How to land a career in the Snowsports industry?
Have you ever considered a career path that’s a little different to the everyday office gig? Maybe, you’re seeking a career change and looking for something a little more adventurous? Whatever the reason, choosing a career path can be a daunting task when you don’t know where to look or what you’re looking for. However, the ideal career could already be in your hands and actually a hobby or activity you have a passion for. One example may be a gamer, who would make an ideal candidate for a game quality tester or for a profession in e-sports. The same principle goes with extreme sports enthusiasts, who have multiple career choices waiting for them to pick from.
With that, we’ll take a look at the winter sports industry and delve into the range of career options suited for those destined to be on the slopes.
Becoming an instructor
If you want nothing more than to spend most of time up on the slopes and you have a passion for either skiing or snowboarding, then becoming a snowboard or ski instructor would be the right path for you. There are academies all over the world offering instructor training courses, most of which will guarantee you a job upon completion.
There are courses that offer practical, hands-on experience, allowing you to learn on the job with countless opportunities to ski or snowboard. For example, Ski Instructor Academy (SIA Austria) offer internships, which see you spending an entire winter season in Niseko Mountain in Japan.
If you apply for that course, then you’ll need to apply for a Japanese Working Holiday Seasons Visa, which are applicable for citizens between the ages of 18 – 30 across Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. If you’re based in Ireland, the age bracket is 18 – 25. The course and exams are taught fully in English, but there are language course options available for speakers of other languages.
Becoming a Winter Sports Journalist, Events Specialists or Marketing
For anyone passionate about a hobby, chances are they’d find themselves discussing it at any giving opportunity. The same can apply for those passionate about Winter Sports. Unfortunately thought, sometimes your technical knowledge of snow sports may very well sound like you’re speaking a foreign language to those not ‘in the know’!
Instead of wasting your knowledge on those than don’t know, push it into a profession that has you discussing the topic and being paid for it. Careers such as events organisation, marketing or even copywriting would be perfect jobs for you. After all, you’ll already be familiar with the subject matter and can offer your expert opinion on a range of snow sports related topics. Of course, you’ll need the appropriate skills for the job, including any previous experience and qualifications. These roles offer plenty of room for progression too, so they’re ideal if you’re looking to kick start your career.
Becoming a Sale Executive
Another job suitable for those who can just talk endlessly about the topic, a sales executive can see you talking your passion that could key for attracting business for skiing and snowboarding resorts. These roles are usually offered by holiday companies, or ski and snowboard centres in the UK. This type of job does require previous sales or marketing experience, but they usually offer fast progression to team leader or sales manager positions.
Despite the fact that you may not be working up on the slopes, you’ll usually benefit from free or discounted ski holidays. Alternatively, you could work in a resort shop, where you’ll have plenty of opportunities to share your expertise on a daily basis (whilst hitting the slopes in your free time
Becoming a Park Builder
A career in park building, requires creative individuals to design, build and maintain the take-offs, landings and manmade features of a slope park, within a resort. Features in a park tend to include halfpipes, jumps, rails, tires, wall rides, quarter pipes, and many other creatively placed objects which skiers or snowboarders can use.
The main responsibilities of a park builder are to make these features both fun and safe for users. For example, take-offs need to be well positioned, gaps need to be properly spaced, and landings need to be kept smooth, along with other responsibilities. All of this would be new to someone who was unfamiliar with skiing or snowboarding, but if you’re already familiar with the sport, you’ll have a great head start.
Becoming a ski and snowboarding technician
The duties of this role are to service and repair snowboards and skis. You can work as ski and snowboard technician in the UK or at a ski resort abroad. Working abroad gives you the opportunity to spend an entire season at one of your favourite resorts. Alternatively, there are ski slopes in the UK that are open all year round, so you if you’re working in a resort, you can apply for these roles to fill out the remainder of your year until the ski season starts again.
Becoming a Winter Sports Photographer
For those who are technically gifted with a camera and have relevant qualifications and experience, becoming a free-lance photographers or video producer may fit well with you. Getting a job in this field is tough as you’ll need to build up a portfolio of contacts and previous work. You can get started by reaching out to holiday companies, resorts, agencies, industry brands and athletes.
Becoming a designer
Like a photographer, you need to have relevant qualifications and experience to become a designer. Although this job won’t offer as much ski time as other positions on this list, the role provides ample opportunity for progression and you’ll be working alongside like-minded individuals who also have a keen interest in snow sports.
Looking for catering jobs?
Working as a head chef, bar or kitchen staff at the ski resort can be rewarding with plenty of free time between shifts to explore the slopes. These roles are usually seasonal, but there’s plenty of progression opportunities for the right person.
Become a manager, administrator & Co-ordinators or ski resort rep
As a ski resort rep, you’ll be the face of the company within the resort. This role can be highly pressured, as it’s your responsibility to make sure all guests are happy and resolve any issues that may arise. Despite this, these roles are generally well paid and allow for plenty of time on the slopes.
Above, are just a list of exciting roles to choose from but there are plenty more to explore within the Winter Sports industry. There are plenty of opportunities available but it’s always best to do your research before applying. If you’re looking for a career change, or simply wanting to make a living out of your passion, these roles can offer you an exciting and rewarding career on the slopes!
Sources:
https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/game-tester-salary-SRCH_KO0,11.htm
https://www.thesnowcentre.com/snowsure/news/bestjobsintheskiindustry
https://www.totaljobs.com/jobs/ski-resort?s=header
https://www.indeed.co.uk/salaries/Freelance-Photographer-Salaries