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Skiing Gap Year

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PKNeison
Posts: 313 - Karma: 721
Right, so I'm thinking of taking a year out before uni to simply ski. I want to do it before, cos during uni there's not enough time for a proper ski cos of exams and after uni there's work and shit.

And there's really no one I can ask except NS.
So what would you do for a skiing gap year?
-where would you go?
-what time of year?
-what would you work as and where?
-would you do it alone or with people? (Prolly meet lotsa people there anyway)
-would you stay in the same place or move about?
-would you recommend your local mountain?

So many q's but I just need inspiration.

If anyone's ever done a ski gap year thing before or just travelled and skied in different places pls share your stories
Jan 4 2014 9:58PM
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GrahamGould
Posts: 713 - Karma: 2,439
I think if you headed to the wasach you would have the most variety, but it might be harder to get a job if you aren't mormon.
Jan 4 2014 10:12PM
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ZeMagnificentKev
Posts: 618 - Karma: 1,325
-Id work at a resort in the banff area (and am planning to), because I just got back from there and im in fucking love. Also a meant a bunch of stuff at the bars and heard nothing but good, well how could you complain with a free pass to lake louise or sunshine?
-All year if its possible, but id take a winter season job
-Anything man, janitor, liftee, traffic dude, maybe even renew my instructor license
- I got a couple buds who are stoked to join me, so I might get a house with them
-Well Id live in the same place probably, if they were good to me
-No. Do not do a gap year in frigging northern ontario
Jan 4 2014 10:13PM
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STAUSS
Posts: 8232 - Karma: 3,311
this isn't true.

utah is sick if we have a good snow year. we're like 3 bad winters deep right now. by the time february rolls around everything should be pretty filled in though. you take that gamble with pretty much anywhere you go. I've lived in utah for years and love it, snow or no snow.


Jan 4 2014 10:16PM
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ZeMagnificentKev
Posts: 618 - Karma: 1,325
Oh Lordy this was supposed to be "I met a bunch of staff", I gotta take er easy here. Oh ya and if you work at sunshine, Banff's onllyy likeee..20 mins away or something, plenty of people live there. OH and free bus shuttles that go from the resorts into town and other resorts.
Jan 4 2014 10:53PM
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uyghur
Posts: 993 - Karma: 2,028
you could go to a glacier and ski a full year if you have deep pockets
Jan 4 2014 10:54PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Take a gap year and ski. It will be such a good time. I just spent 7 months in New Zealand and fucking loved it. You will party, ski, and meet so many people.

The biggest problem I saw with people in NZ was: #1 not being able to find a place to live #2 not finding a job. Try to find these or at least scope out the possibilities before coming out (you will be ahead of 70% of the ski population by doing this). It all depends on where you are going but the smaller the area you move to the faster housing and jobs will fill up.

Seriously don't hesitate to do this alone, things will work out in the end. There are tons of areas that cater to the "ski bum" population. Pick one and just do it.

Jan 5 2014 12:02AM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Take a gap year and ski. It will be such a good time. I just spent 7 months in New Zealand and fucking loved it. You will party, ski, and meet so many people.

The biggest problem I saw with people in NZ was: #1 not being able to find a place to live #2 not finding a job. Try to find these or at least scope out the possibilities before coming out (you will be ahead of 70% of the ski population by doing this). It all depends on where you are going but the smaller the area you move to the faster housing and jobs will fill up.

Seriously don't hesitate to do this alone, things will work out in the end. There are tons of areas that cater to the "ski bum" population. Pick one and just do it.

Jan 5 2014 12:02AM
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dabsandskis
Posts: 91 - Karma: 244
Where is this and how do I go about planning?
Jan 5 2014 12:12AM
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PKNeison
Posts: 313 - Karma: 721
I quite like the idea of being a ski bum, just really want to ski for a year - and have stories to tell people.

Never been outside Europe for skiing - never been out of the alps really, so NZ would be an amazing place to go.

Also would anyone recommend going to Asia or South America?
Jan 5 2014 4:44PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6924 - Karma: 24,776
Mt. Hood. How to plan depends on your situation.
Jan 6 2014 3:32PM
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zyzzbrah
Posts: 113 - Karma: 336
Travel man. Sounds like a sick plan. Wish I did something like that. Chase the snow? Winter smash out US Japan or Europe. Or split it up, then when northern hemisphere gets the snow head down to AUS or NZ or south america.
Jan 6 2014 5:19PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,585
Go to whistler. There is skiing from nov to August and you have the bike park after the glacier closes. Very easy to get a visa if your from the uk and easy to get a job in town. Work for the hill in one of the thousands of jobs an you will ski for free all year. Do anything you can to do a gap year before uni it's well worth it and it certainly won't be your last. Once you have one season you will want more.
Jan 6 2014 6:06PM
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PKNeison
Posts: 313 - Karma: 721
You've sold me on whistler
Jan 6 2014 6:37PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,585
It's a cool place man. I did a season in Banff before uni some 11 years ago now and it was great I move whistler for te summer and have since spent over 5 years in whistler. It's just got everything. Well worth checking out. But don't not look else where there are loads of awsome resorts it's just whistler is my overall fav.
Jan 6 2014 6:40PM
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PKNeison
Posts: 313 - Karma: 721
I might try to travel round, either canada or America and try to ski in as many resorts for as little as possible. The bc in Canada is enough to make me want to go but I'm guessing it will be a lot dearer there
Jan 6 2014 7:11PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,585
It's a nice idea but not really practical. Where will you stay? Even hostels get expensive. And you will have to buy tickets to ride everywhere rather then skiing for free if you work at a resort. Your best bet is to pick a resort that offers everything you want and base yourself there. If you making ok money make some trips to other places but have a base and job to come back too
Jan 6 2014 7:30PM
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PKNeison
Posts: 313 - Karma: 721
Oryt, thanks for the advice, canada it is!
Jan 7 2014 2:08PM
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thedanimal
Posts: 490 - Karma: 180
Wouldn't you also have to worry about getting a visa if you're going to stay there for a while. I don't know the laws about this but I think you should look into it before you make plans.
Jan 7 2014 2:30PM
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