cheeks.
Beanie: Make sure it covers your ears otherwise colder days will be brutal.
Underwear: The clean pair.

Safety Gear

Shovel
Avalanche transceiver (beacon)
Probe
Backpack
GPS transponder

Other Clothing to Pack

Regular shoes – to walk around the village
Regular clothing including jeans and tops – for days off and for heading out at night to the bars and restaurants
Swimsuit – in case you find a hot tub

Other Items

Passport and visa – if working overseas (usually needs to be valid for six months, but this should be checked)
Plane ticket
Travel credit card
Camera + spare memory card
Memory stick for photos
Travel insurance
Sunscreen (remember snow sun can be powerful)
Lip balm – crucial for wind chapped lips
Goggle wipes
Alarm – to wake up for work
Power adapter
Hairdryer – if required
Laundry bags – to do your washing.
Vaccination records – check local country requirements
Toiletries

Things to Prepare

Check passport validity
Organise flights
Get required vaccinations
Arrange international driver’s license – although often not strictly necessary, it often helps if hiring a car
Email to yourself – passport, visa, flight details, other bookings and send the details to family or friends
Call your mobile phone provider to arrange international roaming – remember overseas charges can be huge so this should be enabled only for emergencies. It is best to buy a local sim card
Check power point adapters for the country
Currency exchange so you have a little bit of local cash on arrival
Home mail to be stopped or collected by someone
Arrange travel insurance
Arrange any required medications – check country requirements for entry

Those looking to work their first ski season often make the mistake of spending hours looking for the right skis, and barely any time looking for the right pair of ski boots.

Their rationale is – skis are what make me fast, and it is skis that look cool, not my boots!

Well, dear readers, it’s time to reverse this order of priority.

Let me lay out the case for spending more time on choosing the right pair of boots, before you rush off to get that new pair of skis.

Boots make the skier

Your boots are what has direct contact with your feet. Without good, solid boots, your ability to control the skis is greatly diminished. You simply cannot control a ski when your boot is washing around on your feet or you heel is lifting out of its place.

Second, no-one can enjoy riding when their boots are uncomfortable. An uncomfortable boot is effectively enough to ruin a day’s riding, no matter what the snow conditions are, how much powder is puking down, or how awesome your new skis are.

And third, of course, it’s so easy to change and try out a new pair of skis during the season at the rental shop, whereas your boots you will carry with you the entire season.

For these reasons, for any seasonal worker, it is highly recommended to invest in purchasing a pair of boots that fit, and which will allow you to work the skis to maximum effect.

Here are some of the factors to consider when purchasing your next pair of ski boots.

1. Your Ability

In general, beginner skiers will prefer a slightly more comfortable boot, while a more advanced skier will prefer a slightly tighter boot. That is, an advanced skier would go for a fit that is half a size, to a full size smaller than a regular fit.

The reason is that advanced skiers will want to hit big mountain terrain, park, steeps, cliffs and chutes and will likely prefer a tighter boot to ensure less wash in the boot upon hard impact to the skis.

In contrast, beginner skiers will likely prefer a more comfortable fit on the foot. For beginners, it is less important to ensure minimal wash in the boot, as the impact on the skis from bunny slopes and groomers is less severe.

2. Ski Boot Sizing – Factors to Consider to Choose the Correct Size

Ski boots sizes are converted from regular shoe sizing using the Mondopoint scale. This converts a US/UK/EU size into a centimetre size on the Mondopoint scale. You can also measure your foot using a ruler to get an approximate size.

If you ever hire boots at a ski rental shop, they will use the Mondopoint scale to pick out the right size boots, generally regardless of your ability level (the assumption being that more advanced skiers will generally not be hiring boots from the rental shop).

However, when choosing your own pair of boots to wear for the season, a little more precision is necessary.

The Mondopoint scale is really a very rough scale, given your shoe size can vary between brands in your regular shoes. It also doesn’t matter too much if your regular shoes are a size too big, whereas this can be quite a problem in your ski boots.

