Working the Mountain

[highpeaksdrifter]

I know JimmyG. use to be an instructor at Hunter, DMC use to park buses there, Sparky is an instructor at Jiminy, Teach is a ski patrol director at her local hill, I think it’s Sledge who is ski patrol in Vermont. Anyone else a present or former volunteer or paid employee at a ski area, Ski Patrol, Snow Sports, Safety Patrol, Mt. Host/Ambassador, Liftie, Parking Lot or any other capacity?

How did you get in?
Why you stay?
Why you got out?
What you hope to do with it in the future.
Stuff like that.

 

[CordoroyJunkie]

Highpeaksdrifter-

I've worked for Killington for the past two seasons, first at RamsHead baselodge as a "resort worker" (tickets, rentals, f & b, and retail) and this past winter as a front desk agent for the Grand Hotel, Pico Hotel and Condominiums, Sunrise, and the resort villages, when I return at the end of August (for school) I will be a front desk supervisor. I work at the ski area because it is my major (Resort and Recreation Management), and because I love to ski (not necessarilly at Killy, but you take what you can get). In the future I hope to own/manage my own ski lodge.

 

[bvibert]

Liftie at Ski Sundown here. To answer your questions:

• How did you get in? Went to their job fair and applied.
• Why you stay? Free pass and it's actually kind of fun sometimes. The little bit of extra spending money is nice too, although it's not much at all since I try to work as few hours as possible so that I have more time to ski.
• Why you got out? Still doing it, but eventually the hassle and time away from my family won't be worth the pass. That and standing at the bottom of a lift while everyone else skis gets old REAL quick, especially when it's a nice snowy night and the place is empty.
• What you hope to do with it in the future. Not too much, work it until I can't stand it anymore, then quit.

The part that's fun for me is working the beginner's area and watching the little ones learn and have fun. The occasional chance to ski while on the job is good too.

 

[Sparky]

I know JimmyG. use to be an instructor at Hunter, DMC use to park buses there, Sparky is an instructor at Jiminy, Teach is a ski patrol director at her local hill, I think it’s Sledge who is ski patrol in Vermont. Anyone else a present or former volunteer or paid employee at a ski area, Ski Patrol, Snow Sports, Safety Patrol, Mt. Host/Ambassador, Liftie, Parking Lot or any other capacity?

How did you get in? My daughter worked there and she convinced me(well mostly my wife) to give it a try

Why you stay? Freepass is the biggest draw for most people, but the training is also very important to me. I've gotten $1000sa woth of training, and I needed it all. It can also be fun and most of the folks there are good comany.

Why you got out? I haven't and I don't plan on leaving until they carry me out for the last time.
What you hope to do with it in the future. when I retire I may work full time for a while or I may stay part time and get an ASC pass.
Stuff like that.

 

[Lostone]

I'm an ambassador at Sugarbush.

How did you get in? Let Guest services know I was interested.
Why you stay? Got in for a pass. Stay for the pass... and it is fun!
Why you got out? Do you know something I don't? :???:
What you hope to do with it in the future. This is the future.
like that Stuff .

 

[deadheadskier]

How did you get in?

I ski bummed and was a bartender for several years in Stowe while in college at UVM - got the job through friends.

Why you stay?

I stayed as it was a good job during college and I got to ski alot. I worked in management at ski resorts in a food and beverage capacity following receiving my degree for two and a half year.

Why you got out?

Once at the mangement level, I worked 70-80 hours a week during the winter time, so I didn't get to ski a whole lot. I also didn't make all that much money, so it was a very unrewarding employment experience all together.

What you hope to do with it in the future?

Um, win Powerball on Saturday so I can ski whenever and wherever I want 365 days a year

 

[dmc]

How did you get in? A friend... Who's now a bigwig on Ski Patrol...

Why you stay? Skied free... Work from 8AM to 1030 then free the rest of the day.. Also got comped at other mountains.. And some pro-form...

Why you got out? I started making real money... Decided work was for the weekday... And hated not being able to do what I want when I want...

What you hope to do with it in the future. Continue to buy a season pass...

Now music(playing in bands) pays for my pass...

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I know JimmyG. use to be an instructor at Hunter, DMC use to park buses there, Sparky is an instructor at Jiminy, Teach is a ski patrol director at her local hill, I think it’s Sledge who is ski patrol in Vermont. Anyone else a present or former volunteer or paid employee at a ski area, Ski Patrol, Snow Sports, Safety Patrol, Mt. Host/Ambassador, Liftie, Parking Lot or any other capacity?

