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Most fun job at a ski hill?

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_anderson_
Posts: 164 - Karma: 1,783
Picked up an application for my hill and I'm wonder ion what position is the most fun?
Nov 27 2015 3:50PM
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hyllengren
Posts: 351 - Karma: 9,950
pro
Nov 27 2015 3:51PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51666 - Karma: 162,571
hyllengrenpro


ho
Nov 27 2015 4:00PM
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gnar_whal
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 3,787
AlsoKnownAsho


mo
Nov 27 2015 4:46PM
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jdfreeski2
Posts: 210 - Karma: 439
_anderson_Picked up an application for my hill and I'm wonder ion what position is the most fun?


Aye man be in the park crew!
Nov 27 2015 5:01PM
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Jesse.White
Posts: 450 - Karma: 754
i love my instructor job
Nov 27 2015 5:17PM
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JsNeagle
Posts: 1405 - Karma: 1,576
If they have a night tuning operation, I'd say that. Never done it, but you get to ski all day if you want to then work at night.
Nov 27 2015 5:31PM
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Cream_Sauce
Posts: 482 - Karma: 1,562
Literally anything that lets you ski all day NOT guiding some fucking gapers around. No idea how instructors qualify what they do as skiing.

I knew a cat tech once, heavy mechanic. Made big bux while working the night shift.
Nov 27 2015 11:22PM
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Anesteezia
Posts: 239 - Karma: 1,386
JsNeagleIf they have a night tuning operation, I'd say that. Never done it, but you get to ski all day if you want to then work at night.


When would he sleep? Lol
Nov 27 2015 11:41PM
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
do not work for the mountain. do not ski for your work. do you want skiing to be your past time, or your job? work a job that start between 2 and 5 and ends between 9 and 12.

there are definitely some sweet jobs to be found working for mountains, but the majority of the time, the above will be the much better choice.


i just wanna fly around dangling from the long line of the heli...that looks pretty fuckin fun.

and who wouldn't want to blow shit up and make big ol avys?

you're gunna need to put in some time to get those kind of jobs.


id need at least a six figure salary for me to consider instructing though...
Nov 28 2015 1:12AM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,661
Get on park crew
Nov 28 2015 1:34AM
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soup
Posts: 6343 - Karma: 4,415
depends on your skills and past work experience.

If you wanna ski a lot and work very little, dishwashing at nights, ski tech at nights, or volunteer ski patrol. Everything else you get paid dog shit and you will have to work days.

granted there are some good jobs on a ski hill but again, the pay is also minimal, and your working days that you could be skiing so it depends if you actually love to ski, or if you like to tell people that you love to ski.
Nov 28 2015 8:27PM
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skebumw
Posts: 190 - Karma: 444
Cheekers69i love my instructor job


me as well
Nov 28 2015 8:32PM
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Senpai
Posts: 122 - Karma: 700
Park crew would me the funnest in my opinion. or mabey the guy who drives the snowmobiles
Nov 28 2015 8:38PM
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JsNeagle
Posts: 1405 - Karma: 1,576
AnesteeziaWhen would he sleep? Lol


1PM to 7AM if it's a pow day, 9AM if it's a park day would seem appropriate to me
Nov 29 2015 3:20PM
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WI_skier
Posts: 174 - Karma: 302
Definitely not instructor, unless you enjoy dealing with a bunch of kids who can hardly stand up in ski boots let alone ski. Wasn't worth the money.
Nov 29 2015 3:33PM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,748
Depends on the mountain.

-A marketing gig would be cool (setting up demo days, coordinating with athletes to come and ski your mountain and produce content, social media managing and photography—awesome way to get to ski closed terrain/powder while producing promo materials)

-Lift maintenance (put in a few years and you will learn a fuck ton about mountain ops and machines in general, plus you actually get to ski/ride quite a lot, often times in closed terrain, not to mention getting to rally snowmobiles)

-Trail maintenance/groomer (get to op badass equipment, generally paid decent comparatively speaking, swing shifts and overnight hours = lots of skiing if you want it)

-Ski tech (learn a lot about equipment and able to maintain your own stuff, generally get great deals on gear and/or first dibs on demos or whatever, lots of tips, and generally a lot of ride breaks)

-Pro patrol (access to the mountain without a soul around, get to build and throw explosives, learn a shit ton about weather, snow science, get as many turns as you want, often on untouched terrain with soft snow, get to help people in some of the worst experiences of their life, usually get the education/experience and meet the people that lead to bad ass back country experiences)

Park crew (get to design and maintain features that you yourself get to hit!! a lot of time skiing/riding, and moving snow all day gets you pretty fit)
Nov 29 2015 4:39PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Snow Making
- Free pass for 2-3 months work

- Long hours so rest of week is free (I work 3 twelve hours shifts. midnight to noon, back-to-back-to-back. That leaves 4 days to ski after 36+ hours worked in a week)

- Don't have to deal with public

- Cut lift lines / early lifts (Still plenty of opportunity to ski during shift and no waiting in lift lines. You have to ski where the guns are positioned on the hill. I'll get first tracks on the hill every morning at 7:00 AM)
Nov 29 2015 7:58PM
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gnarballsianm
Posts: 621 - Karma: 703
Im not a ski instructor but my pops was for a long time and i instructor for a sailing camp and I know for a fact, to get anywhere with pay and hours you have to either work for a shit school that lets you choose your own hours and not get paid or get your level ones through PSIA and work not so great hours but make more money.

