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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Cat Operators of NS

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MRoden
Posts: 753 - Karma: 211
Interested to see who else grooms and pushes out parks. Throw in where you work, cats you run, type of terrain( flat, park, pipe, cat skiing, winching), years of experience. This thread is also open to discussion pertaining to grooming. Examples being Sticks vs Steering wheel, PB vs Prinoth, and so forth. Also could be a gateway for helping people through the process of becoming a operator. Mods, move to NSG if need be.

I'll start,

Hill-Cannonsburg Ski Area, Michigan
Cats Operated-2014 PB 400 Park, 2009 Formatic 350, 2010 Formatic F1 Prototype
Terrain Type-Park and Flat Grooming
Experience-Going on my 3rd Season.

GO!
11 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52478 - Karma: 172,593
Join this cult

https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/cult/members/id/1317/t/Park+Designers+Cult/

Also this coming season in America will be my first full season grooming. Will mostly be doing trails though. Going to be rocking an old PB with a wheel. Haven't operated one in years never used the stick either. I want to give those a shot at some point. Just happy to be getting back in a cat.
11 years ago
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,886
Hill - Ski Sundown
Cats - PB 400 Park (09 and 13)
Terrain - mostly park
Experience - started last season
11 years ago
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3606 - Karma: 3,972
I like snow cats
11 years ago
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hoodcrew
Posts: 1002 - Karma: 69,655
Heffy, Meeks, Alec, Wibbitywabz and the kid all run a salt cat up on hood in the summer, some big ole piston bully that struggles to make it up palmer. Shit gets looooose out there
11 years ago
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3606 - Karma: 3,972
11 years ago
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HeathR
Posts: 4360 - Karma: 1,382
I have been running cats part time for 4 seasons. Mostly just push projects in the park with a few normal grooming shifts thrown in. Lots of moving and setting rails as well.

In the states I mostly run a bison x or 350. Done a few days in a beast.
In NZ I run an old PB 320 with a steering wheel for pushing. Also spent a bit of time in our Park Bully.
11 years ago
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T.L.
Posts: 4731 - Karma: 3,017
4 seasons doing primarily park builds in an 09 PB400 Park. Still trying to figure out where I want to head this season... or if I want to be in a cat at all.
11 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52478 - Karma: 172,593
T.L.4 seasons doing primarily park builds in an 09 PB400 Park. Still trying to figure out where I want to head this season... or if I want to be in a cat at all.


There are a lot of good jobs up for grabs this year for park managers, park groomers, and diggers. Hopefully you find a good fit.
11 years ago
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,753
I cannot confirm nor deny that I have operated snow cats. No one was ever paying me to do it, though.
11 years ago
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.tomskis
Posts: 380 - Karma: 1,025
Any advice on how to score a job as a cat operator? I've spent a bit of time on excavators and in bobcats/skid steers and would be stoked to be driving a cat for a winter or 5
11 years ago
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,753
.tomskisAny advice on how to score a job as a cat operator? I've spent a bit of time on excavators and in bobcats/skid steers and would be stoked to be driving a cat for a winter or 5


If you've got machine/equip op experience, you'll get hired no prob. Unless you're trying to groom at a BIG RESORT where there's no turnover and people fight for seasons to get those jobs.

With you're experience, I bet lots of places would be happy to train you.

I've spent a bunch of time in a skiddy and loader this year....fun stuff. I feel like I'm in Voltron or something.
11 years ago
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freeballer
Posts: 737 - Karma: 1,077
casualIf you've got machine/equip op experience, you'll get hired no prob. Unless you're trying to groom at a BIG RESORT where there's no turnover and people fight for seasons to get those jobs.

With you're experience, I bet lots of places would be happy to train you.

I've spent a bunch of time in a skiddy and loader this year....fun stuff. I feel like I'm in Voltron or something.

You would be a shoe in for a cat operating job, even at a BIG RESORT. I had no equipment experience other than a small tractor and a long time ago I got hired at Vail. Only did one season but it was a really fun season for sure.
11 years ago
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BMit
Posts: 1526 - Karma: 218
Good thread.

I currently build the park at Falls Creek in Australia, first season here.. crazy place to say the least. I run a 200 park bully most of the time. Other than that i have 8 seasons of operating experience and last year was my first year on Blackcomb building the halfpipe. Running a 400 park bully and a polar winch with an 18' Zaugg there.
11 years ago
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T.L.
Posts: 4731 - Karma: 3,017
theabortionatorThere are a lot of good jobs up for grabs this year for park managers, park groomers, and diggers. Hopefully you find a good fit.


There really is a TON of job openings for operators and park staff right now. I've got a spread sheet I've been updating for the past few weeks with probably at least 50-60 positions.

BMitGood thread.

