Working snow season for beginner

[GapYearSnow]

Hello,

Really pleased to find there's a dedicated snow and ski board :)

I'm looking for advice as we're not snowboard/skiers ourselves.

My son, just turned 19, has enjoyed snowboarding at a local indoor slope and would like to use his gap year to go snowboarding proper.
He understands that he would have to work during the trip/season and fund the whole thing and is happy to do so.
He has about £4000 in savings from P/T job and b'day money, so may or may not access that - perhaps depending on airfare needed
He was wondering about Canada/America. Failing that, Europe (obviously cheaper airfare)
I have looked online but finding it difficult- I'll find a lovely group for young people then realise it's holiday only- not working alongside.
I've read mixed opinions on visas needed for north America.
If it was Europe would there be language issues or are there lots of Brits that do this? Hope that doesn't sound too Little England!!
He's a quiet lad but he will put himself out there and I think this could be so good for him before university.
Any advice appreciated- thank you.

You just can’t get visas for this stuff now as it says in the posts above. Anyone needing native English speakers just gets Irish staff, or people with EU passports. It’s really sad.

@itsgettingweird "You could be hotel staff (wait or/ kitchen/rooms) or childcare/school trip staff."

Not any longer (you were there late 99”s/ early 00’s) - see multiple posts above explaining the impact of Brexit on young people's job opportunities.

You're possibly too late for this coming season, but if you have customer-facing experience, can speak the language and can write your own name in block capitals, the tour operators will probably be very keen to employ you. Or you could just rock up in resort and see what you can find - your EU passport being the golden key to employment in the Alps. There are plenty of over-50s working in the Alps (because the young un's can't get in any longer).

You could try a taster by working a few weeks for a specialist school ski trip agency - e.g. PGL, Club Europe, True North, Equity.

the hotel staff were employed by First choice. I’m not sure if this still happens but it’s like holiday reps you are employed by the UK company and work in their hotels abroad.

But yes that was 25 years ago so I’m not sure if it’s changed but I know you can still rep abroad for UK companies.

DD friends are doing a ski season this winter with UK passports. They’re 18 and can ski but organised it ages ago. I’m not sure if they learnt to ski just from the school trip or otherwise but so long as you can do the basics ie ski down an easy slope your DS will get the hang of it in a coupe of days.

I wouldn’t try the US quite yet. Stick with Europe

@itsgettingweird "But yes that was 25 years ago so I’m not sure if it’s changed but I know you can still rep abroad for UK companies."

Of course it's changed - the UK decided to leave the EU and the free movement of labour ended for British passport holders on Brexit-day 5 years ago. Some travel companies have been able to secure a few visas for key and senior staff, particularly in France, but first-season reps are generally not being employed unless they have an EU passport. Many ski companies have closed down because their business model simply didn't work without the ability to employ British staff. All of the major companies state "EU Passport holders only" on their recruitment sites, and a surprising number of young people who have grown up in the UK actually have dual nationality (Irish, Cypriot, French, Dutch, Polish, Scandinavian etc) and so have EU passports.

Just gone out to ski? That’s fine, as long as they are only going for the permitted time. But they can’t work, which is what the OP is looking for her child to do.

I said they’re doing a ski season which very clearly means they will be working the season then skiing in their spare time

so I’m answering OP question

It is sad - my co workers were Polish ,American, Irish, Australian, Bosnian etc it was great

Any idea then how they’ve achieved this? I think the OP (and other posters) would be keen to get tips on how this can be achieved as it’s so difficult.

Any idea then how they’ve achieved this? I think the OP (and other posters) would be keen to get tips on how this can be achieved as it’s so difficult.

Which companies have they secured work with and do they definitely only have uk passports?

I think there are lots of young people seeking and failing to find this type of option in Europe.

Wow! Thank you so much, everyone- couldn't return to thread until now and I'm seeing loads of responses. Will read through properly and try to respond at some point.
@Septleaves sorry I meant to thank you the first time around for BUNAC info and, yes, son really should be pulling finger out and researching himself!
Anyway, I'll have a good read now :)

You've not really answered the OP's question which was essentially, "Is it possible to work a snow season in Europe, and if so, how?"

