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Secrets the Ski Industry People Won't Tell You

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cubber
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 638
I googlebarred and didn't find much

but...like the reader's digest articles http://www.rd.com/slideshows/50-secrets-your-nurse-wont-tell-you/#slideshow=slide2

post your job title
       and SEEEEECRET

me: ski instructor
we make $6.00/hr, tips are sweet and really help me buy food that week.
we can tell how good/familiar you are at skiing almost immediately, no need to ego boost yourself and say you rode for 100 years straight when you were a kid


I realize that we are all skiers/boarders and this may not benefit anyone, but there could be funzies.




Feb 11 2012 10:55AM
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PJS.
Posts: 11943 - Karma: 895
wait, how come I never noticed how stupid you were before?
Feb 11 2012 8:52PM
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Masta_Baka
Posts: 649 - Karma: 162
threads
Feb 11 2012 8:52PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
nerd
Feb 11 2012 9:09PM
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SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
I'm a performance based tipper.
Feb 11 2012 9:18PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
You sound like a really really bad lifty. I loved being a lifty because it was the most retardedly easy job I ever had. You get to hangout on the hill and talk to people who are usually stoked on being on the mtn. If the lift is running slow (which again should be rare if you are communicating with the guests to help them properly load) you address the crowd and politely inform them that you will be back to normal operation soon. Plus, my mountain opens at 8:30 and the earliest lift op shift starts at 7:50, so I never had to get up at the buttcrack of dawn. As for the "let me get one more," the lifts always are scheduled to close 5 minutes after the advertised closing time because of this. It's your job to keep the lappers informed that you will be closing soon.

I love being a lifty.
Feb 11 2012 9:28PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 467
Click for larger image
Feb 11 2012 9:30PM
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Skavengers303
Posts: 964 - Karma: 192
based on our capitalistic tipping system, tip are not and should not be mandatory. they should be based completely on the quality of service (which it seems to be more similar to how the system works in Finland)

With that being said, if you are banking making large tips to live off of, then why the hell would you get pissy and mess up peoples orders just because they asked for a slight change to their meal? they are the ones supplying you with your income. so pretty much, in our tipping system, the customer is your boss. if your boss is a dick are you not going to do what he asks? probably not.
Feb 11 2012 9:49PM
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corona
Posts: 12795 - Karma: 32,747
I work at a sperm bank. I cum in your cum and I don't give a fuck.
Feb 11 2012 9:52PM
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PJS.
Posts: 11943 - Karma: 895
tell me this is true. I am interested as to what actually goes down.
Feb 11 2012 9:54PM
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corona
Posts: 12795 - Karma: 32,747
no. I actually work at a daycare. I cum in your children and I don't give a fuck.
Feb 11 2012 9:55PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
+10
Feb 11 2012 10:00PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11954 - Karma: 12,297
wow. just ....wow.
Feb 11 2012 10:02PM
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Fucktown
Posts: 474 - Karma: 22
When lifts run slow (for an entire day) it's usually due to factors outside of one's control... such as weather, operations (we generally run slower with the weekend gaper crowd than with the weekday crowd), or mechanical issues (power outages/false faults when ran at full speed/running on diesel or standby engine). But thanks for 1. not knowing what you're talking about, and 2. talking to me like I'm a terrible employee who doesn't know what he's talking about. I generally start to inform people that the clock is ticking when theres about an hour and a half left in the day, and always inform people when it's going to be their "last run". The lifts at my mountain close when we say they're going to close (I let people trickle in for a while to be nice, but when you come up to me 15 minutes after the lift is closed, and the thing is literally not spinning... you're not getting on the god damned chair). Also, if you have time to get everything on the mountain set-up within 30 minutes every day, then your mountain must be a very small/different operation...
Feb 11 2012 10:10PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
I've never heard of lifts running slow for an entire day, that's never happened here as far as I know. Maybe if there were 90mph winds. I assumed you meant running slow because someone fell. I definitely know what I'm talking about, I made the lift operator training for Mammoth Mountain (not a very small operation). It usually takes about 15 minutes to set up a chair, if the maze is already up. And you sound like you really dislike your job, which probably does make you a bad employee since 90% of the job is putting on a happy face and being polite to the guests.
Feb 11 2012 10:20PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
"well never work in the restaurant industry then. Sending back the order completely fucks with the balance of a kitchen, especially one on a busy night. Getting orders out and on time is a very methodical and intricate process, contrary to what many customers and people who haven't work in the restaurant business believe.

