Chalet Chef Q&A - Keith
My Story: I'm a chef, I started at 16 and have worked as a chef ever since. I found an amazing summer job in a cafe on the west coast of Scotland, but ended up unemployed each winter. For 7 years, I returned to the same job, always searching for winter work. A friend asked what I would do for the winter months and I joked about snowboarding. By the end of August, I arranged my first season in St Anton! Four seasons in, it's still the best work/play lifestyle I’ve found. I just love it, and I’m coming back for a 5th.
Before The Ski Season Begins
How many seasons have you worked?
4 winter seasons and 10 summer seasons.
What did you do before you started seasonal work?
I was a general chef, working in and around my home town of Aberdeen. I started at 16 years old and have done it ever since.
What prompted you to do a ski season?
I started to look for jobs away from city life and found an amazing job in a cafe on a campsite on the west coast of Scotland. I did my first summer season there and ended up unemployed in the winter. I went back to the same job for the next 7 years but every winter I was left looking for work again. I was talking with friends and one asked what I wanted to do work wise for the next few winter months and I joked by saying snowboarding. We did an indeed search for jobs with a free ski pass and loads showed up. This would have been the start of August and by end of August I had arranged to do my first season in St Anton with Esprit.
Once you got offered the job did you need to put anything in order before you left to work abroad?
I was lucky as my flat was not being used and I am fortunate that my bills are minimal that I can leave it as is. You should see the mountain of mail behind the door when you get back from the season!
How did you get a work permit to work in France?
Vlad (the resort manager) applies for the work permit for the company to employ me every year, thankfully. After Brexit I had to get a visa, the first year when the process was new it had many problems. This finally got sorted out 18 months later. After doing two more seasons I have seen the process change and from what I've heard it's now a lot easier to do.
During The Ski Season
How did you get to the ski resort?
Coming from so far north I have always flown to resort and then transfer. This year I'm looking into driving though.
What training did you do to learn how to be a chalet host/assistant/chef at Ski Weekends?
We get 2 weeks of intense training at the start of your first season. This includes cooking / cleaning and covers all areas of your job.
What responsibilities did you have in your role?
As chalet chef the kitchen area and food was my responsibility. This includes food ordering and delivery of all meals for guests.
What support did you receive to continuously develop and to help with any challenging situations or illness?
It was a very straightforward season, we had the same team from start to finish. Whilst we didn't have to call on the resort manager for anything, we knew that he was there, so had we needed to, we could have.
I think that having more mature people on the team attributed to it be a straightforward season, we were all more realistic in terms of time - 4 months is gone in a flash, the commitment to season is more of a definite. We also weren't out partying all the time so we weren't getting run down and tired.
How did you feel being in a mixed age team? Were you able to make friends? Were there any team building activities? Did you feel part of the team?
Hospitality has always been mixed age and I enjoy the fact I get to work with people of all ages.
You do make friends. Some for the season, some you stay in contact with on social media, some you see again on seasons and I’m sure there are a few that are for life.
I do definitely feel part of the team. I have mostly been part of teams in the larger chalets so this helps too.
Where did you live? Who did you live with?
You get a room in the chalet and if you're lucky enough it will be the one you work in. You normally share with a work mate or if you are lucky, you might get a room to yourself.
What did do you do for food? Were any meals included? Did you have facilities to cook/ store food?
At the start of the season I ate the chalet food, same as the guests but after a few weeks I started to make different things as I got bored of eating the same food.
Meals are included in the job.
On my day off I generally ate the same breakfast as guests and then often went out for dinner. Sometimes I'd buy my own food and cook in the chalet. I've been lucky that the chalets I have been in have big kitchens that you can store any food and cook if you wish to do so.
What did you do on your days off?
Big ski days followed by a trip to a spa.
Did you always ski/ board in the same area? Could you leave resort and explore other ski resorts?
You stay local on work days and go farther on days off. The 3 Valleys is a huge ski area - you could if you wanted to but due to cost and no car I just stayed in resort.
Did you have any transport when you were over there? Did you feel like you needed transport?
One work mate had a car so if we really needed anything we could get down the mountain. You don't need one, but if you do have a car it would open up more opportunities.
Who did you socialise with outside of skiing? What did you do?
Friends that have been made while working seasons.
REFLECTING ON THE Season
Was there anything that surprised you about working a ski season?
It wasn't my first season, so no, I knew what to expect.
What were the worst bits?
Being away from friends and family at Christmas and New Year.
What were the best bits?
The amount of time I was out snowboarding!
Would you work another season? Why?
Yes, definitely, it's the best work / play lifestyle I have found and I just love it.
Finally, Is there anything that you'd like to add, or any advice you’d like to give to anyone over 40 who might be thinking about doing a season?
Don’t think about it - if you're in a position to do it, just go for it. You won't regret it. If you've got no mortgage, no dependents, then do it as life in the mountains is like no other. There will be people of a similar age to you there already.