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NELSON - SELKIRK, SKI RESORT OPS STUDENTS

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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
hey just throwin a thread up here. me and annie (purplejumpsuit) are both gonna be starting the ski resort ops program at selkirk this upcoming fall (2010)

we'd like to see who else is getting into the program and what your housing arrangements are like. were both brainstorming what we wanna do for living, and we thought it would be rad to have a house of a few ppl (anywhere from 3-6, or even more) that are gonna be doing the ski ops program. we could all help eachother with homework, ski together and just be chill. plus it would make it a lot easier to cut a better deal with the landlord since we would all be locked in a 2 year lease (unless someone dropped out of the program) and cheaper is always better.

so if your in the ski ops program, or just gonna be going to selkirk or in nelson post here or pm me or annie(purplejumpsuit) and we can get a sick ski house going up in nelson!
Nov 28 2009 5:19PM
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brice_SKIIN
Posts: 265 - Karma: 14
and i was just wondering, from  anybody who skiis thre already when the besttimeofthe year is usualy too ski somedeep ass pow
Oct 4 2010 3:05PM
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fivefourtwo
Posts: 358 - Karma: 122
February is normally a pretty good time of the year anywhere in BC.
Oct 4 2010 7:30PM
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hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
^^ you really cant say for sure. last season the best snow of the year was easily from opening through till beginning of january. it all depends man, gotta stay the whoel season.
Oct 4 2010 9:07PM
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danimal5
Posts: 243 - Karma: 38
bump
now that the course has been around for a while, what does everyone think about it. how is the work load, nightlife, and how much can you ski and where?

i figured most people go to whitewater because its close but do people still go to red because of the park and how do you get there?
May 29 2011 10:25PM
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purplejumpsuit
Posts: 2208 - Karma: 157
Bit of a slow reply, but...

Workload for first semester is very heavy, second semester is a lot easier but if you blow it off to much then you will screw yourself over in the end, and 3rd semester so far has been great!
The thing I've realized is it has a strong focus on lifts/outdoors jobs/very guy related (since there was only 3 girls in my class, now down to two, that makes sense, but it SUCKS for me. I have no desire to be an outdoor operations manager any time soon.)
That being said, if you do take advantage of it, and put aside its downfalls, the SROAM program can take you very far within the industry. Resorts all over BC and Alberta have a lot of respect for graduates from it. Right now opertunities are available to go work in China with the program, and doing that puts you in a very senior position with a lot of respect from the people around you, you'll just have to be alright with having maybe 1 person around you the hole season who can speak english.

On the topic of local ski hills...
Everyone gets passes to Whitewater, I was surprised but some people only went up a handfull of times during the season... But if you want to go, there is nothing stopping you, the hill is SICK too, and the new chair is tons of fun. Plus they have a sick master plan so its gonna be amazing when thats all done. People do go to red, but from what I know nobody ever gets a seasons pass to it. Last season my class went about 4 times, once on a school day as part of class, and three times when red had Free days. People within the class always carpooled to get there.

Hope that helps a bit!
Sep 2 2011 10:29PM
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danimal5
Posts: 243 - Karma: 38
what about getting a job? is it hard to get one because of the small town? and since it is a college im expecting more guys than girls but in res are there some chicks
Sep 30 2011 10:21AM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
if you really search for a job you can definately get one, just gotta put in the effort. and there is girls in res! more dudes for sure but they're around
Oct 3 2011 3:08PM
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purplejumpsuit
Posts: 2208 - Karma: 157
like he said above me, yes there are girls in rez and yes you can get a job. That being said, you should be alright with working at a grocery store, cuz thats where its gonna be easiest (Safeway, save on, extra foods, whole sale.) Last year some 2nd years were working at Thors pizza, this year a first year is working at one of the board shops downtown (dont expect to get a job like that unless you have lots of retail experience however.)

There is also lots of housing available near the school other then residence.
Oct 6 2011 11:51AM
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jca
Posts: 4171 - Karma: 6,311
who's the albertan with the moment sticker on their white SUV parked at the Selkirk campus in Castlegar? REVEAL YOURSELF!
Oct 8 2011 3:21PM
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Wood_Wizard
Posts: 805 - Karma: 899
im in grade 12 this year and am from Alberta and am thinking about doing the SROAM program they have at the Selkirk College eather next year or the following year. I just want to get some feedback from actual students that have taken the program such as, what its like?, what type of stuff do you learn?, how often you go skiing?, what nelson is like?, Whats the vibe like?, and so on and so forth. And any other helpful information that you could give me would also be greatly appreciated.
Oct 9 2011 8:22PM
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Wood_Wizard
Posts: 805 - Karma: 899
I'm just going to bump this cuz early registration starts soon so any info would be much appreciated...
Oct 26 2011 11:49PM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5432 - Karma: 11,821
You guys must know a friend of mine, Blake Harris.
Oct 30 2011 10:19PM
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purplejumpsuit
Posts: 2208 - Karma: 157
Yeah he seems like a rad guy!! Dont know him incredibly well because I'm a second year, dont have classes with him.

