As we continue our series profiling seasonal jobs on the skifields, Australian Chad Devevnish tells Henrietta Kjaer of his job as ski instructor at Coronet Peak and what keeps him coming back.
Chad Devevnish: Because I want to share my passion for skiing.
QT: What made you come back for more seasons?
CD: The people I meet and the positive vibe I feel in this job keeps me coming back to Queenstown.
QT: What kind of work did you do before you took up this job?
CD: I am a chef by trade, but needed to get out of the kitchen.
QT: What is the best thing about your job?
CD: Seeing the happy faces at the end of the ski lessons.
QT: Which challenges come with the job?
CD: Keeping control of large groups of kids during the busy school holidays.
QT: Which skills or qualities are needed to do your job?
CD: You need good people skills, initiative and the ability to ski well. Decision-making skills are also important - and it helps to be extrovert.
QT: What is your best advice to people who move to Queenstown for seasonal work?
CD: Come loaded and party hard! Make sure you have a return ticket.
QT: What has been your most amusing or surprising on-the-job experience so far this season?
CD: That would be when I saw a 5-year-old pulling a front-flip off by accident.
