I am now nearing the end of my season here in Australia, and that definitely deserves a blog post!
So far, my season down here has been full of experiences. Both experiences that only happen as a ski instructor, but also different experiences that I will probably only encounter here. The season itself is very different from what I experienced in Austria. Of course, there are also many of the same impressions that I had as a ski instructor in Austria. But all in all, when I think about my season down here, the overall picture is something else.
Now, you’re probably wondering why? And the question is probably difficult to answer until you’ve experienced it yourself. I could use many words to describe and compare, but you would probably be left with even more questions than you started with.
A season in Australia only lasts three months, making it a relatively short season compared to many other places. But that also means things move fast, and time completely flies by. The feeling that I have just had my first work week still bubbles inside me, so it’s a strange realization that it’s almost over. Even though it’s “only” been two months since I started, my suitcase is already almost full of experiences and impressions.
Australians want their lessons no matter what
After a season in Austria, I thought I had experienced all kinds of weather, but I was wrong. In Australia, there is no real in-between weather. It’s either extreme rain, extreme heat, or extreme wind. I’ve had days with wind speeds up to 200 km/h, days with rain that felt like a shower, and hail that hurt so much on my skin that I was almost afraid it would leave bruises.
I had actually never skied in the rain before—slushy snow, yes, but pouring rain, never. The first time it happened, I thought it was super fun, and I went around taking pictures of myself in my rain gear. Something that the locals found extremely funny that I was so excited about. But I have to say, my excitement about working in the rain dropped significantly after a few times.
But the weather doesn’t stop the Australians at all. That surprised me quite a bit because I thought they would stay far away if the weather was too cold or too rainy. But I might as well forget that idea because they are there in all kinds of weather. The reason is that seeing and experiencing snow is so rare for them.
Families often come here just for a weekend, and no matter how the snow or the weather is, they still show up, and they just want lessons. On those days, the only thought in my head is: and they call us “the crazy Danes”…
After two hours of teaching in pouring rain = soaking wet
Say it with Barbecue
Besides the guests being really eager for lessons, my impression of Australians is that they are really open and welcoming. It’s easy to feel at home here because everyone is friendly, and you always have a little chat with the people you meet.
In addition, I had the pleasure of experiencing a real Australian barbecue. The day went like this: after work, we came home, and our landlord was waiting with beer in the snow and fired up the grill.
When I say “we,” I mean the 50 people who live in our massive shared lodge. It was a super relaxed evening, and the whole point was just to be together. It wasn’t about having the best food, the best beer or music, or getting completely drunk. No, it was simply about sitting together and chatting.
Of course, I might have to admit that quite a bit of beer and Australian wine was consumed. But that’s probably more because we’re all ski instructors and lifties (the people who operate and control the ski lifts), so that just comes with the job. But it was an incredibly pleasant atmosphere, and completely relaxed.
Something that, in my impression, really matches the Australian mentality: relaxed and open.
Snow, snow, and more snow
The snow here means a lot and makes a huge impression in many different ways. Firstly, it is very different to ski on. It’s a mix of wet, crystallized, and icy. And no, it’s not frozen slush snow like in Austria. It’s very different. It’s not as light as in other places in the world, which is because they don’t get huge snowflakes like in Japan or Austria. But they still have some fantastic slopes, and on top of that, they are really great at making different jumps in the park. Almost none of the guests have seen snow before, and their reactions can sometimes be enchanting.
One day, I had a five-year-old boy who was seeing snow for the first time. He was completely amazed by it on the first day. He kept asking me why he didn’t fall through it, since it’s frozen water. Later, when I looked away for a few minutes, he decided to take off his boot, just to see if he would fall through the snow without it. Of course, that ended with us having to run inside to dry his socks, since they got completely wet. It was hilarious to hear him talk about his snow fantasies. And even though he was one of the few who took it a step further to investigate what snow really is, his reactions weren’t far from what many of the children—and sometimes even the adults—think about snow. It’s always entertaining for me to see and experience, having grown up with snow since I was a kid.
Zack on the left, who took off his boot to feel the snow.
Ski Instructor: A Life-Affirming Job
As a ski instructor, you encounter all kinds of children, and each has grown up with their own story. A week ago, I had the pleasure of teaching a truly wonderful girl who really made me appreciate being a ski instructor. I was pulled aside by my manager, who asked if I had ever worked with children with special needs before. The first thought that ran through my head was: Shit… There is definitely a difficult child in ski school, and now I have to take care of them. I politely answered that I had not, but that I would of course take the lesson. She said great, because she thought I was definitely the best choice for this lesson.
I was then told that I was going to teach a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome. That meant she was mentally and physically challenged. My panicked thoughts were racing: What can a girl with Down syndrome do? How much should I push her to do a snowplow? How do I handle this? What do I say to her if it is completely impossible? How do I communicate with her?
The sweat started to build a little on my forehead, and at that moment, I was quite happy about my big ski goggles.
When I met her, she was incredibly sweet. She had decided to bring her two teddy bears, because they also had to ski. She fought so hard and struggled a lot with the physical aspects. But even though it was challenging, and I would normally get a bit frustrated that I couldn’t teach my student to ski, it was an amazing lesson. In three hours, you would usually expect a beginner to start learning turns, and she was nowhere near being able to stop. She was happy the whole time, smiling from ear to ear throughout the lesson.
It was touching to see and to be part of her learning process. Especially when I spotted her mother standing on the sideline, crying her eyes out. Even some of the other instructors, lifties, and managers came over and commented on it after the lesson. The sweetest girl with a difficult life ahead of her, but with that attitude, I have no doubt that she will make it. Again, I had to remind myself how lucky I am to get to work with so many different people from all over the world, each with their own unique story.
The good days, when the mood is high!
So, with the season ending soon, I will enjoy and experience as much as possible!
Peace out, and enjoy the Danish late summer, which is luckily heading towards winter and snow! Many greetings from Victoria.
The good days, when the mood is high!
So, with the season ending soon, I will enjoy and experience as much as possible!
Peace out, and enjoy the Danish late summer, which is luckily heading towards winter and snow! Many greetings from Victoria.