I currently build the park at Falls Creek in Australia, first season here.. crazy place to say the least. I run a 200 park bully most of the time. Other than that i have 8 seasons of operating experience and last year was my first year on Blackcomb building the halfpipe. Running a 400 park bully and a polar winch with an 18' Zaugg there.


A couple questions. Are you from Austrailia? If yes..g'day mate! If no..what's the process like for getting a job there? Also, what's the pay like there if you don't mind me asking?
11 years ago
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BMit
Posts: 1526 - Karma: 218
T.L.A couple questions. Are you from Austrailia? If yes..g'day mate! If no..what's the process like for getting a job there? Also, what's the pay like there if you don't mind me asking?


Im Canadian, but, g'day mate nonetheless! Getting a job can be easy depending on what you're going for.. theres tonnes of lifty and instructor jobs you can just apply for and have pretty good chances of getting hired. Grooming and park jobs are hard to get just because theres such few positions and really low turnover.. the easiest way in there is to know someone and have a reference. I got pretty lucky just cause i got my name in there right when the old builder had decided to move on..

Pay rates for ski resort jobs in Aus are arguably the best in the world.. depends on experience, but i will say im doing significantly better here than in Canada. Helps that they don't really care how many hours you work.. i was working an average of 70 hours/week this winter. So ya, good times down here!
11 years ago
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SnowshoeThompson
Posts: 1095 - Karma: 1,431
I work at a stupid resort in tahoe and am typically a free groomer, this will be my 3rd year grooming. I either run a 300 park bully with more than 17k hours on it or the shaky PB edge cats. I groom everything from the flats to the black diamonds and am also one of the park groomers. Going to do one more year here for some more experience until i can hopefully work some where that gives a shit about their parks/snow cats.
Overall, once you get used to the hours its the best job ever!
Sticks > Wheel any day
11 years ago
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heFF
Posts: 5786 - Karma: 4,456
drove a bombardier 350 this summer and a 280 last summer up in hood..mainly drive around delivering salt to all the boxes, race, and freestyle camps so they can operate..we're also not limited to just that we haul rails..random race equipment...and even shitters
11 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
I was literally retarded and kinda thought this thread was going to be about actual cats.

...either way, I miss getting behind the controls of that 2004 bombardier and pushing snow around.
11 years ago
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MLB
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 298
Been operating for 6 seasons. Do everything from pipe cutting, winching, park, cross country, and jump tower grooming.

I've run bombi MP plus tower winch, Camo 350 Sherpa, Bison X, PB 400 Park, PB 200 Edge, PB 300 Kandi, plus random heavy equipment.

Just looking around for work. I would love to build in the states, but visas are impossible to get.
11 years ago
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SkiLefley
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 954
Home hill: Mount Everest
Cats: PB 1000 Winch
Been in a cat for 69 years and all of which have been here.
The terrain is pretty rocky and steep to say the least
11 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52478 - Karma: 172,593
T.L. with our experience you could probably land a job. Good park builders are always in demand. Also with ll those features you built. I haven't built THAT much stuff but I'm pretty sure that' why I got hired in NZ. They wanted some new features. Also the place I'm at has people from all over. We have young cat operators from Austria in the fleet.

Work holiday visas)1 year_ for NZ are real easy, and from what I've heard they are also real easy to grab in Aus(6months).

I didn't see much listed for park jobs in Australia. I think somewhere was hiring but I didn't end up applying. Last year their were a couple places I saw. This year there were 5 places hiring in NZ. Cardrona, Mt Hutt, The Remarkables, Whakapapa, and Turoa where I'm at.

All those jobs were listed online as well. I think the spots went up at in mid feb/march. The season in NZ is mid to late june - to late october early november.

I feel like you're going to land something solid for this next season though. There are some fucking heavy hitters hiring. Everything from the small spots to the big park powerhouses to a college hill up in AK are hiring this year. I don't even know why I look. It just makes me jealous.

Good luck though. Sorry about the wall of text.
11 years ago
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.tomskis
Posts: 380 - Karma: 1,025
casualIf you've got machine/equip op experience, you'll get hired no prob. Unless you're trying to groom at a BIG RESORT where there's no turnover and people fight for seasons to get those jobs.

With you're experience, I bet lots of places would be happy to train you.

I've spent a bunch of time in a skiddy and loader this year....fun stuff. I feel like I'm in Voltron or something.


Thanks man. I'm actually in Aus too and to get a cat job here you've really got to know someone or have a fair bit of experience it seems. Might have to start planning an OS season though.
11 years ago
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notspoicey
Posts: 1167 - Karma: 1,708
this thread makes me think of the shining
11 years ago
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T.L.
Posts: 4731 - Karma: 3,017
theabortionatorT.L. with our experience you could probably land a job. Good park builders are always in demand. Also with ll those features you built. I haven't built THAT much stuff but I'm pretty sure that' why I got hired in NZ. They wanted some new features. Also the place I'm at has people from all over. We have young cat operators from Austria in the fleet.

