International Freeski Film Festival

/in

London hosts the International Freeski Film Festival : iF3

For the last four years London has hosted the most amazing new ski movies and this year is no exception ! Drawing on the very best from todays skiers & boarders the iF3 is the event to kick off the winter season .

With a heady mix of athletes , media , brands and seasonnaires the evening showcases this winters latest movies and then the party rolls on until the small hours . Six movies will be premiered on three screens with the very best that Freeski has to offer , on the stage we will have rider & director interviews with signings too.

Freeski Festival teaser :

Where to find the festival

Freeski Festival

 

The iF3 is being held at The Clapham Grand on November 9th from 6.30pm you can be part of the evening by purchasing your ticket HERE  , Tickets include access to the onsite after party with a host of alpine drinks, magician, apres ski DJs, shot skis & beer pong.

Lets not forget that the winter is just around the corner too , with snow falling in the US one resort ( Mt Batchelor ) actually opened up a free park last weekend to use some of the recent snow fall and they did it for FREE !

Find you perfect ski job

With the winter only a couple of months away it is not too late to find you perfect job in the mountains , we have over 70 positions still available with more adding every day . So if you are looking to run your own ski chalet or work in a busy ski resort bar then we have all the jobs listed at coolskijobs.com .

Well if this has whetted your appetite for the winter , we will see you at the Freeski Film Festival  and then out in resort hopefully .

If you are going to be there then just add the hashtag #CoolSkiJobs to your pics of the evening to be in with a chance to win a prize.

Chalet job in La Plagne

/in

Working in La Plagne

Working in La Plagne is amazing , with great access in to Paradiski and then dropping into the national park , who wouldn’t want a job in La Plagne?

So before we tell you a little bit more about this great ski area , you need to know that Ice & Fire are recruiting right now and are heading to the UK to hold interviews in late September.

Skiing In La Plagne

Set between Montchavin at 1250m and the Glacier De La Chiaupe at a whopping 3417m, La Plagne has a huge selection of terrain to choose from.

Beginners can test their turns on the “debutants” area in Les Coches or the green “La France” run in Plagne centre, whilst intermediates have a wealth of blues to choose from. As you progress there is a good selection of challenging red runs spread across the domain, and some excellent blacks in the Le Fornelet and glacier areas. La Plagne and Les Arcs together make up the famous Paradiski area, spanning 425km of piste skiing and linked by the world famous Vanoise Express lift between Les Coches and Plan Peisey.

Recommended Routes in La Plagne

Why not head up over to Champagny and try the “Mont de La Guerre” red piste through the trees offering nearly a thousand meters of vertical drop. It’s a beautiful descent, but long and tiring on the legs. Or spend the day gently making your way to Montalbert. You’ll go through some beautiful tree lined spots and maybe even catch sight of a deer or two in the woods.

For black run enthusiasts, a trip to the Le Fornelet area is a must. From the top of the Stade take the steep Cretes drag lift to the top of the ridge, before following the long Les Etroits run down towards Coqs. With meters of snow on powder days, and huge moguls the rest of the time, this is a run which will challenge you to the max.

There are plenty of great ski-in, ski-out bars and restaurants in La Plagne for you to try. For great views, why not have a coffee at le Chalet de La Grand Rochette in Plagne centre? Or for a sunny terrace try Le Roc des Blanchets in Champagny. For traditional local food you can’t beat Le Petit Chaperon Rouge in Plagne 1800, and for something a bit more upmarket, the Grizzli in Plagne Village offers a real lunchtime treat.

Snow Parks in La Plagne

Take the Colorado chair from Plagne Centre to check out the 7 cube park offering jumps and rails for all abilities, graded with the same system as the pistes. Once you’ve mastered your tricks try them out for real in the boarder cross in Belle Plagne or the half pipe in Plagne Bellecote.

Paradiski

Living and working in La Plagne is only one half of the equation , read these key facts on the whole area :

Paradiski Key Facts

  • 425km Pistes
  • 160 lifts
  • 152 green/blue runs
  • 79 red runs
  • 22 black runs
  • Snow sure glacier skiing
  • 70% of pistes above 2000m
  • Great variety of piste & off piste
  • Superpipe and snow parks
  • Olympic bobsleigh
  • Excellent selection of restaurants

 

So read the latest jobs here right now and be at the interviews in a couple of weeks time !