Rule of thumb on length

For length, a general rule of thumb is that, if you are standing up tall in the boot, your toes should be lightly touching the end. When you go into a dynamic ski pose (that is, shins pressed against the tongue of the boots, hips lowered, and hamstrings and glutes engaged), your toes will pull slightly back from the top of the boot, and you should no longer be able to feel the end of the boot.

Socks

It’s a good idea to wear thin socks when you are trying on new boots. This is because a thick pair can give you the false impression that the boot is a good fit, when actually it is slightly too big.

In addition, better skiers will tend to wear thinner socks as the boot and liner provide more than enough warmth, and the thinner sock means slightly more control in the boot.

Liner compression

The liner is the padded part of the boot. When you first try on a boot, the liner will feel quite cushy, and might even feel too tight. However, you need to remember that liners will compress with use, which is known as ‘packing out’. This will make the boot feel bigger than when you first bought it, and is a common trap for those purchasing their first pair of boots.

If the boot feels too comfortable straight away, have a second look! There’s nothing worse than buying a pair of boots that feel great on first wear, only to have the liner compress and you realise the boot is too big. You want a pair of boots that still feel good at the end of the season, and seasons beyond, not just the beginning of the season.

Some custom liners can be moulded to the shape of your foot by a boot fitter. This might add an extra bit of comfort to your boot, though it certainly adds to the cost of the boot.

Foot bed

It is possible to get a custom foot bed underneath the liner to add to the comfort of the boot. Lean Boots typically have a fixed forward lean to them. A spoiler at the back of the boot can be used to adjust the forward lean of the boot if you have a problem.

Shell length

Some boot fitters might remove the lining of the boot and ask you to stand in just the shell of the boot. This is one way to check the size of the shell as compared to your foot.

This is an imprecise measurement because liners and insoles are constructed differently. However, if you slide your toes to the front of the boot, a general guide is that you should be able to fit one to one and a half fingers between your heel and the back of the shell (so around 1.5cm – 2cm).

Shell width – (otherwise known as ‘last’).

Of course, length isn’t the only measurement you should be examining. Width is important as well. This can cause problems, particularly around the knuckle of the toes where the widest part of the foot is. Make sure to get a boot that fits length, but is not crushing the sides of your feet.

Boot manufacturers will often make the same type of boot in a narrow, average or wide ‘last’ to accommodate different types of feet.

If you do purchase a boot that is too narrow, all is not lost. By heating the shell, boot fitters are able to ‘punch out’ the sides of the shell, to make it a little wider on pressure points. Depending on the boot, this can be a good fix, although some boots have memory which means they will revert to their original shape over time.

Unfortunately, it still remains a problem in the boot industry that aggressive skiers who want a tight boot will have problems if they have a wide foot. Stiffer boots still, for the most part, come in narrower shells, which means having to modify the boots, or searching a bit harder for a tight-fitting, stiff boot, which still has a wide ‘last’.

The same goes for beginners who will still generally find that softer flexing boots tend to come in wider lasts. So those beginners with narrow feet would still often be only able to find wide-fitting boots. If you fall into one of these categories, a custom mould might go someway to helping you out.

3. Ski Boot Flex

Flex of the boot indicates how stiff the shell of the boot is. The higher the flex rating, the stiffer the boot. There is no industry standard, however, so the guide given by the boot manufacturer is indicative only, and will require you to try the boot on for feel.

As you progress throughout the season, you will likely start to want a more advanced boot. So, it’s important to buy a boot you can work into, rather than a boot that is immediately super comfortable if you plan to spend a large number of days on the hill over the season.

Beginners and intermediates will likely prefer a medium to high flexing boot, which is generally much more comfortable on the foot over the course of the day. As a beginner, uncomfortable boots are one of the major reasons to step off the hill, and stiffness is one of the biggest reasons for uncomfortable boots.

Advanced skiers will generally prefer a stiffer boot which allows for greater control in a wider variety of conditions. In moguls, steeps, cliffs and other off-piste terrain, you will likely want a boot that gives you precision and a greater ability to translate feet movement into ski movement.

Ski racers prefer incredibly stiff boots in order to ensure maximum precision on the even, groomed runs.

Those who like off-piste and big mountain often choose to scale the stiffness back just a touch, as they help to absorb some of the impact of the crud, bumps and rocks.

