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TaskMaster 
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Post subject: First Season
 Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 04:01 PM
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First post: Sep 03, 2010
Total posts: 1043
Status: Offline
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Righto so the snow is pretty much at an end and despite managing to get away 4 times this season i'm itching for more. I've never really done the travelling thing (joined the army straight from school and when i left have been grafting in the I.T trade since) and envy all you guys who took time out to see the world, do seasons etc. Although i've always been envious i've always concentrated on my career/earning money and haven't given too much thought to it really, but after my brother was killed i'm definately now of the mindset....stuff it life's too short!
After well and truly getting bitten by the bug i'm currently contemplating doing my first season but being a tad older (grand age of 30) than a lot of seasonairres i've met and still not 100% on jacking in my career for 5 months i thought i'd jump on here to get all your awesome thoughts. |
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ace_mcgraw
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Post subject: RE: First Season
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 04:36 PM
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First post: Feb 20, 2007
Total posts: 5385
Location: That snowboarding hotbed, Norfolk
Status: Offline
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Do it!
Depending on where you go and what sort of thing you'll be doing, you will likely be the oldest there. I did a season in Whistler when I was 26/27 and I was by far the oldest person I worked with. It all depends on what kind of person you are. I was fairly easy going, out going and friendly so my friends were all amazed how old I was - they though I was early 20s at the oldest!
I had a full on career and everything when I left, and when I came back I went back into it so I didn't really miss out too much in that sense. I did have some of the best times of my life whilst I was out there - after worrying about money etc for so long, to have the freedom of bumming around outside of the rat race it really is an amazing feeling! |
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Bailz
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Post subject: RE: First Season
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 06:38 PM
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First post: Sep 29, 2009
Total posts: 204
Location: Oxfordshire
Status: Offline
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I'll echo ace, JUST DO IT as Nike would say.
I was a little worried i'm 26 and on my last week of my season now in Canada was worried about leaving it all but it was the best decision i ever made, had the time of my life, saved up and could do nothing had no worries for 5 months and just had the time of my life meeting great new friends and doing something i love.
Little worried about about what im going to do when i get back but sod it i applied for my visa again next year so will just come back but "work" if you can call it that out here.
Its maybe a little scary at first and just before i left i did have feeling of "what the hell have i done" but wait till you get that first chair to the top and strap in and then remember this is what your going to be doing for the next 5 months, thats when it hit me and if i could go back and do it again i would.....I am!
Oh and don't worry about age, age is a number and a matter of mind. It depends where you go but there could be loads of seasonaires around your age anyway most here in Fernie seemed to be between 21-27 but a guy in our house was 37 and was a great guy he'd been seasoning since 30 and got the bug and couldn't stop.
If you should be worried about anything thats your worry once you've done one how you stop, i know its mine, at least ive got one more year to go haha |
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manicpb
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Post subject: RE: First Season
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 07:27 PM
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First post: Mar 01, 2009
Total posts: 181
Status: Offline
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TaskMaster, you're gonna get a little bit of a different response from me.
I'm one of those people you envy (your words!), I did my first season (or attempted it, I came home early) at 18. Kept going back for a few years into my early 20's and suddenly came home and slotted into a nice little job managed to get a mortgage and ticked over for a few years before I was itching to get back to the mountains full time and not just holidays. So the mortgage didn't stop me I just had to work all summer to cover the bills and then work out there for my beer money. My last season I turned 29 out there and this year is the first year in 12 years I have not even had a whiff of a mountain (not even Scotland!). I'm 31, no real trade or career and just got back into full-time work on little over minimum wage after 6 months of dole and agency work...it sucks!
I'm still in an ok position in life, I own where I live and pay less than half a month's rental rate on my mortgage a month but I do struggle to meet the bills which means life's simple.
If you can get back into work and leave where you left off, go for it. If your happy coming back and doing the free things in life (there are plenty mountain biking, hill walking, climbing, etc) but no meals out or hols abroad if you struggle to get back to where you left off, then go for it. I know how you feel, when I hit 30 I thought "I could be halfway through my life now" and I don't have the life I thought I would. Doing a season can be, and it sounds like it could be for you, a gamble!
Would I do it again? Hell yeah, the road trips, the people, the experiences I have had which others only read about in magazines...they will stay with me forever. And once I'm back on my feet (could be a few years of hard work to clear some of the debts which boarding helpped to build up) I'll be figuring out the best way to spend as much time in the mountains as possible!
Go or not, is your decision. Just make sure you do have your eye on the end game! |
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DereksDontRun
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Post subject: RE: First Season
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 08:02 PM
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First post: Mar 09, 2009
Total posts: 1893
Location: The port of Stock
Status: Offline
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have you even asked work about unpaid leave (or a sabbatical)?
I've just returned from my 1st season and I'm 33 (and was certainly not the oldest there) and spoke about it with work before leaving. Approached them with about 10months notice, saying I'd love to further myself (as like you, did school -> college -> uni -> work without a break) and would love to be given the opportunity to achieve it without sacrificing my position at work. Explained that by giving them plenty of notice it gave them time to consider and plan workloads well before I left. My work allowed me to have 3 months off (used year's holiday for the 1st month and had 2 months unpaid) - so you can't say it can't happen. Due to mortgage and still having to pay bills while away, it was still a financial arse, but I'm 110% pleased I did it (and have a job to return to).
Whether you like your job or not there's a LOT of ppl unemployed out there who'd kill for one (probably even more so with all the double-dip talk), so try not to chuck it away (at least until you're back). At the end of the day, no matter how much you've saved you'll come back v v broke... |
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TaskMaster
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 08:43 PM
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First post: Sep 03, 2010
Total posts: 1043
Status: Offline
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Cheers lads this is exactly what i was hoping for, a balanced view.
