WCAX Interviews Bolton Valley's Owners

[thetrailboss]

Some interesting comments, including that most of their ski patrollers are volunteers.

https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Navigating-the-ups-and-downs-of-the-ski-industry-503499431.html

 

[Smellytele]

I see where they said they rely on volunteers but didn’t see the specific of their patrollers were.


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[benski]

I see where they said they rely on volunteers but didn’t see the specific of their patrollers were.


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

Its 3/4 volunteers, but those guys are probably weekend only, and not doing much of the hard work. At Sugarbush one of the perks of volunteer patrolling is making the paid guys do many of the tasks you don't want to do. A volunteer may only be doing work during morning and afternoon sweeps, and busy times for patrol on weekends, which is usually just the 1-2 hour. The number of days per patroller may be low.

My friend got a full time job in Austin this year and is still a Hunter volunteer patroller. He might only get a few days, one of which he showed up late and skied with me all day.

 

[thetrailboss]

Its 3/4 volunteers, but those guys are probably weekend only, and not doing much of the hard work. At Sugarbush one of the perks of volunteer patrolling is making the paid guys do many of the tasks you don't want to do. A volunteer may only be doing work during morning and afternoon sweeps, and busy times for patrol on weekends, which is usually just the 1-2 hour. The number of days per patroller may be low.

My friend got a full time job in Austin this year and is still a Hunter volunteer patroller. He might only get a few days, one of which he showed up late and skied with me all day.

Right. They said that 45 of 60 patrollers are volunteer. That seems high, but if it works, all the better.

 

[Smellytele]

Right. They said that 45 of 60 patrollers are volunteer. That seems high, but if it works, all the better.

I hadn't watched the video only read the text. I now saw that in the video.

 

[p_levert]

I think that a 75% volunteer ski patrol is pretty common. If a ski area can get people to do it for free, why not? For many people, it's a prestige thing. Even though I don't personally give a cr*p, lots of people are impressed if you tell them that you are on the ski patrol.

 

[thetrailboss]

This must be one of the few areas that was owned by a family, lost due to bankruptcy, and later bought again by the same family. Interesting how that worked out.