Women have a generally lower flex rating simply because of a lower body weight. But if you’re a lighter than average male, or a heavier than average woman, you may need to adjust accordingly.

An indicate flex rating table is below:

	Beginner	Intermediate	Advanced and expert	Racers
Men	60-85	85-105	105-130	130 and over
Women	50-70	70-90	90-110	110 and over

4. Calf Shape and Volume

Boots that fit a narrow calf tend to also be narrow through the heel, middle of the foot and the ‘last’ or end of the boot. Conversely, boots with more volume through the calf tend to retain that volume through the middle of the foot and the last.

This can present a problem if you have a narrow calf, but wide feet, as the perfect fit around the calf might mean you are too tight around the sides of the toes. The same goes for those with a wide calf and narrow feet, which is a more common issue in women.

This is where different brands will suit different people, so it’s important to try a few boots on for size to ensure you are getting a great fit.

5. Buckles

When your boots are done up, you want to ensure that you are not tightening up to the last clip straight away. If you are, it likely means the boot is too big for you. As you spend the day on the hill, the boot will loosen, such that skiers often need to tighten the buckles during the day. You want to have the ability to tighten the buckles, which means they shouldn’t be done all the way up to start the day.

When doing up your boots, it’s generally advised to start with the two buckles on the calf. This is because the toe buckle does not (or should not in a well-fitting boot) add much to the tightness of the boot, while the second bottom buckles and the calf buckles are the more important ones to keep your heel in place. You do not need to do your toe buckle up too tightly.

Four buckles is standard for boots. Some boots use fewer than four buckles. Rental shop boots often come with just two buckles, more for convenience than anything. Touring boots might use just two buckles for lightness.

Some buckles give you a little extra precision with a little crank on them to allow for micro adjustments to length of the buckle. Remember that the fit of the boot will often loosen throughout the day, so these mini-cranks can help to keep the boot at its best fit. Again, this is a preference depending on how sensitive you are to having the perfect fit throughout the day.

6. Boot Punching and Custom Moulded Shells

Certain shells can be heat moulded and custom fitted, to give you that extra bit of comfort and improve the fit. This can be especially handy if you have a difficult foot to fit (such as a narrow calf and wide foot).

Boot punching can be used to target and widen certain pressure points in the boot.

7. All Terrain Boots

Cross-over touring boots are becoming more popular. These boots allow you to more easily walk in the boots and allow you to trek some distance to search for backcountry powder.

There are also touring bindings you can get for your skis for this purpose.

Boot Care

A few tips on caring for your boots will ensure they last you several seasons.

1. When done with the boots at the end of the day, buckle the boots back up on the first clips (the least tight position). This helps to ensure that the boots retain their shape, and mean that each time you slip them back on they will not have deformed from the previous day.

2. Ideally, you should wear a fresh pair of socks each day. This helps to limit the amount of moisture and sweat coming into contact with the liners.

3. When putting on the boot, make sure that your foot is correctly inside first, and that the tongue isn’t caught outside the shell and is aligned correctly. If the tongue is sticking out when you buckle up the boots, this can damage the liner as well as the shell. In certain cases, it can even lead to tears in the shell (which this columnist knows only too well).

4. Allow your boots to dry overnight so as to remove the moisture and avoid the build up sweat and odours. Some people like to take out their liners overnight to ensure they are dry the next day. A boot dryer is great if you have one, or some lodges will have a drying room.

Direct heat, such as with a hairdryer is not recommended, as direct heat can damage the liner. Directly heating the boots can also mess with any custom mould. A warm environment is a much better option to dry your boots.

5. At the end of the season, gently wash the shells without using harsh detergents or solvents. There is no need for anything that harsh. You can then leave the shells out to dry. Again, no need to apply direct heat, they will certainly dry before the next winter rolls around!

6. When storing the boots at the end of the season, store them in a cool, dry place. As you won’t be using them again for several months, ensure they aren’t in a place likely to attract damp or mould.

Ski Boot Brands

Some of the major manufacturers of ski boots include:

Lange Ski Boots is a major producer of quality boots, which was the first producer of plastic ski boots.
Rossignol is a French company which has a big name for ski boots.
Salomon is another French ski boot producer which has a long and storied history.
Nordica Ski Boots was a company founded in Italy, and now owned by Technica Group.
Atomic is an Austrian company which is another big name in ski boots and ski racing.

