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March, 2025

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How do you guys do it?

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Karl_Hungus
Posts: 510 - Karma: 3,664
maybe im completely wrong but ive seen way to many unsponsored amateur unemployed skiers just traveling everywhere and partying and somehow managing so as a 17 year old im wondering how the hell do you guys survive? what happened to college and becoming an engineer? like how do guys like totally trevor and hood crew just wake up at some denver frat house, ski for 3 hours, then do it again? are you guys lying to me? do you have full time jobs? do your parents own a champagne company? but in all seriousness how do you guys do it i want your lives
12 years ago
262 57
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eheath
Posts: 61890 - Karma: 125,956
I know back when I just skied and went to school, I worked like april-november to save money then didnt work all winter and skied, worked well.
12 years ago
19 0
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Drail
Posts: 14044 - Karma: 10,320
Most of my fellow 'ski bums' and I work our ass's off all summer and go on EI in the winter. Sadly, I make more money on EI than my friends who are working 4 days a week as a lifty. Well, sad for them, awesome for me!

1. work from late April till mid October
2. get laid off
3. go on EI and get paid by the government
4. travel and ski all winter.

rinse and repeat.
12 years ago
4 17
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5463 - Karma: 12,299
bussing tables at night. fighting fires during the summer maybe.
12 years ago
0 0
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Wolfgang.
Posts: 807 - Karma: 866
For the school part, organize your classes, become an engineer during the summer, then work on your PHd on the chairlift. Its no problem, you got this.
12 years ago
4 0
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Hammyslapwagon
Posts: 1261 - Karma: 1,411
not all of us are like that....when I was in high school, I had basically the whole last half of the day to ski.  Sadly, when I got to college, I could no longer get to the mountain so easily due to homework/transportation/work......feels.jpg
12 years ago
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JAHBRADOR
Posts: 3144 - Karma: 18,608
So I am funding you to ski all winter? Mkay, seeamz legit.
12 years ago
25 2
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Drail
Posts: 14044 - Karma: 10,320
don't hate the player.

12 years ago
7 20
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eheath
Posts: 61890 - Karma: 125,956
Or just take 12 credits haha
12 years ago
9 0
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Casey
Posts: 7986 - Karma: 26,442

Survey says: someone else is paying for it.

12 years ago
12 0
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Bagina
Posts: 849 - Karma: 2,888
Dirty, but fucking great. Good job buddy.
12 years ago
4 4
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,966
All you see in edits are the skiing. You don't see them working because that would be a stupid edit. Do you think Totally Trevor made a edit of him selling patio furniture while he worked at a Christis sports in CO?
12 years ago
24 0
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,191
Its actually surprisingly easy once you're in college. I took 17 credits this past spring semester and was still able to get on the slopes about 4 days per week. It's nice having morning classes so that your afternoon is free, also having the ski resort only 30mins away is a plus.
12 years ago
1 0
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,094
growing up is for pussies. i should know, im a dad
12 years ago
30 0
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methscratchface
Posts: 1204 - Karma: 4,446
a true dirtbag never reveals his secrets.....
12 years ago
6 0
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nickmcnutt
Posts: 4396 - Karma: 2,967
I work as a carpenter in the summer and take Dec-April off to film/shred. no complaints.
12 years ago
6 0
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JKravitz
Posts: 267 - Karma: 606
wait tables walk with cash every night ski during the day
12 years ago
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rsvp
Posts: 1516 - Karma: 2,611
god damnit
12 years ago
9 0
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 6000 - Karma: 3,690
I built a bedroom in a garage in return for free rent for a year. Really frees up some cash to shred
12 years ago
1 0
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JAHBRADOR
Posts: 3144 - Karma: 18,608
I fucking hate you.
12 years ago
14 5
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Drail
Posts: 14044 - Karma: 10,320
I'm sure one day we could become friends.
12 years ago
5 5
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,341
There are many ways to do it. Basically everything said above is good. Work as much as humanly possible in the summer and don't spend a dime. You would be surprised how much money you can save if all you do is work.

Then when the season starts if you are going to college just shift some things around so that you can have plenty of time to get on hill. This may require going to class from 8am to 8pm two days a week but you have to make sacrifices somewhere.

