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| This is where all the action happens, get advice, give advice, chat about everything here... |  |
We have our exclusive diary of a seasonaire for the 2008/2009 season, follow it all here... |  |
Our top 10 countdown on what to expect from a ski season, get a flavour for it here... |  |
Guide to a Winter Season! 1. Expect to get injured, it's going to happen, everyone who is doing an extreme sport every day is going to hurt something. You get good, you can ski any slope thus you start to do things that are even more crazy to get that buzz. Plus you make friends, you make challenges, you show off! So make sure you have insurance, an E1 11 in Europe, but get more, a Carte Neige will cover you off piste, and if you take out extra insurance make sure you know what you're covered for. Also contents insurance is sensible, ski resorts are not always the safest places, if you're doing a season you'll have an MP3 player, equipment etc, just get covered and then you don't need to worry. |
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2. Expect to work bloody hard, a ski season is very intense as when you have time off work you're doing a physical sport, or you're out drinking. Ski seasons are not like summer seasons, they are expensive, a pint will cost about 4 euros, and can go up to 8! So get to know the names of the bar staff. Everyone scratches each others backs so you should be able to get a few free drinks and discounts. But if you do work hard you'll get enough tips not to have to touch your credit card, what you put in you get out. Thus with every order don't forget the magic words 'seasonaire'! Ski Resorts are hardcore, but thats why we love em! | ||||
| 3. Buy some equipment, don't go for the cheap rental crap. Get good stuff and get it early, holiday makers spend a fortune for the week, you're going to be using it for 4 months. Get a decent pair of skis, boots (more important than skis) and clothing. You want to look cool....course you do, but ski wear also has a good function. Oakley goggles are not the most expensive because they look good, they actually have the best lenses too. Also a brilliant thing to invest in is a laptop, you can put all your music on one, and if there is somewhere you can plug in to do internet which is often expensive you can save money this way. Also if you have a digital camera it means instant photos, and a trusty IPOD. However don't ski listening to dance music - it gets dangerous :) |  |
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4. Take some things to dress your room, it's cool to have photos with you, music, little things from home, they're interesting for people who don't know you and help to define you as a person. Oh and they cover the bare walls that you're likely to be staring at for a while. So dress things up a bit - student style. Also Ski shops hold loads of stickers and posters back, wander in and ask for some of these, and you'll be surprised at how much you get handed! 5. You don't have to have a job to pitch up at a ski resort, people are friendly and always wanting to help. The amount of people that simply picth up in a ski resort and just network and find something is staggering - many of them are holidaymakers who want to come back! Don't be nervous about doing it, there are always cheap places to crash, and if you take enough money to last a couple of weeks you should be ok. Just don't buy a lift pass until you have a job, why? Because you'll use it and won't get a job!!!! |
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| 6. Know it will be expensive, make sure you're prepared - things will be expensive. Ski Resorts are expensive places, people that go there have money, and it's hard for shops to get gear easily! However working a season should mean you get some tips - these are the lifeblood! As chalet hosts, bar staff, guides, instructors drop the subject of tips in to conversation, you'll only wish you had when people leave! If you do a good job, you should be rewarded, and won't have to get the old mastercard out. Plus make sure you chat to guests, get friendly, and show them where the bar is, they are more than happy to buy a round or ten!! |  |
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7. Expect to realize how crap working in 'the real world' is and the state of home, you'll meet people from home and guaranteed they will moan about the state of society, and their jealousy for you! Whilst you get to meet people at their best, they are happy, having a good time, and things are relaxed. The party atmosphere is infectious and you'll soon get pulled in to it, and before you know whats happening you'll become a celebrity in the town due to your off piste talents as well as those on piste. So enjoy the party atmosphere, enjoy chatting to people at the pub, and not worrying about getting your head boxed in for looking at the wrong person. Smile, enjoy the weather and try to cut yourself off from the outside world, it will only depress you... | ||||
| 8. Become a scruffy alcoholic, some things are more important than fresh smelling clothes, and a clean shave. Getting down the pub, hanging out with your mates and telling some stories takes priority. So have some pub clothes, wear them there and as soon as you enter the pub you'll just smell like the place. Then when you're out skiing just wear your pub clothes, the natural fresh alpine air will have them smelling rosy after a few runs. There are never dress codes in ski resorts, so you can get away with wearing pretty much anything, wandering in to the pub at 11pm in jeans a hoody, and your Merrells is a satisfying feeling, so leave the shirts and shoes at home. |  |
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9. Try and appreciate every moment you are there, life goes so quickly, before you know where you are it's over. Stop on the mountain as often as you can and just look out over the world. Bliss! The most beautiful breath taking views to take in, fresh air, the atmosphere, the pubs, the skiing, the banter - everything about it is life changing. Once you have done a ski season you will want to spend the rest of your time living in the mountains, skiing during the day, eating comfort food, going to the pub late, and making a whole host of friends with similar interests to yourself. Thats why we do it. And when you're not there - well spend some time on Plooka.com remembering how good the times were! | ||||
10. Don't come home! Thats it, stay out there if you can, buy a chalet, meet a foreign love, have some children and bring them up there, they'll appreciate you for it. Life just does not get any better so be prepared to have the most fun of your life. Plooka.com |
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Welcome to Seasonaires Tips @ Plooka.com Seasonaires welcome! Ok so maybe you are not a seasonaire yet, but are considering doing a winter season. Whether it be bar work, working in a chalet, ski instructing, spending a ski season on the mountains, breathing fresh air, keeping active and meeting great people Plooka.com can share our experiences with you. On this page we have provided a quick guide to doing a winter season. You will also find links to our Seasonaires Forum and our exclusive seasonaires diary (including all the juicy gossip). Thanks, enjoy the section! |
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