Hey, I was wondering what if any of you boarding bums had any experience or opinion of taking a year after high school (before University-kinda like a Gap year) to just board?

This idea was rattling around in my head for a while now and I just read an article about living in a resort to board.

If I follow through with my plan, I will definitely stay in the Canadian Rockies for various reasons- so Alberta/B.C.

Also, (if any of you guys have first hand experience) what are the benefits of working at a resort as a liftie, ski patrol, or a cashier to have your pass and housing paid for (is staff housing good or bad?) vs. saving up a pretty penny to rent a house, buy my own ticket, and have the freedom to ride whenever i want?

Any help would be appreciated, I'm trying to get this get this sorted out so i have my options open. This is a one year deal and will serve as a breather from school before I head into Pharm. School.

[bakesale]

Yeah I did that when I was younger, it was fun. Some tips:

- Get out there early, the best staff accom places are full up by late October.
- Rent a house with several people if you don't mind paying more, it's worth it to not have the Party Nazi's shut you down. When you live in staff accom you have to follow their rules, which usually requires no noise after a time. NEVER SIGN A LEASE, in fact DON'T EVER SIGN ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE LIABILITY WAIVER ON YOUR PASS.
- Lifty is the shittiest job on the resort. Look into cooking if you have skill, or Housekeeping (its cushy and people leave their equipment behind all the time for you to take) The most respected jobs on the hill are Mechanic and Guest Relations.
- Ramen Noodles, Ramen Noodles, Ramen Noodles!
- Don't forget to wrap Jimmy. Especially if hooking up with an Aussie or a Quebecer. HSV is a shitty reminder of your season at the resort


The best resorts in BC to stay at for the snow are Fernie, Kicking Horse, and Revelstoke. Staff Accom in Revelstoke doesn't exist, it's hard to get in Fernie and easy to get at KickingHorse(but they're Nazi's) The easiest place to get staff accom is Panorama, it's also the easiest to live there; but the snow sucks balls.

[briangig]

there's been some posts on this so you should be able to find some good info. I would steer clear of cashier, guest services, or anything dealing with the public, or where you would have long stretches of boredom, looking at other people having fun. Cooking is a good option, especially since you can eat for free for at least a couple meals during the day. liftie isn't the worst gig, depending. Most guys I know take runs throughout the day, not a bad deal. Plus you get to know people (ie, cat or snow machine rides in the am for first runs).

One thing to look for is a position where there will be lots of people doing the same thing as you, so you can take breaks to go riding. And make sure you find a boss willing to let this happen.

Originally Posted by bakesale

Yeah I did that when I was younger, it was fun. Some tips:

- Get out there early, the best staff accom places are full up by late October.
- Rent a house with several people if you don't mind paying more, it's worth it to not have the Party Nazi's shut you down. When you live in staff accom you have to follow their rules, which usually requires no noise after a time. NEVER SIGN A LEASE, in fact DON'T EVER SIGN ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE LIABILITY WAIVER ON YOUR PASS.
- Lifty is the shittiest job on the resort. Look into cooking if you have skill, or Housekeeping (its cushy and people leave their equipment behind all the time for you to take) The most respected jobs on the hill are Mechanic and Guest Relations.
- Ramen Noodles, Ramen Noodles, Ramen Noodles!
- Don't forget to wrap Jimmy. Especially if hooking up with an Aussie or a Quebecer. HSV is a shitty reminder of your season at the resort


The best resorts in BC to stay at for the snow are Fernie, Kicking Horse, and Revelstoke. Staff Accom in Revelstoke doesn't exist, it's hard to get in Fernie and easy to get at KickingHorse(but they're Nazi's) The easiest place to get staff accom is Panorama, it's also the easiest to live there; but the snow sucks balls.

Haha, I have a potential living situation set up in Fernie, its a house that's within walking distance of the hill! Thats good and all but I was also considering Sunshine, and L. Louise- any ideas on those mountains?

You're right, though. I spent New Years in Invermere @ Panorama and the snow was blue with ice, and it was cold as hell!

I knew making this thread that there would be the guy who says "you should have used the search function!"- they're in every forum... I used the search function, however it searches each word individually so when it's all said and done with every search I make, I'll be bound to have most of the searches be nothing to do with what I want.

So you guys recommend something where I could be on my feet...I'd really love to be a ski patrolmen or teach lessons but don't you need a certificate for those?

[bakesale]

Lake Louise is boring and full of dirty Quebecers. Sunshine is a nice place, I'd spend a season there.


To teach you need your CASI level 1. It takes a weekend and is a fun job.

[fredericp64]

Originally Posted by bakesale

Don't forget to wrap Jimmy. Especially if hooking up with an Aussie or a Quebecer. HSV is a shitty reminder of your season at the resort

HAHAHAH!! It's true, our chicks are fckin skanks. I didn't know that resonated all the way out West though lol.

Taking a year off for snowboarding is the sickest idea ever. You'll remember your experience for your whole life.

[bakesale]

Originally Posted by fredericp64

HAHAHAH!! It's true, our chicks are fckin skanks. I didn't know that resonated all the way out West though lol.

Taking a year off for snowboarding is the sickest idea ever. You'll remember your experience for your whole life.

I bet there's lots of nice girls in Australia who are clean and decent human beings. But you seem to export all your diseased sluts to Canadian Ski Resorts. Don't get me wrong; they're lots of fun, but just make sure to wrap it up!

[NYSnow]

I was watching a show about Revelstoke and it looks like an epic resort. For a while I have been thinking of taking a winter off and living near Whistler and riding all season. I spent a couple of weeks there a few years ago and it was great. One of these years...

[tooscoops]

oh my god. you think aussie girls are CLEANER than canadian? my lord. the ones that come out here are just hurtin for some canadian cock.

no offense meant as its great, those canadian boys are sick of being turned down by canadian chicks.

any who...

just get out here, don't get a job with the resort(they own your pass) and enjoy. it will be hard work, but if you are willing you will be better off than 50% of the people who go out thinking life will be easy. work two to three jobs that suck, but you will be happy.

[bakesale]

haha I think you need to reread what I wrote. I said Australia exports all their dirty sluts to Canada.