Why preparation matters
The people who have the best seasons aren't the fittest or the most experienced. They're the ones who prepared properly. Not overcommitted, not obsessive, just genuinely ready for what's coming.
A ski season is physically demanding, administratively fiddly, and mentally intense. Here's how to prepare for all three.
Physical preparation
You don't need to be an athlete
But you do need basic fitness. A ski season is physically hard in ways you might not expect:
- Cleaning at altitude: Hoovering, making beds, and carrying laundry at 1,500m+ is genuinely exhausting for the first few weeks
- Skiing every day: Even if you're a good skier, your legs aren't used to skiing for 4–5 hours a day, multiple days in a row
- Long shifts on your feet: Bar staff, hotel reception, and kitchen work mean 8–12 hours standing
- Cold: Your body burns more calories in the cold. Everything is harder when it's freezing
What to focus on (6–8 weeks before)
You don't need a gym membership. You need:
- Legs: Squats, lunges, wall sits. Skiing is a leg sport. Strong quads and glutes make everything from carving to getting up from a fall easier
- Core: Planks, dead bugs, mountain climbers. Core stability prevents injuries and makes you a better skier
- Cardio: Running, cycling, swimming. Whatever you enjoy. You don't need to be marathon-fit, but being able to walk uphill without getting breathless makes a difference at altitude
- Flexibility: Basic stretching or yoga. Tight hamstrings and hip flexors are a recipe for knee injuries on the slopes
A simple pre-season routine
Three times a week, for 6–8 weeks:
- 3x15 squats
- 3x12 lunges (each leg)
- 3x30 second wall sits
- 3x30 second planks (front and side)
- 20 minutes of cardio (running, cycling, whatever)
- 10 minutes stretching
That's it. Nothing fancy. The goal is to arrive in resort without your legs giving out in the first week.
Altitude matters
If you've never spent time above 1,000m, the altitude will hit you. You'll feel more tired, more breathless, and more dehydrated than you expect. It takes about a week for your body to adjust. Drink more water than you think you need, especially in the first few days. Go easy on the alcohol for the first week (easier said than done when everyone's celebrating the start of the season).
Administrative preparation
The boring stuff that matters
Get all of this sorted at least a month before you leave. Chasing documents from abroad is stressful and sometimes impossible.
- Passport: Check it's valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned return. If it expires during the season, renew it now
- Visa/work permit: If you need one, start the process as early as possible. See our Brexit visa guide
- Insurance: Get a season-long policy that covers winter sports, including off-piste if you plan to do any. Standard travel insurance usually excludes winter sports. Check the small print
- EHIC/GHIC card: Apply for one if you don't have it. It covers emergency treatment in EU countries but doesn't replace travel insurance
- Bank account: Set up a multi-currency account (Monzo, Revolut, Wise) if you don't already have one. You'll save hundreds on exchange rates over a season
- Qualifications: Get your Food Hygiene certificate done (online, £15–£25, a few hours). If you need a DBS check, apply early as they can take weeks
- Driving licence: If you have one, bring it. If you don't and it's practical to get one before your season, consider it. A licence opens up driver roles and makes you more flexible
- Phone: Check your mobile plan for EU roaming. Some UK plans include it, others charge. A local SIM is often cheaper for a full season
Mental preparation
What to expect
A ski season is brilliant, but it's also intense. You're leaving home, living with strangers, working a physically demanding job, and adjusting to a new country and altitude. All at once.
The first two weeks are the hardest
Almost everyone finds the first fortnight tough. You're tired from travel, altitude-sick, learning a new job, sleeping in a shared room, and missing home. This is completely normal. Push through it. By week three, it starts to feel like home.
Homesickness is real
Even if you've travelled before, a season is different because it's long. You're not on holiday. You're living somewhere. Homesickness hits most people at some point, usually around week 2–3 and again in February when the novelty has worn off and the end of the season feels far away.
What helps: FaceTime with home regularly but not obsessively. Throw yourself into the social life. Remember that almost everyone around you is in the same boat.
The social intensity
Living and working with the same small group of people for four months is intense. You'll make incredible friendships, but you'll also have days where your housemates drive you mad. This is normal. Everyone's in close quarters, working hard, and tired.
Be the person who does the washing up. Be the person who suggests a ski day when everyone's feeling flat. Small acts of kindness go a long way in a small community.
Say yes
The people who have the best seasons are the ones who say yes to things. The after-work ski with someone you've just met. The trip to the next valley on your day off. The fondue night that sounded boring but turned out to be brilliant.
A pre-season checklist
Use this as a starting point:
- [ ] Passport valid for full season + 6 months
- [ ] Visa/work permit applied for (if needed)
- [ ] Season travel insurance purchased
- [ ] EHIC/GHIC card applied for
- [ ] Food Hygiene certificate completed
- [ ] Multi-currency bank account set up
- [ ] DBS check applied for (if needed)
- [ ] Phone plan checked for EU roaming
- [ ] Basic fitness routine started (6+ weeks out)
- [ ] Gear sorted (see our layering guide and packing guide)
- [ ] Documents photographed and stored digitally
- [ ] PeakWave profile created with availability
You're ready. See you in the mountains.