Doing a ski season in a ski resort is a fantastic way to improve your ski technique by leaps and bounds, not to mention spend all winter skiing for a very reasonable price. Many in-resort jobs throw in a lift pass, staff accommodation and discounts on ski or snowboard gear, vastly reducing your costs and effectively providing you with a paid ski holiday! There are plenty of positions that require extra staff during the winter, so don't hesitate to send out your CV and see if you can't snag something great!
Working a ski season is a way to meet other like-minded people who love the fresh air and the mountains. You'll spend most of your free time skiing with your coworkers and get to know the best powder stashes and all the little-known secrets of your chosen ski resort. While some of the jobs require a lot of hard work, it's definitely worth it!
There are tons of jobs available for people looking to do a ski season in the Alps. Here are some of the most common ones.
Ski rep
A popular job with British seasonnaires is that of the ski rep, who makes sure guests are settled into their chalets and introduces them to the best of the mountain. Often this means you get to ski around with a group of visitors and show them your favourite runs, although some countries are cracking down on this practice as they prefer people to pay qualified local guides and ski instructors to do this job. But in general this is a chill job where the working hours are mostly limited to weekend check-ins and check-outs, giving you lots of time for skiing during the weekdays.
Chalet host
Chalet hosts have a difficult but rewarding job. Basically, as a chalet host, you are expected to wait hands and foot on the chalet guests, who will often have high expectations from meals and cleanliness. Cooking and cleaning skills help when applying for this job, as do customer service skills and a willingness to work hard. You only get one day off a week and the pay is usually awful, but the tips can help. Most chalet hosts return from their winter abroad vowing that the skiing was worth all the hard work.
Lift operator
This is the classic seasonnaire job, requiring basically zero experience. You're in charge of making sure people get on and off the lifts safely and apart from knowledge of how to ride a lift, the most important qualification here is a big smile and a social disposition! On the bright side, you get to spend all day outside and chatting with people. On the downside, your work hours coincide exactly with the ski area opening hours.
Ticket office/rental shop
There are plenty of indoor positions that are still directly related to the running of the ski area, such as in the ticket office or the rental shop. This is another job that will cut into your skiable hours, but the benefit to being employed by the mountain is that you'll likely get a lift pass and staff accommodation. If you prefer working inside where you won't have to worry about weather conditions, then this kind of job can be perfect for you.
Ski instructor or ski patrol
Spending a winter as a ski instructor requires slightly more advance planning and investment, but it's worth it to have a job that lets you be on your skis all day instead of stuck inside washing dishes. The rules vary from country to country and resort to resort so always check before investing in a course. You can choose whether you want to go with BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) or whether you prefer to get local Austrian, French, etc. qualification. Bear in mind that as a British qualification, BASI may not be as attractive after the Brexit, although currently many ski resorts accept Canadian qualification so it may not make a difference. Learning German or French may be necessary if you want to work in the Alps, although some resorts hire English-speaking teachers as there is always a demand.
Piste basher driver
Driving the piste basher doesn't require any former training in most resorts, although since most drivers do their own maintenance, it helps to be technically minded. Being a piste basher driver is a tough job with long, irregular hours. You'll spend a lot of time by yourself, just you and the empty slopes, but if you like listening to music and getting away from it all, this might be the perfect job for you.
Au-pair
A classic job for people who want to move to another country for a while, au-pairing is an easy way to get integrated into the local culture and discover all the best-kept secrets of the ski resort. Au-pairing can be a fun way to meet some kids, get to know the family and spend your winter in a beautiful chalet in the French Alps or similar.
Hotel jobs/wait staff/bartender
Hotels and restaurants at ski resorts always seem to be looking for people - maybe it's because at the first sign of powder, half their staff disappears! If you're looking for a way to work on evenings and weekends and leave plenty of free time for skiing during the day, this just might be the ticket. English speakers will always be attractive applicants for jobs like waiter, bartender, receptionist, banquet staff, housekeeping, etc. Of course, it helps if you speak the local language as well. Hotels and restaurants also often offer more flexible hours and the possibility to work part-time.
Think carefully about which ski resort you choose, as you'll be spending all winter here! Are you an experienced skier or do you need a resort with good beginner slopes? Do you prefer off-piste or snow parks? Are you a crazy partier? Are you on a strict budget? We can get you started finding your ideal ski resort based on your individual preference. Another factor to take into consideration is the language. Depending on whether you fancy Andorra, France, Austria, Switzerland or Italy, you might want to look into brushing up on your Spanish/French/German/Italian skills!
You can choose to go with a company - there are loads of companies that organize seasonnaire jobs for British workers - or apply on your own terms. Start sending out applications as early as May or June. Most jobs will give you a contract for the winter ski season, although there is also some demand for busy dates like the Christmas holidays, and some other ski resorts may have ski seasons that extend from early autumn until late in the spring or summer. Companies to start with include Skiworld, Equity orInghams.
The Brexit is currently delayed until October 31st, 2019, on which day the UK is tentatively slated to leave the EU. Having seen the shambles that is a Brexit withdrawal agreement, it's possible this may not play out as planned. In the case of a deal being reached, it can be hoped that ski resorts might honour contracts for the 2019-20 ski season even if the Brexit does happen. It depends on the governments of each country and, to an extent, the individual companies. If the UK leaves the EU with no deal, then it's more probable that reciprocal arrangements for British workers will not be honoured. Don't forget about places like North America, Japan, Australia or New Zealand. You'll have to apply for a visa but at least you'll have more certainty that things won't change between now and then! Ski resorts in the southern hemisphere are also an option if you fancy doing your ski season over the British summer. And one last thing, don't forget you'll need travel insurance that covers a winter sports holiday. Ask your organizer if they cover this for you; otherwise, read the fine print of your travel insurance agreement very carefully to make sure it covers skiing for work.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
