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How to make a career out of the snow industry

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S.A.M.
Posts: 148 - Karma: 50
Like nearly everyone on this site, Skiing is my passion. I talk about it everyday, go to bed thinking about it, and wake up in the morning thinking about it. It is the one thing that never bores me and I can imagine doing it for the rest of my life. My problem is that after working snowmaking for a couple of seasons, earning a small wage and the pressure of my family always talking about earning more has made me rethink my current job position. Is there a way to make a decent living in the snow industry, so that I can do what I love doing everyday AND earn enough to live comfortably and not have financial pressures?
May 31 2011 11:08PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
http://vimeo.com/24162198
May 31 2011 11:12PM
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 528
Yeah. My suggestion to you is to become Jon Olson.

Seriously though, I face a similar dilemma to yours. I really want to move towards a career in the industry, but I know the good jobs are few and far between. It would be my dream to give back to the sport that has brought so much joy to my life and make good money at the same time, but its a lot easier to make better money in other careers. Like was said above, life s hard :(
Jun 1 2011 2:33AM
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
I think the same way as you. So when I head off to college I'm gonna major in materials engineering. Good wages and you get to work in the r&d field (designing and making skis, technical outerwear, etc.). Even if your not working in the ski industry it's a high paying career. But really each job is what you make of it.
Jun 1 2011 3:14AM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,151
go to school for ski area resort management. boom! tons of upper level ski resort jobs
Jun 1 2011 3:23AM
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.spaghetticat.
Posts: 4283 - Karma: 890
DAMNT!!
IM SO SORRY IM USULLY GOOD AT EMBEDING
Jun 1 2011 6:42AM
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.skiperisher.
Posts: 323 - Karma: 83
work your way through the resort. been working at the one resort for five seasons. started as a lifty and am transport superviser. it just takes time
Jun 1 2011 7:50AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i'm still looking around, but i'm quite sure that after i get my college degree i'm pursuing a carreer as mountain guide and diving instructor, the diving instructor part should be down by the time i graduate college.

only real problem i still have is where and how i should become a mountain guide, for sure i need to be UIAA certified, but should i do it in germany, austria, GB, swiss, france? currently i'm leaning most towards austria or germany since those two are said to be the easiest for foreigners.....

this year i'm doing a shitload of courses and clinics so i'll get a chance to meet and talk to some real mountain guides and hear what they have to say.... (i know it wont be easy, but its been my dream for the last 10 years or someting...
Jun 1 2011 8:07AM
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colleenator
Posts: 885 - Karma: 60

i totally understand you! i want to do something with this industry but i would like to make a nice heap of money too. i was thinking interning for a ski magazine company or just a skiing company in general. im too young right now but something ill definitely be interested in the future. hopefully work my way up but im not sure where to :P whatever. i guess i can branch out by making connections, etc.

what you can do is be a digger or a person who designs a layout for a park? im not sure what that job title is but sounds fun. you can always be that guy holding the camera while the pros put down steezeness.

Jun 1 2011 9:19AM
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Austeeze
Posts: 807 - Karma: 18
Def thinking about taking this path.

Have completed uni in Sports Admin/Event Management after working in the industry for a little bit am now going to work this whole season for the first time at my home resort in a rentals position in shops owned by the resort.

Gonna hunt down the people in operations or event management.....
Jun 1 2011 9:33AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Good luck with that.

No offense meant, but you will not get rich in the ski industry. You work in it because you love it. Noone is getting rich (with the exception possibly being the real estate developers of ski resorts and a select handful of Resort holding company owners) working in the ski industry.
Jun 1 2011 10:59AM
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jon@wh2o
Posts: 314 - Karma: 158
Ya, I'm goin for guiding as well. Can't think of a much better way to live life.
But if you're interested in more resort based work check out Selkirk's SROAM program http://selkirk.ca/programs/ht/ski/
Jun 1 2011 11:00AM
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Keenan_Jones
Posts: 436 - Karma: 175
life honestly isn't hard. You may get a few shitty curve balls here and there but it really depends on how hard you work and how far you want to push yourself. If someone really wants to work in the industry then do it. Find a way. There are plenty of opportunities... Don't be afraid to jump on it. Whatever it takes...
Jun 1 2011 12:27PM
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myDyourMouth
Posts: 4 - Karma: 10
You want to work in skiing then go to school and pursue. It's either going to be an office/factory job for a ski company or working at a resort, either way I hope you like being a bitch.
Jun 1 2011 12:34PM
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Twig
Posts: 6407 - Karma: 60,033
I don't know if this has been said, but possibly working an office job at one of the big ski companies. Companies like Salomon, K2 etc presumably have accounts, legal and other departments relating to any major business. If you are qualified to work these jobs then presumably they pay close to the market rate but I have no evidence to support this. While you won't be out on the hill every day you can be working in 'the industry' and some of the offices are near the mountains.
Jun 1 2011 12:41PM
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Rogge
Posts: 5773 - Karma: 3,930
Find something you like to do and apply to skiing. I was never good enough to be come pro (or am for that matter) but I really enjoy skiing. Writing came naturally to me and started doing it for fun on my blog on this site. The rest is history.

