It's magic, magic, maaagic woooooo!!

So finally after about 26 hours of being in the air, I've finally hit my first stop. Seattle. We meet again.

On the flight over from LA to Seattle, people were talking about it snowing in the highlands. I wasn't expecting any snow at all at my rellies place. It was only when I was waiting to be picked up when I saw cars with snow and ice over it. Surely this couldn't right. Not ALL of these people were coming from the highlands.....

On the way home from the airport, I didn't see any snow and I didn't think of it anymore. I was looking forward to a nice bed and not having to stay cramped up in a chair.

Let me introduce you to Monday, 22nd November, 2010. Seattle. =]

Bedroom Window

Views from the living room

Prepping the kids up for snow play

Snow!

It was such a blessing to have woken up to such scenery. It was absolutely magic!

The Switch

The countdown is definitely on. Work has been absolutely crazy and for the past couple of weeks, I had forgotten how long there was left for me before I flew out. I wasn't doing the countdown - Other people were doing it for me. It was a nice little reminder amongst the chaos at work. It reminded me that there was an end to all this.

On Thursday the engineering manager came up to me and said, 'well you've only got days before you leave now. I think you can stop counting the months.' I paused and I thought about it. It was so true!

So I made the switch. I made the switch from counting months to counting days. And in 28 days, I make the switch from the suit and tie life to a laxed snow life.

Looking forward to it!

Bringing night riding to a whole new level!

Red Bull Off the planet from ENESS on Vimeo.

Interactive art meets skiing and snowboarding. Melbourne-based installation artists ENESS used software to map 3D visuals onto the snow and a 21 foot inflatable sphere. The riders were tracked via an infrared camera as they flew through the air.

Work work work... Play!!

I've got my job offer! yay!! officially! This was actually early August something....or it could have been late July. But I actaully haven't gotten around to updating this blog. Busy busy busy!!

Anna rang me up and asked that the mountain was offering me to a rental technician as I couldn't ski. I told them I could ski and they said that's fine they'll chuck me up on the mountain...Woot! Awesem!

So I didn't quite get what I want - The Hut Bistro worker. Instead I got the Food Station Server position (Is there a difference??) This is okay. I don't mind at all. I get to ski to work. Ski home from work. and most importantly - meet lots of people. I figured the rental technician, you really only see them when they come in for their gear and when they return it.

I'm working at Glacier Creek! Checkout the map! I've even mapped out my path to work for you! The dream eh?!

Apologies for the poor quality. You can check this one out if you want. its 6mb though =P

After receiving the job offer, Empoyee Experience get in contact with you and then you fill in your details registering your requirement for Staff Housing and also your indication of uniforms!! Getting more and more excited!!

OWH have also given me the Pre-Departure Party - Two weeks from now. I'll meet the other Perthies heading over and also get my final information pack.....exactly 12 weeks from now and I'll be spending my last evening in Australia - whether it be in Perth or Melbourne. WOOHOO!! Can't Wait!

Just spent 10 days in New Zealand getting my fix and that was fantastic. That's for another day though!

Bloody Skiiers!! :)

Thredbo 2009

My first mash of our last year's ski trip after installing Adobe Premiere Pro CS4!! And my first movie!! wooo!!

Thredbo 2009 from Peter Doan on Vimeo.

The Waiting Game....

In exactly 4 months I'll be on the plane to the US of A. Cmooon!!

I'm still waiting for the announcement of my start day anyway. I was promised it two weeks ago now. I rang up OWH and they say that they're still waiting for Whistler to let them know!! Impatient much?

Not much has happened. I'm just counting down to my New Zealand Trip....3 weeks and 1 day before I'm on the play to Queenstown for some powder action!

Waiting, waiting, waiting.....

Burton Custom X 2010

The interrogation!

My interview with the resort worked out well. Sarah (HR generalist) from Whistler Blackcomb was my interviewer and it went like this....

The night before the interviewer was a big meet and greet night when OWH put on a lil presentation to hype everyone up. They went through the serious stuff and the fun stuff. The serious stuff? Well that's the travel insurance and the flights. Refer to what I said about them in the previous post. But don't skimp on it. Insurance is important. oh and its essential to get your visa. :)

The fun stuff? Well they gave some prizes away - some shirts, bags, merchandise..etc etc. It was pretty cool. They played this video Get Stoked about Whistler! and it is very awesome! First time I saw this video was last year before the season started and I so wished I went last year with the winter olympics and epic snow falls! Anyways back on track - The info night was cool. Saw some of the other Perth people who are heading over too. Didn't really talk to them though.

