Big White is AWESOME! Ice Cream...

Hi!

This girl tried a sample... a single taste...
'These are mine! Buwhahahaha!'
Yes, that is exactly how she sounds.

Yes it has been awhile, did you miss me? No...? Whatever.


We have just been to Italy! Yay! 'But...' I hear you say 'what has that gotta do with ice-cream...?' Well despite your poor grandma, I will tell you (it is a joke... grammar, grandma...? oh never mind).

In Italy they don't sell ice-cream... they sell gelato. Yes. And gelato is very similar to... to... to ice-cream. Yes! Happy now?

So... Spoons... I don't know why they named it Spoons but in Italy they have spoons too (not the ice-cream). I know, I know - Amazing! Spoons is at Beano's (Beano's sells coffee... also popular in (can you guess?) Starbucks.). 


Beano's is in the VCM, but really, you should stay far far away. 

Look at the (happy) dog...
and the (not so happy) boys...
with the empty cones...

In fact if you follow these simple guidelines you should be fine. 

• Do not visit, 
• do not look at the cones,
• do not look at the flavours, 
• do not wonder what they taste like, 
• do not listen to the cute smiling girl behind the counter, 
• do not engage in conversation with said girl, 
• do not even make eye contact... and finally...
• for the love of god... Do not sample.

Why?

Let me explain.

• It is Delicious!
• They have Big Servings!
• It is Delicious! Nothing tastes as good as thin feels...? Wrong.
• There are specials - Two for one when you buy a lift ticket.
• They have those Home made cones, you know the good, thick, crunchy, tasty ones...? Yes, you do.
• And they have all these flavours... which talk to you, in your mind... "Try me, try me, try me..."
• Fresh ingredients - cream, milk, eggs, fresh fruit, (salted caramel not withstanding...)
• The fruit is sourced locally, whatever is in season.
• They prepare all the fruit by hand.
• They make exotic flavours... Pinot Noir anyone...? Ha! They have none left.
• Delicious! I know I said this twice already, but this is dangerous stuff man, you can't mess around with this.

But it all sounds good eh? Exactly! Too good! What do I mean? Er... hellooo... calories! Did you not see all the delicious comments...? It is dangerous.

Hmmm...! Crunchy! Don't be confused, these cones
don't have ice-cream yet.

Now it would be okay if you could just have a lick and say 'hmm, okay' but no, no, no. One lick leads to another, and then one ice cream leads to a tub... and then the next thing you know, your diet is down the drain and all those years of hard work and training are gone... like a puff on a candle... a flame, a thing of beauty, a light at the end of a dark tunnel... puff... gone. Of course if you are going/just been hiking... or skiing all day... then fill your boots.

See the little girl? That is the 'I finished...' and
'I'm now gonna eat my Dad's' grimace.
Dad has the 'no idea' look... but I think mum may know...

But how do I know all this? Well... in the interest of scientific research and my reader (thanks mum) I have been recently conducting taste testing (it is too late for me) on the said ice-cream. And the preliminary results of the limited sampling...

Some sampled flavours.

• Cherries something or other. I don't know, it is kind of a vanilla with fresh cherries - Yum!
• Creme Brûlée - same as regular Brûlée but creamy, and er... Yum!
• Toffee Apple - ha! I don't like toffee apple... but er... Yum!
• Chocolate - can't think of anything funny. Yum!
• Salted Caramel - extra Yum! I think this is my favourite.
• Raspberry something - spelt with a p, yes, who knew. Not tested, it was a disciplined day... and besides, they were closed.
• Strawberry - more discipline/closed.

So, now you know. Yum is the standard result. Do not try this at home. And do not go near Spoons. 

This is the danger sign. It means stay away...
Well it should.

And don't think 'yeah, it is only open weekends, I can afford to eat ice cream at weekends...' No! They sell tubs as well, you can take it home! Bad, bad, bad! And you see all those flavours I mentioned? Yes? Once, I have been... I tried all those flavours in one visit! One! 

