European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                James Bridge checks a list of jobs As he leaves the Kitz Biichel employment office. Travellers tips Kitz Biichel is in Western Austria about 72 Miles South of Munich and 55 Miles East of Innsbruck. Coming from Germany it can be reached via autobahn 8 and 93 into Austria in the direction of Innsbruck. Take local route 170 from Worgul East to Kitz Biichel. You can also reach Kitz Biichel by train through Munich. From Verona Italy take autoroute 22 North to Innsbruck. Take autobahn 12 North toward Munich and then take the we Rel turnoff to Kitz Biichel. Gas can be purchased with coupons at the German austrian Border City of Kiefer Felden. Take the final exit about a Quarter of a mile from the austrian Border and drive about a half mile to the intersection. Take a left and an Esso station can be found a Short distance away on the right Side. Ski equipment can be rented at numerous shops in the area at reasonable prices of about $16 daily for boots and skis. A ski school can be taken by the Day three Days or six Days. Costs Range from about 250 to 400 austrian schillings about $22-$36. While skiing and nightlife Are the main reasons for visiting Kitz Biichel others include visiting the Copper mines wildlife Park the Heima museum and the Schwar see. The tourist information Bureau is at the Southern Edge of the town Center across the Street from a Mcdonald s. It is of a monday through Friday and saturday mornings is helpful in finding hotels or pensions and has plenty of brochures in English on things to do in the area. Rooms Range from 130 austrian schillings about $12 per person daily in a private Home to 1,375 schillings about $125 for a four Star hotel. Meals can be purchased at reasonable prices at numerous restaurants in the Village. The tourist information Bureau holds a weekly two hour tour of the c Ity on tuesdays at 9 45 . For More information Contact the  at a-6370 Kitz Biichel Austria or by Telephone at 5356-2155 or 5356-2272. If calling from outside Austria be sure to add the proper country Ccle. A Ron Mckinney tricks of the Trade american Jon Breakfield has found a permanent Job As a ski instructor. Patricia taxer a with two of her Young students a says she and fellow ski bums Are one big family. A it a it a a k i Tesort by Ron Mckinney staff writer that Large group that is said to hang out at the Hospital s emergency Entrance in Kitz Biichel Austria in t made up of Well wishers of injured skiers with broken limbs. Those folks Are Quot ski bums Quot looking for jobs. The idea they say is to ask the injured skier if and where he worked and whether he d like to sell his season ski pass. Quot people Are serious about that. It s so sick it s laughable Quot said Mike Chilman a former London stockbroker who is now travelling the world and working Odd jobs to pay his Way. Quot they be got to go Home. It can t fail can it especially if you lean on their leg Quot Chilman joked. Jobs Are scarce in this ski resort Village of 8,000, but that does t discourage the hundreds of ski bums who traditionally flow into Kitz Biichel each Winter seeking work for the season. Chilman did t have to hang out at the Hospital to get his Job. He was offered a position a week after arriving in Kitz Biichel in Early december. The 26-year-old native of the London suburb of Blackheath is working on the ski slopes As a photographer. Although speaking German is considered the one important requisite in getting a Job a Little dishonesty does t Hurt either Many of the ski bums say. Quot if you were born to lie come to Kitz Biichel Quot said Chilman who told his company that he was a professional photographer although he has never worked with a camera. Quot if they say Are you a a ? you say yes Quot Chilman said. Quot it sounds wrong but you be got to do it. People will say they re anything. There Are people whose meals Are being cooked by an australian  the ski bums a who come mainly from Australia Britain and Canada with a few from the United states a do not move to Kitz Biichel for the season on an impulse. Most do research and bring enough Money to last three weeks without a Job and still have enough for a ticket Home. One of the most widely read books among ski bums is working in ski resorts Europe. It is written by Victoria Pybus and Charles James and published by vacation work at 9 Park end St. In Oxford England. Many of those looking for jobs in Kitz Biichel carried a copy. But most have also Learned about employment the hard Way a through experience. James Bridge 22, said he read a Tew books that said speaking English is Chic but he did t realize How important it was to speak German. Quot they did t Point that out in the Book very clearly that s the trouble Quot said Bridge who is from Chelmsford England. Most of the available jobs Are kit Hen hands chambermaid waiters and dishwashers at hotels during the High season. A hotel Job is highly desirable because the hotels must provide housing for their workers and apartments Are hard to find during the High season. About 20 apartments Are available for seasonal workers said Tina Schreder who works for the Kitz Biichel tourist information Agency. She suggested that people seeking work and a room should arrive in town As Early As october. Quot if you come Early it s easier to get a Job Quot she said. Bachelor apartments Range from 2,500 to 3,000 austrian schillings about $227 to $270 a month in Kitz Biichel. Another reason to arrive Early is to ensure that a work permit is available. With an influx of yugoslavian jobs Are tougher to come by than in recent years. The ski bums say the yugoslavian Are willing to work longer hours for less pay and they re not there to do any skiing so they Don t need time off. That also affects the number of work permits allowed for foreigners  Barbara Bergmann a spokeswoman for the Kitz Biichel employment office. Quot there s no guarantee that the people who come Here can get a Job next year like this year Quot Bergmann said. Besides hotel work one of the More coveted jobs is As a ski instructor. That gets the Lucky employee on the slopes All Day and is go xxx for a free season pass on the area ski runs. The Job requires More than technical ability on the slopes. Ski instructors work daily with students and if the instructors can t show them How to become world cup skiers they need to at least show them a Good time. Quot the key to becoming a ski instructor is not necessarily to be the most Brilliant skier in the world Quot said Jon Breakfield an american ski instructor. Quot customer service is critic  so is knowledge of the German language. To qualify As a ski instructor applicants must pass an Oral skills test Given in German. Pay for ski instructors begin it about 500 austrian schillings about $45 a Day. More experienced instructors can make 50 Perc ent More and Multi Lingual instructors Are paid an additional 50 schillings $4.50 a Clay for each h foreign language. Them s a c Amara Deric among these ski bums that grows out of being in a common situation and makes up for the employment Hadac lies. They c hum together at the local Mcdonald s in the afternoon swapping tales advice and sometimes jobs evenings arc usually spent at their favorite pub. Quot we re always together Quot said Patric  taxer an 18-year-old austrian who works As a ski instructor. We re like a big  january 9, 1992 stripes Magazine 5