One thing I’ve come to realise recently is that my obsession with surfing can sometimes become a little unhealthy. I get stressed out if I don’t get my water time frequently and I can’t stand not being by the sea. I admit it, I’ve actually cried over surfing in some cases which is rather over the top.
So when I was asked by Ticket to Ride to work in their Mountain Lodge in the French Alps for a month, the only downside I could think for not going was that I wouldn’t be able to surf. Having realised how ridiculous this seemed, I keenly accepted the offer and within a few weeks was jetting off to the mountains to work and of course, give snowboarding a try.
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would and am already planning my next snow excursion. So in a nutshell, if you’re surfer, here’s why you should put your surfboard on the rack and have a go at snowboarding instead.
Apres Surf = Apres Ski
There’s nothing better than cracking open a few bevvies after a long session in the water, sitting down with your mates and talking about that day’s hard surfing. Luckily in the Alps you can do exactly the same thing! The wealth of alpine bars will fully rehydrate you with a selection of beers after a day on the mountain and get you dancing on the tables. Win win.
The Ticket to Ride Mountain Lodge in all its glory
Snowboarding helps your Surfing
Being able to stand on a board for five hours a day on the snow has proven worthwhile to my surfing. Snow time has encouraged me to be more mindful of my balance, posture and adjusting my weight between my heel and toe edges which all transfer into surfing when making turns and keeping control. Although the two sports are very different, most surfers that give snowboarding a go take to it quite easily.
Take a break
There is a danger when you’re passionate about one thing, in this case surfing, for it to consume your whole world. I organise my day around the tides, change my weekly plans as the wind changes and have a fear of committing to things weeks ahead in case the swell is looking jammy. You run the risk of becoming very self absorbed and missing out on all the other activities and things going on in life. A season in the mountains could just be the right thing to do. You’re still outside, being active and are likely to meet people on the slopes, similar to those you mingle with in the surf. Taking time out of surfing and letting go definitely helped me be a lot more outward looking and get my head out of the surf mindset for a while. Maybe it was all that fresh mountain air, who knows, but things became a lot more clear.
Taking time out for the Yoga on our Ladies Snowboarding week
Mountain Life
One of the things I loved about season work was the work-life balance it provided and the atmosphere of the resort. If you’re doing chalet work, like myself, you get up early to serve breakfast, do the cleaning and then get the whole day (until about 5pm) to hit the mountains. The air there is so fresh, the scenery beautiful and the beer is continuously flowing. There was a close knit community within Meribel, where I was based, which made it feel homely. All in all it created a great place to be.
Debbie, head chef at our Mountain Lodge enjoying her snow time. Whens she’s not in the snow you can find her surfing the Cornish coastlines.
Back to back seasons
Now here is when you can get savvy and live the dream all year round. I met a lot of people in resort that snowboard over the winter and surf in the summer. If you’re a surf instructor and already are a competent skier/boarder then you should seriously consider a Snowboard or Ski Instructor Course which then guarantees you work all year round whether it’s in the surf or snow.
There’s a chance you’ll love it
Being the outdoor, wave hunting type that you are, the chances are you’ll naturally fit into the powder-hunting yeti stereotype and have a new addiction to add to your bag! I’ve definitely spread my wings since venturing to the Alps and have found a new passion for spending my time and money doing.
Photo Credit: Ben Kinnear
So if this has in anyway enticed you to swap your boardies or bikinis for some sallies and a pair of oversized goggles, check out the jobs going with us in Meribel next season or our snowboard and ski instructor courses!
