Restless — An Alex Hall Portrait (Full Film) | Faction Skis

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!

What is THE place to be?

profile picture
micsinthetrees
Posts: 26 - Karma: 157
Hi everyone, i am a young dude (18) from eastern quebec and my goal is to work during the off season and ski all winter long.( if any of you are doing this, i’d be interested to hear how you do it)

that said i’m wondering what would be the best place to move for levelling up my skiing (park) and meeting chill people. i’m not looking for arrogant academy kids and rich kooks, more like people who are just passionate about skiing. thanks!
Aug 8 2023 12:34PM
20 0
profile picture
Jems
Posts: 7505 - Karma: 97,121
live in vehicle
Aug 8 2023 12:38PM
19 3
profile picture
dwt802
Posts: 3237 - Karma: 31,962
There is no THE place to be for skiing anymore. Everything is blown out.

If this new massive resort in Valdez AK actually happens, that could turn into THE place I think in the future and I wanna be around. If the resort is completed it will be the biggest in Alaska, completely game changing.



To help more with what you’re looking for, for the east coast I’d say like sugarbush or sugarloaf seem like they’d fit that description. As for out west, I’m not too sure.

**This post was edited on Aug 8th 2023 at 1:48:38pm
Aug 8 2023 1:45PM
23 1
profile picture
bennwithtwons
Posts: 1363 - Karma: 10,882
most ski resorts come with ski resort towns built around them. that means you'll have very high livings costs compared to non-resort communities. Unless you have some way to make a shit ton of money (most 18 year olds do not), you'll need to have a job during the winter. if you get a resort job, perhaps you should look for a resort with employee housing. then try to save as much as you can during the summer so you only have to work weekends/holidays at the resorts (those aren't fun days to ski anyway, since they're much more crowded).
Aug 8 2023 2:24PM
10 0
profile picture
Slowbro
Posts: 3865 - Karma: 21,330
Sunshine in AB
Aug 8 2023 2:44PM
14 0
profile picture
GrapeHunter
Posts: 2399 - Karma: 8,637
Don't come out West lol
Aug 8 2023 3:14PM
12 1
profile picture
Farmville420
Posts: 4699 - Karma: 60,454
Go to Burlington and ride jay peak, Killington, Sugarbush, etc.

So much incredible skiing around Burlington and that city is fun as he'll (very cold tho)
Aug 8 2023 5:00PM
17 0
profile picture
Dlonetti
Posts: 1773 - Karma: 18,333
Lowkey come bum around the Midwest (MN/WI) and just lap the tow rope all winter. You’ll progress a shit ton
Aug 8 2023 5:34PM
23 1
profile picture
Celery
Posts: 2011 - Karma: 24,694
Banff is a fun place to be for the winter and you might see this dude there
SlowbroSunshine in AB
Aug 8 2023 6:24PM
8 0
profile picture
-Dan
Posts: 7130 - Karma: 51,763
Minneapolis is a good idea for real. Skiers don’t make that move enough.
Aug 8 2023 6:28PM
29 0
profile picture
hi_vis360
Posts: 5033 - Karma: 51,133
Sounds like you’re looking for a smaller mtn with a decent park, I’ve found it’s always easier to meet people at smaller hills. Any large resort will have an element of academy kids and rich kooks, even places like sugarloaf which has great vibes compared to a lot of similar resorts
Aug 9 2023 8:11AM
4 0
profile picture
johnblaze
Posts: 1477 - Karma: 2,600
Mammoth
Aug 9 2023 10:12AM
4 0
profile picture
j.roc
Posts: 439 - Karma: 2,550
IMO the best resort access anywhere in the U.S. is from SLC. PCMR and Brighton are amazing for park progression.

If you want to stay on the East coast, Carinthia (mt snow) and Sugarbush have the best parks IMO.

I'd think twice about moving to the U.S. tho it's pretty fucked out here lol
Aug 9 2023 10:24AM
4 9
profile picture
Rparr
Posts: 5563 - Karma: 45,588
dwt802Everything is blown out.



**This post was edited on Aug 8th 2023 at 1:48:38pm

Even my dumpy 300ft vertical ohio hills get blown out most weekends, it's sad
Aug 9 2023 10:34AM
10 0
profile picture
hi_vis360
Posts: 5033 - Karma: 51,133
RparrEven my dumpy 300ft vertical ohio hills get blown out most weekends, it's sad


I had endless knee deep pow laps, first tracks on multiple runs, and no lift lines on a Saturday last season. There are still undiscovered spots
Aug 9 2023 7:10PM
11 0
profile picture
WoFIowz
Posts: 9790 - Karma: 72,418
hi_vis360I had endless knee deep pow laps, first tracks on multiple runs, and no lift lines on a Saturday last season. There are still undiscovered spots

People always wanna hate. There's tons of these spots in the east and west. Shit half my ski trips purposely include places that are low key to avoid crowds.
Aug 9 2023 11:50PM
6 0
profile picture
ajbski
Posts: 1308 - Karma: 5,316
Considering you are from Canada, I would 100% recommend Banff.