My advice is to continue your education, intern at as many ski-related businesses as possible, and finish. After graduation, move to a ski town and be active and friendly to everyone. Even if they're a gaper. Actually, especially if they are a gaper.

Work shitty jobs that go late into the night so you can wake up early and grab first chair. Ski all over the mountain, make sure you have a couple nights off to party, and have the fucking time of your life. High five, duck ropes, hit the park, ski powder, film, photo, write, party, and go wild. That's why we all got into this. Anyone that tells you otherwise should get out of it.

When you're finished one of two things will happen:

1) You'll be "over it", become an "adult", and get a "real job" where you tell your cubicle partners how rad it was "back in the day." This isn't a bad thing. It's just not for everyone.
2) You'll move onto other positions because eventually good people will recognize you're a good person (Remember the friendly part from earlier? It's real.) and a hard worker (you delivered pizzas till 2 AM, snagged first chair, AND went to an internship in the afternoon? When do you sleep?) You'll make connections with reps, ski techs, pros, ams, upper management, marketing dudes, team managers, writers, photographers, filmers, and a lot of other great people willing to vouch for you when you apply for the Dream Job.
It all works out in the end. Keep the dream alive.
Jun 1 2011 1:29PM
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Rogge
Posts: 5773 - Karma: 3,930
This thread made me think of this story when Shane McFalls from T.C. got a job I wanted.

Jun 1 2011 1:49PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
i love rogge....
Jun 1 2011 1:55PM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
he is the man.
Jun 1 2011 1:57PM
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santos.
Posts: 106 - Karma: 799
threads.
Jun 1 2011 2:02PM
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GBS
Posts: 1386 - Karma: 33
What education do you need if you wanna make rails, build the features, shape the park and just mainly working in/with the park?... Is it ok paid, or is it low paid? Or does your payment vary how popular/big the mountain is, and how good you make the park... I also really wanna work with skiing somehow =D
Jun 1 2011 2:16PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
this is a bad idea. don't do it, theres no money in the industry, and unless you are in breckenridge or whistler it is really hard to get pussy in mountain towns. but you're young and think that this is the greatest idea ever.
Jun 1 2011 2:46PM
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have.faith
Posts: 338 - Karma: 97
certainly has a way with words... he just gave me hope on how to get a real life haha
Jun 1 2011 2:49PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,151
you must have no game, then. lol
Jun 1 2011 2:56PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
yeah thats it you're right mr. 16 year old love therapist.
Jun 1 2011 3:09PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,151
I'm 20. and what does a love therapist have to do with it? lol just deal with the fact you must have no game if you think it's hard.
Jun 1 2011 3:19PM
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.spaghetticat.
Posts: 4283 - Karma: 890
haha I learned

