Whistler Season 2013

Captain_Generic

Hey, I'm heading over in November for the 2013 season, and was wondering if anyone else is doing the same? Seems not a lot of Irish do it, understandable as Europe is cheaper but I'm moving over there anyway. So anyone who has been what was their experience?

Diemos

I loved the place, learned to board there and I'm hoping to get back over there for a few weeks this season.

Are you planning to work and live there?
Do you have your own gear?
I'll try to answer any questions you have.

Off the top of my head....some observations (It's been 5 years since I did this ).
Mobile phones are very expensive (much more so than here, you have to pay to view caller id's and can't receive a call if you have no credit (although you are never charged to receive one). Only Rogers contracts were available within the resort, I'd suggest getting a Fido in Vancouver.

Try to ride with people who are better than you, they'll push you and you'll progress much faster.

The place can become like a bubble, visit other places if you have the time and money.

Work as much as you can over christmas, the second and third week in January generally have the best condition and by far the smallest crowds (for peak season), save your time off to ride those times.

It's an expensive place to live, especially if you are working for the mountain (not a bad idea, free lift pass, cheaper accommodation)
If you do work for the mountain, outside jobs pay better and lead hand also pays more, more responsibility but worth the cash.

Try to go over as prepared as you can, now is the perfect time to buy gear, no one is buying snow gear in summer, ebay is your friend
Good pants, jacket and goggles are a necessity.

Fattes

It rains a lot in Whistler bring suitable clothes

Whistler is like Disneylnad not the real canada get out of it at least every forthnight

There are no Friends on a powder day

Heli Ski Once

Have Fun

Do an Avalanche course.

Learn to Ski/Board Properly

Have Fun

Buffalo Bill's if you want to pick up cougars!

Nobody is on the Hill in January! Its Cold - Wear suitable clothes and enjoy the empty hill

Have Fun

Captain_Generic

Diemos wrote: »

Are you planning to work and live there?
Do you have your own gear?
I'll try to answer any questions you have.

Yeah I'm hoping to get some part-time bar work (I have some experience) but I'll pretty much take anything that gives me enough free time to board. In terms of accommodation I've been trawling through forums to get an idea of prices and demand. My plan at the moment is to get a houseshare through craigslist or kajiji, but i'm not sure how feasible this is? I don't mind being out in Pemberton since the buses seem decent enough, but obviously it would be great to be near the village.

Board, bindings and boots I need to pick up for the trip, but the flights I got didnt give me the option of extra baggage so I can't pick them up here. I'll need to get them in Vancouver in October, which is probably when the prices will be way up again!

Fattes

Captain_Generic; Have a look on craigsList now for your board etc now, most would take the cash & let you pick up on arrival, but resorts like whistler always have some one or some place selling cheap kit.

Bar work in any resort is the premium job and really tough to get start looking and applying now.

Captain_Generic

I've also been looking at Banff as a possible alternative, as I've heard it doesn't suffer as much from overcrowding at peak times, and is a bit cheaper. The only negative really is that its not as convenient to get to the slopes.

Fattes

The bus links between, Banff and the resorts are really good and you can hit day trips to Kicking Horse and a weeked trip to Revelstoke in from there.

Plenty of people will give you lifts even hitching you will never be stufk for a ride back to town in Banff, but yep resorts are spread out from the town 10 Min to Norquay, 25 min to sunsine and near 40/45 to lake louise.

Either resort you go to, will not dissapoint be it Whistler or Banff

FortuneChip

Captain_Generic wrote: »

I've also been looking at Banff as a possible alternative, as I've heard it doesn't suffer as much from overcrowding at peak times, and is a bit cheaper. The only negative really is that its not as convenient to get to the slopes.

I did a season in Lake Louise nearly four years ago now, and it was amazing.
You can live in Banff and commute (40-45 minutes), or stay in Lake Louise. It's a tiny town, few hotels/lodges and a handful shops. I lived in the staff accom there, and there was a bus that ran pretty consistently throughout the day to the resort, so it was convenient as anything.

There's a few different types of staff accom, the one I lived in wasn't perfect, 200 or so people in their early twenties meant for a lot of parties, I lucked out with my own personal room mates though. There is a quieter alternative if you can land it.

I imagine that it's similar to Whistler (Bubble), so it's important to get a few trips to nearby resorts, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke are super resorts within a few hours, and there's two resorts closer to Banff that are good as well.