But all the cool kids are doing it... One little cone won't hurt... I can quit whenever I want... I'm not an ice-cream-aholic... It is just on the weekends... It relaxes me... 

Heard it before...?

Yum!

Okay, here is the real reason for my blog - it is an Ad! Yes, for my own property company.

Sólido Properties, owns, manages, rents, (and pays a lot of bills for...) seasonal and staff accommodation at Beautiful (yes, with a capital B) Big White Ski Resort! We also conduct research on beer, coffee and ice cream and the continuous battle between calorie intake and expenditure... we are losing. And we are on Facebook! Of course I could have just put the Facebook link...

Big White is AWESOME! Coming for the Season (Yay!) Part duh...

Yeah, yeah, Big White's local
resident teddy bear.

Well... why not? You are young, free, single, good looking, and wondering what you are gonna do with your life.

Of course you are wondering 'Can I afford this...? Will I get a job...? Where will I live...? Will I make friends...? Will blah-de-blah come with me...? (dunno, I don't know blah-de-blah)... Will I get a work visa? Am I the kind of person that goes on adventures? (hint, if the answer is 'no' here, the next questions are 'Do I want to be...?' and 'Can I become...?')

And you may also be thinking but I can't ski/snowboard... I'll start with this. A little secret. You see Shaun White, you see Ted Ligety... you see any person on a snowboard or a pair of skis...? The secret? In the beginning there was light... I mean had never skied, never snowboarded... they (like you) started from zero! Yes, it is true. Now you have something in common with (insert your choice of favourite here). Yes, you too can learn. Me...? I never got on snow until one week shy of my 22 birthday, now I teach... at below a level three standard... cos I failed my three... twice.

My boss, no not my wife, the other one.
Started from zero... Yes, yes...

Okay, the other stuff.

Can I afford this?
It is about perspective, maybe the better question(s) to ask yourself 'do I want to use my savings, go into debt/max out my credit card, be very frugal and only spend what I earn...?' Or... 'is the reward worth the risk...?' The reward of course is a fantastic experience with memories that will last a lifetime. The risks are the other questions. Do you want memories that will last...? I am going to assume yes.

Best Job in the world.

Next question - will I get a job?
Step one of course is to get a work visa now (go on, go do it, I will wait).
Well, done. Step two is to apply for a job... Lifty... ski instructor... housekeeping... server... there are lots.

Jobs... or The Employment market conditions...
Big White themselves employ roughly 800 people during the season, 250 or so are returning staff, the rest 'adventurers!' yes, an emphasis! Or newbies. (no emphasis). Now let us not kid ourselves here, the work is not rocket science (we only have the Ridge Rocket... and that is a chair lift... and no science is done), or brain surgery (I can't think of a connection to that), or hedge fund management (we don't have hedges). 

Other mountain businesses - Globe, Sessions, Blarney, Beanos, Mountain Mart, Snowy

Yes... I ordered the beer.
Shall we discuss...?

Nights, Sam's... etc etc probably employ another 500.

The actual jobs are low pressure, moderate hours (you need time to perfect your snowboarding) and enough pay to survive (of course, wants and needs are different - I want a beer to give me courage to talk to that hot chick vs I need food to survive...) but the point is everybody survives and lots of guys talk to hot chicks (and vice versa).

Friends
1300 people... of a similar age... of a similar adventures nature... from all over the world...? I don't think I need to say more.

Work Visa.
You already have it right...? No...? I thought we discussed this earlier... Okay, if you don't this is the best place to start. Yes it is a link, click it.

Next - are you the kind of person that goes on adventures?
Okay, a bit of philosophy here.

• Will this have a positive/negative impact on your life?
• Will this make a difference in five years time?
• Will you gain valuable life experiences?
• Do I want to make friends for life?
• Do you think people who travel and go on adventures are cool/uncool?