You can find cheap flights from Calgary to QC or MTL so you can go home every so often. Easy employment, no visa bullshit.

Get a job with a resort like norquay or sunshine or LL. The staff accommodations are pretty cheap, like 300-400$/month. You’ll meet and live with people from the resort and usually they get to know the hills pretty good and show you all the secret spots.

Ski patrol is ideal but hard to get into. Instructing you only need a level 1 from CSIA, but to get a decent wage you should at least get your level 3.

if you don’t want a job in the winter I highly recommend building out a decent camper van. (Kitchen, power bank, insulated and heater minimum) Ski the Rockies. Banff, revelstoke and red are on ikon and those are not too far apart. Kicking whores isn’t, but def worth the visit if you get more into steep pow.

you spend a couple of seasons in the interior and are enjoying it, take the next step and come over to the coastal ranges.

whis is a bit more expensive and the snowpack is a little different but the warmer weather makes van life easier.

good luck buddy. I skied out in the chic chocs this winter and apart from the shitty snow, it felt a lot like mountains in the west.
Aug 10 2023 12:31AM
12 0
profile picture
dwt802
Posts: 3237 - Karma: 31,962
runforlove2024People always wanna hate. There's tons of these spots in the east and west. Shit half my ski trips purposely include places that are low key to avoid crowds.


Maybe a few smaller mountains in like Montana or Idaho but there is definitely not a ton of places left out west. Sure the east still has more lowkey smaller hills too but it’s also the east. (I’m from Vermont)
Aug 10 2023 12:35AM
2 0
profile picture
WoFIowz
Posts: 9790 - Karma: 72,418
dwt802Maybe a few smaller mountains in like Montana or Idaho but there is definitely not a ton of places left out west. Sure the east still has more lowkey smaller hills too but it’s also the east. (I’m from Vermont)

There's a lot of smaller mountains (1000-2000ft vert) out west that don't get much credit. Definitely more than east coast tbh
Aug 10 2023 12:56AM
4 0
profile picture
Slowbro
Posts: 3865 - Karma: 21,330
runforlove2024There's a lot of smaller mountains (1000-2000ft vert) out west that don't get much credit. Definitely more than east coast tbh


Even some of the big ones out west aren't bad. I never wait in a lift line at Sunshine, and the Vancouver hills like Grouse and Seymour can be straight up empty most weeknights. Grouse is possibly the best small mountain out west (in Canada) for pure park but Vancouver is way too expensive for most

**This post was edited on Aug 10th 2023 at 1:13:40am
Aug 10 2023 1:13AM
7 0
profile picture
dwt802
Posts: 3237 - Karma: 31,962
runforlove2024There's a lot of smaller mountains (1000-2000ft vert) out west that don't get much credit. Definitely more than east coast tbh

Honestly that’s pretty true but if they’re near places with decent population it’s those that blow up. Like Montana has some real lowkey ones like Teton Pass, lost trail, and I think there is another lowkey one up north but to access those as a local you have to live in absolute bum fuck as a result, which wouldn’t necessarily be the worst but all the ones near the cities growing in people are getting mad crowded compared to what they are I hear.
SlowbroEven some of the big ones out west aren't bad. I never wait in a lift line at Sunshine, and the Vancouver hills like Grouse and Seymour can be straight up empty most weeknights. Grouse is possibly the best small mountain out west (in Canada) for pure park but Vancouver is way too expensive for most

**This post was edited on Aug 10th 2023 at 1:13:40am

That’s totally fair Canada has some seriously sick lowkey areas and lots of em
Aug 10 2023 1:27AM
3 0
profile picture
thatsG
Posts: 2568 - Karma: 1,772
If you just want to ski park... what about Calgary and just ski WinSport?
Aug 10 2023 6:03PM
3 0
profile picture
Slowbro
Posts: 3865 - Karma: 21,330
thatsGIf you just want to ski park... what about Calgary and just ski WinSport?


