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Ski Industry Job?

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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
I have recently decided I want to pursue a career in the ski industry. Can anyone tell me how I would go about doing so? I am still in high school, so any early steps to take would be very helpful.
Jun 20 2010 8:32PM
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BryantPhoto
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 891
Go to school in Burlington, go to all premiers and make friends with all the bigs. Ski everyday and ski with the best, get an internship at a ski company in Burlington and badabing you're there. That's what I did
Jun 20 2010 8:43PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
just become a super pro, then when youre all washed up you'll be given an industry job for sure. easiest way to get into an industry job for sure
Jun 20 2010 8:48PM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
well one of my dad's best friends is in a high-up position at a large company, that has recently shifted much more focus to freestyle. in the future, would even just getting a job as a rep help? (i know the answer is yes, but how much, and is that a lot to ask?)
Jun 20 2010 10:27PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
can you be a little more vague please? Ski industry job? So many different paths and different ways to go about it.
Jun 20 2010 10:45PM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
here goes: i want to work for/with/own a company, preferably skis or softgoods/outerwear. its pretty high to aim, but its better to aim high.
Jun 20 2010 10:48PM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 237
It's also incredibly vague.

You could work for a ski company and do almost anything.
Jun 20 2010 11:12PM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
uh huh. so i guess the first step is to figure out more about what i want to do. thanks.
Jun 20 2010 11:13PM
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J.DUKE
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 38
http://webb.nmu.edu/Colleges/Business/SiteSections/Programs/SkiMAGMTBa.shtml

http://gogebic.edu/academics/SAM/


Do this. I already had an internship at a ski shop owned by one of the biggest outdoor retailer in the US, in just my sophomore year. Ill be graduating fall '11 with an Associates of Technology and Bachelors of Science in Ski Area Business Management and a minor in Economics.

Through the program you get more on hill hours than any other program ( grooming, snowmaking, lift ops and repair, trail clearing-actually cutting down trees- , trail mapping and layout...etc). Most NMU/GCC graduates are recognized throughout the country in our industry. Give it a thought.
Jun 21 2010 12:37AM
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
I would recommend dropping out of school and becoming an alcoholic. It seems to work for most ski industry peeps.
Jun 21 2010 12:57AM
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
schmuck
Jun 21 2010 8:18AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14486 - Karma: 10,627
Rec management. That's what I am majoring in at UVM, and it is such a fun major. You learn about tourism, leisure, management, business aspects. UVM doesn't have a ski area management specific major, but ski area management is a class. I would say that is your best bet, and depending on what you want to do, the only way to do it is through connections.
Jun 21 2010 8:22AM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
I heard the factory in China where various companies' skis are made are hiring.

It's $2 per day, 8am - 7pm, but because of the high pay scale, you don't get holidays, breaks, healthcare, or civil or human rights.

Jun 21 2010 8:39AM
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-Dan
Posts: 7125 - Karma: 51,629
Networking. I've come to learn that a lot of opportunity in this life comes from who you know and who they know.
Get to know the right people and you'll get where you want to be.
Jun 21 2010 8:54AM
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 305
One of my friends is going to Sierra Nevada's program for that. Can you even get a job coming out of the program or is it extremely difficult?
Jun 21 2010 1:17PM
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remove
Posts: 2566 - Karma: 1,026
be special at something
Jun 21 2010 1:43PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Go to college. Learn about it. Maybe start your own business related to skiing? Own a mountain, start a clothing line, start a ski company? Do this after learning in college.
Jun 21 2010 2:25PM
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 305
I've kicked around the idea of a ski shop
Jun 21 2010 2:49PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Nice, have you gone to college?
If so, you probably understand the whole process in creating a business, its so long!
Jun 21 2010 5:36PM
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 305
I'm still in high school but my dad is re-structuring his business model for his custom computer application business. HUGE pain in the ass for him.
Jun 21 2010 6:10PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
have fun finding a job as a ski resort manager with your specialized degree. take a look at the size of your class, then multiply that by at least 5 (for the amount of other schools that offer a major in ski resort management) now factor what languages you speak. now consider what resorts you a geographically limited to based on your language skills and consider how many job openings that have a year where the pay is satisfactory.

you'll regret not going for the broader hotel and resort management degree, then tacking on the ski resort management degree after wards as a specialty.
Jun 21 2010 9:16PM
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 305
thanks for answering my question posted way up haha
Jun 21 2010 9:19PM
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ChristianJames
Posts: 214 - Karma: 19
find a job at a local mountain or shop, then talk to the people running the place and just get more involved. I work on a small mountain in NH and if i waned to i could talk to my boss and get more involved in the industry, and then you will have a background of working a skiing job too which would be a plus
Jun 21 2010 9:25PM
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