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KilaTsunami
October, 2024

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Give it all up to ski!

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Vincenzo
Posts: 304 - Karma: 445
Okay!

Im fucking done. I'm working an average 9-5 and i have all the money i need to do it. I used to ski alot before. Then I quit cause of some stupid fucking reason, i just found work more important, make money and make a future for yourself, take courses get an education etc. After one year I've had enough, this path in life will not make me happy, it will not make me stoked, it will do stuff for me, it will make me feel like i belong somewhere, it will make my life have purpose, but not like skiing will. I wanna go back, I wanna take it all back to the basics. Okay, I'm 20 years old now, fuck the future, I wanna ski. My dream, move from europe to the US, buy a motorhome, live at a ski resort. Try a year first then see how it goes, I wanna be a ski bum. I wanna wake up every morning, I wanna go out and I wanna live life on the hills. I wanna ski every day and dedicate my life to it. I need your help, basically.

Anywhere in the US that allows this? Lets say i buy a motorhome, where would i be able to stay Breck? Aspen? Mammoth? anywhere really? Plan is now, quit my job. Get a visa, get a place to stay, and just ski for a minimum amount of money, just do it, i don't care. I wanna live at the fucking bottom, but man, when i get on that hill, it doesnt even matter, when i get on the hill its freedom, forget everything. Help me NS, i need to do this for me, I need to live.
Jan 3 2014 2:34AM
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SteezNutz
Posts: 71 - Karma: 1,591
Basically nowhere in Colorado would let you, they'd kick you out faster than you got in. Maybe a few in cali. Don't know about east coast. And with the Visa, you most likely have to wait 7 years, or get a job. I really reccomend getting a job as an instructor or something else on the mountain, and going into employee housing, and plus you'll burn through that money faster than hell.
Jan 3 2014 2:40AM
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jordangaebel
Posts: 365 - Karma: 92
You can live anywhere you want.. any parking lot should be open and free.. but i would want to be a ski bum at whistler/hood not in CO. And just be a ski instructor to help pay for passes/food. I know at my resort if you are an instructor all you have to pay is 10 dollars and you get a season pass for free.
Jan 3 2014 2:43AM
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Vincenzo
Posts: 304 - Karma: 445
Maybe Canada could be something? Hmm, thanks for advice.
Jan 3 2014 2:46AM
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Nikolic
Posts: 219 - Karma: 1,915
If you do that you are my fucking idol !
Good Luck!
Jan 3 2014 3:18AM
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WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
. Threads
Jan 3 2014 3:22AM
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i_have_a_dick
Posts: 201 - Karma: 1,171
Rob heule lives in a van in someones driveway at whistler. im sure you could do it, just check out the camper advice thread and find someone who will let you park in their driveway. there is a shit ton of things to consider before living in a motorhome but its all plausible. just find a place to park (buying a parking spot in whis will be as expensive as the camper) and find a job in the village. you may even consider just renting a room with 10 or so roommates to split the cost which can be even cheaper. think a lot about this shit though it sound like youre in a great situation now and you wouldnt want to fuck that over due to lack of planning.
Jan 3 2014 5:36AM
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Mids
Posts: 406 - Karma: 1,283
Man, I don't know anything about this, but i got a lot of respect for you.
Jan 3 2014 10:52AM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Go to Canada.
Jan 3 2014 10:56AM
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NH_OPERATOR
Posts: 1070 - Karma: 2,883
No country is going to give you a visa to stay indefinitely as a ski-bum. You can come as a tourist as previously stated, but if you want to become a permanent resident you'll need to have a job lined up. Countries don't want more free loaders within their boarders (particularly the US, we have enough as it is) I know Ive heard rumors of some larger resorts will take residents from other countries and will put you up in on-site housing. That will likely be your best bet but you will still be working 40 hours a week. The whole, come on a tourist visa and stay indefinitely might work if you have a place to stay thats not a camper, but as anyone whos ever tried to sleep in their car or camper knows, you'll likely have plenty of run ins with the cops because people don't like randoms sleeping on their property. If your past your visa limit and you get pulled over for something like that, you'll be gone immediately and potentially facing legal issues. If you are already in Europe, why not aim for something in the Alps? Those seems like a much closer alternative for you, regardless of where you are located in Europe.
Jan 3 2014 4:45PM
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t-the-east
Posts: 131 - Karma: 219
Isn't this how jay peak is building there new "empire"? I remember reading somewhere they got a ton of work visas to bring people over and employ them. Not sure about the RV thing, just rent a room or employee housing, shred the gnar and live the dream! Good luck man.
Jan 3 2014 4:52PM
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jensen
Posts: 2576 - Karma: 1,267
So young. So idealistic.
Jan 3 2014 4:55PM
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NH_OPERATOR
Posts: 1070 - Karma: 2,883
I think so, Killington does it too. I remember everyone at Killingtons name tags say what country they are from and most of them were not from the US.
Jan 3 2014 4:55PM
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CEDARIMAGE
Posts: 1428 - Karma: 257
"Okay, I'm 20 years old now, fuck the future, I wanna ski" -BAD ATTITUDE
Not constructive to any society or community, there is a way to be a ski bum and still have a fulfilling future. You'll get there the same way everyone who gets there does - LOOK DEEP INSIDE YOURSELF - UNDERSTAND YOURSELF & your PURPOSE on this earth. Truly, meditate on it, go places w/in yourself that make you uncomfortable - in those places lay the answers -
That being said - fuck ya - go be a ski bum - go to a place that will allow you to answer those questions, allow you to discover the freedom that we all long for. Just keep in mind, the FUTURE is real, life is long, the world is in shambles - can you help?
If you can't, like the majority of the blind cats coasting through life, then be a ski bum for life & leave as little of a carbon footprint as you can please.

