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Working a Ski Season
I'd love to work a winter in the alps? Can anyone recomend a good company to work for? I have found a load of companies here -
http://www.findagap.com/gap-year-jobs.aspx
http://www.findagap.com/gap-year-jobs.aspx
www.natives.co.uk is a great site, with a dedicated jobs section.
You're leaving it a little late for this season... you need to get on it and try and find some jobs pronto - what experience do you have, can you speak a language, and what sort of jobs are you looking for.
I worked a winter season last year, so any questions, just ask.
You're leaving it a little late for this season... you need to get on it and try and find some jobs pronto - what experience do you have, can you speak a language, and what sort of jobs are you looking for.
I worked a winter season last year, so any questions, just ask.
Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.
You need nothing but experience and a will to work your ass off for little pay. Most of the chalet people I knew, and even some chefs, just had experience in the trade - I worked as a barman in the French Alps. When I got the job, I spoke little French, and only had a couple of months experience in the trade - got a job in the best bar in Meribel, and had the time of my life.
And dear god - ignore these stupid gap year ski companies... you can get a job, ski for virtually every day, and get PAID TO DO IT ALL if you get a job in a ski resort. Frankly, unless you plan to become a ski instructor as a carreer, there is little/no point in bothering with the cost of a full season of instruction.
God I miss it... I would gladly drop out of uni and go back out there right now, if I didn't have the lease on this place for the whole year.
You need nothing but experience and a will to work your ass off for little pay. Most of the chalet people I knew, and even some chefs, just had experience in the trade - I worked as a barman in the French Alps. When I got the job, I spoke little French, and only had a couple of months experience in the trade - got a job in the best bar in Meribel, and had the time of my life.
And dear god - ignore these stupid gap year ski companies... you can get a job, ski for virtually every day, and get PAID TO DO IT ALL if you get a job in a ski resort. Frankly, unless you plan to become a ski instructor as a carreer, there is little/no point in bothering with the cost of a full season of instruction.
God I miss it... I would gladly drop out of uni and go back out there right now, if I didn't have the lease on this place for the whole year.
Don't worry about the interview days - as long as you're not a total moron, you'll fly through... helps to read up on the company a bit first if you can. I had my interview in a bar, as I was a late interview right before the start of the season, so it was much more relaxed.
Les Deux Alpes is meant to be one of the party towns of the Alps - you should have a great time. I went on my own, and made a bunch of truly great mates... the kind of mates that I would gladly drive the length of the country to meet up with (as I will be doing very soon!). Everyone in resort gets to know each other, so you'll meet plenty of decent people.
As for the comment about missing it... That's an understatement. I'm not entirely enjoying my course at the moment, and I could quite happily drop out and head back out to the mountains in a heartbeat, if I wasn't tied into a lease on my accomodation.
You will miss it when you come back, and you will want to go back again, and again, and again - people go nuts about Freshers week being the best thing ever... having done both, any week of a ski season (apart from the one where you have to come home) is a hell of a lot better. And before anyone rubbishes this comment - you wouldn't know what I'm talking about unless you've worked a season.
You will love it.
Les Deux Alpes is meant to be one of the party towns of the Alps - you should have a great time. I went on my own, and made a bunch of truly great mates... the kind of mates that I would gladly drive the length of the country to meet up with (as I will be doing very soon!). Everyone in resort gets to know each other, so you'll meet plenty of decent people.
As for the comment about missing it... That's an understatement. I'm not entirely enjoying my course at the moment, and I could quite happily drop out and head back out to the mountains in a heartbeat, if I wasn't tied into a lease on my accomodation.
You will miss it when you come back, and you will want to go back again, and again, and again - people go nuts about Freshers week being the best thing ever... having done both, any week of a ski season (apart from the one where you have to come home) is a hell of a lot better. And before anyone rubbishes this comment - you wouldn't know what I'm talking about unless you've worked a season.
You will love it.
I've decided to combine the two. I'm heading out to Whistler to do a six week course on the 26th lasting until early January where I should gain my Level 1 and possibly 2, after which I will hopefully be employed by the Ski and Snowboard school. If this fails I will just take whatever work is available 
JasonPaver
biscuit, which bar was that? I've got a job at Rond Point in Meribel starting 7th December this year, did you work there also? What concerns me is the hours, I'm going out there to ski not party, but the short opening hours seem to be right when skiing takes place, was this an issue?
No way!?!?!
I was a bar back at Le Rond Point, last season. You are going to have an absolutely awesome season, I am massively envious of you at the moment.
*Breathes*
Right, first thing - you get plenty of time on the hill. You will be working a lot, but I believe they are taking more staff on this year, as the whole place was extended over the summer. If you're in the bar, it is entirely possible to ski every day - I don't know about the other positions, but I do know that chefs got an extra day off over everyone else, as they had to work different hours.
