Digital Snowmads

Becoming a digital nomad with the freedom to live and work remotely anywhere in the world is a dream come true for many. 

Since the pandemic in 2020, remote working has become increasingly popular and the norm for many workers around the world, relying solely on technology and the Internet to do their work.

Remote workers are constantly looking for new and exciting places to call home and while busy, vibrant cities often steal the spotlight, ski resorts are becoming ever popular bases for digital nomads, or digital snowmads in this case, to call home.

Perfect powder and empty ski slopes, beautiful scenery, an international community of like-minded people and a great social scene are just a few of the reasons the number of digital snowmads is increasing year after year.

If you are already a competent skier or snowboarder, you will find that your technique will improve in leaps and bounds over the season. Tackling different slopes on all types of snow in all kinds of weather will fine tune your technique taking you from intermediate to advanced level in no time.  You might have to face steep, icy slopes one day and deep powder the next.  Or maybe you are caught in a whiteout with zero visibility relying on your newly acquired knowledge of the mountain to get you back to the lift in safety.  All of these situations you may face over the season will turn you into a pro in no time!

Spending several months in a ski resort will offer the opportunity to learn new skills such as off-piste skiing and snowboarding.  While you may never even experience a powder day on a week-long ski holiday, you will certainly be in the right place at the right time when the snow comes!  Certain off-piste adventures can only be enjoyed in good weather with good snow and so are often cancelled for guests who have booked these activities for a certain day during their holiday.  The beauty of living in the resort for the season is that you are a readily available and waiting for the perfect day to enjoy an off-piste ski day on a glacier or an epic day heli-skiing!

You will also have time to try new sports whether it be snowboarding if you are a skier (or vice-versa), cross country skiing or even ice climbing, you will have the time to do it.

Evolution 2 - Ski & Snowboard School & All Mountain Activities

ESF Ski School - Ski & Snowboard lessons, mountain guides

A season pass offers unbeatable value for those staying multiple weeks, months, or the entire season—costing less than a 3-week pass and perfect for multiple trips in one winter!

Save 45% on your ski pass when you purchase between November 26th and 30th, 2024! Click here for full details.

If you are a complete beginner, being a snowmad will allow you learn to ski at your own pace, take lessons when it suits you and practice in your free time.  Some people find that learning to ski on a week-long holiday is an exhausting experience with relentless early mornings of ski school.  As a digital nomad, you can take one or two private lessons when it suits you (and the weather!) and practice at your leisure when your work diary allows it.  You will enjoy consistent progress and will be carving down those blue and red slopes in no time!

Paul Mackeen - Snowboard Instructor - Horsemouth Snowboarding

One of the luxuries of being a digital nomad in a ski resort is being able to pick and choose when you ski.

You can avoid the busy periods and get your work done in preparation for when the crowds leave and you will have the mountain to yourself.

January and March offer great conditions and quiet slopes with no lift queues whereas December and February are the busy periods - having flexibility to ski when there are less crowds is a real attraction for snowmads.

Skiing over a long period of time will build the muscles in your legs and improve your fitness - all whilst having fun!

The need for a full body massage or a soak in the hot tub after each day on the hill will diminish as the season progresses and you will notice your increased stamina and general fitness.

When you settle into your new ski resort home, you will quickly realise that you are not alone on your digital nomad journey.  Ski resorts are generally home to a big international community packed with like-minded individuals, many of which are also working remotely and share a passion for skiing or snowboarding.

There are many ways to meet new people in a ski resort.  Ski resorts are renowned for their apres-ski and nightlife scene and so you are sure to meet new friends enjoying a drink or two watching a live band one evening.  Or maybe you prefer to join a language course to brush up on the local language - this is a great way to meet people new to the resort.  Fitness classes are also a great way to meet a new group of people sharing your interest in fitness.

Certain companies in ski resorts are geared up to cater for individuals, such as Cold Fusion Chalets in Chamonix.  If you are not staying in their catered chalet, you could join one of their ski away days and enjoy skiing in the company of other like minded individuals with transport, local knowledge and advice and great banter all thrown in!

www.coldfusionchalets.co.uk

Warning: Long-term accommodation in ski resorts can be expensive and difficult to find and so it is worth trying to secure accommodation a long time before you plan to arrive in the mountains.

Estate agents often deal with long term lets and so this is a good place to find small studios or apartments.  However be aware that some agents require a hefty deposit or many months rent up front and so it is worth having some money set aside for this if you go down this route.

If you don’t mind sharing accommodation with other individuals, you could try joining local Facebook groups and connecting with others in the same situation as yourself and finding accommodation together.

If you are looking for more of a holiday vibe, some chalets offer longer stays with workspaces and a reliable internet connection, making it easier to stay for a month or longer. Cold Fusion Chalets in Les Houches, Chamonix are happy to accommodate solo travellers for long term stays in Chalet Chalupa on a catered basis, where you can meet other solo travellers to ski with when you are not working and enjoy delicious hearty breakfasts and dinner party evenings with top notch meals prepared by the in-house chef.

Cold Fusion can also help source independent accommodation for solo travellers with support provided throughout your stay in the mountains with advice on where to meet people, where to ski, where to shop and you can even join their solo travellers on ski days in the Chamonix valley as well as to surrounding resorts.

www.coldfusionchalets.co.uk

If you are lucky enough to find comfortable, quiet accommodation with a reliable Internet connection, you may not need to look for office space.  However if you need more space to work , if your Internet connection is not the best or if you prefer to work in the company of others, you might consider shared workspaces.

Mont Blanc Base Camp in Les Houches, Chamonix offers bright and airy co-working space with large offices and common areas where you can meet other digital nomads. Mont Blanc Basecamp is perfectly located for guests staying in nearby Cold Fusion’s Chalet Chalupa.

https://www.montblancbasecamp.com

Other co-working spaces in the Chamonix valley include the Ski Locker (www.theskilocker.com/chamonix) and La Vertical (https://hotellaverticale.com/coworking-space/).