Work and Play the Whistler Way

FIRST DAY BOARDING!

Lyndsey and I about to get on the Whistler Gondola. 8.30am.

I am writing tired and slightly damaged but very happy after my first day on the slopes. I surprised myself by being much better than I was expecting, which I credit to the excellent runs and conditions. I was linking turns fairly easily and preferring blue runs by the end of the day. I know what I need to work on and it’s reassuring to know there will be plenty of days to do so. My new equipment is all fantastic: everything I’ve bought (and been given) is just right.

After trying to teach Emma at the top of the hill (her first time) we ended up sending her back in the gondola to get a lesson which worked out really well for her. Lyndsey, Ange and I rode together all day as we were about the same ability.

There were loads of us out today, and although we kept losing people on the hill we were never far from a familiar face, as only Whistler mountain was open, and only from so far up the hill because of the limited snow in the valley (we had to download on the gondola at the end of the day).

We got our 50% staff discount at the restaurant at the top of the hill for lunch, and the day didn’t cost a penny otherwise.

UNEMPLOYMENT NO MORE

I started work on Saturday: early opening day for Whistler mountain (Blackcomb opens 23rd November). I’d like to say it was well planned and enjoyable, but in reality it was daunting and hectic. There were forty odd people waiting outside the ticket office as I arrived for work at 7am on Saturday. Guest services had queues (sorry – line ups…) with two hours wait at points.

It wouldn’t have been as bad if I was just expected to be a ticket host full stop. But in the back of my mind all the time, as I watched Keryn, who worked in the ticket office last year and has returned as a Senior Host this year, I felt ever so slightly overwhelmed at the thought of attempting to be senior with procedures I know very little about. Cashing up and running all the reports at the end of the day was mind boggling to say the least. My till was only 10c under, 5c of which I recovered the next day, which was a relief. Unfortunately if any of the hosts tills are over or short, it’s up to me to work out why. I haven’t worked any shifts as a Validator yet either (potentially this Friday), and I’ll be stepping in as a Senior Host in Validation too in no time. I realize, however, that I’m in the steepest part of the learning curve, and that it will get easier….

All the training we’d received about being friendly and chatty went fairly amiss as I realized nobody actually wants to be buying a ticket (and they almost always whinge about the price. Come on, 8,171 acres, 38 lifts and 200+ runs!!). Therefore nobody is keen to indulge in chit-chat. They see you as the thing holding up them getting on the hill.

And the early mornings. Oh my god. My alarm was set for 6am on Saturday and 5.45am on Sunday. Five days a week I’ll be getting up that time. I suppose it made it easier to get up at 7am to go boarding this morning though.

ULLR: MASTER OF SKIING AND GENERAL SUAVITY

The mountain held a party for Ullr, the Norse God of snow (obviously a natural on skis) last week. There was a giant bonfire, on which miniature skis were sacrificed in order to encourage Ullr to make snow. Ironically they had trouble lighting the bonfire as it was snowing and had been all afternoon. Vast amounts of fuel were used, and many ski jackets were singed as the fire roared.

As with many Whistler activities, it was impressive: burgers, hot chocolate and fruit cider for staff pass holders, and a miniature ski to throw on the fire upon donation to the local food bank. I met the local carpenter who carved all the skis. Three hundred of them. He said it was worth it if people enjoyed themselves.

I’M SORRY, I DIDN’T GET THAT…

In the UK when I needed to check the balance or top up my pay-as-you-go mobile it was simply a case of punching in a few numbers. For some reason, networks here supply a very friendly virtual assistant (called Melanie on the Rogers network) who is meant to understand what you ask her. Unfortunately Melanie isn’t too good with overseas accents. I often here people repeating insistently “account balance!” into their phone, to which Melanie replies “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that….”. And it goes on.

Time has told that the best way to deal with Melanie is to put on your best Canadian/American accent, particularly when dictating the 14 digit pin number on top up vouchers to her. It does actually work and I don’t even try my normal accent any more.

MONEY FOR MY RAMBLINGS??

