I was up hiking by the Maroon Bells last week and you couldn’t pay me to climb that shit. Rotten snow and crazy amounts of rockfall like this mean one mistake is instant death. All over Instagram and YouTube I’ve been seeing guys underprepared for huge mountaineering objectives and doing dumb stuff like this in Colorado for no reason. It doesn’t even look fun. What’s behind this new wave of idiots in the sport?? Are you guys seeing this where you’re from?

Did a ski trip in Austria last winter and realized I actually enjoyed staying slightly away from the busiest areas way more than expected.

The slopes were still easy to reach, but evenings were quieter and less hectic after skiing all day. A couple of friends thought it was too calm, but honestly, I slept better and enjoyed the trip more because of it.

Made me curious how other people choose where to stay on ski trips. Do you stay close to nightlife/après-ski or somewhere quieter?

Hi everyone, I’m planning my first ski trip this winter and I’m a bit unsure about face masks or balaclavas.

Since I’m still figuring out what gear I actually need, I started looking into options and got a bit overwhelmed.

I’ve been checking several affordable options on typical online marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy and even Alibaba, and the prices and styles vary a lot.

Some look very lightweight while others seem quite heavy duty and I can’t really tell what is actually necessary versus just nice to have.

So I wanted to ask do you actually need a balaclava or face mask for skiing or is it only useful in extreme cold or windy conditions?

Would really appreciate advice from people who have tried different setups.

This season I saw the slope freshly groomed at the evening and empty and thought:

“Tomorrow I’ll hike up and ski down. Great idea.”

For context, I’m not some hardcore skier. Just a guy with confidence levels far above actual skill.

So tonight I start hiking uphill while my kids are down below playing around. Everything is fine at first because the slope lights are on.

Then I get halfway up…

…and they TURN THE LIGHTS OFF.

Pitch black.

Suddenly I can’t see anything, I’m alone on the mountain, and somewhere below me I hear the grooming machine starting up again like a horror movie soundtrack.

At this point I’m too far up to go down without looking defeated, so obviously I continue climbing in complete darkness pretending this was all part of the adventure.

Honestly felt like the mountain itself rejected me.

Made it to the top though.
Still alive.
Questionable judgment remains.

I am planning to go to ski in Nozawa Onsen at the end of the year and was wondering if the restricted area(Yamabiko) was in bounds. Also on the trail map it says there is a self responsibility area. Where is that and is it in bounds

Hello !

Après plusieurs années sans skier je m'y suis remise (quel plaisir), cependant, mon matériel qui commence à dater arrive a bout de souffle.

Je cherche quelque chose d'assez qualitatif sans non plus mettre 800€ dans un pantalon de ski.

J'ai entendu parlé de la marque Dope, qui m'avait l'air pas mal (du moins les design, et la praticité a l'air au rendez-vous). Cependant, en cherchant sur internet j'ai vu beaucoup d'avis négatif. Après ces avis venaient de la part d'américains qui proposaient des alternatives extrêmement chère (déjà que Dope n'est pas donné).

Est-ce que vous auriez des recommandations de marque et/ou des avis sur la marque Dope ?

Merci beaucoup !

Thanks in advance to any kind soul

could I check if there are any ski resorts (for both ski & snowboarding) opened in Aus/NZ between Feb - Early Jul period which offers a good deal/isn’t overpriced for accommodation and gears?

Any official link to the resort sales page is greatly appreciated

it can use an avalance beacon like the Wild West at banff sunshine

We’re planning a ski trip for next year, and rn looking at Schladming or Solden. Either way we want an apartment on slope. And we are having a hard time finding a lot. We would go in a 6 person group where all of us a great skier.

From anyone who’s been there or knows a great place, we would welcome any idea. Best if the price is not too steep, but anything value for money is perfect.

I've spent the last 4 years doing snow seasons across New Zealand, Canada and Japan and honestly it's been the best decision of my life. I want to pass on the stuff that actually matters, specifically for people who've never done a season before or maybe haven't done a whole lot of travelling in general.

Choosing your first resort

Before you start falling down the rabbit hole of googling resorts at 2am, stop and ask yourself a few honest questions first:

• Have you travelled much before?
• Are you comfortable being in a country where English isn't the first language?
• Do you already ski or snowboard, or are you learning from scratch?
• Are you someone who wants a buzzing town with nightlife or do you prefer something quieter and more local?
• Are you on a tight budget or do you have a bit of flexibility?

Every country and resort has something completely different to offer and picking the wrong one for your personality can genuinely make or break the whole experience. My general rule for first-timers is if you've never skied or snowboarded before, go somewhere with a proper town around it. The reason being that on the off chance you get there and realise snow sports aren't really your thing (it happens more than you'd think), you want options. Good ski towns have nightlife, sport, music, arts and more new friends than you'll know what to do with.