When a cook fires a dish and puts it on the counter for service, he doesn't sit and wait to see if the dish is sent back, he moves onto the next entree on the ticket or a whole new ticket. When a dish is sent back, not only does the cook have to stop what he is doing and work on repairing a perfectly fine dish, but the whole kitchen comes crashing to a halt because now all the other dishes in then next order have to wait until the chef can get the "sent back" dish back out and start working on the next order so all the dishes in that order leave at the same time.

I get pissed when people think it's so simple to run a kitchen. It's not."

-From a few posts above you.

Think of the waiter as a go between the restaurant and yourself. you must pay them for their service, but to what extent, is up to the job that they did. if they brought you your food at the perfect time, or recomended a great item, reward them for that. if they did a normal job, pay them for their service but no more.

10%- minimum ill tip unless my meal gets ruined somehow.
15%- if i dont even notice if we have a god/bad waiter
20%- if its a cutie, a funny guy, or just really helpful
20+%- if i get free shit.
Feb 11 2012 10:35PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
i must be misunderstanding you, because you are making it seem as though almost being qualified enough to be a lifty, is an accomplishment?
Feb 11 2012 10:37PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
You are misunderstanding me actually. As I stated earlier, being a lifty is the most retardedly easy job known to man. Someone just said that I obviously don't know what I'm talking about (when it comes to being a lifty) so my reply was that I must since I made the training material for the lift operations training program at my mountain. Not saying it's that hard, just saying that I know how to be a lifty. The procedural parts of the job can probably be taught in about an hour, the rest is just being helpful and nice.
Feb 11 2012 10:44PM
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Fucktown
Posts: 474 - Karma: 22

Lifties don't set up the mazes where you work? Do you also not set up the ramps or shovel snow/take down and set up perimeter ropes/actually run the lift? To put it in office space terms.. what would you say.. you do here? I put on a happy face for customers, that doesn't mean I enjoy my job. You're way too happy and proud of being a lifty without actually knowing anything about mountain operations (I'm assuming, but I think it's a fair assumption... because you just talked about lifts running all day with 90mph winds)

Feb 11 2012 10:47PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
I qualified my statement by saying if the maze is already up. If it's not going to snow overnight and the ramp doesn't need to get snow catted, we leave it up. It takes maybe an extra 15 minutes with 2 people to put it up. I'm not proud of being a lifty, but I'm sure as hell happy to be one (when I am, right now I make snow and instruct skiing) because it's easy money.

I've been working on days with 120mph gusts and 60-70mph sustained and we kept the lift open all day. The lift maintenance guy was just holding the RPD fault override switch down with his finger for like an hour at a time. We close the peripheral lifts but the main chairs will stay open unless we absolutely have to close them. Mammoth is really windy.
Feb 11 2012 10:54PM
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Boggs
Posts: 1039 - Karma: 208
Sorry im going to bump her post again...

YOU ARE A DUMB FUCKING CUNT.






...now back to the thread...
Feb 11 2012 11:44PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Good skiers aren't gear whores.
Feb 11 2012 11:51PM
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Fucktown
Posts: 474 - Karma: 22
120mph winds.. lift not running at a slower than normal speed... sure bro
Feb 11 2012 11:59PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
Maintenance holding down the RPD fault override.
Feb 12 2012 12:07AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
just read through this again...

and wow, this thread has got to be one of the most consistently hating threads I've seen in awhile. And on top of that, the hate goes from topic to topic; jobs in general to restaurant work to lifty...all have been hated on.
Feb 12 2012 12:19AM
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GratefulDead
Posts: 3554 - Karma: 84
HEY FUCK YOU!

Just kidding lol
Feb 12 2012 12:21AM
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Fucktown
Posts: 474 - Karma: 22
Sorry, thought you said that. But I guess I was wrong. I'm sure you guys were running at full pace when it was at 60+mph. (Or, the mechanics do everything operations-wise and you don't really know what's going on except saying hello to customers)
Feb 12 2012 12:30AM
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Joebin
Posts: 1664 - Karma: 867
I work in a ski shop