How did you get in?
Why you stay?
Why you got out?
What you hope to do with it in the future.
Stuff like that.

How did you get in?
I started patrolling at Blue Hills about 14 years ago. One of my customers patrolled there and was the former PD. Since I had been out of college a few years, and now committed to living in the flatlands, I figured I needed something to keep me on skis and help keep it cheap.

Why you stay?
Why you got out?
What you hope to do with it in the future.

I got into it for the free skiing (and to pick up chicks). Funny, I found I enjoyed emergency care which ultimately lead to a career change.

I worked paid part-time at Bear Creek for a couple of seasons, but that didn't work out too well because of my work schedule. When my wife went back to school, I ended up at Magic for the last 5 seasons. Getting to ski that terrain is always a blast. With my wife done with school (she was in Keene), the fuel costs have become prohibative, so I'm shopping for a new home.

I'm on the fence about staying with it. I enjoy it, but I enjoy skiing without a pack and responsiblities more. If I can find a paid part-time gig that's within a reasonable distance, I'll stick with it.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I worked at Jackson Hole for nine years, 3 yrs seasonal, 6 yearround, 1987-1996, worked at the Bush for 4 years, 1997-2000, 2005, 2 seasonal and 2 years yearround, planning on working again this season and hopefully once again yearround.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Mountain Host @ Whiteface Mountain

How did you get in? My oldest son and I applied after skiing there for the first time. It was in April, 1999 and we started the following season.

Why you stay? The season passes are nice, but the main reason I stay is because I really enjoy it. I like the work we do and I’ve made a lot of good friends to ski with and party with after.

Why you got out? I don’t plan on getting out.

What you hope to do with it in the future. In a couple of years I’ll be able to retire from my teaching job and I’d like to get a part time paying job at Whiteface if possible.

 

[Jonni]

I work at Mt. Sunapee year round on Lift Operations as a lift foreman.

How did you get in? I originally went to the job fair and applied, but eventually applied online before the job fair and was able to secure a position where I wanted it earlier.

Why do you Stay? Free pass, and a great atmosphere to work in. I get paid to be in charge of a $1-2 million piece of equipment as well as three other guys. On busy days over 5000 people will ride my lift anywhere from 3 to 20 times a day. (You can tell I like to brag a little about it.)

Why you got out?Like it says above, I don't ever plan on getting out even if I go down to one day a week.

What you hope to do with it in the future. I really hope to find another job in the ski industry that would be great as a full time year round position. Lifts are my passion, but if I can at least stay in the business than I'll be happy.

 

[mattchuck2]

Part TIme Ski Instructor @ Gore

How did you get in? Realized after college that I couldn't get a student season pass anymore so I needed some way to get one for cheap.

Why you stay? Free pass. That Whiteface/Gore thing works out really well. Plus there's a certain comraderie to working at a mountain that isn't really there if you just go with your family or friends. You get to know everyone, from the patrollers to the lifties. And let me tell you, when you start to delve deeper into the mountain scene, you find some real characters.

Why you got out? N/A

What you hope to do with it in the future. I'm trying to work my way up to the Demo Team - the pinnacle of ski instructing, the top 12 instructors in the country. Only one member of the current team is from the east (Jeb Boyd out of Loon). I'm only a level II right now, though, so I have a ways to go (Level II -> Level III -> Development Team -> Examiner -> Demo Team). Good thing is that I'm only 26, so with a few solid seasons, I can try to improve drastically.

Even if I don't reach the upper echelon, I'm planning on doing it for the rest of my life. When I eventually become rich and retire to a mountain out west, I'll teach skiing all winter and play golf all summer.

 

[JimG.]

What you hope to do with it in the future. I'm trying to work my way up to the Demo Team - the pinnacle of ski instructing, the top 12 instructors in the country. Only one member of the current team is from the east (Jeb Boyd out of Loon). I'm only a level II right now, though, so I have a ways to go (Level II -> Level III -> Development Team -> Examiner -> Demo Team). Good thing is that I'm only 26, so with a few solid seasons, I can try to improve drastically.

Even if I don't reach the upper echelon, I'm planning on doing it for the rest of my life. When I eventually become rich and retire to a mountain out west, I'll teach skiing all winter and play golf all summer.