When a ski job leads to a lifestyle

/in

Afterjam Ski Wear

How working in a ski resort for a winter can change your life forever

In this guest blog from our buddies at AfterJam Sam & Nate tell us of how their ski season turned into a whole new lifestyle.

For your chance to win an AfterJam Teeshirt & Beanie , just use the buttons on your left to share on Facebook and Twitter.. good luck (winner announced Friday 21st July 5pm)

AfterJam Origins

It all started in Val Thorens. Sam the bartender, and Nate the frequent bar attendee. One day we got to chatting and a friendship struck. Literally off a whim (not even kidding, it was a very random bar chat that we ended up actually following through on), we decided, amidst a few other pals, to go on a roadtrip around Europe in an old 18-seater school bus that we bought online. We ended up putting a hole through the roof on the test drive so in the end we didn’t have a choice in buying the bus! After the summer travelling Europe and another season hitting up the Alps, we figured we should do something with our passion for skiing. At this point AfterJam was created.Nate and Sam at AfterJam

Building AfterJam

We both had the same ideas and concept that we wanted to build AfterJam on. We wanted to incorporate the seasonarie way of life with the ever growing freestyle culture that is becoming more and more dominant within the UK. Having both skied on the university circuit we knew what talent this scene held and we knew it deserved more recognition.

That’s why one of our main focuses is helping to develop the talent in this scene any way we can. At the time of current writing; we sponsor 15 snowclubs throughout the UK and have an ever growing team of riders competing on the university scene. The AfterJam brand has only been active for 7 months, and we couldn’t be more stoked with the reception we’ve received.

British Freestyle

With other quality establishments out there, such as Ski The Kingdom and Fridge Bangers, with the same goal to assist the growth of British freestyle culture, we can say with the utmost certainty that the future of UK snowsports is a bright one.

The AfterJam journey has only just begun and we can’t wait to see what effect we have upon the snowsports community in the coming years. Hold tightAfterJam

If this little blog from the AfterJam guys has inspired you then your next step could be to grab that cool ski job in the Alps , have a look at the latest job posts HERE

Head Chef positions in ski resorts and what to expect

/in

Head Chef positions in ski resorts and what to expect
Head Chef Ski Resort

Ski Chalet / Hotels

If you want to spend the winter in the Alps and have  a career in catering then a Head chef position could be ideal for you . Most companies may require a Head chef to run busy kitchens in larger ski chalets or hotels and this requires a strong team member with management capabilities.Working in the ski chalet / hotel business may give you a more structured week and definitely mean that you get more time out on the slopes . Generally your kitchen will be required provide breakfast , afternoon tea and then a three course dinner , possibly lunches too .

Head chef in Independent restaurants and bars

If you want to flex your head chef muscles a little more then working in the independent sector will give you more freedom on menus and ingredients . Head chef ski restaurantWhile you will not necessarily be preparing early breakfasts for guests , you need to be ready to work standard chef shifts with several split shifts per week and not leaving the kitchen until late night. Be prepared to be fully responsible for GP’s and orders along with kitchen shifts and HACCP.

Head Chef benefits

Of course as a Head chef your job will have some great plus points , if you can organise yourself then a split shift becomes a ski shift ! Along with time on the slopes and being able to have a few beers after your shift you can take great pride in a successful kitchen and busy restaurant . Most ski companies will provide lodging , ski pass , food and ski hire , however in the independent market you can expect to get a better wage but may need to source accommodation and ski pass/equipment yourself .

What to do next to get a Head chef job

There are several positions available just click on the Job Board . Ensure you have registered with our job alert club HERE .

 

 

How to get a ski season job as a ski chalet chef

/in

Working as a ski chalet chef and what you need to know

Having great chef and kitchen skills can take you all over the world , what better place to spend a winter than running your kitchen as a ski chalet chef.

Ski companies are always on the look out for an experienced chef/cook to cater for their guests. From hearty wholesome food to top quality restaurant style cuisine. This role can be pivotal to the whole success of the guests customers so you will be at the very heart of the guests holiday.