You know that awesome pair of Volkl Walls you just paid $500 for at the beginning of the season? I got those for $275
Ever bought a pair of $150 crowbars? I get those for $70
That 'waiting period' for tunes and mounts- Non existent. When someone brings in a tune or mount I get that pair of skis done in around 20-30 minutes when we tell people it will take 2-3 days. Mounts take around 45 minutes to an hour.
You dont know anything about boot fitting, so dont act like you do, or come in saying "I WANT FULL TILTS" Even after 2 years of working there I still dont fully understand how to properly fit a boot.
We do make fun of kids that get skis cause they 'look cool' or mommy is paring for them
When no one is coming in we watch ski movies
For some strange reason snow doesnt always make business pick up
Feb 12 2012 12:39AM
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soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
we really just instruct for the perks
Feb 12 2012 12:45AM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
When you said slow I initially assumed you meant slow as in the slow button. The rope speed was barely slowed down that day (maybe 50fpm slower than normal full speed). The lift was trying to stop on it's own, hence the holding down the RPD fault override button (basically keeping the lift running when it shouldn't have been). Stop being a dumbass. It's not the normal procedure, but it happened. We don't normally run lifts on a slow speed all day on different days (the beginner lifts run slower, but they always do).
Feb 12 2012 12:46AM
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TheRightCoast
Posts: 314 - Karma: 4
this and I like it. I make way more than minimal wage and everyone in the kitchen always has the best drugs so that is good also.
Feb 12 2012 12:52AM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
every snow cat operator is out there to run over you when you sneak on the mountain at night

yes the lifties stop the chair when youre about to get off cuz they feel like it

yes the snow guns are there to fuck with your goggles and not actually add base to the mtn

slow signs are there for jokes, dont obey them

closed ribbons should also be taken lightly, if you feel alright, just go under them, its safe

the faster you ski, the better you are

double blacks are only for experts and no beginner has the right to be there

green runs should be bombed whenever possible

helmets are for beginners

pow day lineups are short, you can show up late and get first tracks.

everyone can speak english

50% of the hill is not infested by asian immigrants and their school trips

turning your dins to the binding max is a good thing

being a safe and cautious skier when necessary is for inconsiderate people


Feb 12 2012 1:10AM
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El.Guapo
Posts: 2139 - Karma: 3,173
my neiggbor is a commercial pilot for delta and he does meth
Feb 12 2012 1:55AM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
Note to self: don't fly delta
Feb 12 2012 2:12AM
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Lolocaust.
Posts: 1716 - Karma: 512
nice tumblr man.
Feb 12 2012 2:17AM
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Tree60
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 4,961
you were sarcastic for the whole thing, yet you threw this in there. If i see one more kid on their 10th day of skiing sideslipping my favorite steep pow run, imma be upset.
Feb 12 2012 2:26AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
Didn't read the thread, but where the fuck do you ski instruct? By the end of the last season I taught, I was gettin $13.33 and that was just for part time.
Feb 12 2012 2:41AM
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LittleFoot
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 57
How the fuck did this turn into a claim thread? At least put a disclaimer at the beginning of your post stating that you don't know shit about any secrets so I'll know not to read any further.
Feb 12 2012 2:52AM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807

We had a motor break on one of our lifts last year, it was running at about 50% speed for almost a month took 20minutes instead of 12 so not exactly 50% but still way slower. Running the lift when not supposed to thats pretty unsafe, we shut down the lifts after about 60km/h depending on how much the cabins/chairs are swinging. Like honestly I hope a chair derails and that maitnenace man is fired what an idiot. While I always have a smile on my face as a lifty and love chatting it up with people helping kids on the chair. Nothing is more anoying then people bitching about shit being closed to me when I don't call the shots Its not my decision. Its not like I tell them to go fuck themselves or anything but If i'm hungover and your bitching at me about something out of my control I usually just sit there wait for the chair to pick you up and wave good-bye. You honestly take your job way to seriously by the sounds of things, you need to lighten up. If you've never had a bad day as a liftie, showing up hungover as hell with like an hours sleep and its negative 30 outside your either crazy or have a really good supply of xanax

Feb 12 2012 3:42AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Wow this thread is a mess. What's with all the restaurant shit? And I'm pretty sure everyone knows employees of stores/restaurants get shit cheaper than customers, no need to tell us the exact prices.

Feb 12 2012 3:46AM
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so_gangk
Posts: 530 - Karma: 94
want to work in an oakley store now
Feb 12 2012 4:23AM
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PlaygroundRapist
Posts: 1307 - Karma: 26
Not Michelin = not high end.
Any other rating system doesn't matter.
Feb 12 2012 5:20AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i laughed hard ...
:)
Feb 12 2012 5:26AM
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snowdon
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 391
.
Feb 12 2012 8:14AM
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markrl
Posts: 30 - Karma: 10
Lift people, wtf is with those dopplemayr lifts that have the conveyor belt which seems to just push you into the previous chair!?
Feb 12 2012 10:07AM
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.Roockley.
Posts: 3864 - Karma: 4,078
the lifts ran slow at cardrona all day but that was because they only just managed to open due to super high winds

it was baltic on the 10 minute lift ride with snow blowing straight into your face at 100mph
Feb 12 2012 10:53AM
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NSwidow
Posts: 888 - Karma: 3,222
Haha i'm a ski instructor and i make $28.50/hour.
Feb 12 2012 11:38AM
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