How long do ski boots last and how often should I replace them?

This really is the question to which you will struggle to find good answers. Some great skiers will have the same pair of boots for seasons on end, while others like to upgrade whenever they can.

As a very general rule of thumb, if you are properly looking after your boots, ski boot manufacturers such as Nordica think you should be able to get 150 days on snow with the boots before you start to notice the liner breaking down and the flex starting to noticeable soften.

This obviously depends on the boots, so feel is still a good guide.

Of course, 150 days on snow for some people is barely two seasons, while for the more intermittent skier, that might be a decade, by which time boot technology changes mean you will want to upgrade simply for a better boot, rather than the boot carking it.

Finding the right ski for you makes such a difference to how you will enjoy your season working at the snow. Too much power and you will feel out of control – too little power and you won’t feel like you’re progressing like you want to.

So, let’s break down the core features of skis to understand, and get you talking like a rental shop pro.

Camber

Camber is the old school shape of a ski. The arch in the middle of the ski means that the ski acts kind of like a partially loaded spring. As soon as you put pressure on one side of the ski when you initiate a turn, the two edges at the front of the ski and the back bite into the snow – relative to the rest of the skis – which helps you to turn.

Your weight on the centre of the ski ensures that pressure is distributed along the ski, giving you more even contact with the snow.

Cambered skis will have more ‘spring’ to help you bounce from one turn to the next, which makes it easier to make those quick turns on groomed runs and off-piste runs that aren’t powder or bumpy.

Camber is popular with ski racers as it holds an edge better on-piste and on icy runs. The skis will feel like they have more energy in the turns than a rockered ski, although the really tight turns are a little harder with a cambered ski as you need to work the ski into the turn more than a rockered ski.

The downside to camber is that it is easier to catch an edge, given the shape wants to bite into the snow. The other downside to camber is it can be a harder ski to use in deep powder as opposed to a fully rockered ski.

Camber went out of fashion recently as everyone moved to the rockered ski. But don’t discount camber out of hand – they are probably among the best all-mountain ski shapes, and many of the best all-mountain skis will have some camber to them.

Rocker

Rocker is sometimes known as reverse camber. Rocker is where the skis form a ‘U’ shape when placed on the ground. The design originally came from watersports, where a rocker is common to keep the tips of the skis up.

With a rockered ski, the lift at the edges of the skis means that, when placed on an edge, the skis won’t tend to bite as quickly as a camber ski. It also means the effective edge is a little shorter than in a camber ski given it’s the centre of the skis which will absorb much of the energy of the turn.

The result of this is a ski that struggles a little more on the icy and groomed runs. A rockered ski can also feel quite ‘washy’ as you go along as both edges are slightly raised from the snow, meaning the strongest contact with the snow is directly underfoot.

However, rocker is extremely popular given it is awesome for off-piste and powder. The raised tips allow you to float through the powder. This means you don’t need to lean back like you would with a cambered ski, which allows you to charge harder through the powder and the trees.

Rocker also allow for easier turn manoeuverability as the turn is initiated much more through the foot than through the tips of the skis. This gives you much more ability to ‘swipe’ your feet from side-to-side and make those really tight, off-piste turns.

Some park riders prefer rocker given the less catchy edges allow riders to get into spins early and will provide a greater capacity to recover from off-centre landings.

Flat

Flat skis are a little less common, and are more likely to be seen in a snowboard than a ski. Flat skis have raised tips and a flat base.

Flat is either the best of both worlds, or the worst of both worlds, depending on your perspective. Turning will be easier than with a camber ski, while edge hold will be better than with a full rocker. Conversely, turning is worse than with a full rocker and edge hold not as strong as with a camber ski.

Rocker/Camber/Rocker

Some ski manufacturers try to combine the best of both into one ski. The most common design to incorporate these features is a rocker/camber/rocker. This is a rockered tip and tail, with a camber centre to the ski.

The rocker tips will make it ski shorter than it otherwise would, meaning you might need to go 5-10cm longer than usual.

