Some Advice Needed- Skiing instead of a "Carreer"

**elchupanebre4** · 03-20-2007, 11:54 PM

Latley it appears I have come to a potential turning point. My accounting internship ends in a month, and in the next few weeks I will know if they will hire me full time (which appears somewhat unlikely, as they have two more senior interns that will be hired, and while they have been very pleased with my work from what I've gathered, a 50 person firm probably can't hire 3 people). Thus I'm keeping my options open. My only chance to stay in the industry is liekly this job (very little educational expiriance, but have intern with them and a previous firm and am quick to learn). If they hire me they will pay for the extra school, if they don't I'm probably going to have to look to a related field. Don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on tossing away my education, just delaying the rat race for at least a summer/few years, as the more seasoned mags have taught me a very valuable life lesson: you can always earn more money later, but can't always ski in your prime now. As much as the measly 30-40K appeals to me right now I have a feeling I'm going to look back on it and regret being suckered into the American sterotype of money=success.

Which leads me to a decision that pops up commonly here, do I pursue a carreer or live to ski, at least for the time being? The anwser is obvious, but I'm still having problems making the commitment, that is until I realized if I don't recieve this job I have no reason not too (plus graduating in 3 years gives me a bit less guilt.) So the plan should I not be hired is...

Las Lenas for the whole summer. I speak no Spanish, and thus can also treat it as a learning opportunity as America is becoming a bilingual society and that can aid me in business

. I can sell my car and thus have at least $5,000 to cover expenses when added with savings. Obviously not planning to work there due to Visa/job availability but guessing this should be more than enough money to cover a season and travel.

My questions: (and yes I've read every thread on SA/Las Lenas here, but need some clarrification)
1. What are my options getting Spanish instruction? Skiing and learning Spanish will be my only set objectives (although Sin Salida (sp?) is on the list). I speak decent French which will likely help in learning, but am guessing I'll want to take a cash course as soon as I graduate as well.

2. When should I have all my options firmly planned out? From what I understand the long-term apartments fill up fast. Have found the Skilaslenas.com site that is helpful to some degree, but how hard is it to find roomates?

3. Season pass. From what it sounds like it's $750ish and you just buy it at the ticket counter when you get there. Is this true?

4. What is a realistic expectation for the season. Mid June-mid Sept?

5. Any one have expiriance with SouthAmericaski.com? It looks like the best way to get everything figured out, but obviously don't want to screw myself over heading into the trip, and am guessing I might incur some uneeded expenses through them.

6. What are the insurance options/costs (travelers insurance?) granted I'll see a bit more cautiously than when I'm in America due to hospital proximity/quality, but I'm thinking the backup plan should probably be in the works.

I won't know if I'll go forward with this for a few weeks till I know of employment prospects, but am just trying to get the logistical aspects nailed down in case I need to start figuring out things faster. I've read Squirrel's thread and am guessing he might be of great value. Any mags that will be staying thier for the season let me know, as if unemployed one month from now I will almost certainly be making the plunge. Anyone that has spent a summer there and could give me a more accurate pictures of the details and espcially of the budget I need would be appreciated.

**mtbakerskier** · 03-21-2007, 12:47 AM

Well I have never been to SA before, I can say that you should just let fate decide its self nd live every dya for what it is. Donst stress about gettign a job and entering the profession that you studied for in school. I gradumacated two years ago with a specilaized engineering degree, and I have no interestes or plans to use it. Reember you do not have to conform to the status qou, and it is possible to not only get by, but to make a living doing waht you are passionate about. You jsut got to learn to get creative.

**snoboy** · 03-21-2007, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

nd dya Donst gettign interestes Reember qou waht jsut

I guess typing isn't part of an engineering degree!

**hop** · 03-21-2007, 12:56 AM

Uhhh, yeah, what MBS said (if I read that right)

Go to SA, hang in Mendoza and take a crash course in Spanish, bang hot women, then go to Las Leñas and don't speak a word of your new language since there are so many gringos there you don't need to. Ski to your hearts content, travel around a bit, and come home broke, happy, and ready to work just long enough to do it again.

Oh, Medjet Assist insurance is pretty cheap and if you need it they will fly you to any hospital you choose anywhere in the world. It's worth the couple hundred bucks if you're going down there or anywhere else that might be sketch.