My meeting with the editor of the local paper went well and we discussed two story ideas he’d be interested in. I learned that there is considerable financial reward for features published, which is incentive and a half. I just need to write them now, which is proving a lot harder now that work and snowboarding have been added to sleeping and skating.

POUTINE

Chips, cheese and gravy. Lovely.

THE INTRAWEST GUEST SERVICE ‘MANTRA’: READ IT AND WEEP

Recently helpfully provided laminated on a lanyard for us to wear and presumably consult in times of need.

We are excited to be here. Our enthusiasm for the mountains is reflected in our passion for exceptional service. Our guests are impressed. They feel welcomed by our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Our team shares ideas and communicates effectively. We celebrate our successes together.

SURPRISE NEWS FROM HOME

My uncle got married in secret. Well I never.

Winter Wonderland

BRIO IN THE SNOW

I woke up yesterday morning, looked out the window and actually gasped. Walking home from the pub at 1.30am, it had been lightly snowing. At 9.30am there was a good 20cm outside. Unfortunately it hasn't lasted too well and we're back to just general wetness. That didn't stop us having our first epic snowball fight on the way out last night. I fared well for once.

SLOWLY BECOMING INTRAWESTED

After six days of training I now have a gap before my last two days. Training has been very varied. Learning about all the different tickets, season passes and discounts was definitely very interesting and I promptly phoned Andrew and Jen to advise them on the early bird offers still available. As the answer to a lot of the questions in training was "ask your senior host" or "look to your senior host for support" I tried to pay as much attention as possible. Senior host training is two days this week, so I'll be interested to see what tools they supply us with in order that we can answer with some sort of authority...

The first day of tickets/validation training was an epic day packed with team games (including sketches to demonstrate going 'above and beyond': luckily one group lightened the mood with a bear providing excellent customer service on the slopes by returning a half-eaten child, and the Whistler Blackcomb "child replacement scheme"). You couldn't make up some of the stuff we had to do - chanting the customer service mantra in our most enthusiastic voices for one. I am certainly in Canada.

I found out definitively that I will be working in both tickets and validation, which means I'll be at the bottom of the slope scanning tickets and organising queues as well as in the ticket windows. With a $75 incentive for every fraudulent or inappropriate pass found, and nice Whistler Blackcomb pants and jacket as uniform, I'm quite pleased about that.

KEEPING OUT OF TROUBLE...?

Lyndsey, Emma, me and Tara: What's the Name of the game!!??

Otherwise I've been skating, partying and sleeping. We've got a good group building here at Brio. The dynamic is still changing, as people who didn't succeed in getting work for the mountain move out and those from the waiting list move in. We're still waiting for our fourth flatmate, apparently also called Laura and paying rent but not in town yet.

I have a meeting set up with the editor at one of the local papers here with a view to doing some sort of writing or work experience which I'm enormously excited about.

I haven't missed a Canucks game yet, particularly as we now have our very own TV (purchased for a mere $30 from the 'Re-Use It Centre'. Sadly they took a complete whooping from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

MISSING YOU

Now that I'm settling a bit, I'm starting to miss you all back home. I printed a load of photos and stuck them up on my wall to remind me of all the good times.

Whistler: Waiting for Snow

SETTLING IN

It’s been great so far. Meeting everyone in house (80% Aussies, though I did meet a couple from Buckie the other night), going out, getting to know Whistler, sharing bear stories…but quite unpleasant as we all played the waiting game to find out if we’d been successful in getting jobs for the mountain and can stay on in staff accommodation (finding your own accommodation is near impossible in Whistler). I ended up cutting the waiting a day short by phoning earlier than my allotted call back. My flatmates had both phoned and I couldn’t bear it any more! We were all lucky (/successful), and I’ve exceeded my own expectations. They’ve given me a supervisory position as a Senior Host in Tickets/Validation. I could hardly believe it. The sad part is that a lot of the mates we’ve made in house didn’t get jobs and are slowly being evicted. It’s cruel. I’ll be working at Creekside, about a 5 minute bus trip from where I live. I was a little disappointed that I’m not working in the main resort, but it’ll be quieter at Creekside which will make my life a lot easier!