The camber will give you that ‘spring’ on the groomers, while the rocker allows you to take the ski off-piste and through the powder with confidence.

Twin Tips

Many park skis now have twin tips – i.e. the tail is a similar shape to the tip. The twin tip design allows riders to ski backwards and land backwards, and generally perform cooler tricks.

Ski Length

Optimal ski length will vary a lot based on your ability. For beginners to intermediates, it is generally suggested to get a ski up to your chin. More advanced skiers will go to head height, even sometimes longer.

Shorter skis are easier to turn as there is less ski to move. Shorter skis are better for short, quick turns when going at a medium pace. Shorter skis might also be good for someone who is quite light as there is less need for the ski to grind the edge against the snow.

However, more aggressive skiers generally prefer a longer ski. The reason is a longer ski has much more power in it. At speed, a longer ski will hold better and avoid the ‘chatter’ and wobbliness that comes with a shorter ski. A longer ski will also go faster as it has more edge contact with the snow. Ski racers will go for longer skis (sometimes so long they look almost comical).

Additionally, if going into the backcountry or off-piste, a longer ski powers through the crud a little better than a shorter ski. Longer skis are also generally necessary if you going for a rockered ski, given that a full rocker will make them ski shorter than a camber ski (less edge contact with the snow). Longer skis are also good for those who a heavier than average.

Ski Width

Skis have three width measurements – one at the tip, one at the tail and one underfoot. A measurement of 120/95/110 would mean 120 millimetres at the tip, 95mm underfoot and 110mm at the tail.

The narrower the waist, generally the deeper is the parabolic shape of the ski (the sidecut) which will make the ski easier to turn.

Skis with a wider width underfoot will be better in powder, given the greater surface area of the ski to assist with flotation. However, a wider waist is more work to turn, and generally requires a better technique in order to make the turns.

For a purer groomer ski, 70 – 80mm underfoot is a rough guide as to what constitutes a narrow ski. From 80mm – 95mm is a bit more of an all-mountain ski which has versatility to perform well both on and off-piste well. Wider than 100mm gets into quite a fat ski which will be excellent for those big mountain, off-piste days with lots of powder. Skis go as high as 140mm for regular punters if you are really looking to charge through the crud, or look like you have two snowboards on your feet. Wider than that is getting a little comical and probably counter productive.

For moguls, a narrower ski is generally a bit easier to handle, as is a ski with less of a sidecut to help you shape your turns to the bumps.

Sidecut

Sidecut refers to the difference in width between the waist, and the tip and tail. All skis now have some degree of sidecut – straight skis belong in the 1970s.

From the mid-1990s, the shaped ski, or ‘parabolic’ ski became extremely popular, taking over the from the straight style. This sidecut allows the ski to turn much more easily as it requires the skier to roll the ankles and feet. This partially changed the best technique for skiers. It also meant that the skis could get a little shorter, as the sidecut means pressure is placed over a greater length of the edge of the ski than with a straight ski.

A deep sidecut refers to a bigger difference in width at the tip and tail compared to the waist, as opposed to a narrow sidecut where the curve is more gradual on the ski.

The deeper the sidecut, the tighter a ski will turn.

With the advent of the rockered ski with a wider waist, the popular shape of skis has in general moved back more towards a smalller sidecut with a narrow curve.

Radius

Radius will often be printed on the ski. This refers to the natural turning arc of the ski. A shorter radius means the ski is better for tight turns.

Anything less than 16 metres is considered short. These skis will be good on groomers. From roughly 17m – 22m, you will find skis in the all-mountain range. A ski with a radius of longer than 22m will have a narrow sidecut, and you are likely to find this range among powder and big-mountain skis which are wide underfoot.

You will also find a long radius in the best mogul skis as a straighter ski is much easier to handle in the bumps.

Backcountry and Weight of the Ski

Another factor to take into account is the weight of the ski. Heavier skis, sometimes with a metal rather than a wood core, will charge through ice and crud more easily than a light ski. However, if you are planning on doing a bit of backcountry, remember you will need to carry your skis. A light ski could be quite a gift when trudging up the hill for the fourth time that day!

