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Jobs and lifestyles that support skiing.

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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
undefined
Aug 3 2013 9:37AM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
What are some jobs or lifestyles that support skiing. Obviously ski bumming. But what job should the ski bum have, or where to live or what is the best way to ski a lot in the winter NOT ski bumming. Just asking. Thanks
Aug 3 2013 9:40AM
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a_burger
Posts: 5235 - Karma: 20,715
forest service summer jobs
Aug 3 2013 9:40AM
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GrahamGould
Posts: 713 - Karma: 2,439
bartending. ski all day, work at night
Aug 3 2013 9:46AM
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whoa-dere
Posts: 10596 - Karma: 7,103
tony stark
Aug 3 2013 10:20AM
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werd.
Posts: 967 - Karma: 4,330
Threads since i was wondering this as well
Aug 3 2013 10:43AM
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Bock
Posts: 748 - Karma: 1,652
Maybe working as a chef in a ski town. ski in the morning, work at night, repeat.

Im not sure but i definitely want to know other possibilities.
Aug 3 2013 10:47AM
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razors-chaz
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,250
I'm trying to get a job being a ski tech/ doing ski repairs this season coming. Same as jobs posted above, ski all day work in the evening/night.
Aug 3 2013 10:54AM
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bigkicker
Posts: 1270 - Karma: 87
I Patrol. Ski open to close during my 4 day work week. Then on my 3 days off I get out in the BC or ski more resort depending on conditions. Sometimes I realize I've been in ski boots for literally weeks straight and force myself to take a day off.
Aug 3 2013 11:05AM
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CubanLinx
Posts: 274 - Karma: 886
undefined
Aug 3 2013 11:25AM
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skiersupreme
Posts: 1549 - Karma: 4,872
bein a lifty. my friend got 120 days in last year
Aug 3 2013 11:27AM
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AGOF
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 3,602
i just started being a pool service tech and there are tons of hours in the summer and the winter is pretty much all freed up with like 32ish hours a week
Aug 3 2013 11:30AM
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
Work all summer on construction or as high of a pay as possible. Then ski all winter.
Aug 3 2013 11:50AM
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rememberscott
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 5,201
I worked as a lifty at Eldo last year and got to ski Steamboat, Telluride, Crested Butte, Winter Park, Loveland, Aspen and more for free. Now they partnered up with the Epic Pass so you can ski any of those mountains for free as well. (prob will go to b.c. for the chutes once)

but if your talking about supporting the skiing lifestyle, skiing for free is the way to be. and in order to do that all you need is a job at a resort (don't have to be a lifty even though it's easy and you ski every day)
Aug 3 2013 11:53AM
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skiersupreme
Posts: 1549 - Karma: 4,872
thats where my friend worked. did you know ari?
Aug 3 2013 12:55PM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,775
i work up north as an electrician for sept to early december then take the winter off and head back to whistler and shred all season without working. 3 months of hard work and long hours makes me more than enough money to live comfortably for the winter without working.
Aug 3 2013 1:07PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
Don't work in the ski industry
Aug 3 2013 1:44PM
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razors-chaz
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,250
Go on...
Aug 3 2013 1:46PM
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jca
Posts: 4171 - Karma: 6,311
this is definitely one of the better options. get a trade and work for the summer and fall and you'll have plenty of money to bum very comfortably for the winter along with putting money into savings. just dont spend all your cash on toys and blow.
Aug 3 2013 1:50PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
You could work really hard at something then bum the winter, I teach skiing which is cruisey work and still allows a lot of skiing time, less than bumming, but still good.
Aug 3 2013 2:39PM
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kvan
Posts: 3085 - Karma: 1,225
Being either a carpenter or a landscaper during the summer would be mad chill. I definitely wouldnt mind working on really nice houses in Jackson that people only use during the winter.
Aug 3 2013 2:49PM
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B-Right-On
Posts: 570 - Karma: 532
A cart attendant at my grandpas country club, works on the golf course all summer then works on the Ski Patrol at Solitude all winter....and hes in his late 40's. Sounds badass
Aug 3 2013 3:00PM
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Caleb.E
Posts: 3556 - Karma: 1,015
find a labor job that pays good and work 80+ hours a weak for half the year, then the other half don't work at all and just ski.
Aug 3 2013 3:12PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
Working at a mountain means getting called into work on busy (pow) days. You make Shit money and get laid off in the spring. If you get into a supervisory position and make salary you usually work 60 hour weeks and don't ski.