  

  Being cool! Well cold.

• You are one person
• On a planet of 7 billion people.
• In a galaxy of a three hundred billion stars.
• In a universe of of a hundred billion galaxies...
• Or a speck of dust, on a speck of dust, on a... you get the idea.

So... wanna be cool?

What about a place to live? 

That is where I come in, well Sólido Properties. Yes, yes, this is a big o'l advertisement. But here is your chance to stop reading.

Still here...? Really...?

Okay.

Places to stay. Big White have a limited number of Staff Accom places; these places are dedicated to first season peeps. If you are working for Big White direct this season, discuss during your job interview.

Yay!

Other options include the youth hostel and private places; most places can be found on the Big White Facebook page...

The alternative is us! Yay! Sólido Properties, and yes run by people who do things like write blogs and type emphatic 'Yays!' we are that sophisticated... Yay!

Actually the emphatic stuff is cos we are mostly trying to fill in white space... see all the pictures? Ditto.

But the point is... we have lots of properties... Yay!

Okay now some boring stuff. Some tips on renting places at Big White.

Pre-arrival.

1. Rental Contract. Get one. A contract is a fixed agreement, terms of reference in case of disagreement. A contract is to protect both you and the landlord; and set expectations. Have all members of your group read, and understand what their cost obligations will be.



Er... 

1. If your landlord does not want to provide a contract, ask yourself why.
2. A contract must contain three elements - Offer, Acceptance and Consideration. Without each of these three elements a contract will not exist.
1. Offer - i.e. I the landlord will rent this property to you for $x.
2. Acceptance - i.e. I accept your offer.
3. Consideration. The property is the landlord's consideration. The payment (cash) is the tenant's consideration.
1. This is important, it means without a deposit, a landlord has no obligation to honour the agreement.

Once you arrive.

1. Budgeting.
1. Many travellers have saved lots before they arrive, $5-$10k is not unusual.
2. What is your monthly expected income?
3. What are your expenses
• Critical and Important - Rent, Food, Utilities.
• Semi Critical but important - Ski/Snowboard equipment, lift pass.
• Important but not Critical - Social activities, travel, recreational stuff.
2. Manage your controllable costs.
1. Electric is expensive, a $750 per month electric bill is a waste of money.
• Keep the room temp around 21 degrees, this is not Australia, average ambient temp is -8... if you are cold, put on a sweater.
• Keep windows closed.
• Keep the hot tub covered when not in use.
• Turn off lights.
• Rule of thumb?
• Use what your earning to cover expenses.
• Use your savings for the fun stuff.
3. Do a walkthrough. Ideally with your landlord.
• Note any damage - take pics.
• Note cleanliness - take pics.
• Note deficiencies - take pics.
• Send immediately to landlord.
4. Roomies. Decide on cleaning tasks/rota - have everyone agree.

• Your bff may have an alternative interpretation of 'clean...' i.e. 'my mum does it.'
• Keep the place clean throughout the season. It will be more comfortable and easier when you leave.
5. Paying your rent.
• Be on time. The property owner/landlord has his own financial commitments. Mortgage, Strata Fee, Utilities, Property Tax, Contents Insurance, Buildings insurance, Sewer, Phone, Water, Cable. ...A Raven property I own has annual costs of $43k...
• Pay it. You expect to receive your pay on time; be on time... and in the format agreed.

What sort of rates?

You can expect anything from up to $800 per person, per month for a shared room. But you want your own private room? Then double the rate. Too expensive? Then share... (as Yoda said... 'cake and eat you cannot have...' ...it's in the new movie). The landlord/owner has to balance costs (...$43k...) against revenue options. Yes, yes I'm sure the owner bought a luxury property at Big White to rent to your group of buddies cheap cos you are 'nice'...

Remember the Owner has Revenue Options

Sure, since you are nice, I will let you have it cheap.
No, no, I don't want to use it this season.