Otherwise work park crew or maintence of some kind if you have any background in either of those areas.

My personal opinion is to not mix business with pleasure but hey, thats on you OP.
Nov 29 2015 8:09PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
marketing!
Nov 30 2015 6:52AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51666 - Karma: 162,571
jdfreeski2Aye man be in the park crew!


Cream_SauceLiterally anything that lets you ski all day NOT guiding some fucking gapers around. No idea how instructors qualify what they do as skiing.

I knew a cat tech once, heavy mechanic. Made big bux while working the night shift.


we get it, you dont want to work at a ski area.
Nov 30 2015 6:57AM
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FastSpeed
Posts: 646 - Karma: 644
Work at a ski shop. You get MAD deals, I bought 3500 buckaroos worth of gear and only spent about 1200. Yaaaaa baby,so much hype.



One of the deals was Nrodica GPX 130s and Nordica Enforcers for 299.


Unfortunately they ran out of enforcers and I only ended up with the boots but still.
Nov 30 2015 8:13AM
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evanglenn
Posts: 487 - Karma: 601
worked the past two winters as an instructor

was fun, highly recommend

taking this winter/spring semester off to focus on 21 credits worth of classes

instructing can get a bit old, so if i return i'll try to work in the shop.
Nov 30 2015 8:18AM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
bartender... ski the morning and then work the bar.
Nov 30 2015 11:05AM
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JOYSTICK*
Posts: 271 - Karma: 1,719
steezyjibbermarketing!


There are some pretty fun jobs related to film and photo that often fall under the mktg department. That's where I had the most fun with resort work.
Nov 30 2015 11:15AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Jobs aren't meant to be "fun"....they're mean to make you $. Nothing wrong with wanting to be in the ski industry but I would recommend the highest paying over the most fun. You will thank me later as I take it this is a part time / weekend thing from the sound of it.
Nov 30 2015 11:27AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
JOYSTICK*There are some pretty fun jobs related to film and photo that often fall under the mktg department. That's where I had the most fun with resort work.


That's a lot of what i do *thumbs up emoji*
Nov 30 2015 4:03PM
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JOYSTICK*
Posts: 271 - Karma: 1,719
steezyjibberThat's a lot of what i do *thumbs up emoji*


Nice, *cheers emoji*, Do you know Cam ? Saw you ride whiteface and he used to film/cut their park series, always liked his edits - https://vimeo.com/146192019
Nov 30 2015 4:43PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
JOYSTICK*Nice, *cheers emoji*, Do you know Cam ? Saw you ride whiteface and he used to film/cut their park series, always liked his edits - https://vimeo.com/146192019


Yup i do! haha
Dec 1 2015 8:03AM
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cps80424
Posts: 2 - Karma: 13
Go get a job at Cleaning People of Summit. They pay $20 per hour and up and you get food and beverage leftovers at a lot of units. Flexible schedule. Work the days the mountain is so busy you have to stand in line forever then go ride the days it's not busy! Oh, with a lot more cash in your pocket than Vail Resorts will ever give you. PLUS they give a $500 cash bonus at the end of the season in April that either pays for your pass or gets you the heck out of the county. Food for thought....
Dec 1 2015 1:42PM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4806 - Karma: -646
How has Patrol not been mentioned?

Lots of responsibility but still fun.
Dec 1 2015 2:33PM
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HenriksDreads
Posts: 332 - Karma: 327
250rdo not work for the mountain. do not ski for your work. do you want skiing to be your past time, or your job? work a job that start between 2 and 5 and ends between 9 and 12.

there are definitely some sweet jobs to be found working for mountains, but the majority of the time, the above will be the much better choice.


i just wanna fly around dangling from the long line of the heli...that looks pretty fuckin fun.

and who wouldn't want to blow shit up and make big ol avys?

you're gunna need to put in some time to get those kind of jobs.


id need at least a six figure salary for me to consider instructing though...


This. I'm dropping out of college because I hate it and tried to get a job at my local hill. Shortly after my boss at my current job offered to make me a manager since I'm the only one the other two managers and the owner trust to do all the managerial shit. So I'm doing that instead and I'm definitely happier. I'd rather work 50 hours a week there at $15 an hour than 20 hours at the ski hill for a pass plus 30 hours a week at 9.50 an hour
Dec 1 2015 3:59PM
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jdfreeski2
Posts: 210 - Karma: 439
Bortywe get it, you dont want to work at a ski area.


Park crew is best
Jan 18 2016 11:37AM
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jacobnicholson
Posts: 10 - Karma: 81
being a coach for a park team or p
Jan 18 2016 11:49AM
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Refraction
Posts: 22 - Karma: 24
I teach a park group and work for the park crew and its sweet! I started first year teaching noobs, then I got my park course so now I can take kids threw the park. Its sweet because I can hit stuff and show them tricks so I get to have fun and its pretty rewarding seeing your kids learning new stuff. As for park crew you can still hit stuff too and chat to your park buddys, part on the job is "testing" the features to make sure they're safe.

Work in the am, ski in the pm go home, sleep, repeate.
Jan 18 2016 1:40PM
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Refraction
Posts: 22 - Karma: 24
I live in Canada and I'm making $14 an hour so its not bad, don't know what its like in the states. My wage will only go up from here.
Jan 18 2016 1:42PM
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