What is THE place to be?

M

micsinthetrees

New member
Hi everyone, i am a young dude (18) from eastern quebec and my goal is to work during the off season and ski all winter long.( if any of you are doing this, i’d be interested to hear how you do it)

that said i’m wondering what would be the best place to move for levelling up my skiing (park) and meeting chill people. i’m not looking for arrogant academy kids and rich kooks, more like people who are just passionate about skiing. thanks!
 
There is no THE place to be for skiing anymore. Everything is blown out.

If this new massive resort in Valdez AK actually happens, that could turn into THE place I think in the future and I wanna be around. If the resort is completed it will be the biggest in Alaska, completely game changing.

To help more with what you’re looking for, for the east coast I’d say like sugarbush or sugarloaf seem like they’d fit that description. As for out west, I’m not too sure.

**This post was edited on Aug 8th 2023 at 1:48:38pm
 
most ski resorts come with ski resort towns built around them. that means you'll have very high livings costs compared to non-resort communities. Unless you have some way to make a shit ton of money (most 18 year olds do not), you'll need to have a job during the winter. if you get a resort job, perhaps you should look for a resort with employee housing. then try to save as much as you can during the summer so you only have to work weekends/holidays at the resorts (those aren't fun days to ski anyway, since they're much more crowded).
 
Go to Burlington and ride jay peak, Killington, Sugarbush, etc.

So much incredible skiing around Burlington and that city is fun as he'll (very cold tho)
 
Lowkey come bum around the Midwest (MN/WI) and just lap the tow rope all winter. You’ll progress a shit ton
 
Sounds like you’re looking for a smaller mtn with a decent park, I’ve found it’s always easier to meet people at smaller hills. Any large resort will have an element of academy kids and rich kooks, even places like sugarloaf which has great vibes compared to a lot of similar resorts
 
IMO the best resort access anywhere in the U.S. is from SLC. PCMR and Brighton are amazing for park progression.

If you want to stay on the East coast, Carinthia (mt snow) and Sugarbush have the best parks IMO.

I'd think twice about moving to the U.S. tho it's pretty fucked out here lol
 
14546349:dwt802 said:
Everything is blown out.

**This post was edited on Aug 8th 2023 at 1:48:38pm
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Even my dumpy 300ft vertical ohio hills get blown out most weekends, it's sad
 
14546427:Rparr said:
Even my dumpy 300ft vertical ohio hills get blown out most weekends, it's sad
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I had endless knee deep pow laps, first tracks on multiple runs, and no lift lines on a Saturday last season. There are still undiscovered spots
 
14546502:hi_vis360 said:
I had endless knee deep pow laps, first tracks on multiple runs, and no lift lines on a Saturday last season. There are still undiscovered spots
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People always wanna hate. There's tons of these spots in the east and west. Shit half my ski trips purposely include places that are low key to avoid crowds.
 
Considering you are from Canada, I would 100% recommend Banff.

You can find cheap flights from Calgary to QC or MTL so you can go home every so often. Easy employment, no visa bullshit.

Get a job with a resort like norquay or sunshine or LL. The staff accommodations are pretty cheap, like 300-400$/month. You’ll meet and live with people from the resort and usually they get to know the hills pretty good and show you all the secret spots.

Ski patrol is ideal but hard to get into. Instructing you only need a level 1 from CSIA, but to get a decent wage you should at least get your level 3.

if you don’t want a job in the winter I highly recommend building out a decent camper van. (Kitchen, power bank, insulated and heater minimum) Ski the Rockies. Banff, revelstoke and red are on ikon and those are not too far apart. Kicking whores isn’t, but def worth the visit if you get more into steep pow.

you spend a couple of seasons in the interior and are enjoying it, take the next step and come over to the coastal ranges.

whis is a bit more expensive and the snowpack is a little different but the warmer weather makes van life easier.

good luck buddy. I skied out in the chic chocs this winter and apart from the shitty snow, it felt a lot like mountains in the west.
 
