Work & Holiday recomendations

WeiffenHi, im from Chile and I need some advise. This summer (winter for you guys) im doing my first Work & Holiday and I need to choose a ski resort and a job that in which I can have spare time to ski and that its also well paid. Im also looking for a resort in a state that doesn´t have very high taxes. Also I would like good snow quality so I dont think the east coast is an option. Nice people its always a plus too. I think the best option is something in Colorado but im open to new ideas.
Any recomendations are welcome, thanks.

Bridger always seems to be looking for people

How long is your visa, what months or flexible with the season?

Washington doesn't have a state income tax. Crystal is good for big mtn. There are some other good spots more park oriented too. Nevada is mellow taxes I think. DP, MT Rose. WA

Housing is an issue everywhere. Housing depends on department and experience a lot of places too. I would factor in housing for sure. That's usually my starting place. Good housing at a good price is better than cheaper taxes sometimes.

There's so many options. Maybe look into some regions. Also are you looking to be in a ski town. A small city, rural af, it doesnt matter. Utah, CO, CA, PNW Montana/Id can all get good snow. Some places are ski towns. Utah a lot of people do slc. Some people in Tahoe do Reno. Also some super small places.

Maybe try and rule out a few places. Like I said def keep housing high on the lost. It's fucked these days many places and America doesn't have a lot of backpackers/hostels. They're pretty much only in bigger cities.

theabortionatorHousing is an issue everywhere. Housing depends on department and experience a lot of places too. I would factor in housing for sure. That's usually my starting place. Good housing at a good price is better than cheaper taxes sometimes.

Agree with this 100%... I'd prioritize housing and proximity to your nearest resort(s) over state tax and other factors.

The 'well paid' aspect is a double edged sword, I imagine. Assuming that tourist trap ski towns like Park City or Vail will have higher paying jobs, that's only because the cost of living is so high in those places... I'd look for lower pay in a less expensive area, with a huge emphasis on avoiding the crowded/tourist filled resorts.

Personally, I'd pick the resort(s) that I most want to ski at, and work backwards from there.

Have you looked at canada? I know people who worked at sunshine in Banff and it seemed like a pretty good balance. There's a shuttle from town every day for employee and a great public bus system.

j.rocAgree with this 100%... I'd prioritize housing and proximity to your nearest resort(s) over state tax and other factors.

The 'well paid' aspect is a double edged sword, I imagine. Assuming that tourist trap ski towns like Park City or Vail will have higher paying jobs, that's only because the cost of living is so high in those places... I'd look for lower pay in a less expensive area, with a huge emphasis on avoiding the crowded/tourist filled resorts.

Personally, I'd pick the resort(s) that I most want to ski at, and work backwards from there.

The interesting thing with the pay is that some of that the mega corps have put out company wode baseline pay I believe. So working at a Vail mtn in the northeast you would still have min $20 whish is huge depending on location as towns are necessarily ski towns. Some are but you have more options.

Friend was paying 2500 near Jhole. Shes moving to another mtn for cheaper rent. Another friend posted somebody renting out a trailer as a studio in Victor for 2,300. Shits wild these days.

If the housing market crashes or dips, I hope some of these mtns take advantage and buy up some stuff. Ski towns are going to keep getting more priced out. Airbnb and remote work have really driven the price up. A lot of long term rentals have sold.

It will be interesting to see what the big ski areas do. Sure you can get some workers for a season or 2 even if the housing situation sucks, but will be hard to retain employees. They need employees to keep it going. I feel like housing makes the most sense but they'll probably have to keep raising wages too.

Housing is probably my number 1 priority when I move to another spot. The places that have a good amount will do alright. The places that have little to none will keep struggling.

WeiffenHi, im from Chile and I need some advise. This summer (winter for you guys) im doing my first Work & Holiday and I need to choose a ski resort and a job that in which I can have spare time to ski and that its also well paid. Im also looking for a resort in a state that doesn´t have very high taxes. Also I would like good snow quality so I dont think the east coast is an option. Nice people its always a plus too. I think the best option is something in Colorado but im open to new ideas.
Any recomendations are welcome, thanks.

Time to ski and well paid doesn't really go together too often.

I knew some kids who worked and stayed at a hostel, then also worked as a lifty in BC canada. Hostels are fun but long term idk.

Alaska, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming don't have state income taxes. Cost of living is what I'd focus on though instead. The more rural and less touristy and less corporate a place, the cheaper it is to live.

theabortionatorThe interesting thing with the pay is that some of that the mega corps have put out company wode baseline pay I believe. So working at a Vail mtn in the northeast you would still have min $20 whish is huge depending on location as towns are necessarily ski towns. Some are but you have more options.

Friend was paying 2500 near Jhole. Shes moving to another mtn for cheaper rent. Another friend posted somebody renting out a trailer as a studio in Victor for 2,300. Shits wild these days.

If the housing market crashes or dips, I hope some of these mtns take advantage and buy up some stuff. Ski towns are going to keep getting more priced out. Airbnb and remote work have really driven the price up. A lot of long term rentals have sold.

Great points that I hadn't considered. I suppose housing is overpriced everywhere in the US rn, just a matter of how bad.

If Vail & Alterra are really doing $20 base pay, that's great and a step in the right direction. But, will $20 really cover cost of living in a super inflated market like Park City, for example? Because of lack of long-term rental options, I feel like the realistic outcome for most employees of resorts is that they need to live in the nearest city to afford cost of living (work at PCMR, live in SLC).

j.rocGreat points that I hadn't considered. I suppose housing is overpriced everywhere in the US rn, just a matter of how bad.

If Vail & Alterra are really doing $20 base pay, that's great and a step in the right direction. But, will $20 really cover cost of living in a super inflated market like Park City, for example? Because of lack of long-term rental options, I feel like the realistic outcome for most employees of resorts is that they need to live in the nearest city to afford cost of living (work at PCMR, live in SLC).

I don't think housing is fucked everywhere. Ski towns and other touristy places, many cities. I don't think many people who work at Park City live in park city. I think they commute from SLC. Heard housing is getting shitty there now too. Maybe not nearly as bad as ski towns but not going to find cheap places like you could before.

Ski areas are already bussing people or having them commute from farther out places. I think at a certain point it's going to be tough. If the novelty of the ski industry wears off and you can get a better paying job close to home. Or just move somewhere cheaper. Idk. Def not excited but interested to see what places do and how it works out the next 10 years.

I wish I was good at skateboarding and built skateparks. The mtns are sick, but damn.