and Wood_Wizard, the reason why I didn't respond to your comment is because there is already a lot of information about the program within the thread. If you go thru, read it, and have some specific questions I would gladly give you more info. Bob Dodge, who you would do an interview with, will suggest you take a year off and get industry experience before jumping right in from high school. I didn't take a year off, and I dont regret it, but I also worked on a ski hill for 4 years during high school.
Oct 31 2011 3:05AM
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danimal5
Posts: 243 - Karma: 38
i got in for next September
anyone else?
Dec 22 2011 10:31PM
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K2skipunk
Posts: 2837 - Karma: 111
An honest opinion on the course? Don't do it. Waste of time. Want to make a name for yourself in the ski industry? Go work. You'll be further ahead if you just work instead of being in school taking the program. No one stays at ski hills. Therefore moving up is relatively easy. One would benefit more from a business program, or if you want to be on the mechanical side and operations side of the ski hill, take a milright program, ad you'll have year round work at the hill and be payed more. I took this program and with no doubt it was the most fun I've ever had since I moved to Nelson straight out of highschool, but was the course beneficial? No. A friend of mine had a hard time finding work for his work term and was at the top of his class. He ended up completing his work term at a pizza joint. Yea, a pizza joint delivering zahs. If that's acceptable for hours to complete a ski ops and management program? Well it's a joke of a program. If you're taking the program to ski lots? Unless you're guiding (in which case you should just take avy and first aid courses) or a patroller (same deal, bu really not skiing much), you're in it for the wrong reasons. It took me a season working at the hill to decide I liked skiing way more than working while I can be skiing. Yea. So now I've gotten out of that bizzz and into something where i can: ski more, not live paycheck to paycheck, enjoy skiing more, and simply have more fun. Ski bumming is an absolute blast, but not a way to live life. You can live the same way, and do all and more without working on hill. But that's just my opinion.
Dec 23 2011 11:22PM
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danimal5
Posts: 243 - Karma: 38
im lucky my parents are paying for school so i wont have any debt after. i already have a job at a shop and a ski hill but i live in ontario. the connections you meet in this course i would never be able to meet in ontario and white water is 20 min away.
Dec 25 2011 4:07PM
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bodo632
Posts: 2 - Karma: 10
Not everyone who comes through the program is successful in establishing a ski industry career, but those who do love the life of a professional ski bum. I graduated over 25 years ago and have had an awesome career with no regrets and now am lucky enough to teach in the program. There are many, many other grads who are earning good livings and live the dream. They manage resorts, own cat ski operations, are heli guides, install chairlifts for 9 months a year and ski for 3, or who spent several great years in the business and took what they learned into other exciting careers. Lots of people go to law school or business school and do not become successful lawyers or managers. The schools fault, or the individual choose a path that wasn't right for them? K2ski punk is right that the ski bizz is not the easiest place to make a living. If it was everyone would be in it. But for people who like to work hard and play hard there are great opportunities. And don't believe the pizza joint story. That guy earned his diploma.
Mar 6 2012 6:57PM
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JAHBRADOR
Posts: 3004 - Karma: 17,069
Bumping this thread.

Just got accepted to study in September! Stoke!! Anyone else on here going this year?

I'm also trying to find a place to live, preferably with people on the course. If there are any local FB groups for housing around nelson or for Selkirk, can someone point me in the right direction?
May 28 2014 1:44PM
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SlurmsMckenzie
Posts: 128 - Karma: -31
JAHBRADORBumping this thread.

Just got accepted to study in September! Stoke!! Anyone else on here going this year?

I'm also trying to find a place to live, preferably with people on the course. If there are any local FB groups for housing around nelson or for Selkirk, can someone point me in the right direction?


dont waste ur money the program is a fucking joke
Jul 20 2014 3:02AM
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schism
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 389
SlurmsMckenziedont waste ur money the program is a fucking joke


Not entirely true. I just graduated from the program, and it's the type of thing in such you get what you put in to it. To be honest it would have taken me years of experience for me to get an in with big red cats as a tail guide, but thanks to the program, the connections I made and my drive and desire it's got me into the position I am in right now.

Now if all you want to do is work at a ski resort and you don't care about what you work then yeah the program is a waste of your time. I'll be honest the program isn't for everyone, like if you think you're going to be skiing all the time, and doing no work at all you're fucked. But if you want to be a groomer, or work in maintenance or simply gain more information about the industry then you're good. It isn't a lot of school work, but if you slack too much it will bite you in the ass.
Jul 20 2014 5:02PM
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Gab.M
Posts: 77 - Karma: 136
when applying they say that its strongly recommended to have had worked at a ski resort before, is it really necessary?
Oct 1 2014 6:10PM
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purplejumpsuit
Posts: 2208 - Karma: 157
Gab.Mwhen applying they say that its strongly recommended to have had worked at a ski resort before, is it really necessary?