There are two main rental revenue options - long term or vacation. The revenue from vacation rental rates are high - a one bed + den in Timbers generated $21k last season (2014/15); the owner is not going to rent it to your group for $10k. No... not even if you are really really really nice. You want a discount? Pay for the season upfront.

Long Term - you guys.

• Pros...
• Stable income.



We are really really nice.

• Lower management/marketing costs.
• Cons...
• Higher risk of damage.
• Risk of leaving early.
• Risk of late rent.
• Risk of no rent.
• Risk of noise and lots of complaints.
• Risk of utilities not being covered.

So... the vacation option looks good eh?

Rates have been increasing, but they are what they are, why?

Three main reasons, 

• Less snow at other resorts mean more people are coming to Big White for vacations, this means more places are going to vacationers.
• Increased numbers of Gap program groups paying higher rates - an owner would generate the $800 per night over Christmas and New Year and then get an 11 week booking straight after.
• Weaker Canadian $ - more visitors from the USA and UK.



Yes, yes, I stole the idea from
Got Milk.

What about when you leave...?

Remember the pictures you took when you arrived... showing cleanliness and any damage, unit issues...? The ones you sent to the landlord. Well you have to return the property in that condition.

Sólido Properties do a full professional clean prior to property being occupied.

• Every cupboard and drawer are emptied and wiped. Items are returned
• Windows are cleaned.
• Floors are vacuumed, shampooed and/or mopped (hard vs carpets)
• Walls and electrical switches are wiped of grease marks.
• Doors are cleaned of grease marks.
• Baseboards are dusted and wiped.
• Bathrooms are made spotless
• Extraction fans are cleaned of dust...
• etc etc etc

Yes, yes, I'm gonna clean later... maybe...

This takes time... lots. If my company is doing it, we are charging you. Out of the bond/damage deposit. The upside? You move into a super clean place... the downside you have to return it as found. Including removing food, clothing, boots, skis, snowboards, helmets, gloves, poles, bindings, bags... I don't want them, they create work and work costs money. Get rid of them or you are paying. Easy? Ha! It is almost June and we are still on clean-up.

Which leads to the bond. Ensure you are aware of the bond terms. The bond is a damage deposit and different landlords have different approaches to the bond. We charge only for deficient items - cleaning, utilities, damages. Some landlords will find any reason to keep everything, so be careful. 

Tip - A landlord is likely to ask you for a reference... you can ask him/her for a reference too... contact the previous tenants.

As a landlord and property owner I try to maintain a mutually respectful relationship with my tenants. I need them to look after my places. One of the perks... I regularly bring them beer. But not always...

• Your rent is late...? No beer for you.
• There is a noise complaint? No beer for you.

  

  Looks good eh?
  No beer for you!

• You have damaged a wall? No beer for you.
• You have left garbage outside? No beer for you.
• You are smoking in the unit...? No beer for you.
• The place stinks of Pot...? Nooo... beeeer... for... yoooouuu....
• You bring snowboards and skis into the unit...? Explicitly against the house rules...? When there is a fantastic ski locker...? No, no, no. No beer!
• You can't open the window... yes, sure I'll drop everything, run around, open the window for you... no I don't have a life... no I don't mind it's 11:20pm and I was sleeping... Beer! Ha...! No.
• You are unhappy because the $600 gourmet set of pans does not have a $12 none stick frying pan...? Beer...? I think... no beer.
• Your lightbulb is out... really?
• I have to chase you for rent...? Er... No beer!
• You agreed to one group deposit each month but now want to pay cash, all eight... separately...?
• Ha! No beer... ever!

Departing your place.

If you are going to be out on the 1st, then be out on the 1st. The $200 of condiments...? The frozen fruit and vegetables left in the freezer...? The two tins of soup and box of tea bags...?  If you have vacated the place, expect it to go to either the garbage or the food bank. But wait, what...? You hadn't vacated...? Really? Good. I need more rent.

