Summer of dreams? - Snowboarding Forum

waffle · 07-22-2010, 01:35 PM

So I have a question for some of you hardy vets out there. I've been doing a lot of research around and have been reading a boat load about becoming a snow bum in a resort town. There's been a lot of great advice and a lot of people saying no. So I'm here with a few specific questions, and I'm not looking for all your mom and dads out there to tell me no and get a real job and not do this because this time that doesn't apply.

Next summer is the summer after I graduate highschool and I was looking to do a "gap yearish" thing except for the summer. I wanted to spend my summer before college in a place like New Zealand where I would snow bum for a season and just ride every day. Would this be a feaseable idea seeing as I would not have to worry about the rest of my life and such with college ahead of me. I just wanted to see what it would be like to live the dream for 3 months, and then have 4 years to decide whether it was for me and I would commit to it for the rest of my life.

Also does anyone have any specific advice or stories from past experiences with something like this? Basically a season of snowbumming that i could not have to worry about my future.

burritosandsnow · 07-22-2010, 04:12 PM

theres no right or wrong answer to this question ... I know people who dropped out of High School that now have multiple PhD's and I know extremely bright people with degrees who do nothing but sit around and get high all day and work menial jobs.

Your future is your future and its written by you. Theres many ways to go about what youve asked.

1 Full fledged nothing but riding and be a bum for a few years and hope you have the drive to eventually go back to school.

2 Go right into school and hope the career youve chosen at 19 or 20 years old is still viable and appealing in 6-8 years.

3 Move to a snow city a la Salt Lake Denver etc and mix school and riding rather equally.

The only right decision is ultimately the one that makes you feel your life is fulfilling and enjoyable.

For the record .. I have a college degree that Ive never used, I work in a warehouse 5/10 hr days in summer and 3/10 hour days in winter and just ride as much as possible. Im at a point in my life now where Im ready to commit to a more career oriented job but Im only looking at a few chosen things within the snow industry. If I have a career it will be with a company that I believe in and will be fun , if I cant have that I ll just continue to work in a warehouse and ride my ass off.

Willy36 · 07-22-2010, 05:49 PM

Two things I have to add that are related

1. Do you already have the money to get to New Zealand and get an apartment, etc.?

and

2. I know it seems probably about half of people I've talked to in their 40's or so are no longer working a job related to what they went to college for....Really it's more to say you went to college then to actually get the skills. Obviously this doesn't apply to everything, but it seems most things it does. I know that's not entirely related to your question, but I thought of it, so I figured I'd add it.

Do what makes you happy but that won't fuck you over for the rest of your life if you decide it's not for you.

waffle · 07-22-2010, 07:27 PM

well i've started saving for that, how much do you think i'll need for rent? A friend or two might be coming with me so that could ease up the housing cost. Do you think it would be difficult for me to find a job that would allow me to shred? i know the ideal jobs are night shifts or split shifts but i'm not sure if New Zealand has the same work pools, especially in their resorts or such. I'll probably looking at a Queenstown area place.

07-22-2010, 01:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
waffle Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 24	Summer of dreams? So I have a question for some of you hardy vets out there. I've been doing a lot of research around and have been reading a boat load about becoming a snow bum in a resort town. There's been a lot of great advice and a lot of people saying no. So I'm here with a few specific questions, and I'm not looking for all your mom and dads out there to tell me no and get a real job and not do this because this time that doesn't apply. Next summer is the summer after I graduate highschool and I was looking to do a "gap yearish" thing except for the summer. I wanted to spend my summer before college in a place like New Zealand where I would snow bum for a season and just ride every day. Would this be a feaseable idea seeing as I would not have to worry about the rest of my life and such with college ahead of me. I just wanted to see what it would be like to live the dream for 3 months, and then have 4 years to decide whether it was for me and I would commit to it for the rest of my life. Also does anyone have any specific advice or stories from past experiences with something like this? Basically a season of snowbumming that i could not have to worry about my future.

07-22-2010, 04:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
burritosandsnow Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: slc utah Posts: 928	theres no right or wrong answer to this question ... I know people who dropped out of High School that now have multiple PhD's and I know extremely bright people with degrees who do nothing but sit around and get high all day and work menial jobs. Your future is your future and its written by you. Theres many ways to go about what youve asked. 1 Full fledged nothing but riding and be a bum for a few years and hope you have the drive to eventually go back to school. 2 Go right into school and hope the career youve chosen at 19 or 20 years old is still viable and appealing in 6-8 years. 3 Move to a snow city a la Salt Lake Denver etc and mix school and riding rather equally. The only right decision is ultimately the one that makes you feel your life is fulfilling and enjoyable. For the record .. I have a college degree that Ive never used, I work in a warehouse 5/10 hr days in summer and 3/10 hour days in winter and just ride as much as possible. Im at a point in my life now where Im ready to commit to a more career oriented job but Im only looking at a few chosen things within the snow industry. If I have a career it will be with a company that I believe in and will be fun , if I cant have that I ll just continue to work in a warehouse and ride my ass off. __________________ Burritosandsnow.com

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07-22-2010, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willy36 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 275	Two things I have to add that are related 1. Do you already have the money to get to New Zealand and get an apartment, etc.? and 2. I know it seems probably about half of people I've talked to in their 40's or so are no longer working a job related to what they went to college for....Really it's more to say you went to college then to actually get the skills. Obviously this doesn't apply to everything, but it seems most things it does. I know that's not entirely related to your question, but I thought of it, so I figured I'd add it. Do what makes you happy but that won't fuck you over for the rest of your life if you decide it's not for you.

07-22-2010, 07:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
waffle Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 24	well i've started saving for that, how much do you think i'll need for rent? A friend or two might be coming with me so that could ease up the housing cost. Do you think it would be difficult for me to find a job that would allow me to shred? i know the ideal jobs are night shifts or split shifts but i'm not sure if New Zealand has the same work pools, especially in their resorts or such. I'll probably looking at a Queenstown area place.