Best of luck,
- Zak Cedarholm
Jan 3 2014 4:57PM
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Montana-boy
Posts: 184 - Karma: 12
Just some perspective: I'm 28 years old and two shoulder surgeries (many other injuries as well) and tens of thousands of dollars later, I hit rock bottom broke and devastated, moved from the mountains of Montana to Wisconsin, the flattest place on the planet to go back to grad school and jump start a dead end career and dig myself out of a financial nightmare. I know the feeling. I would give anything to be 20 and healthy. Best of luck. Check out Montana. BigSky/Moonlight. The only place you'll find chiller people is maybe Canada.
Jan 3 2014 5:20PM
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NoSkillsCrew
Posts: 1203 - Karma: 2,108
On the camping advice. You can stay forever in the parking lots at both mt. hood (in oregon) resorts as long as you have the snow park permit which is like $60. At Mt. Bachelor you can do about the same but just drive like 15 minutes out into forest service land and park where ever you want. Oregon is really the best bet in my opinion. Also in Utah I know a couple dudes who live in campers up in Big Cottonwood Canyon so that is also doable. I know a bunch of people who live in cars / vans in Truckee near Lake Tahoe so that is also an option.

I have done my fair share of car living and would seriously push you towards Mt. Hood. You are closer to civilization than other places and it is easier to get an on hill job there than a few of the other resorts listed. But the only way you are going to be able to afford any of this is to get a job at the resort as others have mentioned. It's either that or move to Montana or Utah and do nothing but backcountry shredding.

Good luck. And why wouldn't you want to be a ski bum in the alps or some european place? That has always been a dream of mine.
Jan 3 2014 5:38PM
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Vincenzo
Posts: 304 - Karma: 445
I've never been to the US or Canada before, so I really just wanna experience the culture and basically just see how life is outside of Europe. This might be a wrong mindset, but I also think communication would be alot easier in the US/Canada. Just being able to interact with more people and make friends. I've been to the Alps two times before and it's beautiful don't get me wrong, but I just personally feel I could have a greater experience over the pond.
Jan 3 2014 5:52PM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
Good luck man! Anything is possible. Save a bunch and wing it!
Jan 3 2014 5:53PM
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Dhane
Posts: 3866 - Karma: 1,722
Welp. Congrats on the Epiphany! I'm doing the same, only I'm doing it for rock climbing and own a sleeper conversion van. Its the life. If you love what you do, money is just paper. Any questions, pm me.
Jan 3 2014 8:57PM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13078 - Karma: 18,713
I recommend changing scenery and find a place you can work and life sustainably. Working in the ski industry is hard, mostly when you have very little contacts.
Find your way man, things work out for the best.
Jan 3 2014 9:01PM
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Dhane
Posts: 3866 - Karma: 1,722
Dub post. But this is not even remotely related. Sorry. Most resorts have foreign exchange programs through universities in Europe. Go to any major tourist trap and you will see it staffed by young Europeans who are basically on work study to experience america. Its very commonplace, and provides a cheap backbone and employment for those who wish to travel
Jan 3 2014 9:05PM
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PureSport
Posts: 77 - Karma: 305
Do whatever you want, as long as you are happy! That's all that matters.
Jan 3 2014 9:18PM
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rememberscott
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 5,201
lots of options. I would go based on snow and terrain. If you find the right person they would rent out their back yard and you can keep your mobile home there.
Jan 3 2014 9:25PM
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will-blackwell
Posts: 382 - Karma: 365
come to whistler! if you get a job for the mountain you get a free seasons pass and discounts all over the village, and you can live on the mountain for some of the cheapest rent around, and you get to ski almost every day if you want to

