• Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!

    You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!

Say thanks to the lifties

BenedictGomez

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
12,582
Points
113
Location
Wasatch Back
I was 16 and it was always a joke. I looked innocent at the time and I don't think anyone really thought I drew it on purpose. Plus, I only did it with people I felt owed me a tip because their kids were douchers.

That's horrendous, I was sure you were kidding.
 

Warp Daddy

Active member
Joined
Jan 12, 2006
Messages
7,990
Points
38
Location
NNY St Lawrence River
Always say thanks to my home hill lifties, many are older guys who work for one the mountains other enterprises in the off season... Sand and Gravel operations . So these guys are like friends now fter 25 yrs of skiing there . i know snow ridge hires a Few farmers too
 

Scruffy

Active member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
1,157
Points
38
Location
In the shadow of the moon.
To be honest I believe the ski areas are charging too much for lessons and not paying the instructors enough compared to what they are charging. Charging 100 for a private lesson when the instructor is making minimum wage is a travesty. What does it cost beyond the actual cost for the instructor to teach a lesson. They make the student buy a lift ticket as well.

It is a travesty, but it's not going to change as long as you have people willing to do it for the going rate. There are a lot of people doing it, because they love it, as a retirement gig, as a winter job because they work seasonally, to get the free pass, etc.. The mountain management knows this. It'll change, if and when there is a shortage of certified instructors. Some places. like Aspen, the instructors make a good wage, they are also the cream of the crop.

You should definitely tip them if you've learned something. Even just one good cue or drill, or a change in stance, that takes your skiing to a new level is worth a tip, esp. knowing what small percentage of the lesson cost the instructor makes.

As an aside; think about how little the chef makes at your favorite fine dinning establishment. They are preparing you a 5 star meal for your enjoyment and get diddly. Only a very few that rise to the top, Michelin rated, celebrity chefs, make any substantial money as a career.
 

BenedictGomez

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
12,582
Points
113
Location
Wasatch Back

I'm guessing there's some contest where you need a minimum number of posts to enter?

 
Top