The Ski Rider Hotel Motel.
Located half way up the road between Jindabyne and the Perisher Ski Resort is the Ski Rider Hotel. Australia is not well known for snow but we defiantly get some in the higher southern mountain areas.
After backpacking in Europe in late 1991, I needed some money and with getting a taste of what it would be like while staying in the Swiss ski Village of Grindalwald, I was keen to see if I could work a Australian Ski Season without all of the Language hassles.
It was easier than I thought to land a job with very little hospitality experience but just before the short Australian Ski season started I was driving south in my little corolla station wagon car.
The main part of the hotel was built in 1956.
A kitchen hand is not the most glamorous job at the hotel but with early and late shifts I got to ski and snow board almost every day.
Most of the staff actually lived at the hotel as well so we all became good mates.
I got a discounted seasons lift pass and was up there every chance I got.
It took me a while to get the hang of it, but before long i was having a go at everything.
Being there all season meant we could participate in all the events the ski resort put on.
One of the major TV channels had a wild winter weekend, complete with Tyre tube races.
The Ski Rider had up to 400 quests per night so we also organised live music and other entertainment as well.
My favourite day of the week was race day, Just a short course around 12 or so flags.
We used to film the races and then show the film during dinner at the hotel. That's me with the camera and the Boss commentating.
I did the race course in the hotels summo suit for special occasions. It wasn't easy.
As a kitchen hand, I was known as a dish pig.
Lots of fun times both on and off the mountain.
It was such a good experience, working at the Ski Rider Hotel, I did 3 seasons in a row 1992,3 and 4.