Lake Louise itself is an excellent mountain when the conditions allow it. As staff, you'll obviously get a free pass, discount on lessons & rentals, and there's also a reciprocal deal with Sunshine Village & some other resorts which lets you ride there for free too.

There's lots more I can tell you, but wouldn't even know where to start, so feel free to ask.

Do a season though, I'd never boarded before and I fell in love with it (and just plain fell too).

Clearb

Hey, I'm heading over to Whistler too this year. I'm in the same boat as you in terms of looking for ideas of where to live and the best places to work.

I ski and got loads of gear for half price in base camp on abbey street and then in Snow and Rock in Dundrum. They have a sale until the end of September so well worth having a look.

When are you heading over there? My flights are the 4th November and I think I have hotel work lined up so will probably do a few days in Vancouver first to get set up with phone, social sec etc.

Really looking forward to it...I've only heard great things about it!!

Diemos

Go to Seattle for you boards etc.
Check out evo.com, they'll be cheaper than anywhere in Vancouver.

If you guys have any specific questions I be happy to help.

ulinbac

Hey,

Sory to bump the thread...

Whats the best way to get to Whistler for a snowboard holiday in Jan?

Northern Monkey

ulinbac wrote: »

Hey,

Sory to bump the thread...

Whats the best way to get to Whistler for a snowboard holiday in Jan?

Fly to Vancouver and then its about 2 hours in a car to whistler. There are bus transfers from the airport or downtown that cost between $25 to $70 each way depending on when you book and what dates you are going.

http://www.pacificcoach.com/Bus-Coach-Travel/Whistler-Express/Downtown-Vancouver-to-Whistler

RayJ

My experience is from a long time ago. I spent Feb and March 2007 in Whistler and lived with a group of other seasoners booked through www.season-it.co.uk. I would recommend them.

I visited Banff and Lake Louise also and would recommend Whistler over Banff because you will go up the hill a lot more if there is no travel involved.

All the jobs will go early in the season. I was going to work there and then realised I'd be earning CA$10/hour. I decided to stay in Ireland and work and save for another month instead.

Try www.piquenewsmagazine.com for the jobs advertised.

You won't meet many Irish there. There is an Irish bar there www.dubhlinngate.com. This might be the best option if you're looking for bar work.

Any more questions let me know.

Northern Monkey

I was there last week and really enjoyed it. We obviously were a bit early for skiing, but as far as towns go whistler was ace. If you have time try out superfly ziplines

http://www.superflyziplines.com/

Timmy_shreds

I agree on the superfly zip lines. The second line has the best drop to it. Freefall feeling, heart in your mouth.

I did the season in Banff winter 2006. Lovely town, awesome deep snow, short season, ok parks, lots of snow but not as much as coastal Whistler. The snow is very different as its light inland snow in a dry air environment.
Whistler I have lived in since Jan 2009. Its the place for me. Everything is here year round and road tripping is easy.
To Vancouver 1h30-2hrs
Big White Kelowna 5h-8hrs
Revelstoke 9hrs
Banff 10hrs

Both Banff and Whistler are expensive. Whistler has the bigger stores close by. Calgary is over 3hrs from Banff.
Its easier to get out of the Whistler bubble than the Banff one. I began to feel like I was living in the film Ground Hog Day in Banff.

Whistler Links: Some mentioned by others above and a few more...
https://www.workbc.ca/Jobs/ A hidden gem of a jobsite. Government run and many companies use this to fill government advertising and interview requirements when employing foreigners.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/127045804086801/?fref=ts - Facebook Group Whistler Buy/Sell
https://www.facebook.com/groups/328294127266089/?fref=ts - Facebook Group Free Whistler Give/Take
http://classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com - Local Paper Classified Ads
http://findem.whistlerquestion.com Local Paper Classified Ads
http://whistler.en.craigslist.ca - Everybody uses this for everything
http://www.mywcss.org/pages/re-use-it-centre - This will become your new Ikea
http://www.whistlerwag.com - Walk a dog, pet a cat or puppy, Foster or adopt a pet. Whistler WAG animal shelter

http://www.pro-ride.com - Learn to snowboard better in the early season before the big snowfalls and before holiday season. They offer customiseable clinics which are non residential ontop of their existing residential snowboard camp. Catering to all levels with max four in each group. Freestyle and freeride groups. Great way to meet people and riding buddies.
They also offer instructor training programs to get you prepared to sit an instructor exam. Your riding will improve and set a goal.
http://www.casi-acms.com/index.php/en/
I'm bias about Pro Ride as I work for them. They offer the best camp atmosphere and tuition in my opinion. 15 years in Whistler.
http://whistlersnowboard.wordpress.com

If your a skier there are similar programs out there.