The well known resorts exist for a reason and here's where I'd point most first-timers:

• New Zealand — Queenstown was my first ever season and still one of my favourites. It's known as the adventure capital of the world and it absolutely earns that title.
• Canada — Whistler and Banff are both brilliant starting points.
• Japan — Niseko and Hakuba are the two that most people gravitate toward and for good reason.

These places are busy and popular. For a first-timer that's actually a good thing. If you'd prefer fewer tourists and more of a local community feel then these are worth looking into:

• New Zealand — Cardrona, Treble Cone, Mt Hutt
• Canada — Revelstoke, Sun Peaks
• Japan — Rusutsu, Myoko

A quick note here — I've only covered New Zealand, Canada and Japan because these are the three most popular countries for an english speaking first-timer doing a working snow season and more importantly they're the three I've actually done myself. There are other options out there, Europe being the obvious one, but I wouldn't feel right recommending somewhere I haven't actually lived and worked in.

One thing most people don't think about before they go is that some resorts are ski-in ski-out meaning the town and your accommodation sit right on the mountain. Others have the actual town sitting up to an hour away by bus. That changes your entire daily life so it's worth factoring in before you commit.

Jobs — what to go for and why it matters more than you think

There are basically two types of jobs. Resort jobs which cover things like lift operator, snow maker, food and beverage and ski instructor. Then there are town jobs which are your hotels, restaurants, retail and bars.

The biggest thing nobody really tells you before you go is that your job choice directly affects how much time you actually get on the mountain and that should probably be one of your main considerations.

Resort jobs usually come with a free or heavily discounted lift pass which is a massive deal if you're watching your budget because lift passes are genuinely eye wateringly expensive. Depending on your specific role though your actual time on snow during the day can be pretty limited.

Town jobs are a different equation altogether. If you're working an evening shift starting at four or five in a bar or restaurant you've got the entire day free to ride. Some people actually end up getting more mountain time working in town than the people working on the hill itself which surprises a lot of people.

Think about what matters most to you before you start applying. The lift pass perk or the daily freedom. They're both valid but they suit different people.

Accommodation — what to actually expect

This is where people get caught out more than anywhere else. Accommodation in ski towns is competitive and it moves fast.

Resort jobs often come with staff accommodation which sounds ideal and in some ways it is. It's cheaper than renting privately and you'll meet a huge amount of people very quickly. Just know going in that staff accommodation can mean sharing a room with as many bunk beds as physically fit inside it. It very much lives up to the stereotype. Some people love it, some people last a week before they're looking for something else.

If the town sits separately from the mountain you may have the option to rent privately which feels a lot more like normal life. It's more comfortable but it's competitive and moves quickly so you need to be onto it earlier than feels necessary.

Timing — the one thing people consistently get wrong

Start earlier than you think you need to. Seriously.

Once you've settled on where you want to go find out when that resort starts hiring and then try to be applying around that time or even slightly before. Most first-timers apply too late and either miss out on their first choice resort or end up scrambling for whatever jobs are left.

A few things worth doing right now regardless of when your season actually is. Shortlist two or three resorts rather than putting everything into one option. Have a couple of backup job types in mind because flexibility is what gets you there. And look into the visa situation for your target country sooner rather than later because it nearly always takes longer than you expect.

Last thing

I am genuinely tired of hearing the words "I wish I could do what you do." You can. Everyone can. It takes less money, less experience and a lot less courage than you're probably telling yourself right now.

This is your sign. Book the ticket and go have the time of your life.

Has anyone been auto-renewed for the 26-27 ski season without knowing it by Epic Pass?

I bought a 4 day pass this year, and I guess there was a small toggle button that was automatically clicked auto-renew, and I am being charged over $500 for a new pass, despite me contacting the company trying to cancel this.

Would love to get a group of victims together for an easy lawsuit.

Planning on going to Austria with friends in winter, most of us will be 17 but turning 18 later that year. How big is the chance of getting ID checked in places like Bad Gastein, Mayrhofen or just any other place in Austria?

I'm going to Banff in March solo, and given you need a partner to ski delirium dive, was wondering if a local guide will be enough? And I heard you need some kind of 'training' to do it as well - is this true and if so, what is it?

I’m 19 turning 20, from the south, and I’ve never ski’d before or even touched snow. I’ve wanted to try snowboarding for so long and got the idea to work at a ski resort this winter season before going to college next year. Like I said I have no experience skiing or snowboarding but I have experience in retail, fast food cooking, and warehouse. I’m looking for a resort that has housing, won’t slave me, free lessons for employees, commute options, good work/life, and has a good social scene. I’m open to pretty much any where in the US. I’ve been considering breckenridge, winter park, park city, and mammoth mountain. Any resort/job suggestions or tips? Experiences? Also what’s the deal w weed lmao is it hard to smoke without a car?

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