And if you need a job theres always shitty dish washing or waiting tables jobs you can find at night in most mountain town areas. Or like was said above you can just go on unemployment and get food stamps and run that gig through the winter. Sure some people will call you out for it saying you don't really need it, and it's not meant for people like you but just do what you gotta do.

Bottom line unless you're one of the lucky ones with wealthy parents you're going to have to work or scheme.
12 years ago
11 1
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Billiards.
Posts: 6853 - Karma: 816
Yeah but don't pretend as if your parents didn't help you out along the way. Lets be blunt, if you ski and go to college in THIS country right now, you come from a decent socioeconomic background and thus have parents that help you out. One doesn't simply perform unskilled/nonprofessional work full time for half of the year in order to pay for another six months of skiing and school, not even considering the plethora of other life expenses.
12 years ago
7 0
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VerticalDrop
Posts: 324 - Karma: 4,479
pretty sure Charley Ager works construction all summer to make it through winter if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure a lot of guys do that.

Also, not sure about other resorts, but at Crested Butte if you boot pack the mountain a certain amount of hours with ski patrol pre-season/early season you get a free pass.

there's always ways to work the system, our guys do what a lot of people were saying, stack your schedules two days a week if you're in school and ski the rest. just dont get a job at a ski shop! haha
12 years ago
2 0
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ChocolateMilk.
Posts: 1129 - Karma: 220
Insulation and asbestos removal in the summer. Work like a slave May-Aug then shred all winter.
12 years ago
1 1
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
I fucking hate people like you. But that is awesome, and I cant hate you for that, Winning. What do is work at my dads woodworking business in the summer and make all my money for winter then. Its not hard op
12 years ago
1 1
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Session
Posts: 5407 - Karma: 22,535
Realistically the amount of people that do this are 1/10th of 1%. Just because someone ski's a lot does not mean they aren't just an average Joe who works a regular job, and ski's as much as possible.

12 years ago
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TheClap.
Posts: 21684 - Karma: 4,240
You are also 15
Not that hard to ski all the time when you are in hs
12 years ago
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
Yeah that. But I like to go to different mountains with the normal crew so I have to buy weekend passes a lot and gas money is a bitch, thats basically what summer work pays for. That and ski equipment.
12 years ago
0 0
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NoSkillsCrew
Posts: 1209 - Karma: 2,155
Live in a town with easy access to snow. Work nights. Thats what I do, lets me ski every day there is snow.
12 years ago
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goonsquad
Posts: 550 - Karma: 224
just do it, you'll find a way to survive. If you have a car you're half way there. If not apply to some mountains you're interested in, they probably have employee housing.

Or be an OG and invest in a hammock and a good sleeping bag.
12 years ago
0 0
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Holte
Posts: 10750 - Karma: 7,995
Precisely. Ski at least Friday, Sat, Sun, and Monday. And add on Wednesday if you're lucky. Get used to couch surfing and sleeping in your car and you'll be good to go.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61890 - Karma: 125,956
No doubt big willy. But who actually skis and pays for college at the same time? I'd actually be curious to know who goes to college and pays out of their pocket for school. I feel like if you go to even a halfway decent school you still need loans unless your parents are paying. I'm insanely grateful my parents put me through school and for the past couple years I've supported myself and skiing a bunch (luckily my job is on the industry) but still you're right you cant ski 50+ days a year, go to school and have a job that pays for school.
12 years ago
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Austin.ski
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 2,579
threads for after works
12 years ago
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.ZT.
Posts: 5679 - Karma: 2,792
Trevor is working as a counselor at Woodward this summer, living and eating for free (and skiing) and making a small salary taking care of campers (like myself and others). Other people probably have summer jobs, like other college students, and either take online school during ski season, or strategically arrange classes.

THC and Trevor and the rest don't make very much money (I think Trevor checked his bank account before pay day and had like 8 bucks total, haha) , but hell, neither do most college kids. They make it happen.
12 years ago
1 0
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,447
I'm taking 25 this year

NO SKIING FOR ME D:
12 years ago
1 0
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123
Wait 25 for the year or 25 for a semester?
12 years ago
1 0
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iH8pow
Posts: 1878 - Karma: 8,390
I often wonder the same question. When I went to college, the hill was 15 minutes away so I could park sesh in between classes (epic on a weekday because all the park rats in a non-ski town actually have jobs/school so park is empty). Now I have a real job and live in Denver. It sucks because people are packing the park all day every day. And sucks because I have to ski conservatively because if I get hurt, that's a lot of money I'm out
12 years ago
2 0
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Vinci
Posts: 701 - Karma: 1,472
Living on a minimum budget, the whole year I'm saving everything for
1.) car insurance
2.) lift ticket (~600 bucks, way less expensive than in the US)
3.) fuel

Can't go out every weekend, don't really do much beside skiing and learning the whole winter... Don't get new skiing stuff every season.