We should organise a an early season get together. The Dubhlinn gate is under Irish Management by Evan Wilkins from Donegal and a load of irish barmen. Worth checking out. It used to be very different.

Fattes

Can we keep discussions factual? Please

Calgary is over 3hrs from Banff.Its easier to get out of the Whistler bubble than the Banff one

Em its 90 minutes??? From Calgary to Bannf I have driven it 4 times never more than 2 hours.

short season,

Sunshine opens the first week of November and closes the last week in May! Whistler opens the last week of November and closes in April? So again a little off.


https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&gl=&daddr=Banff,+AB,+Canada&saddr=Calgary,+AB,+Canada&panel=1&f=d&fb=1&dirflg=d&geocode=KdU_hJ8DcHFTMTq2UraxO20m%3BKf1KDJFFynBTMWOUrNq-rq_K&ei=J45RUtTIF-yt7QbrvoCoDA&ved=0CDgQ-A8wAA

Timmy_shreds

Apologies. Got carried away distributing quality info.
We must have been in a banger of a rental car. The drivers were Americans so we might have been going 55mph along with a short stop off in Canmore. I think they also wanted to do a panty raid at Calgary Uni so that must have added some time.
The distances (Banff-Cal / Whis-Van) are almost the same. 122km/124km respectively.

The Blackcomb (Horstman) Glacier stays open for summer skiing early June until end of July. (extra pass needed)

There is a wind down operation at Whistler each year. Closing Whistler Mtn first, late April, moving all riding to Blackcomb. It usually closes one week after Telusfest. Free outdoor concerts and events on multiple stages throughout town. Ski and Snowboard comps on the hill and in the village.
They keep going until they want to call it a day for the winter season. We have ridden pow on Blackcomb right up to May 15th and beyond.

Keeping it factual they have pretty similar opening/closing days. Around Nov 9thth-11th for opening and May 27th (Sunshine) May 28th (Blackcomb) closing.
I love both towns and have good friends in both. I wasn't bagging on Banff, just expressing a personal opinion. Banff has exceptional powder riding that just can't be beaten. Their terrain of the eastern Rockies is pretty special. So many good cliffs and things to jump off. They have opened the new Wildwest area on Goats Eye I look forward to exploring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clYYxmZrO6I

- Sunshine slushcup

- Gaper Day 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Og_Tl4vPA

kermitdfrog

Captain_Generic wrote: »

Seems not a lot of Irish do it

RayJ wrote: »

You won't meet many Irish there.

Not true this year. Whether that's a good thing or not is down to your own personal perspective.

Lenmeister

I did 2009 - 2010 season in whistler during the Olympics. Best year of my life. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=69467454 - link to brief account of my year in Canada if you're interested.

You will meet Irish there. It is a big ski resort so you will, just need to find them. There used to be a website for people meeting up in Whistler I can't remember what it was I'll try dig it out for you. But I'd really suggest getting to know the locals, it's pretty essential for improving your boarding/skiing as they know the whole mountain and can bring you to amazing places you'd never know about even spending the whole season there. You can learn tons from them too.

You won't get bar work, as has been said it's a highly sought after job and the bartenders there are all seasoned veterans. You have to work your way up there. I knew a lad there 2 years and they were only starting him behind the bar towards the end of the ski season. I'm a bartender myself and though I got a job in Buffalo Bills nightclub, biggest capacity one there - 330 I think, I still never got the position.

Don't stay in Pemberton it's way too far, stay local. I stayed in Creekside and was perfect. Had a bank, shops, internet café, 2 or 3 bars can't remember. I had a monthly bus pass which was €55 I think, though you can get tax back from those if you keep the passes. Now because I was staying there during the Olympics, people decided to charge whatever they wanted so prices for accomodation rocketed. I was paying €750/month rent including all utilities(bills). That was sharing a loft with 4 other people. Had space and all that but still. I'm sure rent is not like that now but just take care when looking for a place to rent. The closer you are to the ski lifts the price goes up. If you're in the main village or close to, you will pay more obviously.

You have 2 choices really. Get a job with the mountain -

Cons
You won't know who your roommates are. You could be thrown it with anyone.
Bad wage.
Your shifts can be sporadic.