Flex and Bend

The flex of the ski is how much the ski will bend as pressure is applied. You might often see people in shops trying to look like they know their stuff by bending the skis through the waist!

A more flexible ski is good for beginners as it is a little more forgiving if you hit a rough patch, much like suspension in a car.

For advanced skiers, stiffness is generally preferred as it allows you to charge through the icy and cruddy snow much more easily. A stiffer ski will also feel more stable at speed, and is therefore preferred by racers and aggressive skiers.

A stiffer ski will also avoid the ‘chatter’ and bumpiness that a soft ski will betray as you move into a higher gear.

On the other hand, a softer ski is nice when the snow is very powdery as a stiffer ski will sink a little and not float as nicely. A stiffer ski is also harder to turn in the powder, although it might be better for heavier than average people.

Torsional Stiffness

This refers to the stiffness in the ski when twisting the ski in an upright position. It is the other dimension in which a ski can bend. Some skis are built-up through the middle of the skis to give greater torsional strength. The advantage here is that a soft, flexible ski, which would otherwise not handle the groomers as well, can be designed so that it has additional torsional strength to compensate for the softer, more flexible design. Greater torsional strength gives more strength when holding an edge.

An example of a torsionally stiff ski with a softer flex is the Volkl 90eights.

Gender Considerations

As ski manufacturers like to make more money from us, there are differences between men’s and women’s skis. Women’s skis are generally lighter. The waist, and where the binding is place, is often set further forward to match a women’s relatively lower centre gravity (weight contained in the thighs for women, rather than around the gut for men – all else being equal!). However, the differences are slight and probably not a huge consideration when buying skis.

Pick a Ski for the Right Location

Among good riders, you will often find people with several sets of skis. This is because there is no perfect ski for all conditions. There are trade-offs with every element of design.

For those riding in deep, soft snow such as in the Rockies in Canada or the US, or through Japan, a soft, wide, long ski is a popular choice.

For those who are riding in icier conditions with heavier snow, such as Australia, New Zealand, South America, and often Europe, a stiffer ski with a narrower waist is often popular. However, even in these places the wider skis underfoot are becoming more popular as people realise their versatility.

Ski Brands

The biggest brands in the world are European in origin, and France is over-represented in producing some of the most well-known manufacturers.

Elan is the pioneer of the parabolic design of ski from the mid-1990s. It is a Slovenian-originating company with headquarters still in Slovenia.

Rossignol is a leading ski designer which was founded back in 1907 in France, and which is now the owner of Dynastar and Lange.

K2 is an American company started in the 1960s, and was the first user of fibreglass technology in skis.

Salomon was started in Annecy, France in the 1940s.

Dynastar is owned by the Rossignol group, and was originally a French company founded in the 1960s.

Atomic is an Austrian company which has been at the forefront of technology changes in skis and boots.

Head is a Dutch company which is also well-known in other sports such as tennis.

1. There is Nothing Like a Powder Day

Riding powder is like flying through snow. There is a reason they say “there are no friends on a powder day”.

2. Faceshots

Heard of faceshots? Where the powder is so deep that you get shots of powder to the face? Working a season is one way to find out…

3. New Friends

Your workmates will love riding and sharing the good times together. You will work with these people every day for the whole season. Make friends, and share stories, that will last forever.

4. Become a Shredder

With four months or more riding powder everyday, you will make your friends gawk as you shred the snow like a pro.

5. Inside Knowledge of your Mountain

Don’t you hate being surrounded by crowds on tracked out runs? Working a season will allow you to find all those hidden areas that only the locals know about.

6. New Culture

If you go international, not only do you experience new scenery but you experience a new culture. Spend time off from work exploring a new country, seeing new sights and tasting new things.

7. Goggle Tan!

Nothing gives you more credibility on the mountain than a deep goggle tan.

8. How about the Girls…

Girls who work in the snow are cool. They know how to shred and they love to party. If you are still not convinced, two words – Torah Bright – ’nuff said. …

9. …And the Guys

Girls, you may end up dating a pro snowboarder – you can’t say you are not dreaming about it!

10. Use your Summer Break…

Why not switch hemispheres for a few months to chase powder? Use the summer break to say ‘stuff the heat’ and instead chase dry, fluffy powder.