And I'm becoming an electronics engineer btw. If you really want to, you'll find a way.
12 years ago
0 0
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*ninja*
Posts: 2108 - Karma: 1,144
im no were near as old as most of the people that have posted in this thread but i work all summer, and im careful with my money. my parents dont support my skiing so i have to make good choices with my $$$
12 years ago
1 0
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Ski instructing, don't get as much freeski time as bums, but I live in some rad places and never have to do any work apart from skiing.
12 years ago
2 0
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mM*
Posts: 366 - Karma: 787
25 a semester?... fuckk.
12 years ago
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,489

Marry a good partner that will help alot.

Partner  needs to love to ski too.

Both become self-employed so you set your own schedule

Live close to a Mt. like I do in Bend OR area or anyplace like that.

Fish Alaska.  Screw school.

All the money you make won't prevent your death anyway.  Ski now.

I aerifacate lawns.  Hard work.  Lots of customers.  No work in winter.

You will find a way if you really want to.  I got 130 day last season.  I don't have money.  Just enough to pay the bills.  Don't get a big mortgage!  Buy a small cheap home.  I buy used stuff all the time.  Learn to tune all your own stuff.  Etc.  Don't go out and waste any money.  Save and pinch.

Or get rich quick!  Then retire.

Become a major grower.   Get into roofing, or any trade like that.  Seasonal work.

These are just a few ideas.   Good luck!

12 years ago
2 0
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
boot pack 20-30 days a year on the only days with fresh snow==not worth it. to OP work your ass off from may-october/november and get a job at a restaurant at night, thats what i do atleast.
12 years ago
0 0
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e.will
Posts: 1981 - Karma: 967
Catering can be lucrative. Work two events a month and boom, you've got rent.

Seasonal labor is great too, but don't expect to make a lot of money right off the bat. Learn now while your young and living at home so that come college/ski bum time, your making more than 10 bucks an hour at your first roofing job.

Find some sort of freelancing job that either A) facilitates travel or B) allows you to telecommute.

get into judging park,pipe, and moguls. the governing bodies will pay your travel expenses, hook you up with lift-tickets day of (an usually a day or two after if you can sweet-talk the events manager), and a place to stay. Bring your own food so that your per-diem can be turned into fun-time money.

It all comes down to prioritizing. If you want to ski around 100 days a year and travel to some cool places, don't expect to live in a sick house, go out boozing with your buddies every week, and have basically any hobby outside of skiing.

Oh and expect to be dead broke in May. it'll happen. But it's pretty goddamn rewarding to look back on a season and realize you didn't really have a job past the end of december, saw some amazing new places, met some kickass people, and skied your heart out.


12 years ago
0 0
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jpastor
Posts: 431 - Karma: 848
Chris Rubens and some other MSP guys are roofers and dig out septic tanks for a living in the summer and then film all winter, and those guys are all in their 30s
12 years ago
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JsNeagle
Posts: 1406 - Karma: 1,580
I like how you snuck that one in there.
12 years ago
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,489
I also worked 7 years for a strawberry cooler.  I was head shipping clerk.  They would pay me unemployment with out being required to look for work because they always wanted me back.  I skied quite a bit then, but I lived on the coast of CA so I had to drive a long way to Tahoe to ski.  Now I live 22 miles from the chair lift.  Seasonal work!
12 years ago
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mooseman077
Posts: 300 - Karma: 359
Just sell lots of drugs at night and ski all day. Works for a lot of people I know.
12 years ago
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JWoods
Posts: 2369 - Karma: 2,635
If anyone wakes up in a frat house they're doing something wrong.
12 years ago
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WU-sconsin
Posts: 565 - Karma: 1,301
I can't work in the summer because I mountain Bike like I ski...I need to fix that
12 years ago
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