So... that is it... coming to Big White?

Yay!

Yay!

Sólido Properties owns, manages, sells, develops, property at Big White... (well we did...) lives, skis, snowboards, drinks beer (I have lots left over) writes a crappy blog (when I can be bothered) plagiarizes lots of pics (thanks Gav, Andy, Klaus, etc etc.) And a bunch of other stuff that I can't think of right now but for sure cool... or cold.

Need a place to stay? Email solidorentals@gmail.com or contact us on Facebook.

Big White is AWESOME! End of Season... Boo...!

The season has ended... Boo...! But to recycle a joke from last year... Only 183 days until season starts! Yay! Actually I have already commenced training for next season - two heavy snow days at Biggie equates to two treks up the mountain... I tell you the lifts are easier.

Lets talk about lifts and lift passes for a minute.

At Big White there are what 12 chair lifts including t-bar and gondola? Not counting the various carpets and tube park lifts. And what does a chair lift cost? Well lets think for a second about what is included...



Site Planning.

• Where will it go.
• What is the likely demand.
• How long will it be.
• What land prep will be required.
• Tree considerations.



I know, let's add a lift... should be easy.

• Tower placements.

Design and Engineering.

• How many seats per chair.
• How many chairs... or gondolas...
• Express or fixed. 
• How long.
• Stress loads on cable.
• How big a drive motor/bullwheel.
• Electric powered with back up diesel? How do we get power to the site.
• Tower design - each one is specific to the site location and calculated loads.

Build.

• Construction window. Remember this is a ski resort, in the mountains, with very challenging access. Pouring concrete is not like grabbing a bag of cement from Home Depot. Helicopters...? Yes, commonly know to be cheap... not.
• Weather conditions - did I say ski resort? Snow? Flying helicopters... carrying the light fluffy concrete stuff...?
• Labor costs? This is specialist stuff, flying guys in from Europe or wherever...

And they are just the items off the top of my head (and as you know it is not an intelligent head). I have read ballpark figures ranging from $300k (really...? maybe a magic carpet) to $20m. I imagine most at Big White are in the range of $2m - $8m. And we have 12, go on do the math, I will wait...

Oh... you're back? Well done.

So you come to Biggie, sit on one of 12 major lifts and you pay what $700+ for a season's pass? 125 days of lift rides - $5.60 per day? And how many times per day? 10... 20... 30... more? Potentially, at 6 minutes per ride over a 11.5 hour day (including night skiing) and 6 minute ski down you could do 57.5 runs a day. Fatigue may play at some point...

So the extreme maximum potential is about 10 cents per ride, on a $5m piece of equipment. Not too bad eh? Do you know how far I can go in my big diesel truck on 10 cents? About 200m... and I have to drive it... and it did not cost $5m. But I can take it anywhere... but I don't have a choice of 12... not sure where I am going with this... better stop.

Look how cute...

But wait, there's more (they should use this on tv commercials...) what about operating costs?

• Liftys? Three minimum per lift, 8-12 hours per day?
• Power costs?
• Maintenance?
• Replacement costs?
• Insurance?

And the snow? It does not groom itself. How many machines? At how much each? Running how many hours per day? A Piston Bully 600 to buy - $600k? Then maintenance, operator, fuel... 

$600k... also available in red.

As you can see, your 10 cents per ride is pretty good value for money. And is cheaper than any other major Canadian resort. I made that last bit up... well some of it, Whistler's cheapest season pass is $1400... "really Mr Pickles?" why yes, yes it is.

So, if you are coming to Canada for a season and want the best conditions and be able to ride the chairlift for just $.10c a pop... Big White is a pretty darn tooting good choice (no, I am not American, I just felt the 'darn tooting' was a good phrase... not that I know what tooting means... if anyone can enlighten my four readers...

Worse tenant than
my dogs...

