What is doing a snow season in Whistler like? After spending 6 months in Whistler working on the mountain, I can tell you. I had an awesome time! After coming from 6 months of travel I was ready for some routine. I have provided some information below for anyone interested in doing a snow season.
The sunset on my way home from work
Applying for Jobs
Getting a job is easy, finding accommodation is difficult. When you apply for jobs, some are more likely to give you accommodation. I originally applied for a retail job; it is less likely that you will get accommodation for a job like this. This is due to the number of beds that retail is assigned. Some jobs that are more likely to guarantee you a place to stay are food & beverage, base operations (cleaning and shoveling snow) and operating ski lifts.
I enjoyed working in food and beverage because you earn tips on top of your wage. I was earning an extra $200+ every week just from tips. This meant I was earning on average $1600 a fortnight after tax. My rent in staff housing was $90 per week.
Riding home from work
Preparing for Winter
Some little tips I picked up for finding ski gear and warm clothing are as follows. Vancouver has some awesome thrift stores. I went to a thrift store in North Vancouver which is a slightly ritzier area. People will drop off last seasons ski gear that they no longer want. I picked up a full snowboarding outfit for $40. This was for snow pants and a jacket. I also got a big winter coat for $20. I was able to wear these all winter.
Another good place to go is Facebook marketplace. You can find everything on here. I was able to score a snowboard and bindings for $160. I also got my snowboard boots for $40 on here and a helmet which was barely used for $5. Do not fall for the trap of thinking you need everything brand new. I know a lot of people that spent over $2000 just to get their set up. I spent $400 and everything lasted me the whole winter.
Staying warm in my $20 jacket
Snowboarding & Skiing
Whistler is an incredible place for everyone and has an average annual snowfall of 35.5 ft. It does not matter if you are learning to snowboard or are advanced, there is something for you. I learned to snowboard here; my partner is at an advanced level. He loved the back country. There is an insane park with some of the biggest jumps I have ever seen. While I don’t feel confident enough to go on these, it was fun to sit off to the side and watch.
There are two mountains which are easily accessible via the peak-to-peak gondola. It takes about 10 minutes to get from the top of one mountain to the other. Blackcomb was my favourite mountain because it always seemed to be less busy.
Powder Day
Nightlife
One thing I did not expect in Whistler was how crazy the nightlife scene is. I will say that people seem to be attracted to Whistler because the powder is good in more ways than one. I will let you decipher that. It was not uncommon for people to be out partying 3+ nights a week. There was a nightclub open and busy every night of the week. Whether it was karaoke, musical bingo, famous DJ’s playing or just being out at pubs there is always something happening.
While this is awesome, it can throw a big wrench in your savings plan. If you want to travel after the snow season and are out every night buying drinks you probably won’t be able to. Invest in a flask, take it out with you and buy lemonade or coke. A lot of times bartenders would give me soda for free so I was not even paying for drinks.
My favourite parties in Whistler were Australia day and Saint Patricks Day. Everyone goes up onto the mountain out of bounds so there are no rules. DJ decks are set up, jumps are made and the party lasts all day. The setting is epic, you are surrounded by mountains as far as you can see. Try and make it to at least one of these if you can.
DJ in the snow
Alternative Things to Do
Whistler has a lot to offer as an alternative to snowboarding and getting plastered. I have included a list of random things you can do below:
- There is a pottery class that runs every two weeks. I had a lot of fun with this and still have my two cups that I made.
- Escape Room. This was the coolest escape room I have done so far.
- There is a ridiculous amount of beautiful art. Have fun looking in all the art galleries.
- Dance classes, I had so much fun doing a hip hop dance class. I am by no means good at dancing but I had a great time.
- The cafes in Whistler are awesome! After trying every coffee shop in Whistler, I can say with confidence that Moguls had the best coffee. I also really liked lift as it was close to the mountain. Purebread was awesome for for pastries, you should try the salted caramel slice. If you are looking for somewhere to sit and work Blendz was always empty. Their coffee was not the best but you can get a good seat.
- Vallea Luminea night walk. This was such a special experience; I did this walk twice and felt like I was in Avatar. It has such beautiful visuals.
On our way to 7th Heaven
Looking Back
I had a great time in Whistler. I did notice that a lot of people seemed to get burnt out while here. I think the reason is the social side. There is always something happening. If you love to be around people, it is easy to get sucked into it without taking any breaks. Take a couple of nights a week for yourself. Do not force yourself to wake up at dawn every day to get the fresh powder when you are exhausted. It is ok to take breaks.
Whether you are visiting or doing a snow season, Whistler has a lot to offer. You will not be disappointed.
My snowboarding playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6rPbET7loYmSGMYbPtY9aU?si=7d563ad25e0d49f7
