| WORK IN JAPAN Snow Jobs
Hokkaido' deep, dry powder
attracts a particular type of skier and snowboarder the kind with no patience for either
long lift lines or patrolmen who take away their passes for cutting their own great tree
runs off trail. Six meters of snow in winter and torrential melts in spring have enchanted
more than a few foreigners who never leave. Hilary Hinds Kitasei spoke to one such
resident, Ben Kerr, an Australian snowboarding instructor who runs his own chalet in the
resort of Niseko.
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| Hokkaido-based
snowboarding instructor Ben Kerr |
How
can someone in Tokyo find a winter job at one of these resorts?
It's best to contact instructing companies directly. Other possibilities
include rental shops, hotel positions or pension work. Pensions
(lodges) usually provide free accommodation, meals, lift passes
and a bit of money in return for cleaning and food preparation work.
Most jobs (especially for big hotels) are allocated by November
- it's best to get in early. I am happy to give information to anyone
interested.
Are there any certification or language requirements?
Not usually. The non-Japanese people instructing here are qualified
in their own countries or not at all. When you start instructing
for a school, it will usually put you through a short course explaining
how they would like you to teach. As for language, the more Japanese
you can speak the better, but if you're good with gestures (which
a lot of the work is) then it's not really necessary. Some students
request English-only lessons.
How are instructors paid - by the lesson, the hour or the
season - and is it the same for foreign and Japanese instructors?
Usually per lesson. Depending on the number of students, you might
get paid from JY3500 for a half-day (two hour) lesson. Depending
on the school, there can be differences between Japanese and Western
instructors. Apart from buying your season lift pass, it's not really
that expensive to live here. A lesson or two a day is plenty - and
very important to leave free riding time.
Do Japanese expect a different teaching style?
They tend to listen to what you are saying more than Westerners.
Technique and form are very important here, whereas most Westerners
want to do their own thing.
How did you open your own chalet?
My wife is Japanese and working together has made many things a
lot easier. Having worked with other pensions and as a Niseko guide
for travelling Westerners over the last five years, our own chalet
became the next obvious step. Catering to both Westerners and Japanese,
we have used our experiences to create a really great place. With
a ride-to-the-door location and a fully-equipped customers' kitchen,
it's a lot of fun. During the summer our chalet is shared by rafting
guides.
Niseko is a group of four resorts located on Anuppuri mountain,
three hours southwest of Sapporo in Hokkaido. Ben Kerr welcomes
inquiries about either work or play in the area. He can be contacted
at the Hirafu Chalet (tel: 0136-21-2500, email: ben@niseko-hirafu.com
website: www.niseko-hirafu.com).
Alternatively, you can find out information in Japanese at these
websites:
www.niseko-tokyu.co.jp
www.hirafu.com
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