Key responsibilities as a ski chalet chef

You will have to be up bright and early , quite often this can even mean digging your way into the ski chalet if there has been a lot of snow overnight ! The bread would generally have been delivered by the local bakery so that needs to be brought in and then you will be expected to get breakfast started.

ski chalet chef breakfastMost ski chalet companies will expect a hot option for their guests.This  can range from scrambled eggs to a full English breakfast , so this along with cereals / boiled eggs and porridge will be most of the guests starter for the day.

During breakfast is the best time to get started with the cake for afternoon tea and any prep for the evening. The more you do during breakfast the more time you can squeeze out on the slopes .

Once your guests have had a great breakfast its time to get tidied up. Lay out your afternoon tea and then if you are prepped enough ( and only you can tell ) why not head out onto the slopes .

ski chalet chef dinnerAfter a hard day on the slope its time to get back in the kitchen. Hopefully your ski chalet team will have helped clear up the afternoon tea and will be setting up the table for dinner. It is worth remembering that the guests have had a hard day out on the slopes. They may have stopped for a few apres-ski drinks in the bars so they will be looking forward to a great meal and this is your time to shine .

Try to remember that as a ski chalet chef you start the day for the guests so you are setting them up for a great day. At the end of a great day on the slopes you top it all off .

Key things to remember as a ski chalet chef

You will be responsible for all stock control,adhering to companies health and safety protocol. You will be ordering in your deliveries from butchers & bakers.

This is a demanding job, generally a better paid position, it can lead to spending seasons out in the Alps.

When applying for a ski chalet chef job have a really good read through the job description .

Good luck and have a great season.

 

 

Ski chalet host , a day in the life (part 1)

/in , , ,

A day in the life of a chalet host

What is it really like to be a ski chalet host in the alps?

6:30am and the alarm’s going off , turn that racket off ! Then the phone alarm starts going ( always good to  have two alarms , especially after last nights antics ) .A quick view of myself in the mirror versus time left for a shower means it’s on with the company beanie ,get dressed and run round to the chalet .

YES it’s snowing big pizza flakes , which is a double edged sword as I am going to have to dig my way into the chaletchalet host digging snow  . So 10 minutes later and with a little help from the baker as he delivered the morning baguettes and I am into my chalet.I discover the guests had a little party last night , clearly wine & cheese was on “their” menu . Anyhow , get on with it and it’s:

  • Porridge on the hob
  • Eggs boiling ( 6 minutes for a soft egg at this altitude)
  • Cereals / jam & bread out
  • Coffee on (thank god)
  • Started baking the afternoon tea ,today it’s going to be lemon drizzle cake

And it’s only 7:45am ! If it all goes smoothly I be out by 10:30.The mountains are calling me .

The next 60 minutes are all about getting the guests fed , and out of the ski chalet. It’s all about making sure the breakfast fills them up , they find all the lost goggles/gloves/children and piste maps. Do they know where they are meeting the ski guide ?  have a great day guys and see you in the bar for après ski !

Finally you have the chalet to yourself

So with the chalet empty , turn up the dodgy French radio and get cleaning bogs & beds , clean breakfast , lay the table for afternoon tea , order more wine from the chalet manager for tonight ( naughty guests !) ,sweep , mop , clear more snow !

10:40am and I am outta here , text my mates , ski gear on sharpish , sandwich made and stuffed in my ski jacket . If you can accomplish all that and make it on the hill by 11am , that’s a winner.

Time to hit the slopes

You now get to spend the day with your buddies  riding the slopes and face-planting in powderface-plant in the snow .Digging myself out of tree holes , eating a squashed sandwich on a freezing chairlift , a quick vin chaud , more  laps of our fav tree run then a little cheeky après ski for an hour ( really wish I had peeled all the veg for tonight !)

To be continued in part 2

Top tips to get a ski job

/in , ,

Ski Jobs and how to find them

Signing up for ski job boards

Ensure you have got the ski job adverts coming into your inbox every week .Sign up to the relevant websites job boards and this should be automatic for you . On Coolskijobs.com when you apply for a job you are automatically added to our job searchers list ( you can unsubscribe at anytime ).

Follow recruiters on social sites

To keep a close eye on the most recent ski jobs always follow ski recruitment companies on all of their social sites. Such as Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and Google+ , many companies will post their last minute ski jobs here first.

