Where to be a ski bum?

sky_steezy

sky_steezy

Member
Sometime After college I'm thinking of becoming a ski bum in for a year, but I can't decide on what would be the best place. I was thinking maybe study abroad in Europe and settle somewhere for a year in the Swiss alps or something but that would be very pricy. I'd be fine with a good ski town in the U.S or Canada. What do you guys think would be a good place to be a ski bum.
 
13812950:GeneralButtNaked said:
Vail is dope. Very inexpensive and good for being a bum.
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i hear squaw is real great about it too...super cheap....and andy wirth lets you sleep on his couch if you dont have the money
 
topic:sky_steezy said:
Sometime After college I'm thinking of becoming a ski bum in for a year, but I can't decide on what would be the best place. I was thinking maybe study abroad in Europe and settle somewhere for a year in the Swiss alps or something but that would be very pricy. I'd be fine with a good ski town in the U.S or Canada. What do you guys think would be a good place to be a ski bum.
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Define your life as a ski bum.
 
13813023:sky_steezy said:
Getting a small job just to survive, don't work to many hours and all you do is ski.
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Stay away from big resorts then, places need to have super cheap housing and living expenses. Work a job at the mountain a few days a week to get a pass and you're set.
 
Depends on how touristy and affordable you want it. The further away from airports the less crowded it'll be.

Tahoe ski areas get busy with people from the Bay Area, squaw pays lifties $15/hr but it's because living there is expensive.

Telluride/Crested Butte/Steamboat are the least crowded in CO with super rad ski town vibes. Summit county is stupid busy... Don't go there.

Taos is a gem in New Mexico. It's more busy in the the summer than winter so it's really affordable but the town itself is so weird

Jackson Hole is SO expensive.

SLC is a huge city but Alta and snowbird are really close and rent is cheaper because there's more housing in general. Downside is that after huge storms the passes get closed down all morning for avalanche control.

Don't know much about Montana, Oregon or Washington ski areas. But if you're thinking of abroad why not check out Canada?
 
Oh woops totally realized you mentioned Canada in your first post. In that case yeah do Canada. Here's the towns I would move to if I could get that whole work visa thing down.

- Revelstoke

- Kicking Horse

- Fernie

- Red

- Maybe Lake Louise? Probs not
 
13813054:emren said:
Oh woops totally realized you mentioned Canada in your first post. In that case yeah do Canada. Here's the towns I would move to if I could get that whole work visa thing down.

- Revelstoke

- Kicking Horse

- Fernie

- Red

- Maybe Lake Louise? Probs not
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I've heard good things about Fernie.
 
13813024:Mr.Bishop said:
Stay away from big resorts then, places need to have super cheap housing and living expenses. Work a job at the mountain a few days a week to get a pass and you're set.
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13813051:emren said:
Jackson Hole is SO expensive.
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Can definitely make it work despite the housing situations. I got a job at the hostel in Jackson hole and my rent is $2 per day and I only work 25-30 hours per week in the winter. More like 40 in the summer. As for living expenses, I'll be rolling with that college diet and cheap beer. Anything is possible if you research the fuck out of it my dudes.
 
As a consideration, there are not many (any?) countries that will let you stay for a year. Visas and all that, ya know?

You did not specify if you plan to be a working ski bum or a bum ski bum. If a working ski bum, there are considerations about international work visas if you're going international.

What you are proposing is a lot more difficult than simply deciding to be a bum, especially if you leave the US.
 
Literally anywhere is possible just depends how much you want to work. My friends have been ski bums in Whistler for the last two years but that just means you have to work a bit more but to be honest I think it would be worth it. Seriously considering moving out there for a season some of the best skiing around and the towns a bit bigger so you won't get cabin fever too much
 
A ski bum is in the heart and mind. Whatever mountain you land at, if you want to be a ski bum you will be. Also Dillon, CO is good too near A-Basin
 
I did my ski bum years in Squaw and I loved it. Absolutely insane mountain. It is not cheap, if you have experience waiting tables that is a good way to go, you can make good money and you work at night.
 
13813297:dan4060 said:
I did my ski bum years in Squaw and I loved it. Absolutely insane mountain. It is not cheap, if you have experience waiting tables that is a good way to go, you can make good money and you work at night.
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Squaw/Tahoe is a good place to be
 
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