Pros
Accomodation provided is either right on the slope or very close.
Cheaper accomodation, possibly €400/month rent - don't know if it includes bills.
Work 4 or 5 days with 3 or 2 days off.
Free lift pass which normally costs €1500/1600 as far as I remember - unless you buy it early or do this 2 hour course that gets you the same discount, can't remember what it was.
Discounts off mountain owned restaurants etc.

Or you can get a job with a hotel/bar/shop etc.

Cons
Expensive accomodation.
No free lift pass which is expensive.

Pros
Your hours are usually more solid. So you can have some sort of schedule and many or all weekends off.
You'll earn a lot more than the mountain rate.
You can choose where to rent and know who your flatmates would be before moving in.

Get a HI Hostel card, will give you discounts off greyhound travel, 25% I think, and other stuff, so well worth it. You'll save a fortune.

Can't stress the importance of the SIN number and BCID. Make them your #1 priority before you do anything.

There's tons of stuff I could add bit I'd be here all night. Timmy is there right now he says so he'd have a better grasp of current prices etc.

Timmy_shreds

Early Bird season pass $1,589 ends today 14th October. Its currently 7pm here so you have until midnight to buy the cheaper prices. Or you organize a spirit pass through a company you land a job with.
Tax is still to be added to the $1,589.
A full price pass will be $1,899 + tax
http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets-and-passes/season-passes/index.aspx

Local transit bus prices:
Single $2.50
DayPass $7.00
Monthly Pass $65.00 $52.00
6 Month (available at RMOW office only) $330.00

Don't underestimate the power of a skype meeting with landlords. You get to suss each other out. Irish charm goes down a treat.

Diemos

I'll be in Whistler in november, if anyone fancies doing a few laps of the slopes or grabbing a beer or 2 gimme a pm.

kermitdfrog

FYI, Whistler isn't due to open until Nov 28th, so I wouldn't count on it. It looks possible they'll open a week early, but that's it.

Lenmeister

Jesus 1900 is a lot. Surely the price hasn't gone up 300 dollars in 4 years???

Timmy_shreds

Only because they dropped the price for the 2010 Olympics.
Aussi resorts still charge the same and have sparse short seasons.

WB seem to be able to charge what ever they like as they know people will still come. Banff is a pretty similar price. And before somebody points it out, there are three mountains on the Banff pass etc etc. You will still have to buy a bus pass ontop of that and WB has two mountains and you can walk to the lift and thumb a lift on the highway if you live outside the village.

Most people coming won't buy the full priced pass unless they have made their mind up really late.

Fattes

The Prices in N. American are so high as the resorts are privately owned enterprises where profit is king and the majority of tickets sold are one day passes. Where as in Europe they tend to be CO-OP type set ups where the village subsidizes the lifts in the hope of all the other businesses in the town benefit.

On the up side most N. American tend to be much quieter during the week

Diemos

kermitdfrog wrote: »

FYI, Whistler isn't due to open until Nov 28th, so I wouldn't count on it. It looks possible they'll open a week early, but that's it.

That's what I'm gambling on, they've opened early in 12 of the past 13 years and have had high snow already (for the time of year, according to their website). I'm arriving in Whistler on the 20th. <crossesfingers>

creativedrinker

I'm thinking on doing a season but was thinking on moving to Vancouver and travel to the slopes on days off, has anyone tried this approach? Or know if it's extremely costly way to do it

Lenmeister

No that's a good idea plenty of people do that anyway. They live in Vancouver and use the 3 local mountains to board/ski. Then when they have the time and money they drive the 90mins to Whistler along the Sea to Sky highway. Sure you can live in Van and get a season pass for Grouse Mountain or something, I know people that do that. If the season pass is too expensive sure you can just ski/board when you can afford it and do plenty of others things around Van every other weekend

Timmy_shreds

creativedrinker wrote: »

I'm thinking on doing a season but was thinking on moving to Vancouver and travel to the slopes on days off, has anyone tried this approach? Or know if it's extremely costly way to do it

It sort of depends if your choosing Van to setup a career.
If your coming out for just the winter or a six month window I would say its a little on the excessive side. Whistler might be expensive but so is the travel back and forth or buying/insuring a car.
The mountains in Vancouver offer good fun slopes but they are quite small and extremely busy while still being relatively expensive. The parks are good but as they have quite hardcore scenes the majority of their parks are quite advanced with very small mini park setups. Night riding at Grouse was the most solid icy snow I have ever ridden on. Vancouver experiences fluctuations in temp as its coastal, so their mountains can be both awesome and icy.

