Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Get me out of New Jersey

profile picture
soccerzla7
Posts: 127 - Karma: 524
I'm 20 years old and live in shitty old New Jersey and don't ski nearly as much as I would like to (5-10 times a year maybe). So I am curious as to how to become a "ski bum" out west for a year or so. I don't understand how I go about doing this pertaining to jobs, money, living, etc? Like do I need to just save up enough to just go do it or what? I know most of you assholes will probably say something like "get full tilts" or some stupid shit like that but any suggestions or help is appreciated.
Mar 4 2014 8:49PM
123 12
profile picture
adrian191
Posts: 144 - Karma: 425
you expect us to give you advice while your calling us assholes.

And one more thing you asshole Go buy fulltilts.
Mar 4 2014 8:56PM
22 1
profile picture
Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
you listed the first step already, gotta buy full tilts to become a ski bum



oh and there have NEVER EVER been threads on becoming a ski bum before. ever.

trust me, don't even bother searching.
Mar 4 2014 9:46PM
20 0
profile picture
Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Dude its pretty fucking simple. Work for the summer and save a buttload of cash, move to a ski town, find a place to live, find a job or dont and be a ski bum. Figure it out.
Mar 4 2014 9:50PM
8 0
profile picture
soccerzla7
Posts: 127 - Karma: 524
haha thanks for all the help fellas
Mar 4 2014 9:58PM
0 4
profile picture
dvx100
Posts: 1884 - Karma: 4,819
Or you could drive outside of state to ski...like almost everyone else in New Jersey..just saying.
Mar 4 2014 10:12PM
12 0
profile picture
ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
Pack your car. Drive to a ski town. Ski. Done.
Mar 4 2014 10:18PM
1 0
profile picture
SFB
Posts: 8895 - Karma: 26,352
if you dont get full tilts before coming out west, you will most likely be killed on the ski mountain.
Mar 4 2014 10:19PM
2 0
profile picture
ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
Oh shit. There's other multiple types of mountains?
Mar 4 2014 10:21PM
4 0
profile picture
SFB
Posts: 8895 - Karma: 26,352
ya, like volcano mountains, snowbaord mountains, big mountains, small mountains, rocky mountains, grassy mountains.. etc.
Mar 4 2014 10:23PM
6 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Lots of these guys are right though... great first step when asking for advice is don't be a dick. You've got a legit question, ask it. No need to pre-make fun of people... there's tonnes of super helpful dudes on here who want to hook you up with the best advice possible. Sure there's trolls... but honestly man that's life. How many times you ask a basic question in your regular life and some asshole wants to put you down for asking it?

Anyway....

Save as much money as you possibly can. Best ski bumming is to make enough in the summer that you just live cheap as fuck in the winter and ski your brains out the whole time. See tree planting, etc.

Read 'Confessions of a ski bum' for some inspiration - https://www.newschoolers.com/readnews/43823.0/Confessions-of-a-Ski-Bum--Part-1

As for jobs, if you can't accomplish #1 then that is your best bet. Try to get something that gives you a pass and won't have you working all the times you want to be skiing. Liftie can suck because you're loading ass on a pow day. Bartender is sweet because you work all night / ski all day. Mountain jobs get you passes, non-mountain jobs you gotta buy 'em.

I think the biggest thing around being a ski bum is to just fucking go for it. No part of it is the 'right' decision, so why bother worrying about it too much?

As Tanner said... SEND IT SON!

Mar 4 2014 10:24PM
12 0
profile picture
-benedetto
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 1,359
Headed to Jersey (Mountain Creek) today to ski after class. And I'm going to shred some fucking gnar.
Mar 5 2014 9:54AM
2 0
profile picture
.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,485
Why should I help you, you just called me an asshole. On your way out west stop off in minnesota so I can beat your guido ass.
Mar 5 2014 10:56AM
5 0
profile picture
louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
Yeah man the winter times blues can have you wishing to change things. Or you can make the best of your situation in the mean time. NJ has gotten more snow this year than I ever remember. If you don't have rich parents save up some money. If you never save enough at least get out there while you're young. I'm 24 and today is day 31 for me this season and I'm hitting up Creek.
Mar 5 2014 10:58AM
1 0
profile picture
Davin
Posts: 669 - Karma: 354
Where in jersey do you live that you only go 5 times a year? hit up creek man. Its honestly a decent park and the lack of terrain to ride forces you to progress in the park. Thats why so many kids kill it from creek and BB
Mar 5 2014 2:43PM
0 0
profile picture
ZachAndCheese
Posts: 816 - Karma: 5,116
1. Buy fulltilts
2. Use searchbar
3. Become ski bum
4.Profit
Mar 5 2014 7:01PM
3 0
profile picture
jordangaebel
Posts: 365 - Karma: 92
Invest your money into a 4wd van or subaru. Make sure to buy a session at Windells. Buy lots and lots of canned tuna and PB and J. Buy the best skiing equipment and lots and lots of extra brakes and bindings. Make sure to buy a really really nice drill with some screws for fixing up your skis when in need and that's about it.

Good luck my fellow asshole.
Mar 5 2014 7:12PM
1 3
profile picture
Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,010
Yes.

This is how you do anything and everything in life. Want to do something? Go and do it. Hell, you don't even need to save up that much. Get enough money to pay for gas money out there and a few weeks of food and a months rent. Just like that, you moved.

I've never understood how people find it so difficult to comprehend moving within your own country. It's not fucking rocket science.
Mar 5 2014 8:11PM
2 0
profile picture
Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,010
sorry, I kinda came off as a bit of a dick there. I've had a lot of people from 'back east' tell me how 'lucky' I am because I moved out west and live in the mountains, while there was absolutely nothing stopping them from doing the same.

There is no luck, there really isn't even any skill... It really is incredibly easy to pack up and move across the country, because you are still in fact, in your own country.
Mar 5 2014 8:26PM
3 0
profile picture
STAUSS
Posts: 8232 - Karma: 3,311
go to college in utah. seriously.
Mar 6 2014 1:58AM
0 0
profile picture
perryhunter
Posts: 721 - Karma: -185
I think you should enroll in a ski lesson first so you could start from basics increasing into a more complicated lesson. It's really different learning from a professional than just learning all by your self even if you have a very good set of skis. 
Mar 6 2014 2:50AM
0 0
profile picture
S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,185
I heard if you buy amradas, then you can get a place to sleep pretty easily
Mar 6 2014 3:35AM
0 0
profile picture
Shifties4Dayz
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 553
Honestly, just go for it. I have 2 friends that literally, picked up and moved to Dillon. They stayed on a friends couch for a couple weeks, found jobs, and are skiing most every day. Just get out there. If you're passionate enough about what you're trying to do then just do it, the money will find you eventually
Mar 6 2014 4:10AM
0 0
profile picture
quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,978
I moved across the country 4 months ago. $700 for a uhaul trailer, $500 in gas... now I pay rent in a different state and collect my paycheck from a different job in a different state. that's about all there was to it.
Mar 6 2014 10:17AM
1 0
profile picture
xnickGT
Posts: 79 - Karma: 263
Become a ski rep in Europe. Accommodation is sorted, you'll get paid and you'll meet other seasonaires to ski with.
Mar 6 2014 1:44PM
0 0
profile picture
The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
You are from New Jersey.  Nobody wants you out west.Click for larger image
Mar 6 2014 2:55PM
2 3
All times are Eastern (-5)