**pechelman** · 03-21-2007, 01:11 AM

is 5k really enough for a season? no idea just asking.
youre already out almost 2k of that for a season pass and travel id think.

might as well consider NZ as well or just someplace in yurp

im pretty worthless with trying to answer your questions, but either way man, good luck! (and screw the job thing, go skiing, 30-40k isnt worth it)

**elchupanebre4** · 03-21-2007, 01:30 AM

I'm guessing 5K will be close, but I can sell my Roadie as well, and the internship I'm in right now pays me fairly well, so I might have the option of saving a bit more before going. while I'll be watching expenses fairly closely I'm not too worried, have some skis I don't techinically need that I could rationalize getting rid of for the sake of this, as well as most everything else I own, as I'm starting to embrace the whole idea that having a ton of shit to lug around just ties you down and it starts to own you. Basically I'm on board if I don't get the job, my only hesitation if I get the job and turn it down is the fact that I won't have a chance to follow the doors that this job was open, as I really don't have the education to even get my resume looked at by a regular accounting firm, much less get an interview or land an entry level job. I'm not concerned too much with the future now, but knowing that I might have a family to provide for one day always is in the back of my head when I make these decisions, and as much as I have realized I don't need money, I also realize that in our country it requires money to support loved ones, moeny that would be easier to earn if I started working/saving now, or at least got the expiriance to have a better job later in life. Basically I could end up regreting either decision. If I don't ski and live life now, I'll grow old and always wonder what if. Yet if I ski now and can't "succeed" later, I'll regret not taking the opportunities laid I might have choosen. Basically Lifes a Motherfucker. And I convinced myself it was a good thing not to be a trust fund recipient.....

**Telepath** · 03-21-2007, 02:47 AM

In short I skied full time for almost 10 years, starting out doing dishes and stuff to pay for it and ending up being spancered and doing all kinds of consulting stuff in outdoor sports branding, R&D (Lofoten anyone?) and such. Along the way I learned A LOT about myself and the world in general. Mind you, I was never ignorant - read a lot of all kinds of stuff, picked spancers that allowed me to actually work with them and learn stuff, trying hard to find ways of selling the knowledge I aquired along the way (yes, I surfed TGR for work, selling small grassroots trend analysis papers based among other things on various internet forums), pick up languages etc.. Some 1.5 years ago I decided I did not really want to do this anymore. I still ski , still get some stuff too, but I'm just like every other skier. I'd gotten to do what I wanted, never really wanted to bust my body aiming at high-profile ski filming or comps; just getting paid to ski whereever I wanted was great. However I realized that I needed to spend more time pursuing other ambitions and using my head even more.

Now I am a business student with a kid, relatively expensive appartment, sweet job in a software co, pretty frikkin busy and I LOVE IT! The person that I am now is hugely a result of doing what I wanted & dreamed of in an intelligent way for a lot of years. And I find that I am now able to get very good academic results, be a dad, work like 60% of full time at a decently demanding job, ski and windsurf a lot (skied like 50 days and windsurfed close to 100 last year) and LOVE THIS LIFE in a way that I could never have pulled off 10 years ago. Indeed, my brother who only skied full time for a few years now has his great masters degree in his pocket, sweet job secured and loves life too, but there is not a chance he is happier than me (though I'm not saying it's the opposite either). I have no doubt that in another 10 years I'm easily on the same professional level as him given that I expect a career path way steeper due to various experiences and insights related to my choices so far. In the long run I don't believe I will loose out financially, though of course now being a student (among other things) I'm not exactly shitting money. And I'm definately not regretting it. So I say:

Do it! And make sure you do it smart.

**Incompetent Boob** · 03-21-2007, 05:01 AM

Nice stuff Telepath.

A couple of things to think about. Right now, I have a lot of credit card debt due to boarding around the world a couple of years running. I don't recommend that. Also, if you sell your car, remember that you'll need to save another 5k to buy one when you return.

I'm not saying don't do it, but go in with your eyes open on what the true cost will be once you've returned. Can you get buy flat-broke and without a car? etc I'd be trying to do it, but save as much as you can beforehand.

**bklyn** · 03-21-2007, 05:15 AM

Start watching airfares now. It's expensive to get down there. Do you have miles to spend or can you get some donated from your parents?

Originally Posted by elchupanebre4

1. What are my options getting Spanish instruction? Skiing and learning Spanish will be my only set objectives (although Sin Salida (sp?) is on the list). I speak decent French which will likely help in learning, but am guessing I'll want to take a cash course as soon as I graduate as well.

- PM me if you'd like some instructional mp3s I can share with you. As Hop said, most of the people in Lenas speak English to some degree, but you'll need to know some basics outside of the resort.

Originally Posted by elchupanebre4

5. Any one have expiriance with SouthAmericaski.com? It looks like the best way to get everything figured out, but obviously don't want to screw myself over heading into the trip, and am guessing I might incur some uneeded expenses through them.

- Yes. YMMV. My advice is to contact them sooner rather than later. They're not able to accommodate "last minute" requests and their definition of "last minute" may not be yours.

**Scottish_Skier** · 03-21-2007, 05:34 AM

Time is a valuable asset....
Do it.

A couple of months ski bumming might leave you broke in the short term.
But it certainly wont screw your carer for the next 40 years.