I admire your enthusiasm...I got my level III and I'm quite satisfied with that. I have no desire to go any further, mostly because I just don't have the spare time to go for it with 3 young kids.

Good luck!

 

[VB]

Whaleback Ski Instructor
How did you get in?I Heard that Whaleback was reoening, went overt there in October and applied, went to oreintation and was hooked ever since.
Why you stay? Because i abslutly crave to ski as much as possible, and can't get enough of it, so I Have stayed because its the only thing that keeps me sane, and not broke, lol!
Why you got out? Never getting out, I'll probaly keep on teaching skiing, and hopefully get into snowboarding, untill they have to pry my skis of of my rotting corpse!

Skiing is more than just a hobbie for me, its an addiction. Ski instructing lets me show someone what really ticks in that skull of mine, and It makes me feel great whenever I get a three year old skiing down the bunny hill, screaming for more at the top of his/her lungs!!

vb

 

[SkiDork]

Part TIme Ski Instructor @ Gore

How did you get in? Realized after college that I couldn't get a student season pass anymore so I needed some way to get one for cheap.

Why you stay? Free pass. That Whiteface/Gore thing works out really well. Plus there's a certain comraderie to working at a mountain that isn't really there if you just go with your family or friends. You get to know everyone, from the patrollers to the lifties. And let me tell you, when you start to delve deeper into the mountain scene, you find some real characters.

Why you got out? N/A

What you hope to do with it in the future. I'm trying to work my way up to the Demo Team - the pinnacle of ski instructing, the top 12 instructors in the country. Only one member of the current team is from the east (Jeb Boyd out of Loon). I'm only a level II right now, though, so I have a ways to go (Level II -> Level III -> Development Team -> Examiner -> Demo Team). Good thing is that I'm only 26, so with a few solid seasons, I can try to improve drastically.

Even if I don't reach the upper echelon, I'm planning on doing it for the rest of my life. When I eventually become rich and retire to a mountain out west, I'll teach skiing all winter and play golf all summer.

What does the demo team do?

 

[snowmaker4191]

I work at Mt. Sunapee year round on Lift Operations as a lift foreman.

How did you get in? I originally went to the job fair and applied, but eventually applied online before the job fair and was able to secure a position where I wanted it earlier.

Why do you Stay? Free pass, and a great atmosphere to work in. I get paid to be in charge of a $1-2 million piece of equipment as well as three other guys. On busy days over 5000 people will ride my lift anywhere from 3 to 20 times a day. (You can tell I like to brag a little about it.)

Why you got out?Like it says above, I don't ever plan on getting out even if I go down to one day a week.

What you hope to do with it in the future. I really hope to find another job in the ski industry that would be great as a full time year round position. Lifts are my passion, but if I can at least stay in the business than I'll be happy.

any talk on the sunbowl quad? are they getting a new HSQ?

 

[tree_skier]

Currently a coach with the Mount Snow Alpine Training Center
PSIA level 3/full/gold
USSA level 100

How did you get in? Started as an instructor at King Ridge in the 82/83 season had various positions ad a few areas including Techincal director, race coach, director of racing, ski school director, Nastar pacesetter/coordinater (my best pacesettor's handicap was a 3) currently just a part time coach as it is hard to support the family on just skiing.

Why you stay? I love coaching

Why you got out? I was actually out for 8 years while my kids were younger but planned on returning

What you hope to do with it in the future. I love coaching and plan to obtain level 200 cert.

 

[Powdr]

Ski Instructor/Supervisor/Clinician @ Park City Mountain Resort 1983 - 1990

How did you get in? College roomate was an instructor.

Why you stay? Put me through school.

Why you got out? Got tired of the economy & weather affecting my paycheck. Also graduated from college. Never looked back on a career in Biotech since.

What you hope to do with it in the future. Nothing but post on ski related forums.

 

[Jonni]

any talk on the sunbowl quad? are they getting a new HSQ?

Not yet, although it's approved by everybody from as far as I know. All that needs to happen is that the Muellers need to order the thing and have it built. I have a feeling that it will be depended on the outcome of the expansion that they want to do. Currently they are waiting for a new governor so that they can try to get it passed by the state. Once that happens, that's when it will most likely happen. In the mean time, people will continue to be coming up out of the bowl at 450 fpm.