Jun 1 2011 3:41PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7482 - Karma: 36,057
You really dont need much education for park manager. I guess an engineering degree or a tech school degree with welding would help. THe park manager at my mountain has a major in business i believe. He designs the park, does scheduling, builds rails, figures out the park budget, shapes features, and organizes comps. The pay probably wont be great, but if you are getting paid hourly and can work 80 hours a week without getting burnt out that isnt too bad. Then there is our park groomer he builds and grooms the park along with a few other trails, builds rails, and does other maintenance stuff. I believe he gets salary and has benefits. THis is for a mountain in PA.
Overall you will not be paid well, but you cant beat being on the mountain (the park groomer rarely rides anymore, but park manager missed 2 skiing days last year).
Jun 1 2011 4:00PM
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GBS
Posts: 1386 - Karma: 33
Cool, so you get to ski when you are working with parks?I really hope so, because that would be sick!
(Does your groomer get to ski also, but he doesn't want to? Or does only the park manager get to ski?)
I really hope so, because that would be sick.
But i don't know really, I'm only 14 yet, so i have some years to decide =)
It would be sick to work on the mountain, maybe some of the most fun places you work.
But since you don't get paid to well, and there is other interesting jobs, i don't really know...
I guess i could still ski after work and in weekends when i get a job and get an education, but it wouldn't be the same as working on the mountain...
Jun 1 2011 5:24PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
if i need advice on a good planet of the apes movie, or how to clean the resin out of my bong, i'll go to newschoolers...however, im not gonna take romantic advice from somebody who can't spell romantic, or advice...or bong.
Jun 1 2011 6:42PM
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PON3
Posts: 3817 - Karma: 783
Threads because I want to do the exact same thing.

My dream job is to control the budget and finances of major ski resorts like breck or vail.
Jun 1 2011 6:43PM
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
well played sir.
Jun 1 2011 6:48PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
i know
Jun 1 2011 7:21PM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
threads
Jun 1 2011 7:32PM
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TheUngroomed
Posts: 1251 - Karma: 335
GET SPANCERIZZZZED!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't read the post so i don't really know what your talking about.
Jun 2 2011 12:17AM
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colleenator
Posts: 885 - Karma: 60
yeah i know that. thanks for not being a douche about it tho.
Jun 2 2011 9:13AM
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japollner
Posts: 1699 - Karma: 459
Rogge is on point. Keep at it, be a good person, and you will get yours!

Jun 6 2011 5:26PM
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BIGben*
Posts: 1942 - Karma: 8
Legit post.
Jun 6 2011 6:10PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7482 - Karma: 36,057
We can ski whenever there is not work to be done. Most of the time we rake everything at the start of the shift and then fix lips as needed. We only have 1 park so fixing everything doesnt take a lot of time. Some park crews dont get to ski at all I guess it depends on the mountain. The groomer works at night so he could ski during the day, but he is to tired and he has knee problems.
Jun 6 2011 9:12PM
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No_Dub
Posts: 3357 - Karma: 294
started picking up garbage 3 years ago and now im running a park cat building whatever the fuck i want
Jun 6 2011 9:23PM
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Reed.
Posts: 4489 - Karma: 272
Summit County Colorado, where 5's act like 9's. The girls here all suck. Go to denver to party.
Jun 6 2011 11:05PM
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SkiThe603
Posts: 5376 - Karma: 498
Go pro in skiing?
Jun 6 2011 11:07PM
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.jersey
Posts: 1925 - Karma: 9
I'm going to college to major in environmental policy. Call me a tree hugger or whatever but I would like to do my part and get a job in a ski area that would allow me too help give back to the environment we use and to help make resorts more sustainable so the future can enjoy the sport we love.
Jun 6 2011 11:40PM
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.jersey
Posts: 1925 - Karma: 9
I have four years though till I need a job so hopefully by then there will be some openings and new opportunities.
Jun 6 2011 11:57PM
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
hahaha the truth.
Jun 7 2011 12:06AM
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Backyard.Skier
Posts: 5397 - Karma: 1,497
threads
Jun 7 2011 4:57PM
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LoLo913
Posts: 600 - Karma: 29
ya Rogge made an extremely valid point. You either move up or get over it and get a real job.

The reality of working at a ski resort is that it is tough because the majority jobs are only seasonal. Getting through the dreaded shoulder seasons, can be really tough because you can potentially be out of work for one to two months. Therefore, myself and most people have a side job to fall back on. Year round positions at most resorts are hard to come by and you really have to decided how bad you want to pursue this lifestyle and put in the time and make the connections that it takes to move up. I mean most people who are in upper management now, started out as lifties, so it is possible to move up it just takes time.

That being said it is an amazing lifestyle, but you don't make a lot of money and you really have to do it because you love it.
Jun 7 2011 7:20PM
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LoLo913
Posts: 600 - Karma: 29
to be fair all the boys in summit kinda suck as well, keepers are far and few better.
Jun 7 2011 7:23PM
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