Work like a dog in the summer/fall and be smart with your money.
Aug 3 2013 3:31PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
For sure this is true at some places, for some jobs, but ski instructing has been the only job I've had for the last 5 years, and it fucking rocks.
Aug 3 2013 3:56PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,010
I had a plan to write a bunch of interviews with ski bums about their summer jobs, but they are all useless dirt bags and won't do what they are told so its falling apart at the seams.

Forest fire fighting
Silviculture (tree planting, brushing, etc)
Golf course work
River rafting guide
Painting
Road work
Commercial fishing. And working at a fishing lodge

All good summer jobs to bank coin so you can be free in the winter to ski.
Aug 3 2013 4:03PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
This. It's quite difficult to pay for rent, utilities, schooling, and a season pass. Work your fucking ass off at whatever you do, and if you really want to ski during the winter, don't get hurt or your labour job on the offseason will be gone.

I would suggest working your ass off in college and go into a high income occupation so you can ski an average of 30-50 days a year and be just a little more than a weekend warrior.
Aug 3 2013 4:03PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,010
Seen to many people waste their money by putting it up their nose.
Aug 3 2013 4:06PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
yeah it's easy to get caught up in that. rule #1 is always don't be dumb with money.
Aug 3 2013 4:08PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
I'm thinking about working as a summer day camp counselor, but right now I'm working pert time in retail. Otherwise, work as a ski instructor or part of your mountain's park crew, then you can get in a ton of days on hill.
Aug 3 2013 4:11PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,499
Work in a ski shop in a good resort. Most resort shops open late as that's when people want to shop so you can work evenings often. Last season I only worked two day shifts a week so I could ski 5 days a week. You also get deals on kit and get to know people within the industry. At first you won't make much money but do it for enough years you will if your good be on good money. Eventually you won't be buying gear. Manufacturers will want you on there product so you can a lot of free stuff and get to ski all the new kit first. Yes it can be hard work and you will have a lot to learn if you want to boot fit for example but its well worth it.
Aug 3 2013 4:13PM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
My thought was work hard in college at a job and ski a pretty good amount (probably end up going to like uvm or somewhere up in vt) then during college every year stowe away a certain amount of money for ski bumming. Enough for 1 season. Out of college go out west for the winter with the 15 grand or whatever the amount may be and ski bum with no job, then after the season go back to the everyday life and begin pursuing a career in the field I majored in. Is it realistic? What do u guys think?
Aug 3 2013 5:01PM
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thesatanist
Posts: 413 - Karma: 1,760
Your mom
Aug 3 2013 5:54PM
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JeremyH
Posts: 2283 - Karma: 275
near the mountains..idiot
Aug 3 2013 6:17PM
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-SnowSnoli-
Posts: 756 - Karma: 1,703
Ski man, 2 hour lunch breaks 2 days a week, and 2 weeks in jan and march + overtime off if i dont want the pay.