Work holiday visas)1 year_ for NZ are real easy, and from what I've heard they are also real easy to grab in Aus(6months).

I didn't see much listed for park jobs in Australia. I think somewhere was hiring but I didn't end up applying. Last year their were a couple places I saw. This year there were 5 places hiring in NZ. Cardrona, Mt Hutt, The Remarkables, Whakapapa, and Turoa where I'm at.

All those jobs were listed online as well. I think the spots went up at in mid feb/march. The season in NZ is mid to late june - to late october early november.

I feel like you're going to land something solid for this next season though. There are some fucking heavy hitters hiring. Everything from the small spots to the big park powerhouses to a college hill up in AK are hiring this year. I don't even know why I look. It just makes me jealous.

Good luck though. Sorry about the wall of text.


That's sick. I'm definitely going to have to look into jobs overseas when the time comes around again. Part of me wants to jump right back into a medium-large size program again. Part of me wants to just half way bum it as a digger or something and actually enjoy a winter with no stress for once... I'm so fucking indecisive right now haha.
11 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52478 - Karma: 172,593
T.L.That's sick. I'm definitely going to have to look into jobs overseas when the time comes around again. Part of me wants to jump right back into a medium-large size program again. Part of me wants to just half way bum it as a digger or something and actually enjoy a winter with no stress for once... I'm so fucking indecisive right now haha.


Check this one out

https://www.uakjobs.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1411381167418

Pretty good pay, benefits, and only a small park and not too many hours. Says 15-40 hours a week $21 an hour.

Not sure how close to the big mountains it is but seems super cruisey. If it's around next year I might think about it and just do some big mountain skiing for a couple years and take a break from the park game.
11 years ago
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MRoden
Posts: 753 - Karma: 211
.tomskisAny advice on how to score a job as a cat operator? I've spent a bit of time on excavators and in bobcats/skid steers and would be stoked to be driving a cat for a winter or 5


Try to get a foot in at the maintenance department at a hill/mountain. Heavy equipment experience is a plus, but anyone that has ran equipment can tell you cats are like nothing else. I'd ride with a operator once a week or so to see how they run the machine. A lot better to express a interest and willingness to learn rather than walking into a job being all " I ran a bobcat cat once, throw me the keys."
11 years ago
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T.L.
Posts: 4731 - Karma: 3,017
theabortionatorCheck this one out

https://www.uakjobs.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1411381167418

Pretty good pay, benefits, and only a small park and not too many hours. Says 15-40 hours a week $21 an hour.

Not sure how close to the big mountains it is but seems super cruisey. If it's around next year I might think about it and just do some big mountain skiing for a couple years and take a break from the park game.


That looks like a pretty cool opportunity. Dunno if I could live in AK though. I wonder what type of machine they run haha.

MRodenTry to get a foot in at the maintenance department at a hill/mountain. Heavy equipment experience is a plus, but anyone that has ran equipment can tell you cats are like nothing else. I'd ride with a operator once a week or so to see how they run the machine. A lot better to express a interest and willingness to learn rather than walking into a job being all " I ran a bobcat cat once, throw me the keys."


This is some pretty solid advice. Just by getting ride along in the cat you've already passed the first test. Either he wants you in there or he's been told to get you in there from by his boss. From my experience, if you're lucky enough to get to that point you'll encounter 3 types of people. The first type will talk your head off and feed your unbelievable amounts of information. You might get a handful of words in on the conversation but it will be worth it. The second type will quiet unless he's engaged. He'll gladly answer any question about the cat that you could possibly have. If you're a visual learner, pay attention to everything he's doing. Every button he pushes, inquire about it. The third type will be a stone cold statue. Not necessarily because he hates you or wants you dead... It's because he's in the fucking zone painting on his canvas and you're sitting in his paint brush. In that case I hope you're a visual learner because you're about to see some awesome shit.
11 years ago
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MLB
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 298
T.L.This is some pretty solid advice. Just by getting ride along in the cat you've already passed the first test. Either he wants you in there or he's been told to get you in there from by his boss. From my experience, if you're lucky enough to get to that point you'll encounter 3 types of people. The first type will talk your head off and feed your unbelievable amounts of information. You might get a handful of words in on the conversation but it will be worth it. The second type will quiet unless he's engaged. He'll gladly answer any question about the cat that you could possibly have. If you're a visual learner, pay attention to everything he's doing. Every button he pushes, inquire about it. The third type will be a stone cold statue. Not necessarily because he hates you or wants you dead... It's because he's in the fucking zone painting on his canvas and you're sitting in his paint brush. In that case I hope you're a visual learner because you're about to see some awesome shit.


You forgot the third type....crusty old free groomer who thinks terrain parks are just running his wall to wall cord, and is the waist of a good machine. These animals are becoming more and more rare.
11 years ago
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