**BigAirSkier1580** · 03-21-2007, 06:42 AM

Do it while you've got nothing holding you back and tying you down with committment.

I got involved in a serious relationship early on, and it has kept me from doing the bumming thing, and although I love my girlfriend with all my heart and will be marrying her, I do regret not ever having the opportunity to skibum it.

**Telemarketeer** · 03-21-2007, 08:23 AM

Do it! DO IT! I gotta say that traveling the world changed my life dramatically and really gets you to realize that there is a lot more out there than just the ol' USA.

The incompetent boob was right though. Don't come back broke and with no car. I did once and it ruined about a year of my life. Seriously! Always have a backup plan for when you get back. Leave a few grand in a safe deposit box for when you return and don't blow all your cash on hookers and blow!

With an accounting degree you can always get a job at a resort as a night auditor. Work nights and ski days.

**covert** · 03-21-2007, 08:31 AM

las lenas sucks....cerro castor is way better

**maskinut** · 03-21-2007, 08:37 AM

After graduation in '02 I decided a 30k a year job in Boston's Financial services business was not worth a day of my time. I also decided that anyone who wanted to play by the rules and try to work themselves up though that process was never going to have a career trajectory that would satisfy me. So, I moved to Aspen and was a valet at a super expensive hotel. I spent 2 years mingling with celebrities and CEO's (aka parking their cars). I also landed a short term gig marketing for the Aspen Ski Co as well. When I returned to the "real world" I crushed interviews with confidence and stories about my valet job. It was not typical interview foddor, not something I planned to talk about and that actually helped me to stand out. Boring people who took boring jobs they didnt like did not show confidence and did not show leadership. I was able to talk about how I handled a sticky situation with Michael Eisner and how I managed the arrival of the cast of Sex and the City. I really scored with the marketing gig because I could relate anecdotal valet experience with "real" work experience. ( It took 1/.5 years to get in the door at ASC marketing and it is still something I want to retun to.) One interview wanted to know if I had what it takes to really go for it and throw myslef into the work. I started the story with the decision to move out to Aspen and "feed my soul" as some might say. Then I talked through the decision to move back to the city and go for the career full speed. I ended the interview with a story about a 100 foot gap jump I helped organize for a PBP filming session with Jon Olsson and a few other pros and how I and a co-worker worked up the skills over the course of the year to finally hit it. The moral of the story was, if you half ass it in your life or career you will crash. If you air it out and do what you want and CHARGE IT. You will clear the jump and come down a hero in your head and probably do well for yourself.

I still struggle with the fact that I am 26 and might still want to go ski for a couple of more years while I am single and have no kids but I also struggle with the fact that I have an awesome job in softare marketing that challenges me everyday. I was able to buy my dream car this year. It is a car that I used to park often at when I was a valet in Aspen. ( an 04 Audi S4 with a Thule Box and snow tires.)

So, if I ever get laid off or burnt out I might be back in Aspen or Alta or JH. But, if I can keep my career going at the right trajectory and speed I will land clean no matter what and may just have to move to SLC or Denver some day with a family to make up for those 1-200 days of skiing I am passing up now.

I have a picture of me hitting the gap jump over my deskand my big tip is this, dont let your skills get old. If you want to be an accountant move to a ski town and beg every accountant in town to let you help him for free. You know they want to ski during tax season. You know you are there to ski but you also want to return to the "real" world someday and have a shot at a decent job. Have your cake and eat it too. Get some experience in what you want to do at any cost while in a ski town. When you move to the city you will have a great story about living your life and building your career.

Note: I skied 4 fee of fresh in VT Sunday and I had to go to LA last week for work. I took redeyes each way to save travel time and skied in Alta on the return trip. I still get my piece of the action just not 115 days a year.

**bklyn** · 03-21-2007, 08:48 AM

The post above reminds me to say this to you about your major:
The business cycles in accounting are not conducive to NA skiing. YE preparations eat up early season, tax prep eats up the rest. Make sure you learn Spanish and can sleep well on long flights because your goods will be gotten in the southern hemisphere.

**justcuz** · 03-21-2007, 08:54 AM

I have been through that same exact decision point in my life. Somewhere along the line, I decided I'm not quite as risky as most people and kind found a nice balance for me. I pursued a career, which I love. But a HUGE part of the equation for me was that I needed to be in a place where I could ski part of the year and windsurf the other part.......and I don't want to drive too far for either. Now I live within 5 minutes of the beach and I literally own a house in a ski in ski out situation. It was hard to find a good job in my local, but I was patient and worked hard at it.

The moral to my story is that you don't have to live a "risky" life to do something you love. I still ski 50+ days a year and windsurf 45ish (the windsurfing is harder for me since we don't have consistent winds like the gorge or San Fran). But that is as much as I want to do either sport.