Sólido Properties occasionally writes drivel... well, on a good day anyway... We (poorly) manage numerous properties at Big White and our principal (me) has been described as having 'questionable morals' by Lucy Gilbert who was once my second best tenant... but, was recently downgraded... by everyone... and both my dogs... who incidentally don't even pay rent.

 

Big White is AWESOME! Cos the people... 12 - Josh Foster

Version 2.0
The original version did not have any adult supervision... 

Or 'The' Josh Foster, snowpro.

Yes, my teeth really are
this white... I eat
snow for breakfast.

Of course there are lots of snowpros at Big White, 160+ this season, so being a snowpro is great, but there are lots.

Let me tell you a little about a Ski Instructors qualification progression. This part is a little less entertaining... or abusive, you can fast forward to a more entertaining area about Josh if you want. Just scroll down to where it says 'this bit'.

Level 1.
A three day course, most people pass on their first attempt. The course is conducted by qualified and experienced Level 3 or Level 4 course conductors. The courses are run by the local ski school.

Level 2.
Two days of training and two days of assessed training. Both the skiing and teaching standards are much higher. Courses are run by the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA). These course conductors wear the (different) uniforms of CSIA. In addition to the course and assessed training, there is a minimum 10 credit requirement - 'teaching children', or 'Introduction to all-terrain' or 'Park' etc. and/or on-line modules. Pass rate is something below 100%. Of course I could have done some detailed research to find out accurate numbers but that would have meant me not only asking a question, but asking it to the right person and... actually listening.

Level 3.

Typical Level 3 candidate at Big White.
Yes, of course I'm lying.

Three days of training plus two days of exams; covering both teaching and skiing standards. Again there is an additional total requirement of 40 credits; any accumulated credits from level two count towards the total. There are advanced courses for credits - Advanced Teaching, Advanced All-terrain etc. again plus the on-line modules. Level three is where the pass rate drops dramatically - 50%-60%, (my goal this year is to reduce the average pass rate, for all candidates... yes, you are welcome). The candidate must pass both the ski and teach parts of the exam. 

At Level 3, instructors can develop their teaching qualifications and pursue Course Conductor qualifications. The qualification requires course conductor shadowing and er... other stuff and things I think... prior to the full qualification.

Level 4.
There are few Level 4 qualified ski instructors, Big White has five including the Snowboard side - less than 3% of all instructors at Big White. And the standards are pretty high, to secure your level 3 the prerequisites are achieving your level 2 plus 40 credits. The level 4 course is six days long plus four days of testing. And the pass rate...? Ha! don't ask... cos I don't know... or didn't, a reliable source tells me somewhere between 0%-20%. A pretty high standard eh? 0%... Zero?

No, the skis matching the jacket and headband
really is a coincidence.

And... in addition to the course, exam, level 3 prerequisite (with the credits) you also need one of the following...

• CSCF Entry Level (trained)
• CSIA Snow Park Certification
• CASI Level 1 Certification
• CSGA Pre-course completed
• CANSI Level 1 Certification
• CFSA Club coach workshop completed
• CADS Level 1 certification

Pretty intense! I don't even know what half of those are, I think the C stands for coffee. But, I hear you ask, who awards the Level 4 qualification? That is where The Josh steps up, and more often than not says "Fail" Yes, Josh is a Level 4 examiner, or probably more accurately Level 4 fail-er... what? It could be a word... Actually, Josh does not set the standard, it is set by the CSIA (the Coffee something...) if you don't reach the standard, you don't pass... did you read the zero %?

This Bit :)
But this blog is not about ski instructor levels, this blog is about The Josh... let me tell you a couple of things about him.

See the 'wave' in the corduroy? Enough ski pressure!

