Going for winter sports abroad

What is working in winter sports abroad like?

• Working in winter sports means seasonal work in mountain areas where winter sports are popular, such as skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, or winter hiking. The work ranges from lift operator to instructor, from chalet host to entertainment, from snow groomer to hospitality in ski resorts.
• You often stay in a winter sports area for several months and work in or around a ski resort, hotel, chalet, ski school, or tourism organization.
• Many people choose working in season because it offers a combination of work, mountain living, and plenty of time outdoors.
• Responsibilities: You might be thinking primarily of working as a ski or snowboard instructor, but there are many more possibilities. Here's a brief overview.
  • Slope and snow-related: teaching ski or snowboard lessons (beginners or advanced), assisting with group lessons, kids' clubs and childcare, slope maintenance (shoveling, leveling, safety), lift operation, gondola operation, helping guests board, assisting with avalanche prevention and slope monitoring (advanced). Snowpark and ​​freestyle: shaping jumps and rails, checking park safety, signage, and managing zones.
  • Chalet and hospitality work: preparing breakfast/dinner, cleaning, welcoming and assisting guests, organizing themed dinners or activities.
  • Bars & restaurants: making drinks, running après-ski, serving, working in restaurants or mountain huts.
  • Technology & equipment: waxing and sharpening skis and snowboards, carrying out repairs, advising customers in rental shops.
  • Tourism & recreation: guiding snowshoe hikes, leading local tours, organizing resort activities, chauffeuring.
• Working conditions: In Europe, the salary is often between a local monthly salary and a local salary, depending on the country and the job.
• Instructors often earn more with experience and certifications.
• In Canada, Australia (yes, you can ski there too), and Japan, the salary is comparable, but depends on the exchange rate. Wages in Japan are often lower than in Europe.
• In the US, you'll find higher wages, but obtaining a visa is more difficult. Contracts are often between 2 and 5 months.
• Many jobs include staff accommodations, sometimes free and sometimes for a fee. Meals are usually not included, but a ski pass is sometimes included. Depending on where you work, you can sometimes get a discount on clothing, winter sports gear, and equipment rental.
• Keep in mind that winter sports can involve significant costs, such as ski clothing, good insurance, transportation costs, a ski pass, and gear.
• Winter sports work is also seasonal. No snow? No work.

What are the reasons for working in winter sports abroad?

• To be more daring and take risks: not only in life, but sometimes even on the slopes. Skiing to work is quite something.
• To learn how to make contacts: if you want to continue working in winter sports, good international connections are important. To discover if service orientation is right for you: the vast majority of winter sports jobs involve customer contact, and it's not always the easiest!
• To experience new things and make lifelong friends: there are countless new experiences to be had at a ski resort, and you'll work with others in a close-knit community.

What skills and motivations do you need to work in winter sports abroad?

• Situational awareness: you'll work in cold, snowy, and mountainous conditions. You'll need to consider risks, weather changes, and safety on slopes and trails.
• Organizational awareness: every resort operates differently—some are tightly organized, others improvise frequently. It's always a matter of adapting to the team's working methods.
• Communication skills: you'll communicate with guests, colleagues, instructors, and hotel staff, sometimes in multiple languages. Clarity is essential for your own safety and that of others. Professionalism: It can be busy, chaotic, and physically demanding, but… You remain presentable and professional, even when it's minus 15 degrees Celsius and you've been outside for eight hours.
• Flexibility: The weather, crowds, and schedules are constantly changing. You learn to handle last-minute shifts and unexpected tasks.
• Collaboration: A winter sports resort only functions with good teamwork: lifts, hospitality, ski school, cleaning, rentals—everything is interconnected.

What are the best countries and locations to work as winter sports abroad?

• Ski instructor / Snowboard instructor: Austria (high demand, easy entry), Canada (professional & international), Japan (high demand for English-speaking instructors), Switzerland (good pay, but higher requirements), New Zealand (perfect for dual seasons), Australia, Chile (high visa costs).
• Chalet hosts / cleaning / housekeeping: France (the chalet capital of Europe), Austria (many guesthouses and small hotels), Switzerland (high pay, professional hotels), Japan (low pay, but great experience).
• Hospitality / Après-ski / Bar work: Austria (most vibrant après-ski in the world), France (mega-resorts, lots of seasonal work), Canada (international resorts, good tips), Switzerland (best earnings).
• Rentals, ticketing, and shops: Canada (large rental shops with many foreign staff), Austria & France (high demand), Japan (busy international resorts → English okay), Australia (many day trippers).
• Outdoor winter activities (guides, snowmobiles, dog sledding): Norway & Sweden (best places for snowmobiles & sledding), Canada (wilderness areas, adventure tours), Finland (husky tours, Northern Lights trips).
• Winter sports activities also exist in countries like Bulgaria, Slovenia, South Korea, China, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, but there are usually no foreigners working in the sector.

What are the risks of working as winter sports abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

• Working in winter (sports) is considered to be a high-risk occupation.There are many risks you will encounter, and good insurance is therefore essential.
• There is an increased risk of accidents (avalanches etcetera) with physical consequences such as broken bones, head injuries, and sprains.
• If you are a lift operator, there are also risks such as equipment accidents, hypothermia or frostbite, and snowmobile accidents.
• Also think of risks of back and knee problems due to prolonged standing, slipping on ice, improper use of machinery, back problems from excessive bending and lifting, and so on.
• In winter sports areas in mountain villages or remote villages, access to medical facilities is often difficult.
• Winter sports are fun, but the high risk of injury is certainly not pleasant.
• Are you insured while working in winter sports?
• There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad. See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.