I doubt this is possible now but I did my ski season in Colorado as I used the visa that I had already got the year before by volunteering with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and the Volunteers in Parks (VIPs) i “worked” for only housing and small stipend which paid for food at a couple of amazing National Parks. I actually did 3 seasons like this as it only cost me my air fare. Then using the B visa I already had I worked for UK ski company as a chalet hostin an incredible Colorado resort. I was 25 by then & they needed that age for the car hire. I had a blast again I didn’t “earn” money but had all my expenses paid into UK bank account which is how they got round the visa issue. I’d expect this loop hole has sadly been closed now. My own teens are now looking at options to travel & work and I feel sad many of these doors appear shut now to then.

SCA are still running but you’d have to look into the visa issues. I had to work hard to convince the hiring mgr to take me on with a phone interview and enthusiasm but had the best time thesca.org/

Again, thanks, everyone :)

A few mentioned Bunac which is now called Jenza, I think, but you get directed to the right site if you type in Bunac to search engine. My son currently looking through this- outside chance of this winter but very unlikely.

As a pp said- I think he'll look at working flat out next few months then enjoying a European winter holiday and maybe a southern hemisphere season next year.

Something I did come across is UPCA holidays (https://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/information/about-ucpa/) which seem to be subsidised skiing/activity and accommodation centres, primarily in France. I'm going to check these out- a quick reddit rabbithole seems positive about them but you may well be in dorms and it could be quite partyish (loud!) depending who you're with. I think it's maimly a young person scheme with the odd concession to older people- need to look further.

And thanks @Septleaves for the suggestion of Colorado/SCA could be a cunning way in to snowboarding in the US and no doubt a great thing to do in itself! I will definitely look into that.

It might be an expensive option but my son did a snowboard instructor course in Japan, could have gone to Canada also. He is now in New Zealand for their season and will go back to Japan when the season starts there.

@Karlsonn
Thank you- I will certainly look into Japan,
My son is beginner level so wouldn't be doing instructor courses but I'm sure beginner stuff exists in Japan- pp said lots of Aussies there so maybe no language barrier.
Sounds amazing what your son is doing- similar to another poster's son upthread who was "doing" New Zealand, then Canada over quite some time, I think!
Is this what people do? Ski/snowboard for extended lengths of time around the world?
It sounds incredible :)

@GapYearSnow he has had an incredible time, only downside is he has only been home twice in 5 years, when the ski season is over he has travelled all over South Asia. I didn’t realise the limitations now for working in Europe, he was fortunate that his first jobs at ski resorts were pre brexit in France and it all took off from there.

Yes, I'd miss my son terribly but I reckon he'd love it!!

Try Mark Warner and Ski World. They take UK passport holders.

There are also lots of seasonaire FB groups - check out the big French ski towns, Chamonix, Val D’Isere, Tignes etc. A UK passport is a hurdle, not a barrier and quite a few small chalet companies will do the visa application and are happy to do so for good candidates. However, having mummy do the legwork looks poor, so I would advise that your son carries out his own research. FB Ski Club is another one with ‘my son/daughter’ posts and at 19, a potential employer would not be impressed.

Great, thanks! I will look into those
Point taken I'll be careful not to blot his copybook with overt research!

Hi, this is literally my first post ever on a forum but I wanted to reassure you so you don't get disheartened about your son's opportunities to do a ski season, it's absolutely still possible since Brexit!
I live in the French Alps and work in the ski industry, residents of the UK can still come here with a 6 month work visa, plenty of time for a ski season and even a little holiday at the end.
Morzine and Avoriaz are very English speaking and if he searches for chalets in those areas he will find several, often with their positions listed on their careers page. It's a bit late to apply for this winter but if he gets in touch with them anyway there are often injuries at the start of the season, or people who just don't like it, so they leave and need to be filled quickly. I recommend he searches himself so he gets a feel for the company and the roles and can be realistic about what he wants to do - some are very high end luxury companies and others are more budget.

Good luck to your son, doing ski seasons started the ball rolling on a dream life for me!