Immerse yourself in the country, not just the snow.

I’ve hinted at the notion before; making the most of a ski season means making the most of the country you’re visiting, not just heading straight to the snow. That means doing a bit of adventuring before you reach the resort and if you can, a little bit more before you leave the country. Whether it’s visiting other ski fields to check out the other POW spots or backcountry touring, or even hitting up the nearest park to perfect that new trick you’ve been attempting on the smaller features all season. Perhaps it’s staying with the locals and finding out about how they live, doing a food focused trip around the local towns and cities, or a couple of less snowy hikes or seaside walks in the sunnier spots that take your fancy. Adventuring before your ski season starts is a no brainer. Don’t forget to keep going with it throughout the season if you can too!

When I came to New Zealand I thought I’d make the most of the time I had beforehand and go on an adventure. This decision paid off big time.

Make the journey a part of the adventure:

My first season in New Zealand in 2019 started with a long layover in Dubai staying with my cousins. I explored the city’s museums, marveled at the many tall modern skyscrapers, and dipped my toes in the sea getting my chill fix. It was a fabby way to split up the 36-hour journey from London to Auckland and I was lucky enough to stay with my family to keep the costs down. Once I got to Auckland I spent a few days exploring the city, going for a hike up Mount Eden, on a dinner cruise, and I took a trip around the wineries of Waiheke island all before I set off on a big two trip journey to Queenstown on the kiwi experience bus. Hit subscribe to stay tuned for my article ‘my kiwi experience’ to read more about my trip down to Queenstown and what I’d recommend to do next time. Remember, if you’re traveling long distances across the world, make the most of your layovers by planning them to be in places you’d like to visit.

Find a fun, healthy way to pay your way:

So how did I explore before this 2020 season? Well, covid-19 had me a little more restricted for options this season with me not being able to travel as easily and forcing me to leave Japan for New Zealand sooner than I’d originally hoped. I spent the first few months living with my friend just outside Rotorua at her parents’ country house. I left Japan with little to no money so the pre-season needed to be a financial boost. We both decided to find work kiwifruit picking and to spend our free time working out in her garden to get fit and strong for the winter season. It ended up being really fun and my fitness progress was going really well and so was my bank account. I’d definitely recommend a few months of kiwifruit picking before you head to Queenstown for your winter season.

Enjoy the free-stuff:

If I were to recommend a way to spend your pre-season I’d say it’s best to try to earn some money, save some by doing free activities, keep some aside for some end of season, or post-season activities because you don’t want to be the one saying no to the winery tour or the group bungee jump because you’ve run out of cash now the work has died down at the end of the season. Have you ever thought about earning some extra cash in your free time by teaching English online? I’ve recently discovered it and it is awesome! I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be a successful seasonaire. Click here to read more about how to get started teaching English online.

Get your pre-season sun ahead of the winter fun:

For those of you reading who have already done a season or two in the snow, you may agree that after long winter it’s really important to get your hit of summer sun, sand, and sea. If you plan your pre-season well enough and don’t get affected by COVID antics, you can bag yourself a mini summer in-between northern and southern winter seasons.

It’s not just about New Zealand:

Wherever it is that you may be spending your winter season, there are other cultures and landscapes to explore before you hit the slopes. In Japan for instance you must visit Tokyo, visit the more remote locations of Osaka and Kyoto, take pictures of the blossoms and eat all the delicious sushi and ramen!

In Austria, hike to a mountain top farm lodge and drink your night away on fresh beer. When in France, take the popular detour through the cities of Paris, Dijon, or Grenoble for a typically French food or fashion experience, or head north first to get your warm sun fix. These are just a couple of countries on my list of ski season destinations.

Hit subscribe to keep up to date with more updates on the best counties to do your ski season and the Go-to destinations on your way there/back.

The Ski Nomad