| Author |
Message |
bobsy852 
|
|
Post subject: Another season question. Season newbie
 Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 08:39 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 01, 2011
Total posts: 8
Location: Clitheroe, Lancashire
Status: Offline
|
|
Hi everyone. I hate to start another season thread as there seem to be so many on here at the moment but none really to the point I'd like so figured I'd start a fresh!
Basically I'm 24 and I started snowboarding in Jan 2011 so haven't been at it long. But I've fallen in love and I'm constantly down the local fridge and managed to scrape together enough dough to get away twice this year. It's not enough though, so I'm considering a season! I think I'd be ok at getting to meet people etc, I'm fairly outgoing so looking forward to all that! I just have a few questions about finding work and locations etc.
1. How much money am I likely to need? I'm sort of expecting to have to work while I'm there but was going to save about £3k before I go to give me a good start. Would that be enough?
2. As for work, I'm not at an instructor level or anything so teaching is out. What work would we recommend as I dont have much experience at all. I've done shop work and now work as a surveyor so not sure they'd be much use. lol Was thinking of bar work though, would this be easy enough to find?
3. I was mainly thinking of working in Europe somewhere due to the lower costs getting out there (compared to America) and also not needing a visa. I don't speak any German though, but I speak a little French (basic phrases, e.g; do you speak English, I dont understand, can you say that in English, basic numbers, directions etc). Is it essential to be able to speak the language?
4. As for location, I visited Mayrhofen for the first time this year and loved it! Would love to season there, but I hear the accomodation is mainly out of town and I don't speak any German so wondered if there was anywhere in France which would be similar? What are Tignes and Meribel like? (I really want somewhere with a park to continue to further my skills on, and I know Meribel has a good park) but what are the atmosphere's here like. And how easy will it be to find work?
5. Would you recommend finding work before heading out there? If so where's the best place to start looking, and when?
Sorry for all the questions. Think I got most of them out of the way, I might be back with more though 
Thanks for the help though everyone!!
Rob |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
TaskMaster
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 08:53 PM
|
|
First post: Sep 03, 2010
Total posts: 1043
Status: Offline
|
|
£3k won't go very far tbh dude, lucky if that covers your accomodation for a whole season.
Bar work is normally pretty hard to find from what i've heard as it's the best paying. Maybe glass collecting or something like that? You'll get paid peanuts though. |
_________________
www.baptism-records.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
elskratcho
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 09:06 PM
|
|
First post: Mar 30, 2012
Total posts: 94
Location: Hull. East yorkshire
Status: Offline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
dunx
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 09:15 PM
|
|
First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 10122
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bobsy852
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 01, 2012 - 08:50 AM
|
|
First post: Dec 01, 2011
Total posts: 8
Location: Clitheroe, Lancashire
Status: Offline
|
|
@TaskMaster - I was sort of hoping that would be enough to get me over there, find me some accomodation and give me money for a few weeks while saving enough to get home should I need to at any point. I was thinking that getting a job over there would pay for lift pass, accomodation and living really once there? Have I got the wrong idea here? 
@Elskratcho - Wouldn't mind chalet work! I can clean like Kym and Aggie! I just have no cooking experience at all which is what puts me off a bit.
@dunx - Thanks for that link. Hasn't been much on there when I've checked previously. Seems to be a bit more now!  |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Marcellus
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 01, 2012 - 09:50 AM
|
|
First post: Jan 13, 2012
Total posts: 26
Status: Offline
|
|
Rob, Your accommodation for the season will use up the best part of your £3000 and most operators will require all of the seasons rent in advance of your arrival in resort.
A Bed in a shared property in either Val d'Isere or Morzine will cost you c€2750 for the season plus a damage/utilities deposit of c€550.
Then you've got the lift pass plus insurance to consider and they can be quite costly depending on resort.
If you're really on limited funds then a job with one of the tour operators is probably your best bet as often they provide Accommodation, Food, Transport out and back and lift pass.... the downside is that you are really at their beck and call to do whatever they want and get less time to yourself to ride.
As for previous experience (lack of cooking skills) that won't be an issue as the TOs need all sorts of staff that don't cook. |
_________________
The Seasonal Accommodation Professionals.