The next day, I was first up with a 9am interview time. I was glad. It means I could get mine over and done with. It was good - we talked about the accommodation, the job, and just some other questions that I had. The questions she asked were quite "intense"! (for a snow shovelling job =P ) Things she asked included - "whats important when working in a team" and "give me an example of a time you've had to deal with a difficult customer and how did you sort out the problem"  and "why is customer satisfaction so important" or something along those lines.

For those future OWH-ers, I just gave you half the interview questions.

You're welcome =)

Oh yeah!!!

Reeeewind # 2

Wooooow.... So I've been under the impression that the last post I made was in March/April but looking at the previous post dated on the 15th February??? WOOOooooow. It's been such a long time but such a short time at the same time. Last time it was 2 months into the year and now it is 7 months into the year...half of the year has gone!

So much has happened during that time: I've had my phone interview, I've been to Seattle, Vegas, Vancouver, Hong Kong and San Fran. My sister recently wedded. And I've had my face to face interview with the resort. I've booked my leaving tickets. Now I'm a few steps closer to leaving then last time!!  ( and not necessarily all in that order)

Oh and I've got all my snow gear. Don't need it in Perth but will need it in New Zealand and, of course, Canada!

So my phone interview was on the 15th March. That went pretty well. Kayleigh (the OWH program coordinator) gave me a call at the time she said she would and went through alllll the finer details. Leading up to the date, I was told to go through the applied job description, study up on a bit of whistler and be prepared to be asked a few screening questions (as my sister says "and all this for a snow shovelling job?") So I prepared. She asked me about teamwork, and what makes a good team member. She asked me about a time where I've had to deal with an ugly customer. and all the responses I gave her were engineering related. Too easy!

Long story short, she was pretty happy with the phone interview and advised me of the date of the interviews - June 15. My heart just stopped for a second but then I realised that I wasn't leaving for the US until midnight that night. What a close shave! Perhaps it was meant to be after all... :)

To be honest, not much happened after the phone interview. A few emails were sent out regarding the travel insurance and flights and all the other essential stuff. OWH like to promote their products. My advice - DO YOUR RESEARCH!! OWH are a business and they, like any other business, need to make money and make a profit to make the business worthwhile. You don't have to take what they offer.

Be cheap, bargain, and compare. You're a ski bum earning ~$9/hour. You will need all the cash you can get.

As rich dad says "Frugality, frugality, frugality."

Back into the past for the future....

Okay, So I promised I'd elaborate on why I'm going to Canada to work as a ski bum for a few months....and its because I CAN! heh!

Well no. It all started when I went to Thredbo with Langers and Simon last year, two of my bestest mates, and for me it was pretty much the first holiday I've taken with friends! Too much of a sheltered life is NO GOOD! 

I got to Thredbo knowing that I will absolutely fail at snowboarding buuuuut never the less I was still gonna give it a crack because it looked awesome! and I did. First day was the sorest - legs, ankles, feet, arms, wrist, bottoms, you name it...everywhere you can fall on the ice on...it HURT! So... maaaayybe...taking lessons IS a good idea.

And it was.

By the time I hit the second day I was sliding down the mountains like a pro...pro at falling over but I did it with style and I absolutely enjoyed every single bit! I got better and it was amazing being on the slopes. the views, the calmness, the adrenaline rush...every single awesome feeling chucked into one. and....I was finally..snowboarding! However, three days was just not enough.

I was determined to get better at this. And so it begins...

Reeeeeewind!

Soooooo... today I decided that I will start a blog. Coming from the small city of Perth, I will dearly miss my friends and family when I head off to Whistler Blackcomb for the ski season 2010/2011.

Let's do the oath " I solemnly swear I will make an effort to keep this blog up to date...sometimes." hahaha. Let's hope I keep it up.

This blog is going to follow me and my journey of making the decision, going through the application process and my experience of working at Whistler Blackcomb as a ski bum. Considering I put my application in today you've missed out on a lot which I'll reflect on.

This first post has taken a huuuuge toll me. I'll start the itty gritty details...tomorrow :)


Just watch the ski bum movie for now :P