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Where to work in the American Summer--Mt. Hood, NZ, or AUS?
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I am looking to keep coaching and teaching through the summer season, but am unsure where to go. My first thought was Timberline at Mt. Hood, but it doesnt seem as if they have many opportunities for standard Alpine instructors, though I could be mistaken.
If Mt. Hood isn't really an option, I am weighing my options between Perisher in Australia and Coronet in New Zealand. I have no idea about either of the two areas other than stuff I would need to get done for my visa, so if anyone could share some insight as to which one would be better (which one is more centrally located to an urban area, better conditions, etc.), that would be much appreciated.
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People I know who have gone had a great time in NZ. And much prefer to Aus for the skiing.
Hood isn’t really huge for what I assume is your type of ski instructing in spring and summer from all I’ve seen unless you wanna learn how to teach park. everyone I know who coaches windells and shit is either an alumni of it or a pro.
id go NZ personally .
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I'd say do a summer at all of the above.
Tline isn't really much for standard teaching in the summer. I'm guessing it exists but I've never even seen it. Mostly coaches in the park zones and teams race coaches in the race lanes on palmer. Summer is mostly about racing and parks, although some people come out for the novelty of summer turns.
Are you American? For NZ and Australia you can do a working holiday visa. It's very easy to get for both and is free or cheap. I think NZ was a year, Australia was either a year or 6months.
They always look for people to extend visa by picking fruit etc but I think its even easier to extend now if you want to stay. Personally I like the Northern Hem season so I'll probably never do a summer there.
I haven't ridden Perisher but I worked at Thredbo next door. There's some surprisingly fun ski touring on top of the plateau above those resorts.
Perisher is a little flatter but builds a sick park every year. Jindy is a fun.
I haven't ridden Coronet either. Personally I like Wanaka over Queenstown though. Queenstown is a little too busy for me. But you have Coronet and Remarks there on the same company.
Wanaka you have Cardrona and Treble Cone on another company.
You'll have fun with either. I would try to lock down a job before applying for work holoday visa personally to make sure its a go. It doesn't take that long and you can only use it once.
You have to use them before you're 30 or 31 so keep that in mind. I had to get a friggin tuberculosis xray for Australia. Hopefully just bad luck. That sucked. Couldn't get it done local for cheap in Reno. Had to drive to Oakland and pay 450, to a registered place. Was a house doctors office lol. Total racket but that's how she rolls.
Working with a few guys from Perisher at the moment at Mammoth. I'm thinking of heading back to Thredbo.
NZ has better snow and mtns but I really like Australia. I did a season on the north island, and one on the south this year in NZ.
Don't worry too much about where and just go. Will be awesome no matter what. Lining up a job the first time csn be harder. I'd apply to multiple companies. NZ Ski has 3 mtns so them and then whatever Cardrona/TC are. And for Aus apply for Vail Perisher/Falls Creek Hotham, and Thredbo.
Once you've done a season its way easier but I think ski instructors are always in demand.
Places are hiring now so get on that shot asap if you want to go this year.
Flights arent terrible. Google flights and flexible dates will get you alright. Air New Zealand is a major one going from west coast down under. They're solid about ski gear. Double check policies. You prolly wouldn't be flying the middle eastern or Asian ones but some of them will charge you insane $$$ for ski gear. Mostly Europeans who run into that flying across from there.
But yeah, shit's super fun. Get's you a ski pass, some $$$ possible employee housing depending on place and a decent adventure. Would highly recommend.
Hood is good for spring pass poverty life. Camping and shredding or doing the summer bum thing. Most people are lifties in the summer if they aren't park crew. Not a ton of jobs but still. Summer pass is 1000 so job is clutch. Otherwise go spring pass.
The chevron is owned by Tline so working at the chevron you can get employee housing and a tline pass.
Thats all over the place but hopefully something helpful in there. I gotta go to work. Good luck!!
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/Scroll bomb but I've done a couple summers in each.
Work holiday visas are sick though. So many people don't take advantage of that shit.
Also should have asked but if you don't have a passport get on that soon as well. Don't wait till you have the job and flights booked.
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