We'll find you the perfect home for your dream season.
www.livetheseason.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
jdavies1976
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 01, 2012 - 01:35 PM
|
|
First post: Jan 21, 2011
Total posts: 318
Status: Offline
|
|
| Also chalet cooks cook the same menu week after week go on intensive training courses before they're sent off so not being able to cook isn't necessarilly a problem. You'll come back an absolute demon at cooking six different starters, six difference main courses and six different puddings! |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
elskratcho
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 01, 2012 - 05:41 PM
|
|
First post: Mar 30, 2012
Total posts: 94
Location: Hull. East yorkshire
Status: Offline
|
|
| Bobsy, go to crystal ski facebook page. Today posted that they are looking for reps etc blah de blah for the forthcoming season . Worth a shot. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
bobsy852
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 08, 2012 - 05:06 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 01, 2011
Total posts: 8
Location: Clitheroe, Lancashire
Status: Offline
|
|
I was under the impression accomodation was included in MOST season jobs. Obviously not all. I wouldn't be able to afford it if I had to pay for accomodation up front
I checked out the crystal site, jobs all sound alright but my worry is, working fro Crystal as a rep would be an almost 24/7 job and you don't get the choice of where you get sent (or so I heard)  |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Sitter
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 08, 2012 - 06:35 PM
|
|
First post: Jun 07, 2009
Total posts: 218
Status: Offline
|
|
Accom is included for jobs working for the UK TO's, it's if you look for a job out in resort that they quite often don't include accom. With those you will also need to factor in the cost of a lift pass, equipment (if you need), insurance and food. These are often included with the TO's. There are all sorts of jobs available with varying amout of ski time, and there's better companies than Crystal to work for in my experience. I know Inghams (who are also part of Esprit and Total) have a chalet in Mayrhofen if you're interested in there as do SkiWorld (IIRC, check out their website). Most of the UK companies won't really give you a choice of where you go, although they'll ask where you'd prefer to be and depending on availability when you apply/get the job, they do tend to try and place you there.
Any questions just give me a shout, I've done 5 seasons (summer and winter) and about to go on my 6th. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
YourMum
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 08:25 AM
|
|
First post: Oct 12, 2004
Total posts: 209
Status: Offline
|
|
Like others have said £3k isn't a huge amount but if you get work with a tour operator accom WILL most likely be included. The accom will be super basic and you'll probably get very few days on the mountain depending on what job you actually get.
Just as an example, most nannies get 1 day off a week - or 20 days on average a season... When I've done seasons previously I've normally ridden 20 days before the first month is out. That said there are jobs such as chalet cleaning that may mean you only have to work mornings so you might get the afternoon free to ride... or bar work if you can get it, you can ride everyday (with a hangover!)
Don't be disheartened by how difficult it sounds, plenty of people do it on an absolute shoe string and have a great time. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
DrSnowboard
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 09:03 AM
|
|
First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 182
Status: Offline
|
|
IMHO, a tour operator job is your best bet as most of your costs will be included (shared accomodation, maybe with a window, basic lift pass, transfer out to resort, training course / induction to service standards), and you will be based in resort so able to get out for 2-4hours a day once you get into a rhythm.
As for winging it solo, then quality accomodation costs. In Les Arcs / Bourg St Maurice you can get a bed for the season for 1200 quid but you will be in dorm style / hostel accomodation. Not for everyone but you do get an instant social life...which will also impact your finances. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Sitter
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 10:09 AM
|
|
First post: Jun 07, 2009
Total posts: 218
Status: Offline
|
|
| You can get more than 2-4 hours slope time working in chalets, especially once you're used to the job. I was always on the slopes by 11am latest, quite often heading up about 10, and then not back in work until 6pm (occasionally earlier if I had children staying). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
227angrydonkeys
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 10:23 AM
|
|
First post: Dec 08, 2007
Total posts: 1393
Status: Offline
|
|
| You could try for a job working as a transfer driver. Your weekends are pretty heavy going but i nthe week its flexible and you get lots of on snow time. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
cantridepete
|
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 11:53 AM
|
|
First post: Oct 28, 2008
Total posts: 2988
Location: Haute Savoie
Status: Offline
|
|
|
227angrydonkeys wrote:
You could try for a job working as a transfer driver. Your weekends are pretty heavy going but i nthe week its flexible and you get lots of on snow time.
same as everyjob, but it depends on the company you work for. cham*cough*express are a bunch of arseholes that i wouldnt wish on my worse enemy. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snowboard Club 
FAQ
Search
Register
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Maximize
RSS Feed