I'm contracting at the mo so a sabbatical is out of the question but i get on well with my agency and i know they'd welcome me back but whether there's any positions for me or not is a different question. It is hard with all this double dip recession malarkey but as i said im fortunate enough to be earning a pretty penny now so could comfortably save up enough to not earn for 7 month (5 months away plus a few extra for when i return).
Dereks, it sounds like you were in the same boat as i am now mate, hit the big 3-0 and realise there's more to life than grafting. I think if i can persuade a mate to take the leap with me it's pretty much a no brainer, if it comes to doing it on my todd though chances are i'll bottle it and take the "easy" option of staying employed. |
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www.baptism-records.com
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dashie
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Post subject: RE: First Season
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 08:44 PM
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First post: Sep 24, 2007
Total posts: 4832
Location: stockport/dundee
Status: Offline
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| Ian just ask yourself 'What would Lemmy do' |
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Boobs, booze, snowboarding, in that order!
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Bailz
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 - 09:19 PM
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First post: Sep 29, 2009
Total posts: 204
Location: Oxfordshire
Status: Offline
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TaskMaster wrote:
I think if i can persuade a mate to take the leap with me it's pretty much a no brainer, if it comes to doing it on my todd though chances are i'll bottle it and take the "easy" option of staying employed.
Don't let this be a deciding factor on you doing it or not, when i started snowboarding i had no friends or family that even skied let alone snowboarded but i loved the sport and so kept on with it even at the domes.
I've now met loads of people out here from the UK and Australia (and a few locals) who i know i will now keep in touch with, go on snowboard holidays with in the future and even meet up with on the next season.
It definatly helps if your in a shared house or working to meet new people but its not essential but seriously don't let going on your own worry you one bit you'll make friends for life on a season i assure you. |
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TaskMaster
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 26, 2012 - 06:55 AM
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First post: Sep 03, 2010
Total posts: 1043
Status: Offline
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| Cheers mate but i won't be working so chances are if i can't persuade a mate to go i'll probably sack it. Good news though, he's done a season before and he's gotten the bug and seems keen, will test just how keen when it comes around August and i look to start booking things! |
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www.baptism-records.com
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elskratcho
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 26, 2012 - 11:28 AM
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First post: Mar 30, 2012
Total posts: 94
Location: Hull. East yorkshire
Status: Offline
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| Balanced opinion retracted. |
Last edited by elskratcho on Apr 30, 2012 - 03:13 PM; edited 1 time in total
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manicpb
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 26, 2012 - 08:04 PM
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First post: Mar 01, 2009
Total posts: 181
Status: Offline
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TaskMaster, my above post was more about how all those claiming to be living life to the full can leave themselves in a difficult situation and gave you little advice. If you want to do a season you need to be thinking about it now!
If you want to work out there (which you said you don't, but handyman jobs give you a little income for little work) you need to be looking now. If your flying out, flights will be cheaper now. If your not planning on working you need to be saving now...get the picture?!?
Being older does mean you get fed up of the sub 30 year olds playing drinking games, shagging around, etc so you may find yourself in your 'local' boozer where you'll get seasonarrire prices but you'll still need to budget for. This time is valuble for finding riding buddies or one-off work.
There are loads of 30+ seasonairres but few post on websites like this cause they are out there escaping life back here. They are respected for doing it later in life and not just cause they think they'll get laid for living in resort (an added bonus that comes along every now and then!  ) and often become the ones the younger ones seek out for a good night out or bit of advice.
Doing it alone is not so bad, although going with a buddie instantly halves the cost of a long term rental accom, but needs even more planning and all the more reason to start planning now.
Any questions just ask, but if you want to do it set the ball in motion! |
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227angrydonkeys
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 26, 2012 - 08:34 PM
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First post: Dec 08, 2007
Total posts: 1393
Status: Offline
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I'm 37, just done my first season of many more to come. You will probably find that there is a bunch of people your own age to hang out with too. my company had a no under 25's policy so that totally helped with that side of things.
I don't know of anyone who has ever said "I really regret doing that season"
Get it done my son! |
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cantridepete
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 27, 2012 - 11:58 AM
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First post: Oct 28, 2008
Total posts: 2988
Location: Haute Savoie
Status: Offline
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| plenty of seasonaires and people in there 30's doing seasons in chamonix |
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cantridepete
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 27, 2012 - 12:03 PM
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First post: Oct 28, 2008
Total posts: 2988
Location: Haute Savoie
Status: Offline
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elskratcho wrote:
Personally, i wouldnt. My idea is to carry on building a decent career.. Then i can afford to go somewhere with snow every winter and somewhere with sun every summer. Drive a nice car, treat my girl well .. Eat out often, blah blah blah... But i'm not you, if i was longing to do it. I would. You can only really regret things you dont do if you have a desire to do them
not all seasonnaires live on dry pasta and spend there summers in the rain.
its 25% degree's here, hows things in hull  |
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TaskMaster
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 27, 2012 - 07:19 PM
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First post: Sep 03, 2010
Total posts: 1043
Status: Offline
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Cheers lads!
Was struggling to justify taking 4 months off to effectively go on a jolly but took some wicked advice off a member on here about possibly doing an instructor course while im there. Would look a lot better on my C.V; 4 months on the piss & snowboarding or 4 month's achieving BASI 2 / CASI 1& 2 qualification.
Pretty certain that's the road i'm going to go down just uhmming and ahhing about whether to do an 11 week CASI 1 & 2 course in Banff with Basecamp (a fair bit more expensive) or do my BASI 1 here and then head off to Andorra to do my level 2 with Ash at Snowboard Coach.
Not intending on making a career out of teaching but would certainly help justify the career break to potential employers. |
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www.baptism-records.com
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