COP park is pretty bunk a lot of the time. Features aren't maintained well and sometimes there are only a few features in the park that are actually trickable lol. Sunshine / Louise is way better as far as AB goes. COP does have big jumps though which is a plus
Aug 10 2023 6:23PM
2 0
profile picture
OregonDead
Posts: 6894 - Karma: 24,597
best place to be in on your skis. just click in and stay clicked in. make it a goal to do everything clicked in and avoid going inside for the entire season. your skiing will improve and you will also avoid germs and high food prices in the lodge
Aug 10 2023 6:35PM
9 0
profile picture
piss.boy
Posts: 1491 - Karma: 10,618
mn/wi fs
Aug 10 2023 6:52PM
3 0
profile picture
rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Apply for a job at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, cheap staff accom (that is currently not burnt down), tons of transients your age coming through, and you’ll get a discount on a seasons pass. Plus once winter is done, you can keep working there if you choose, and not rely on seasonal work (although Louise is open November-May).

all of lake Louise is staff accom, only way to live there. Could be difficult to find places to live in somewhere like Banff.
Aug 10 2023 11:39PM
5 0
profile picture
Aidan.Okelly
Posts: 60 - Karma: 272
micsinthetreesHi everyone, i am a young dude (18) from eastern quebec and my goal is to work during the off season and ski all winter long.( if any of you are doing this, i’d be interested to hear how you do it)

that said i’m wondering what would be the best place to move for levelling up my skiing (park) and meeting chill people. i’m not looking for arrogant academy kids and rich kooks, more like people who are just passionate about skiing. thanks!


I just spent the 2022 season working and living in Aspen CO. I had the time of my life. Free pass for 4 huge mountains, great younger population, housing is partially subsidized so its affordable, and its fucking aspen. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to work a winter and ski all the time
Aug 11 2023 2:33AM
5 0
profile picture
TroyBallsack
Posts: 572 - Karma: 11,126
yea banff is sick too cuz drinking age is 18 so u can go out anywhere and theres something on every night of the week
Aug 11 2023 8:47AM
4 0
profile picture
fucintight
Posts: 274 - Karma: 730
mt is one of the last places that you can find lowkey resort riding i feel like, even on busy days i havent waited more than 5min for a lift. went from lifty-ing at mammoth to spending winters up here and it was for sure a good move. small town/hill atmosphere is so much better, dont come here tho, it sucks
dwt802Maybe a few smaller mountains in like Montana or Idaho but there is definitely not a ton of places left out west. Sure the east still has more lowkey smaller hills too but it’s also the east. (I’m from Vermont)
Aug 11 2023 1:09PM
2 0
profile picture
TheSasquatch
Posts: 68 - Karma: 723
Definitely Minnesota
Aug 12 2023 7:00AM
1 0
profile picture
SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2737 - Karma: 23,029
yo mamas house



jk, sun peaks is pretty dope! Plenty of good non-skiing jobs in Kamloops too, as well as stuff around the resort.
Aug 14 2023 11:40PM
1 0
profile picture
tutipups
Posts: 1686 - Karma: 10,559
if you have to stay in quebec then st sau or le relais
Aug 15 2023 1:28AM
0 0
profile picture
littleman34
Posts: 1355 - Karma: 4,146
Dude you should look into tree planting for next summer, you can make 20k if you work hard in the summer and live off ei for the winter. That's what I'm doing this winter in Revy.

1st year planting is a little tricky to make good money but you'll still come out of it making much more than minimum wage, plus no rent or costs while you're working. Lots of buddies of mine are doing the van life, plant all summer, ski all winter lifestyle. You work hard in the summer but it's fun and you make a nice bit of money to live off during the winter. Try Brinkman, they're an easy company to get in with.
Aug 17 2023 10:48PM
4 0
profile picture
WoFIowz
Posts: 9790 - Karma: 72,418
Why not work for the forest service? Those jobs advertise a lot more money and aren't contingent on success
littleman34Dude you should look into tree planting for next summer, you can make 20k if you work hard in the summer and live off ei for the winter. That's what I'm doing this winter in Revy.

1st year planting is a little tricky to make good money but you'll still come out of it making much more than minimum wage, plus no rent or costs while you're working. Lots of buddies of mine are doing the van life, plant all summer, ski all winter lifestyle. You work hard in the summer but it's fun and you make a nice bit of money to live off during the winter. Try Brinkman, they're an easy company to get in with.
Aug 18 2023 8:42AM
2 0
profile picture
littleman34
Posts: 1355 - Karma: 4,146
runforlove2024Why not work for the forest service? Those jobs advertise a lot more money and aren't contingent on success


Thats what I'm doing atm for the rest of summer. Working as a forest tech so idk if thats exactly what you're talking about but anyways I make much more planting. That being said I imagine the work I'm doing now is not exactly the high paying forestry jobs. But still, planting wage is hard to beat with any job I've found or heard of.

What exactly do you mean by forest service?
Aug 18 2023 9:34PM
2 0
profile picture
b0ss
Posts: 795 - Karma: 6,271
Grass is greener where you water it.
Aug 18 2023 9:39PM
7 0
profile picture
nCrow
Posts: 1206 - Karma: 7,888
This. Further from cities the better for more skiing to yourself, but it’s what you make of it no matter where you are. Everywhere is different with its own nuanced problems
and perks.
b0ssGrass is greener where you water it.
Aug 19 2023 12:38AM
2 0
profile picture
WoFIowz
Posts: 9790 - Karma: 72,418
littleman34Thats what I'm doing atm for the rest of summer. Working as a forest tech so idk if thats exactly what you're talking about but anyways I make much more planting. That being said I imagine the work I'm doing now is not exactly the high paying forestry jobs. But still, planting wage is hard to beat with any job I've found or heard of.