• Josh can communicate telepathically - it is true, I knock on his door and he looks at me and I get this message in my mind 'what the f*** do you want?'
• I can make Josh laugh, well I did once... "I am gonna try for my Level 3 exam." I told him, there was a smile, and a twinkling in his eye and then some telepathic communication 'Ha...! You're a dumb-ass'.
• Josh has been a member of CSIA for 25 years.
• Josh has tree trunks for legs. Actually trees are envious of Josh's trunks.
• Josh can ski fast... very. B******
• Josh can ski fast... very, when visibility is zero. Yes I said it, zero. I think he has radar, or sonar or some other Ar... he keeps it in his legs.
• Josh can ski fast... very, on bumps the size of VW bugs whilst making it look like he is skiing perfect corduroy.
• Josh can ski fast... very, on bumps the size of VW bugs, in zero visibility... whilst sick as a dog... B******. I did it, I said it again.
• Josh is my favourite ski instructor at Big White... named Josh... who has a second name of Foster... and is a ski school director. Yes, my favourite.

Occasionally I have had Josh as my instructor, he says 'do this' however I prefer to do 'that' a much more difficult method of skiing. Occasionally these techniques lead to new and creative terminology - 'neckulation' was a recent and inventive skiing style I employed; of course this led to another private telepathic message from Josh... 'Dumb-ass'. I know, I know, I have had that message... 

None skiing activities.
Don't make me explain the joke...

But what is this 'Neckulation'? I hear you ask, let me provide a definition - it is the idiotic style of skiing, employing head-bobbing in lieu of flexing ankle, knees and hips. Note - neckulation could be popular in other none skiing activities... well, I imagine anyway.

What else? Josh can get cranky... like a woman in the middle of her 'special' week after a shitty day at work, who has lost her chocolate, ran out of wine and found the kitchen filthy, whilst her husband is at the bar... two hours after he should have picked up the kids and forgotten to take the dogs out... dogs who needed to go, really needed to go... Actually I embellish a little, I have no idea what a cranky Josh is like... but I do have a wife... and kids... and two dogs...

Josh has his own TV show and website - 'Ski Tips with Josh Foster...' it is ok, and he is a Firefighter... and the Big White Ski School director... oh yes and a triathlete... but does he have a blog, read by up to four people every day! Didn't think so.

Anyway, that is enough mirth for this evening. 

Sólido Properties owns, manages, rents, seasonal, long term property at Big White Ski Resort... and is an over paid, underworked, over appreciated, amply rewarded ski instructor - (yes, I do want another job my job back) that has an Italian wife (the loud kind), kids, two dogs and occasionally (mistakenly) spends too long at the bar... 

Big White is AWESOME! GAP Programs... I'm jealous...

Yeah, the Ski/Snowboard Instructor GAP programs, I am a bit envious. And since it is the title, I will tell you about them.

"Ever been to
Big White, Canada...?"

Have you seen the groups going round with the Big White Ski Pros? The same groups day after day? Sometimes down at the Magic Carpet, others around the mountain?

They are all being taught to ski/snowboard and to reach the skiing and teaching standards - initially Level I, then progressing to Level II. 

11 weeks of skiing/snowboarding. 11 weeks of intensive training. 11 weeks accommodation in luxury homes. 11 weeks living on a mountain in Canada. 11 weeks of world class ski and snowboard instruction. 11 weeks making forever friends. 11 weeks of an experience of a lifetime... food, transfers, course and exam fees... flights... mentoring... shadowing options... opportunity to secure future employment as a ski/snowboard Pro...?

I love the smell of fresh powder
in the mornings.

Sounds pretty good eh? And it is all free! Okay, that bit is a lie. So yes, I am envious. I know, I am a ski pro already, I know I live at Big White, I know I live the dream life. But I got here the hard way... (I am from Wigan, England... do you know any Ski Instructors in Canada, who come from Wigan? Didn't think so...)

The three main program operators at Big White are Snow School, Snow Rehab and Nothin But Snow. All have a great programs and reputations. I know the guys at NBS better than others so I will play favourites and talk about them :)

They are AWESOME! There, done. That earned me a beer! I hope. Leigh, Sam... I am waiting.