14546531:runforlove2024 said:
People always wanna hate. There's tons of these spots in the east and west. Shit half my ski trips purposely include places that are low key to avoid crowds.
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Maybe a few smaller mountains in like Montana or Idaho but there is definitely not a ton of places left out west. Sure the east still has more lowkey smaller hills too but it’s also the east. (I’m from Vermont)
 
14546536:dwt802 said:
Maybe a few smaller mountains in like Montana or Idaho but there is definitely not a ton of places left out west. Sure the east still has more lowkey smaller hills too but it’s also the east. (I’m from Vermont)
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There's a lot of smaller mountains (1000-2000ft vert) out west that don't get much credit. Definitely more than east coast tbh
 
14546539:runforlove2024 said:
There's a lot of smaller mountains (1000-2000ft vert) out west that don't get much credit. Definitely more than east coast tbh
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Even some of the big ones out west aren't bad. I never wait in a lift line at Sunshine, and the Vancouver hills like Grouse and Seymour can be straight up empty most weeknights. Grouse is possibly the best small mountain out west (in Canada) for pure park but Vancouver is way too expensive for most

**This post was edited on Aug 10th 2023 at 1:13:40am
 
14546539:runforlove2024 said:
There's a lot of smaller mountains (1000-2000ft vert) out west that don't get much credit. Definitely more than east coast tbh
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Honestly that’s pretty true but if they’re near places with decent population it’s those that blow up. Like Montana has some real lowkey ones like Teton Pass, lost trail, and I think there is another lowkey one up north but to access those as a local you have to live in absolute bum fuck as a result, which wouldn’t necessarily be the worst but all the ones near the cities growing in people are getting mad crowded compared to what they are I hear.

14546541:Slowbro said:
Even some of the big ones out west aren't bad. I never wait in a lift line at Sunshine, and the Vancouver hills like Grouse and Seymour can be straight up empty most weeknights. Grouse is possibly the best small mountain out west (in Canada) for pure park but Vancouver is way too expensive for most

**This post was edited on Aug 10th 2023 at 1:13:40am
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That’s totally fair Canada has some seriously sick lowkey areas and lots of em
 
14546602:thatsG said:
If you just want to ski park... what about Calgary and just ski WinSport?
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COP park is pretty bunk a lot of the time. Features aren't maintained well and sometimes there are only a few features in the park that are actually trickable lol. Sunshine / Louise is way better as far as AB goes. COP does have big jumps though which is a plus
 
best place to be in on your skis. just click in and stay clicked in. make it a goal to do everything clicked in and avoid going inside for the entire season. your skiing will improve and you will also avoid germs and high food prices in the lodge
 
Apply for a job at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, cheap staff accom (that is currently not burnt down), tons of transients your age coming through, and you’ll get a discount on a seasons pass. Plus once winter is done, you can keep working there if you choose, and not rely on seasonal work (although Louise is open November-May).

all of lake Louise is staff accom, only way to live there. Could be difficult to find places to live in somewhere like Banff.
 
topic:micsinthetrees said:
Hi everyone, i am a young dude (18) from eastern quebec and my goal is to work during the off season and ski all winter long.( if any of you are doing this, i’d be interested to hear how you do it)

that said i’m wondering what would be the best place to move for levelling up my skiing (park) and meeting chill people. i’m not looking for arrogant academy kids and rich kooks, more like people who are just passionate about skiing. thanks!
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I just spent the 2022 season working and living in Aspen CO. I had the time of my life. Free pass for 4 huge mountains, great younger population, housing is partially subsidized so its affordable, and its fucking aspen. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to work a winter and ski all the time
 
yea banff is sick too cuz drinking age is 18 so u can go out anywhere and theres something on every night of the week
 
mt is one of the last places that you can find lowkey resort riding i feel like, even on busy days i havent waited more than 5min for a lift. went from lifty-ing at mammoth to spending winters up here and it was for sure a good move. small town/hill atmosphere is so much better, dont come here tho, it sucks

14546536:dwt802 said:
Maybe a few smaller mountains in like Montana or Idaho but there is definitely not a ton of places left out west. Sure the east still has more lowkey smaller hills too but it’s also the east. (I’m from Vermont)
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Dude you should look into tree planting for next summer, you can make 20k if you work hard in the summer and live off ei for the winter. That's what I'm doing this winter in Revy.

1st year planting is a little tricky to make good money but you'll still come out of it making much more than minimum wage, plus no rent or costs while you're working. Lots of buddies of mine are doing the van life, plant all summer, ski all winter lifestyle. You work hard in the summer but it's fun and you make a nice bit of money to live off during the winter. Try Brinkman, they're an easy company to get in with.
 