Basically, you work at the top of the resort, on the piste. Last year (I don't know where the staff are staying this season, since there has been the extension, I don't know if it'll still be within the Rond Point building itself) some staff lived below the bar, spread over 4 rooms, while the remainder of the male staff were in a place called Toubkal, down the mountain from the Ronnie (Ronnie is what everyone in resort calls the Rond Point). You can therefore bolt out onto the hill before work, or right after work ends, depending on your shift.
Oh, and one thing - if you are working in Meribel, your views on partying will change... I went out to ski, and did that to a tremendous level, but I also had a great time getting smashed and dancing into the small hours. You will learn to love Dick's Tea Bar, The Pub, and if you explore a little, Revolution is a slightly more chilled establishment. And even if you don't feel like going out - there is no pressure to go out and get drunk, and there were a lot of good times had just relaxing in staff accomodation.
You are going to make some great friends, make some great memories, and get some fantastic skiing in this winter. Go out there ready to roll up your sleeves and work your ass off, but also be ready to have the best 5 months of your damn life.
What job did you get by the way? Check out the Rond Point website (www.rondpointmeribel.com) for a look at what we got up to last season, and some pictures of the new extension.
JM87
Does anyone know of any employers for ski season work, where you only need to be 18 or over? All the ones I have seen so far are looking for people 21+
Try Natives.co.uk
^- jobs search and chat -^
Most jobs I've seen say 18+, but I have also noticed some other companies who want over 21's. Try "Tops" or "Ski world".
Im worried that at 18, I will be very young out there!
qpwoei
Try Natives.co.uk
^- jobs search and chat -^
Most jobs I've seen say 18+, but I have also noticed some other companies who want over 21's. Try "Tops" or "Ski world".
Im worried that at 18, I will be very young out there!
^- jobs search and chat -^
Most jobs I've seen say 18+, but I have also noticed some other companies who want over 21's. Try "Tops" or "Ski world".
Im worried that at 18, I will be very young out there!
Yeh, thats what my feeling is aswell.
Lady_Muck
Out of interest, where did you stay whilst you were out skiing? I mean, yes working in a bar is fab but you do have to sleep somewhere!!
If you work for a random pub then you will probably have to find your own bed at night. If you work for a large ski company however, they will certainly give you free accomodation for the season (small shared flats). I hope this answers your question.
Nellz
I've decided to combine the two. I'm heading out to Whistler to do a six week course on the 26th lasting until early January where I should gain my Level 1 and possibly 2, after which I will hopefully be employed by the Ski and Snowboard school. If this fails I will just take whatever work is available
I'm heading out to whistler on the 6th of December, hoping to find a job, although I know it's gunna' be tought going. Lucky I've got some mates out there already and I also know some people living there already so should be ok.
Anyone else heading to Canada or Whistler soon?.. Who've left it a little late
Age is totally irrelevent in seasons - the guys I worked with behind the bar were between 18 and 27, with the managers being a bit older. A lot of companies use age to gague whether you're likely to run away with your lift pass as soon as they give you it - hence the disadvantage younger seasonnaires are put at in finding a job.
With regards to the accommodation thing - I was fortunate to be employed by Le Rond Point, who are owned by Mountain Pub, who are in turn owned by Mark Warner (one of the big tour operators). They provided accomodation, lift pass, food, transport to and from resort, and insurance as part of the package - I actually lived in the same building as the bar I worked in. This has changed this year - the staff at the Ronnie are getting more pay and fewer "perks" as their employment package.
Whether or not you get accommodation was part of your payment package varies wildly - it just depends whether the owners of wherever you work have anywhere for you to stay, or whether they need you to stay in a place of your own (can be quite expensive).
With regards to the accommodation thing - I was fortunate to be employed by Le Rond Point, who are owned by Mountain Pub, who are in turn owned by Mark Warner (one of the big tour operators). They provided accomodation, lift pass, food, transport to and from resort, and insurance as part of the package - I actually lived in the same building as the bar I worked in. This has changed this year - the staff at the Ronnie are getting more pay and fewer "perks" as their employment package.
Whether or not you get accommodation was part of your payment package varies wildly - it just depends whether the owners of wherever you work have anywhere for you to stay, or whether they need you to stay in a place of your own (can be quite expensive).
lime3k
I'm heading out to whistler on the 6th of December, hoping to find a job, although I know it's gunna' be tought going. Lucky I've got some mates out there already and I also know some people living there already so should be ok.
Anyone else heading to Canada or Whistler soon?.. Who've left it a little late
Anyone else heading to Canada or Whistler soon?.. Who've left it a little late
My brother is going to Whistler on the 3rd for 6 months! I'm going to miss him! He too hasn't got a job yet! I think he's just hoping that there will be something out there for him...I hope finds something, he definately needs a job though.
cameleon
My brother is going to Whistler on the 3rd for 6 months! I'm going to miss him! He too hasn't got a job yet! I think he's just hoping that there will be something out there for him...I hope finds something, he definately needs a job though.
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