A locals Edge Card for Whistler is a good deal. You can buy a 1/3/5 or 10 day card. You just need to have proof of residence in BC or Washington. When my sister came over I ordered a 50cent cable from ebay under her name and hey presto, Name and address on a piece of headed paper.
I have quite a few friends in Van from back home but neither of us get to venture to see one another due to the cost of commuting and work.

The public transit access to the Van City mountains is second to none. With night skiing at most of the hills they are great for after work riding.
If your wanting to do a season, i.e. ride a lot moving to Van won't won't work out so well.

Lenmeister

Ya if you really want to do a season you really should live close to the mountain. I'd advise going to Whistler before Vancouver for obvious reasons. But if your focus is on skiing, I wouldn't recommend staying in Vancouver. You can always try Banff, Kelowna, Jasper etc too.

creativedrinker

I got another question if any one knows, i was deciding between France and Canada and finally decided on Canada, I fly into Vancouver on the 26th...

My question is am i far too late to get a job in banff or whistler? i originally planned to stay in Vancouver but after some research and reading this thread i think a resort would be far better....

Is spamming places a good idea or winging it when you get there??

thanks........

Fattes

It's never to late do some research before you leave drop some emails, and then call in when you get there!

Lenmeister

It's never too late. I got into Vancouver Oct 10 and sorted out what I had to for about 2-3 weeks. It was close to Nov when I went up there. It was about mid Nov I think when I got a job. That was during the olympics so it was busier and getting work seemed quite hard at the time. I did my research before I went over. There's a free magazine in Whistler can't remember it, 1 of the lads will tell you. It las job listings that were a great help. There's also a job center actually up there aswell that I used a lot too. Those combined with walking into every hotel, bar, shop etc really helps.

I'm pretty sure they have a recruiting fair each year for the season for people who want to work for the mountain but can't remember how it works, maybe someone else can shed more light on it. But ya that free paper was really useful so do your research now and use what's available to you when you're there.

Timmy_shreds

Was it specifically a job finder paper Lenmeister? I haven't used it myself if there is one.

Or was it one of the two free weekly papers, the Question and the Pique?

Most people here seem to use a one page CV/Resume. So the normal practice of a multiple page CV might hinder your job chances and get you put directly in the NO pile.

Dropping emails will really help. For jobs and accom. in these towns, being here in person will get it sorted.
The Whistler Blackcomb job fair has passed but there will be big job fairs some some of the groups that run the nightclubs and some bars. There are a ton of cafes that are owned by the same company. Moguls, The Lift (x3 different cafes throughout Whistler), Village Market, Gone Bakery are all under the same company I think.

Don't be too put off when you get here and see hundreds of people walking round with stacks of CVs in their hands. Get stuck in there and you will find something.

http://www.33mag.com/en/2013/11/05/so-youre-spending-season-whistler-7-tips-making-most-season

The Irish are taking over. I called into Creekside Market to grab a sandwich during my lunch break and I saw ten different Irish people walking around, split into three separate groups. They all seemed fresh off the boat and were discussing jobs etc.

creativedrinker

Thanks a million for the replys!! Did some homework into hostels last night incase it doesn't work out I'm not stuck in a 6 month lease and sent a few emails for jobs from craigslist.

When you mention about cv's do the Canadians have a different format? Mine is 2 pages long...

Can't wait to hit the snow again!!!!

Lenmeister

Ahh yes the Pique! I'm pretty sure that was it. As far as I remember but that name strikes a bell for sure.

Ya make your cv/resumé a double sided sheet as Canadians on the west coast are very eco friendly and using 2 pages is considered a big waste. 2 pages but on 1 double sided page is the normal.

I know Buffalo Bills hosted a recruiting fair for themselves and the Longhorn as they're owned by the same company. I just missed out the 1st time. She called to say I just missed out etc but I kept plugging away. Anyway just after New Years I think, they called as a spot had opened up and I had left an impression with the interviewer so I was super stoked as they say!

Timmy you know when that fair is in Bills? I really can't remember. There's a good few hostels up there so don't worry about it.

The 1st stop in Whistler should be the Visitor Center, really great people that fill you in on everything and really helped me out looking for a job, plus the maps etc. I was in there everyday chatting to them, massive help they were. 1 of the lads even went as far as giving me 1 lads number and I dropped in to chat to him about a job, because he seen I really wanted to be there. I didn't get the job but was happy he set me up. Just be persistent and check everywhere. And make sure you're really positive about the whole thing, show them that you're really up for it and would love to stay there for the season etc.

Timmy_shreds

Not sure on the date but there is always a notice posted in the Pique