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| Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic |
myrddinmuse
Trad climber
Wales
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 22, 2017 - 08:56am PT
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So I'm an american-welsh student I've been looking for placements to do with my course (physics) for a while, and I've so far had no luck unfortunately so I'm trying to get a foot in the door via the outdoor industry.
I'm experienced at trad here in the UK, and want to have a go at what the US has to offer, in whatever way I can.
I'm an SPA (single pitch award) instructor in the UK, and I work part time at a couple of indoor climbing centers. I'm first aid trained to the required level for outdoor work here in the UK, but it seems that nearly all US outdoor climbing jobs require a 'Wilderness First Aid' qualification which is a) hard to find in the UK, or b) hella expensive.
What that leaves me is the option of an indoor climbing wall job, or some other job that doesn't require a WFA qual.
I could do a job working at a McDonalds or shop whatever, but the truth is I could do that at home for better money, paying less rent.
I wonder if there are any kindly souls out there in the Boulder area who know of any vacancies that may be upcoming, or even any advice. I'd be muchly obliged!
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myrddinmuse
Trad climber
Wales
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 24, 2017 - 11:05am PT
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Should add that I'm only free from my university course from June through September. Do you know if the Access fund would be looking to take people on for the summer?
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hamik
Mountain climber
San Francisco, CA
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Mar 24, 2017 - 02:00pm PT
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In my student/dirtbag days I made enough from private tutoring in Los Angeles to fund climbing. I could also scale back my hours to leave time for climbing. I think there are enough upper middle class types in Boulder that you could charge 2-3x what you would make at a gym or fast food gig. Just polish up on your physics, calculus, and statistics. Your best bet for finding gigs and advertising yourself is Craigslist. A lot of Boulder people will find common ground with your climbing hobby, too, which will make it easier to find and keep clients.
Alternatively, if you can code there are a lot of startups in Boulder that might hire you as an intern, though the smaller ones won't want to go through the paperwork that comes with internationals. You'll end up working much more with this option, which leaves less time for enjoying Boulder.
TBH, I think your best bet for climbing is saving some money at home and living on the cheap here, sans apartment. Buy a 2000 dollar beater car, sleep in it, climb out of it, and sell it when you go home. Work is for middle aged people---don't get suckered into it when you're a wee lad.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Mar 25, 2017 - 06:40am PT
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Also WFR classes are plentiful in the US, esp places like boulder and sort of not expensive $300- $500 or so
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Mar 25, 2017 - 07:26am PT
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Try refraining from using hella and muchly in your interviews. :)
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myrddinmuse
Trad climber
Wales
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2017 - 01:37pm PT
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Cheers guys. Will give it some thought! Is sleeping/living in a car a pretty doable thing in the boulder area, then? Anybody know of any start ups who'd be keen to have me? I don't mind working full time so long as I get weekends and evenings to run away to the hills..
Noted, @clinker :)
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enjoimx
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Mar 26, 2017 - 01:51pm PT
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Oh the naivete of youth....
But, I guess all dreams are possible in Boulder, Coloradbro
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myrddinmuse
Trad climber
Wales
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2017 - 02:55pm PT
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I'm sure not *all things* are possible, but certainly more climbing is possible than going to stay with my cousins in Cape Cod again for a summer where the largest rock for hours in any direction is the lonely Hokum Rock which was covered in dead caterpillars when I visited and makes for a shite climb anyway...
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/B2Wl-kSSQts/maxresdefault.jpg
I want to go see my family and spend time in the US, but I want to scratch my climbing itch.
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| Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic |
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