Leigh and Sam hard at work... Feeling for you guys, try and smile.

For the next sentence please read in a James Earl Jones voice doing Darth Vader - 
'What does this experience of a lifetime cost, Luke?' Let us consider what is included... Father... If you break out the major items, you are probably looking at-

• Season Pass - $1000 - this includes night skiing 5 nights per week.
• 11 weeks shared accommodation ("Luxury, Luke" Darth again, "I know, Dad, I'm not dumb, I have the Force too you know" last bit was Luke... if you didn't know), and we are talking, granite, hardwood, pool, gym, heated floors, steam showers, ski in/out and private hot tub... Yes, private hot tub - I said it... Cuddly toy too... 11 weeks at $300 (+ taxes) per night, for six shared? What you want me to do the math for you? Okay $23k (+ taxes) - lets call it $4,000 each.
• Flights - $1500?
• Five days of full day lessons, x 11 weeks? $150 x 55 = $8,250
• Food - probably five breakfasts and five dinners a week - $250 per week = $2,750
• Level 1 course and exam $400.
• Level 2 course and exam is extra I think.
• Transfers - $200
• Mentor and guide - dunno... four million dollars...?
• Experience of a lifetime...? Priceless. (MasterCard stole that tag line from me - true story).

We are going to be ski instructors...

Total cost in the region of $20k. For the experience of a lifetime... $20k...? Not bad. Life is not about buying stuff, life is about fitting as much in, in the gap between being born and the other thing... So, good value? It is why it is called GAP programs... What? No, it has nothing to do with the gap between A' Levels and Uni... it is the other gap - in between born and buried. Yes it is... Yes... It Is. Whatever.

Look, all these companies are reading this, jumping up and down yelling in their heads "He's wrong, he's wrong! It is a lot less...!!!" I know... keep reading... and keep your goggles on.

And at the end, you are a CSIA trained and qualified ski instructor? Qualifications that will be attractive to ski resorts all over the world from Canada, to Australia, to New Zealand to Japan... Qualifications that will enable you to travel the world whilst being paid...? And... not just paid, being paid to ski? How many employees give you a free ski pass, free top quality outerwear? Yes, you have to buy some skis and boots... boohoo. I was in the Army, I got to travel to places were people were trying to jump all over my head... Er... can I have a ski pass instead please...?

What...? We can teach skiing... all over the world...?

I am a ski pro and I love my job but it took a while - British Army - six years including the First Gulf War, United Nations - three years in Former Yugoslavia (I did dodge bullets) BA, MBA, multi million dollar land development company and... going bankrupt, then hedge fund consultant (that kinda ended with the FBI... yes the American one). All before I got to be a ski pro (told you, I took the hard path).

Experience of a lifetime... $20k... expensive? Er no, not at all. Actually it is not that expensive; it is a lot less (Happy now guys?). Less...? Really? Yes, much less - go check out their websites. (Last bit is the 'call to action' it is marketing jargon) and here are their websites. (How convenient is this?)

Nothin But Snow - www.nothinbutsnow.com
Snow Skool - www.snowskool.com
Snow Rehab - www.snowrehab.com

Please note the spellings, I think (hope) it is intentional...

Listen to the voice...

Next step - ignore the voice. You know that voice in the back of your head that says go get a job, get a career, save your money, follow the path to retirement? That voice? Ignore it, you have one life, go and live it while you can, the rest of the stuff? Yeah, that will come.

No! Ha ha...!

Oh, and I also run Sólido Properties (Darth again please) the best seasonal property management company... at Big White... that writes a blog... sometimes the writings are accurate, and er... true, and er... sometimes they are less self indulgent... ha, who am I kidding... 


Last bit, my pitch... if you find yourself fully qualified as a ski instructor, with an employment position offered at Big White, and needing a place to live... Come find me :)