Why not work for the forest service? Those jobs advertise a lot more money and aren't contingent on success

14547598:littleman34 said:
Dude you should look into tree planting for next summer, you can make 20k if you work hard in the summer and live off ei for the winter. That's what I'm doing this winter in Revy.

1st year planting is a little tricky to make good money but you'll still come out of it making much more than minimum wage, plus no rent or costs while you're working. Lots of buddies of mine are doing the van life, plant all summer, ski all winter lifestyle. You work hard in the summer but it's fun and you make a nice bit of money to live off during the winter. Try Brinkman, they're an easy company to get in with.
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14547632:runforlove2024 said:
Why not work for the forest service? Those jobs advertise a lot more money and aren't contingent on success
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Thats what I'm doing atm for the rest of summer. Working as a forest tech so idk if thats exactly what you're talking about but anyways I make much more planting. That being said I imagine the work I'm doing now is not exactly the high paying forestry jobs. But still, planting wage is hard to beat with any job I've found or heard of.

What exactly do you mean by forest service?
 
This. Further from cities the better for more skiing to yourself, but it’s what you make of it no matter where you are. Everywhere is different with its own nuanced problems

and perks.

14547731:b0ss said:
Grass is greener where you water it.
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14547728:littleman34 said:
Thats what I'm doing atm for the rest of summer. Working as a forest tech so idk if thats exactly what you're talking about but anyways I make much more planting. That being said I imagine the work I'm doing now is not exactly the high paying forestry jobs. But still, planting wage is hard to beat with any job I've found or heard of.

What exactly do you mean by forest service?
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The employer on the job posting is the US forest service. That's what I mean. You mentioned a company in your post so I took that as a private government contractor.
 
First off Im in Canada where the real forestry takes place. And Brinkman is a reforestation company in Canada so they mainly employ people to plant trees. They take contracts from forestry companies who take contracts from the MNR/government.

14547751:runforlove2024 said:
The employer on the job posting is the US forest service. That's what I mean. You mentioned a company in your post so I took that as a private government contractor.
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14547598:littleman34 said:
Dude you should look into tree planting for next summer, you can make 20k if you work hard in the summer and live off ei for the winter. That's what I'm doing this winter in Revy.

1st year planting is a little tricky to make good money but you'll still come out of it making much more than minimum wage, plus no rent or costs while you're working. Lots of buddies of mine are doing the van life, plant all summer, ski all winter lifestyle. You work hard in the summer but it's fun and you make a nice bit of money to live off during the winter. Try Brinkman, they're an easy company to get in with.
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i’ve heard this job destroys your body, that’s my main concern with it..
 
Live at home for a while or find something cheap more north, save cash at a job and maybe get some schooling (up to you). Ski Maximise and street (also some good-ass resorts around). You leave real damn close to some of the best skiing on the east coast IMO. The cold brutal winters, street, and having the chip on your shoulder being the one paying for your own trips to maximise around the others training will breed you into a good park skier if that's what you want.
 
14547758:runforlove2024 said:
Are all Canadians this pompous?
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Maybe about logging and poutine

14547778:micsinthetrees said:
i’ve heard this job destroys your body, that’s my main concern with it..
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Yeah it kind of does if youre not smart about it but if you take care of yourself (sleep, stretch, drink less, plant with good form) it can be alright. Many people break themselves after a few years but other plant fine for a decade.
 
Alberta is the cheapest for things like fuel and food because of the low tax. Like someone said, if you can get staff accom at Louise that's the place to go. There's a good park and the mountain is better than Sunshine imo.

That said, Sunshine was looking for park crew about a month ago, so maybe apply there if that interests you.

As far as making it work goes, just work hard in the off season, tree planting is a good option as mentioned. Avoid excessive drinking and drug use as that stuff is expensive and terrible for your health.

Whis has the best park in Canada for sure. It is expensive but you can make it work.

You could also stay in Quebec and ride Stoneham and Relais for a season or two if that would be cheaper.
 
Its quite far away but innsbruck in the alps is really great for skiing. Its a Austrian city and is between the mountains. There are also multiple ski aread like the rail park in patscherkoffel, Nordketten Skylinpark and also Penken Park. Banger Park for summer practice is also very close. But I was sadly never there for skiing so i dont know how chill the people are there. I think dani bacher is also from innsbruck
 
Mad river valley slaps on weekdays. Had amazing experience there at sugarbush and snow. Didn’t make it to MRG. Mt Ellen Pass is clutch asf
 
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