What exactly do you mean by forest service?

The employer on the job posting is the US forest service. That's what I mean. You mentioned a company in your post so I took that as a private government contractor.
Aug 19 2023 1:20AM
1 0
profile picture
littleman34
Posts: 1355 - Karma: 4,146
First off Im in Canada where the real forestry takes place. And Brinkman is a reforestation company in Canada so they mainly employ people to plant trees. They take contracts from forestry companies who take contracts from the MNR/government.
runforlove2024The employer on the job posting is the US forest service. That's what I mean. You mentioned a company in your post so I took that as a private government contractor.
Aug 19 2023 2:33AM
1 1
profile picture
WoFIowz
Posts: 9790 - Karma: 72,418
littleman34First off Im in Canada where the real forestry takes place.

Are all Canadians this pompous?
Aug 19 2023 6:39AM
7 0
profile picture
Farmville420
Posts: 4699 - Karma: 60,454
b0ssGrass is greener where you water it.

This is actually the truth, there are definitely benefits of different places tho
Aug 19 2023 11:41AM
2 0
profile picture
micsinthetrees
Posts: 26 - Karma: 157
littleman34Dude you should look into tree planting for next summer, you can make 20k if you work hard in the summer and live off ei for the winter. That's what I'm doing this winter in Revy.

1st year planting is a little tricky to make good money but you'll still come out of it making much more than minimum wage, plus no rent or costs while you're working. Lots of buddies of mine are doing the van life, plant all summer, ski all winter lifestyle. You work hard in the summer but it's fun and you make a nice bit of money to live off during the winter. Try Brinkman, they're an easy company to get in with.

i’ve heard this job destroys your body, that’s my main concern with it..
Aug 19 2023 11:43AM
0 0
profile picture
MaimHelp
Posts: 1721 - Karma: 13,583
Live at home for a while or find something cheap more north, save cash at a job and maybe get some schooling (up to you). Ski Maximise and street (also some good-ass resorts around). You leave real damn close to some of the best skiing on the east coast IMO. The cold brutal winters, street, and having the chip on your shoulder being the one paying for your own trips to maximise around the others training will breed you into a good park skier if that's what you want.
Aug 19 2023 1:59PM
2 0
profile picture
littleman34
Posts: 1355 - Karma: 4,146
runforlove2024Are all Canadians this pompous?

Maybe about logging and poutine
micsinthetreesi’ve heard this job destroys your body, that’s my main concern with it..

Yeah it kind of does if youre not smart about it but if you take care of yourself (sleep, stretch, drink less, plant with good form) it can be alright. Many people break themselves after a few years but other plant fine for a decade.
Aug 19 2023 4:10PM
0 0
profile picture
cyphers
Posts: 1658 - Karma: 18,287
runforlove2024Are all Canadians this pompous?


little brother syndrome
Aug 20 2023 6:40PM
4 0
profile picture
skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7822 - Karma: 21,855
Alberta is the cheapest for things like fuel and food because of the low tax. Like someone said, if you can get staff accom at Louise that's the place to go. There's a good park and the mountain is better than Sunshine imo.

That said, Sunshine was looking for park crew about a month ago, so maybe apply there if that interests you.
As far as making it work goes, just work hard in the off season, tree planting is a good option as mentioned. Avoid excessive drinking and drug use as that stuff is expensive and terrible for your health.
Whis has the best park in Canada for sure. It is expensive but you can make it work.

You could also stay in Quebec and ride Stoneham and Relais for a season or two if that would be cheaper.
Aug 21 2023 12:55AM
1 0
profile picture
hoodratz47
Posts: 12020 - Karma: 9,475
Winter in Oregon. Way chill
Aug 22 2023 2:54PM
2 0
profile picture
coachfraenk
Posts: 47 - Karma: 471
Its quite far away but innsbruck in the alps is really great for skiing. Its a Austrian city and is between the mountains. There are also multiple ski aread like the rail park in patscherkoffel, Nordketten Skylinpark and also Penken Park. Banger Park for summer practice is also very close. But I was sadly never there for skiing so i dont know how chill the people are there. I think dani bacher is also from innsbruck
Aug 25 2023 3:09AM
0 0
profile picture
WoFlowz
Posts: 7906 - Karma: 63,967
Mad river valley slaps on weekdays. Had amazing experience there at sugarbush and snow. Didn’t make it to MRG. Mt Ellen Pass is clutch asf
Aug 25 2023 3:04PM
0 1
All times are Eastern (-5)