Attend the ski show to look for ski jobsLondon Ski Show

Head to the Ski Show armed with copies of your CV , remember though you need to be well presented.You want to give yourself the best chance of securing a last minute job . Ski chalet companies are still looking for staff at this time of the year (see below) and the best time to get there is bright and early , that way it gives you a chance later in the day to meet your buddies for a drink or two.

Keep an eye out for us at the show , if you are there than just give us a shout on twitter with the hashtag #coolskijobsbattersea , you may even find us in the bar for a drink (towards the end of the day) .

Tignes in Autumn

Tignes in the Autumn

Well the snow is falling in the Alps , we were out in Tignes and Courchevel yesterday. We met up with some key people , there are a lot of tour operators still looking for chalet hosts , chalet chefs , childcare , transfer drivers etc . As we left the temperatures dropped and the snowflakes started to fall . There are lots of skiers are up on the Tignes glacier currently on courses and race training .There was a real buzz in the air along with the smell of sawdust , paint  and varnish !

Good luck this winter in finding your Cool Ski Job !

 

 

 

 

What to do in the summertime

/in

What do you think of in the summertime ?

So its summer (well it was 25C in Hemel today ! ) an all thoughts go to one of a few options :

  • get a job for next winter
  • book a flight to somewhere hot and stay for 5 months
  • head down under for more snow
  • work ass off in UK to bum next winter
  • starting working out what you are gonna do til it starts snowing ??

Well snow is falling in the Alps big time so here’s a little pic to make you smile .. if only you was in Courch!

Powder skiing in Courchevel

So if its looking that good , then what is it like up in Tignes for the summer , well its had snow and there is a fair amount stockpiled up from the end of last winter

summer skiing in tignes

 

So if you are heading South for sun … have a blast … if you are in the greek Islands tweet us on @coolskijobs   .. it would be good to catch up over an Ouzo !

The live Job-Board is coming soon and we need you coolskijobbers to spread the word .. get your buddies to join the gang and sign up here .

 

Enjoy the summer , ‘cos winter is coming .

 

Cheers from Boiling Hemel !

 

If you want a job next winter then make sure you Click here to register for job alerts , tweet with us on Twitter , Like us on Facebook  or come pin with us on Pintrest !

‘Tis the season to be jolly !

/in

Latest new from the French Alps

Well the snow’s been falling all across the Alps and it looks all set to be a great start to the winter season, so if you are heading out to run a ski chalet , be a ski rep , work in a bar or any cool ski job then you must be madly excited!

Ski lift in courchevelLots of resorts have opened all ready with some opening early and some even opening for free !! Yes Courchevel opens for the season with a free days skiing available if you are out there , so if you are still getting the ski chalet ready but havnt got your pass yet then this is a great chance to head onto the ski slopes

But whats happening out there right now?

Well this is the time of the season that most staff dread , if you are working in a chalet you will probably be doing inventories , practice meals , training , training and more training … generally you will not have your lift pass yet as most resorts may not be fully open … or the company is still getting all the staff passes organised . It can feel quite frustrating if you are out in the snow and you just wanna have fun but you just have to sit tight and get some work done .. the good times are just round the corner .

Apres ski in meribelIf you are working for a private bar / restaurant then it could well be open already and you are fueling the hangovers of the workers already in resort , it still feels weird as there are no real “Punters” out yet and if its your first season its difficult to get a real steer on what the job is all about … just wait for your first apres ski with a live band at xmas week , then you will know what to expect !

For those of you who have not sorted ski jobs yet … do not despair , we have a couple more positions available on the site , just CLICK HERE

 

Five days to go !

/in

What is happening in the next 5 days ?

Yes the season is just about upon us , Tignes kicks off at the weekend , although jobs are always thin on the ground there at the start of the season it is a good place to head if you are going to get some early slope time and try to score a job in resort, if you are still looking for winter positions then read on !
TignesWe have several jobs out in the Alps at the moment from barwork to childcare , have a look below and don’t just sit there thinking about it , lets get out to the mountains and live a little ( well .. a lot actually !)
If you are looking for a great night out this week and want to do a little networking before the season starts then why not head to the iF3 ski moie festival in clapham.
All the latest ski jobs can be found by CLICKING HERE
So if you want a ski job next winter then make sure you Click here to register for ski job alerts , tweet with us on Twitter , Like us on Facebook  or come pin with us on Pintrest !