Works out well, plus get 5 weekends off for comps.
Aug 3 2013 6:47PM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
Road construction. Davis-bacon wage for a common laborer here is like 35 bucks an hour, and you get a shitload of overtime, and you get laid off in the winter. The guys on the projects that I work at get $1500-2000 checks every week.
Aug 3 2013 6:58PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,628
Web design is pretty good. You work the hours/days you want, where you want. So in the winter you can take on fewer projects and work less, but earn less. As a guide, I'm currently designing quite a simple website, they're paying me £1000 (~$1500) for about 36 hours work (I have to write a CMS as well, it drives the time up a bit).
Aug 3 2013 7:31PM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
That's kind of what I'm doing. I graduate in December so I'm going to move out to Bozeman for the rest of this coming winter, and look for jobs while I'm out there ski bumming. If I get a job it will be part time, it all depends on how much money I end up saving in between then and now, but I don't think I'll need more than 6 grand for a part of a winter. I think it's a great idea, if you graduate with no loans like me, you might as well take advantage of the fact that you have no real responsibilities yet because you won't be able to just go do something like this again until you retire.
Aug 3 2013 9:07PM
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Bombogenesis
Posts: 1984 - Karma: 4,006
You have to do something where you work at night. However, you also have to accept that if you ever get hurt to the point where you can't ski anymore or you fall out of love with skiing you likely won't ever have a great paying job with the ability to have a really solid family structure.

However if you're the kind of person who doesn't need that and you just want to "live the life" then get a night job and schralp all day...not for me but I think it's pretty sick actually.

acually.
Aug 3 2013 9:13PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Total aside here, but have you ever planted for Haveman Brothers in Ontario? I seem to remember reading a thread you made about them.
Aug 3 2013 10:18PM
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yourthemannowdog
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 313
I know an ari in Durango. He's got the best bud in town
Aug 3 2013 10:26PM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
Obviously gotta put in work to get there but lawyer.

My friends dad is a high profile lawyer and he works two days a week in the winter, one doing consultations and the other making court appearances, skis the other five days. He just does his research/prepares for court at night after skiing
Aug 3 2013 10:47PM
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GANDALF
Posts: 6303 - Karma: 6,573
i work 40 hours a week and also ski 6 days a week, sooooo yahhhhh be me or something
Aug 3 2013 10:55PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,010
No. I've worked Brinkman and Wilderness in Ontario when I first started planting. I think back then I did a really awkward phone interview with Haveman Brothers and decided to not work for them. That was like 9 years ago though so I don't know much about what they are up to these days).
Aug 3 2013 11:09PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
I've worked two seasons with Havemans now, quality checking mostly and a bit of planting.

Aug 3 2013 11:24PM
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rememberscott
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 5,201
yeah he's got the hot girlfriend. whos also a lifty oddly enough. blond, slim body, nice smile, cute butt, everybody in the locker room wanted on that.
Aug 3 2013 11:32PM
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
sorry to bust your bubble but ski techs work during the day. Get a job at a restaurant waiting tables for dinner (this is what i do) this work during the summer thing sounds like a good idea but doesn't seem to reasonable to me unless you luck out pretty good.
Aug 4 2013 2:17AM
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SamtheEagle
Posts: 1658 - Karma: 713
film porn
Aug 4 2013 2:38AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,499
No usually techs will work at night. Most I new would start late and work through till about 2am. It's a misconception that if you work in a shop or as a tech you work in the day. Most customers are up skiing in the day so the busy times are the evenings when there down off the hill.
Aug 4 2013 3:09AM
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seanahue.
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 3,375
i posted this in another thread but it's pretty relevant here...

i've lived in old town PC for two seasons now working as a bellman/valet, skied a shitload, paid pretty expensive rent and still somehow managed to save a decent amount of money while partying more than i probably should... go to one of the luxury hotels (stein, regis, montage, waldorf, etc) and get a gratuity-based swing shift (2/3pm-11pm waiter,bartender,bellman,valet,etc), ski hard, party harder, get money, fuck bitches, etc etc you get the idea... have fun and good luck!
Aug 4 2013 3:11AM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
Get a job in the oilfield. Sometimes I wish I would have right out of high school instead of going to college. Make serious money (lowest paid person on an Alaskan drilling rig makes about 75k) and since you're young and have no responsibility go on exotic ski trips or Indonesia on your time off. Go back to work, then repeat.
Aug 4 2013 10:47AM
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