If you wanna go ski, go ski.........but don't hesitate to pick a location you want to live and begin networking with people in that area. You can ski bum until a job opens where you want it to open......

**boludo** · 03-21-2007, 08:55 AM

You'll need a lot more than $5k for a season in Las Lenas - inflation down there is a bitch.

Finding a place to stay is not that hard - just don't turn up with the rest of North America at the end of August, expecting to ski "Santa Rosa" and find a bed in the resort. If you are on a tight budget, consider staying in Malargue or another resort. A bed in a cramped apartment in LL will be at least 20 bucks/night.

Or, as someone mentioned, learn spanish in Mendoza and test it out on the local females in Apeteco.

**justcuz** · 03-21-2007, 08:58 AM

P.S....

Couldn't have done any of this without my degree.

**stupendous man** · 03-21-2007, 09:15 AM

No one ever looks back and says, "damn, I wish I had just a little more time as an accountant."

**maskinut** · 03-21-2007, 09:22 AM

Great point. Accounting is the worst ski profession unless you work for the Mountain where you can work 2-10 pm. If you have kids that doesn't work well after a while.

I have a friend doing accounting for a hedge fund and he never skis ever anymore ever. So sad.

Tax Season is Ski Season.

**4matic** · 03-21-2007, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by stupendous man

No one ever looks back and says, "damn, I wish I had just a little more time as an accountant."

unless you are 65 y/o hoping the Social Security check clears..

**maskinut** · 03-21-2007, 09:53 AM

Who knows how long you will live but it sure is nice to think that you will have the physical means and financial means to think about skiing when you are 65.

an alternative viewpoint....all the hippie parents I know that followed their bliss and moved to ski/surf towns in the 60 and 70 are millionaires now because of real estate. Then it was cheap hinterland, now it is called Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Cape Cod and Laguna Beach. Those people had their cake and ate it too.... truly.

**hop** · 03-21-2007, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by bklyn

- Yes. YMMV. My advice is to contact them sooner rather than later. They're not able to accommodate "last minute" requests and their definition of "last minute" may not be yours.

You might be able to do some last-minute magic towards the end of the season. IIRC there was a fair amount of spare bed selling/swapping/stealing (PM Arty for details) amongst the gringo crews.

**maskinut** · 03-21-2007, 12:23 PM

Why Las Lenas.....So you can ski 100% and never work?

I don't think Spanish is that valuable in the accounting profession...

If you are trying to balance a future career with skiiing I would suggest a job in the US at a US ski area, keeping your car, making enough money to rent a bed and eat. This leaves you with a car, some money, and at least some references as well as some work experience. No working at all and skiing until you are at $0 is probably not going to help your resume much or your effort to nail a job when you decide you have had enough.

Then again, if you really dont care aout the job element go to las Lenas and ski all day. If you want a balance stay in the US or at least work on something at Las Lenas.

**elchupanebre4** · 03-21-2007, 01:59 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, I could have never gotten this great of advice anywhere else. One of the deciding elements is I'm still not 100% sure I want to pursue accounting (went in this direction as I was uncertain where in business I wanted to go, and this seemed like it would provide me with the most all round expiriance, my degree however is more of a gerneral Business and Economics degree with probably more of an emphasis on international business and econ than accounting). I need more school later so I can sit for the CPA, plus I have been agonizing over tax season= ski season for awhile now. At first I convinced myself I could substitute it with downhilling, but still not sure.

Also my thoughts for Las Lenas. I'm burnt out from college, am realizing if I want to do something like this, now is the time, as pretty soon a carreer or something along those lines will make it a whole lot more difficult to get away. Money might not be too bug of an issue, as relationships with the parents have improved and they would liekly spot me a bit to do something I love. I might get lucky in that my potential future employeer gives interns the option of delaying starting work till September, I figure if that door opens up I at least have a job to come back to.

Also a question for those in the know. Does it really look that bad to take a few months off before going to work in the eyes of future employeers. I was under the impression that it's a common thing to do, and if I told an interviewer I needed to go ski for a few months and they had a problem with that, it doesn't sound like a company I want to work for. All in all I've pretty much made up my mind that SA is where I want to be this summer. It might not be the best career move, but life isn't all about your carreer, especially when your 21. Thanks to all who have chimed in, your comments made me rethink a few things I may have overlooked, and helped me realize that I probably don't need a bunch of mags to coax me into thinking I should do this, as I probably should do it regardless of what others say.

BTW the whole idea of SA is becuase due to the aforementioned problem of tax season, and the 40hr intern work weeks+ school my ski season has been minimal since January. Combine that with a college in Socal, and you begin to start realizing you have neglected skiing in your decisions. This is starting to turn into a rexamine what I'm doing with my life, not jsut a rexamine what I'm doing with my summer...