Brio, where I’m living, was a good choice (for ‘older people’, they say). It’s down from the village, about 10 minutes walk through the ‘valley trail’ – always a joy to see if there might be a bear lurking on the path. I dislike walking it alone now I’ve heard so many bear stories. Not that they are a problem as everyone that has seen one has been completely ignored: they’re not interested in us. We saw one rummaging in the garbage the other night, from inside, which was a very satisfactory bear experience. We also saw a raccoon in the same spot. Turns out having a good view of the garbage dumpsters is a positive thing.

HOME SWEET HOME

My flat is basic – very reminiscent of my flat in Manchester in first year. I was expecting that, so it’s fine. Luckily my roommate Ange (23, Australia) is a complete star. She is the happiest little person, almost too nice for her own good (balances me out, I like to think), but she also has a wicked sense of humour. There is another two-person room in the flat, but only one person in it thus far. The other should be arriving imminently now all the jobs have been dished out. Emma (29, Cornwall) is a good girl too. If you think Essex girls uncovered, that’s Emma. Peroxide hair, startling blue contact lenses, man-devourer. Though she’s yet to impress us on that front. I’ve landed on my feet in that both girls love to party, but are brilliant around the house. Ange and I have had frank discussions about space, and respect each others’, so it’s going to be fine sharing a room. I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather share with.

HALLOWEEN, CANADIAN STYLE

With my love of fancy dress, it’s been a good week. Trailer trash night last Thursday, and of course Halloween just past. We spent much of the night queuing as everywhere was rammed, but it was funny and the costumes were fantastic. I was some sort of Fame/80s cheerleader. Making my pom-poms took an hour and a half but it was worth it!

GETTING 'INTRAWESTED'

I started training yesterday, and have another tomorrow then 4 days of it next week. Yesterday was some sort of coaching course, which was fairly tedious – lots of role play. Most people there already work for Whistler Blackcomb, in supervisory roles, so I felt a bit weird. I just played along and am still hoping that they don’t decide they’ve made a mistake and demote me.

RAIN. RAIN. RAIN.

It has turned cold here now, after nearly a solid week of rain. There have been the odd flurries of snow, but nothing lying yet. We’re all waiting for the dumping to begin, because that’s when we’ll start work (money is an issue for everyone just now).

Amusing ourselves has gotten easier as we become more familiar with the area. I gathered a group and went ice-skating on Monday at the local sports centre. I’m determined to become pseudo-Canadian, and skate well. I also can’t wait to skate on a lake (Alta Lake here freezes over in the winter – SO exciting). I decided to buy my own hockey skates, after trying both figure and hockey skates at the rink. I just had them fitted and sharpened just now and will be going skating as much as I can until I start work.

There’s a lovely pool at the centre as well, with a rope swing, which was all well and good until I gave myself cramp in my leg trying to climb up it. I had to hang there until it subsided. Idiot.

WELCOMED AS A NEW WHISTLERITE

On Monday Whistler Chamber of Commerce organised a $2 pancake brunch for new residents, with member of the Rotary club doing the cooking and serving. For some reason it was held in the fire station. A surreal, but fabulous, experience: particularly when the firemen were called out to deal with something. That night they organised for Westbeach to screen a snowboarding movie and a pro boarder gave us a talk about ‘common sense’ (of which he clearly has none). Then they threw out a load of freebies which had people scrabbling. I got a decent belt.

ENOUGH LEISURE TIME TO SHAKE A STICK AT

In the meantime, plenty of TV and Kraft Dinner. Going for beers to watch the hockey is my new love – there are certainly plenty of games on. The Vancouver Canucks play 82 games apparently. And half hoping, half not hoping to see a bear out and about.

I’d been thinking of taking a trip down the Vancouver for a few days, but with lots of activities on for us new people (pool party Friday night, $2 dinner at the conference centre on Saturday night) and with my random training and uniform pick-up sessions I’ll be best sticking around here.

I hope this find you all well and happy.