11. … And then Stay for the Summer

Many resorts have bigger summer operations than winter. Use the winter to get yourself established at the resort and then spend the next summer hiking, biking and swimming.

12. Or Just Take a Break before Starting ‘Real’ Work

Perhaps you have just finished university? Why jump straight into the world of desk-sitting, interminable meetings and grey suits? Clear your head and work in a pristine alpine environment before taking any rash decisions like entering the workforce!

13. Fill in Time

Or perhaps you just have no job and no study. Work a snow season to fill in a break in your life while you work out your true direction. This will fill the gap in your CV while you have an awesome time

14. …Or Change Careers

Perhaps you want to quit your dead-end job. Working a snow season gives you space to clear your head while still supporting yourself. Who knows, you may end up enjoying the mountain life so much that you stay.

15. Après-ski

A beer tastes so much better after a hard day shredding powder and taking snow to the face.

16. Ski Town Nightlife

Given that both seasonal workers and tourists are there to ride and have a good time, you can usually expect a raucous time. Plus, you live at the resort and know all the locals!

17. Or Just Enjoy the Alpine Environment

You don’t necessarily need a rowdy ski town – how about nights surrounded by nothing but majestic peaks, unspoiled landscape, glittery stars and crisp air?

If you have decided to work a season in the snow, the next step is to get on with the essential planning. You are probably wondering where to start? This article will guide you through the essential steps in order to work a snow season.

1. Early Planning

The earlier you start planning your season the better off you will be in terms of resorts open to you, the jobs available, your accommodation and the money you spend.

For northern hemisphere resorts, job advertisements go up as early as July for a November / December start. For southern hemisphere resorts, jobs typically go up around February for a June / July start.

Check out the individual resort pages for further information on hiring dates.

While most resorts will look for staff throughout the entire season as people quit or leave, it is true that more well-known resorts tend to fill their rosters quite quickly before the season starts. Therefore, if you have your heart set on a particular resort, you will need to comply with their hiring dates and put in your application in time.

Similarly with accommodation, the more well-known resorts will see an influx of seasonal workers each season looking for accommodation.

It pays to start looking early and, if possible, arriving early to start contacting landlords. Sure, you can squat in the hotel 20 miles from town, on no bus route, but is that really as cool as it sounds?

2. Choose Your Mountain

The first question is which part of the world you want to work in. Read the Seasonal Worker’s Global Resort Guide for a general overview of regions around the world.

Once you have selected the right country, the next question is at which resort you wish to work the season.

There are several considerations when deciding which mountain to choose:

Do you want expert terrain or are you content to keep out of the rocks? No use choosing big mountain, huge back country, massive chutes and cliffs if you prefer groomers and cruisers. Likewise, backcountry is more or less popular depending on where you are. The countries that have embraced backcountry riding to the greatest extent include Canada, New Zealand and parts of the US. European riders are increasingly chasing backcountry, though the majority there still prefer on-piste groomers and the mountains reflect this.
Are you after big powder? If you want powder, then Hokkaido in Japan, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, and Utah, Colorado, California and Wyoming in the US are your places. While European mountains can receive large dumps of snow, the snow is, in general, less plentiful than these other places.
Do you like to work at smaller operations with a tight community, or is a famous, ritzy resort your style? Small mountains are often overlooked, either because seasonal workers have not heard of them, or they assume they will not be fun because of their small size. However, small operations can be exceptionally fun due to the tight community which you join. Good examples of tight communities are the club fields in New Zealand.
Are you after a big nightlife, or are you content with mountain serenity? In general après-ski is much more popular in Europe than in North America (with a few notable exceptions such as Whistler and Banff). You may wish to do some research on the nightlife at your resort. Of course, a smaller nightlife generally means a greater focus on getting up early to chase the powder.

Check out some resorts here.

3. Obtain Your Visa (if required)

Each country has its own set of requirements for working visas. It is important to apply with enough time in advance as the visa process can be lengthy.

The easiest countries for which to obtain a working visa include Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The US is generally much more restrictive for working visas. Japan also has a working holiday visa program.

