A winter season in Wanaka

Beeing a Backpacker is not always chill. But I have to say it could have been worse. After a couple of weeks waiting for the season to start.

I had a cool job as a bus driver. At 7.45am I started to collect my passengers at home at their hostel or the sport shop in town. Leaving at 8.30am We arrived around 9.15-9.30am at the ski field. Depending on the road conditions.
Mostly driving up to SnowPark. This is more a playground for all kind of tricks than a ski field. Huge jumps, rails and boxes and a Olympic half pipe. It was the last years the Mekka for all guys loving the tricks. Due to financial problems prio the season most of the professionals bought a season pass for Cardrona Alpine Resort on the other side of the valley. So it was mostly quiet. My wages are dependence on the bus size. Less customers at the park meant less passengers and a smaller bus. So I tried to earn some extra money with a photo service. Shooting the jumps and tricks and sell them online. Most days the same guys trained and so I stopped this because shooting over and over the same guys doesn't bring cash flow.
Shortly befor the end of the season I got a second job at SnowFarm. It is just arround the corner of SnowPark. The only Nordic and Backcountry Ski Area in New Zealand. I meet the Canadian and US Nordic Ski Team, The Korean just left at my first work day and some of New Zealands Athletes have been around. Here I worked first for the rentals. Giving out skies and boots, mounting bindings, waxing and maintaining the skies and all other equipment. Mary and Ray my managers took me later on into the Ski School as well where I "guided" or better instructed school classes which came up for a winter sport day. A really direct and joy-able work. We had a lot of fun with hunting cartoon characters, playing football on skies and fought snow fights.
At home with my flatmates everything was fine and we had a lot of fun with BBQs, bake offs, parties and as well just watching telly with popcorn :-)
So over all I can't really complain. The money was less than I calculated (thanks to my parents for their help) Mood shifts because of not earning that much as well as missing my girlfriend. But the experiences I made will last for ever I hope.