also canada is awesome
Jan 3 2014 9:45PM
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DR.SHRED
Posts: 2134 - Karma: 503
ok man you sound like you got youre head knocked on straight!

i have similar palns as you and would love to share some info i have gathered.
first pick a region you want to live (tahoe,pnw,colorado,utah, jackson/montana)
after picking the most appealing region figure out how to get a few different passes.
having multiple passes is super beneficial and wont cost all that much in the end. For example i have the epic pass and have access to mountains in CO and CA and it only cost $710 bought over summer. the benefits of having more than one pass are; different places to park house,different people, new scene at each resort, and you can chase snow.

I met a patroller the other day on the hill and he showed me his camper he lives in and 2 other patrollers also have campers they live in. He also told me most mountains wont allow you to park in the parking lot over night due to "safety" reasons. I was told that they have camp spot close to the mountain that they go to at night. I know there are some places that will allow over night camping for a fee such as crystal mountain but paying a fee to park your house isn't gonna cut it when bumming so resorting to friends,walmart parking lots, places close tot he mountain is gonna be the best bet.

The type of house you choose is a huge factor in how comfy you will be ski bumming.
My plan is to buy a Uhaul or and 80s class b camper and convert the inside to fit my needs(wood stove,drying racks, solar power,ect).

next year i will put out a well written ski bummign guide
Jan 3 2014 10:06PM
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springz
Posts: 327 - Karma: 397
kind of an oxymoron ehh?
Jan 3 2014 10:12PM
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Amarino
Posts: 218 - Karma: 2,417
Walmart or most supermarkets will let you crash out in their parking lots.
Jan 4 2014 1:29AM
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lukaturtle
Posts: 98 - Karma: 103
Fernie has an tv park on the ski hill. Check it out
Jan 4 2014 8:24AM
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Se7en
Posts: 467 - Karma: 41
OP sounds a lot like me 10 years ago. When I was 18 I moved to Colorado, went to college, barely graduated, and started working as an instructor. After a few years and a few surgeries later I realized I wasn't going to make anything of myself or be of use to anyone. There are plenty of people who can make a wonderful career being a ski instructor, I just wasn't that guy. I moved back east, went to graduate school, got a masters degree, and spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way to ski everyday and make something of myself. The trick was figuring out what i was really good at and applying it to a ski town. I now own a business in Breck, hired some people I trust to help me run it, and try to catch first chair everyday. You don't have to be a ski-bum to go skiing everyday, just have to figure out what you can do better than everyone else and get people to pay you for it.

Good luck!
Jan 4 2014 10:53AM
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~bagelz~
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 1,067
what business do you have?
Jan 4 2014 10:29PM
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Gr0mo
Posts: 707 - Karma: 3,663
It's possible tough, m friend has been living in a 5th wheel for a couple months. He lived in walmart parking lots but recently found a trailer park in southpark to live
Jan 4 2014 10:59PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
How about getting into park building? That's what I did, international environment so no worries about communication, and you can actually make a decent career. PM me if you wanna know more.
Jan 5 2014 3:32AM
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SteezNutz
Posts: 71 - Karma: 1,591
South park is horrible, you're buddy should head midwest Co. way more ski resorts.
Jan 5 2014 2:22PM
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Xanderpe
Posts: 81 - Karma: 157
Come work as a ski instructor in Austria. I work 5 days from 10:00 till 15:00 then after i shred park till 17:00 or so (depends on the sun). I got a seasonpass from my work and also got accomodation for 200 euro a month (with electricty,internet,water etc)
Jan 5 2014 3:13PM
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WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
17:00..... Lolz
Jan 5 2014 4:07PM
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