You could go into it without previous experience, it wouldn't make the program any more difficult. But for the sake of knowing what you're getting yourself into, it is a really good idea to know what work at a resort is like prior to taking the course.
You can tell by this thread that there are some mixed reviews from past graduates, this course gives you tons of opportunities to get yourself great connections within the ski community, but the bottom line is, you might just bloody hate working in the ski industry, (or at least the side that the course focuses on like resorts.) Some people prefer making big money in other areas/times of the year, and having the ski season strictly based on skiing. Some people like to have an influence on where the ski industry is going, or how their home mountain is run. Do you really know what you want out of the course, or are you going simply because you like skiing? If you just like skiing, then it would be a really good idea to hold off for a year, and work at a resort.

The program doesn't cost much compared to a couple years at Uni, but if you don't end up liking it, it could feel like a big waste of money.

I'm not trying to bash the program at all, just wanting you to be realistic if you have never worked at a resort before. I went into the program right after high school, but I had worked at my local hill for 4 years prior. I loved the program, but simply being shy, poor at communicating and slightly naive, for those reasons alone I think it could have been more productive if I had postponed one year. Although personally I'd never trade the memories I have for a better grasp of what I was learning.

I'm still working in the ski industry now. Not focusing on an area they covered much, but it was still useful and one of the larger assignments (which they don't do anymore from what I've heard...) inadvertently got me pointed to the path I'm on now.
Oct 29 2014 4:00PM
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J-C
Posts: 1138 - Karma: 3,683
Bump, I got in for next September anyone else will be attending?
Mar 16 2015 7:38PM
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Flowbear
Posts: 339 - Karma: 828
Kim_Jong-IllestBump, I got in for next September anyone else will be attending?


That's sick man, your gonna have a blast, the people you meet and the opportunities available here are amazing! I'm currently finishing up my first year term in the SROAM program and I've learned alot more then I ever did working at my home resort for 3 years prior and I've already been offered a job at Whitewater for this season, which I didn't take, due to school. So this programs definitely worth taking and you get to ski a shit load as long as you keep on top of things!

Are you staying in Rez?
Mar 18 2015 7:09PM
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J-C
Posts: 1138 - Karma: 3,683
FlowbearThat's sick man, your gonna have a blast, the people you meet and the opportunities available here are amazing! I'm currently finishing up my first year term in the SROAM program and I've learned alot more then I ever did working at my home resort for 3 years prior and I've already been offered a job at Whitewater for this season, which I didn't take, due to school. So this programs definitely worth taking and you get to ski a shit load as long as you keep on top of things!

Are you staying in Rez?


I sent my application form today because i would come from Quebec so hopefully yes.
Mar 18 2015 7:19PM
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Flowbear
Posts: 339 - Karma: 828
Kim_Jong-IllestI sent my application form today because i would come from Quebec so hopefully yes.


Nice that's awesome dude, I'm from Ontario and I was in Rez this year and it's deffinetly a better residence then some other places I've been to, it can still be annoying sometimes but if your coming from far away it's the easiest and probably one of the cheaper places to stay!
Mar 18 2015 7:25PM
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J-C
Posts: 1138 - Karma: 3,683
FlowbearNice that's awesome dude, I'm from Ontario and I was in Rez this year and it's deffinetly a better residence then some other places I've been to, it can still be annoying sometimes but if your coming from far away it's the easiest and probably one of the cheaper places to stay!


Yeah I figured that it can be a bit distracting but it does look really good from the pictures
Mar 18 2015 7:31PM
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Flowbear
Posts: 339 - Karma: 828
Kim_Jong-IllestYeah I figured that it can be a bit distracting but it does look really good from the pictures


Yeah the rooms are a lot nicer then you'd expect well worth the money and there's always good parties happening, The bars are a bit of a walk away but I always just think of it as exercise for the ski season and you have access to some of the best mountain biking trails in BC right out your door if your into that!
Mar 18 2015 7:40PM
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J-C
Posts: 1138 - Karma: 3,683
FlowbearYeah the rooms are a lot nicer then you'd expect well worth the money and there's always good parties happening, The bars are a bit of a walk away but I always just think of it as exercise for the ski season and you have access to some of the best mountain biking trails in BC right out your door if your into that!


Not really but I'm sure that there's plenty more to do. Also is there any girl in the program or is it mostly dudes?
Mar 18 2015 9:34PM
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Flowbear
Posts: 339 - Karma: 828
Kim_Jong-IllestNot really but I'm sure that there's plenty more to do. Also is there any girl in the program or is it mostly dudes?


Yea there's hiking everywhere, a skatepark in rosemont which is only a 15 min drive from rez, and a pool in town with a small diving board and a bunch of other stuff to do! And it's a bit of a sausage fest in the program not gonna lie, I think we got around 20 guys and 6 girls pretty shitty lol, but the music kids usually have a few more chicks and it kind of evens out rez!
Mar 18 2015 10:18PM
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Gab.M
Posts: 77 - Karma: 136
Kim_Jong-IllestBump, I got in for next September anyone else will be attending?


yea man, moi
Mar 19 2015 8:20PM
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