European passport holders are able to work anywhere in Europe. However, it is much more difficult if you are arriving from outside the European Union. In this respect, France is the easiest European country for which to obtain a working visa.

Check out the individual country pages for further information on visas.

4. Apply For Your Job

Once you have selected your resort and got your visa underway, you will need to apply for the job you wish to do throughout the season.

Have a look at Jobs Available at Mountain Resorts to help you choose which job you would like to apply for on the mountain.

You generally have two options: (1) work for the resort directly or (2) work for a local business in town.

The major advantages of working for the resort generally include:

Getting a free season pass
Locking in a job before you arrive at the resort
A bigger circle of workmates / friends and therefore ride buddies
Free ski and snowboard lessons
More stable income as your as your work shifts tend to fluctuate less than working in a bar, restaurant or shop
Access to staff housing
Discount food at the hill

The major disadvantages generally include:

Most resort jobs are day jobs, whereas night jobs such as hospitality give you greater ride time over the season
You can earn better tips in a restaurant or bar
The work atmosphere can be more fun in a bar or club, plus working in a local business means nice discounts around town (especially in the bars)
Less flexibility for shifts and jobs than working in a local business.

Head to the individual resort pages for further information on hiring dates and local job resources.

Job Programs

You may also want to investigate some of the organizations that source you jobs from your home country, such as Overseas Working Holidays, CCUSA or IEP. Many of the larger resorts in North America use these programs to fill up their rosters each season.

For a rather hefty fee (often up to $USD800), these programs will bring employers to your home country and set up an interview for you with them (basically guaranteeing a job unless you put in an exceptionally poor interview), and give you priority access to staff housing.

All this can definitely be done by yourself, although the $800 saved by not doing this often means arriving without a job – and that intervening period can be quite costly.

5. Prepare Your Snow Gear

The next step, after either receiving a job offer or deciding to look for a job once you arrive, is to prepare your gear. Remember that gear is always much more expensive at the resort than it is in surrounding towns. It is therefore a good idea to buy your gear before arriving at the resort to save money.

Snow gear is probably cheapest in the US at the moment, followed by Canada and Japan. Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other less well-known ski countries are more expensive.

Have a look at What Gear to Bring for a Winter Season for detailed information.

6. Book Your Travel and Transfers (if required)

As always, the earlier the better when booking flights.

While it is better to wait until you have secured a job, some people book flights regardless to get a cheap price knowing that they will at least be working somewhere in that particular country.

Fortunately, the winter season is generally the low season for tourists. The prices for flights will reflect that if you get in early.

Don’t forget to book the bus or train transfer early as well if going from the airport or another part of the country.

7. Save Money

You will DEFINITELY spend more than you think while you wait for your first pay check at the resort or in town. This is true even if you have a job lined up for your arrival.

If you do not have a job lined up, you should expect to be looking for a job for at least two weeks once you arrive, then add another four weeks on that before your first pay check arrives.

It is not uncommon for people to spend $USD3000 before the first pay check arrives. Your first up expenses will include:

Transfer to the mountain from the airport
The first 4 – 6 weeks accommodation plus bond
Food – at mountain prices
Going out at night and tips
Gear you buy because it is awesome or you forgot something essential
Items for your apartment

As you can see, costs can quickly add up.

8. Find a Place to Rent

Jobs with a resort often include staff housing which takes the hassle out of finding accommodation. While staff housing is not the most luxurious offering, there is usually a good vibe, you are with your workmates, you will be close to work and you are where the fun is at.

Returning season workers may be tired of staff housing and choose to find their own place. Also, it can be incredibly fun to get a crew of your friends together for the season in a share house.

If you are looking for your own place, local papers, online classifieds and pin-up advertisements around town are good places to start.

Have a look at the individual resorts pages for specific resources to find accommodation at each mountain.

9. Organize Paperwork

You will need to check specific requirements for working in each country. This will usually be completed by the employer, but it is worth keeping in mind nonetheless.

For example, you will usually be required to obtain a tax number and you may be required to get a police check.

10. Get Excited!

The best bit: 4 – 5 months of solid riding, powder, bluebird days, friends for life and parties into the night. Check out the recommended articles below.