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Going to college for ski area management opinions

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supersquid
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 2,545
Whats up guys, I am a senior in highschool and its is finally the time to be looking at colleges. I'm a little behind the ball right now because the field I was originally going to go into is a no go. It was manufacturing and after working a summer internship at an aluminum extrusion plant I realized it was not for me. Right now I am considering UTI to become a motorcycle technician or Ski Area Management as my major. If I chose S.A.M. I would either attend the community college in Ironwood Michigan, or Colorado Mountain College. I live in the midwest and I have worked at my local hill for two years in the rental shop, this year I will be working their for my third year in the tuning/demo shop which is basically a promotion. I also have talked closely with the rossignol rep in my area and have worked out a few demo days that I can help out on, since we use rossi skis in the rental shop I am already certified. Have any of you guys thought about this as a career path and are currently in it? About how much did it cost? Did you get any other degrees as well as your S.A.M. certificate? I'm looking for any info or opinions you guys have. If you do not want to talk about money in front of everyone you can certainly pm me. I look forward to your responses!
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Oct 4 2016 11:16PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
GORILLAWALLACEmore fun than all the kids who go to college/university because their parents told them to so they take sociology or psychology or business or whatever, sink into 40-60k of debt then can't find a job cause they have the same piece of paper as 80% of post secondary grads and then have to go to grad school and finally graduate at age 26 then move back in with mom and dad and work some shitkicker job till fuck knows when

when in doubt earn a trade.


If you pay full price to go to a college and earn a shitty degree while not working part time, and don't have a blast enjoying college life then you're a goddamn idiot haha.

Trades are a good option for a lot of folks, but i don't like the wear and tear it puts on your body, and tge inability to work if injured.

As a general rule I highly value my freedom to live where I want and do things I want to do. A good college degree and a good income make both of those much easier to obtain in my experience.
Oct 26 2016 4:05PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
ive worked in IT for the ski inudstry for the past 6 years. i would not recommend going to college for ski area management.

learn a valuable skill - IT, HR, marketing, Finance, and then get into the ski industry that way. you'll be easier to hire and actually bring something to the table besides 'i went to school to run this place'.

there are several people i know who make 6 figures in the ski industry. they went this route.
Oct 26 2016 5:46PM
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3451 - Karma: 11,683
californiagrownIf you pay full price to go to a college and earn a shitty degree while not working part time, and don't have a blast enjoying college life then you're a goddamn idiot haha.

Trades are a good option for a lot of folks, but i don't like the wear and tear it puts on your body, and tge inability to work if injured.

As a general rule I highly value my freedom to live where I want and do things I want to do. A good college degree and a good income make both of those much easier to obtain in my experience.


what you say makes sense.

the problem is that everybody is stupid these days. I went to a high school where ~94% of students go on to university. of those 94% I'd estimate that 20% have direction and the remainder are going there because they think it's their only option but they have no clue what they really enjoy/know what they're good at.
Oct 26 2016 5:54PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51652 - Karma: 162,345
GORILLAWALLACEmore fun than all the kids who go to college/university because their parents told them to so they take sociology or psychology or business or whatever, sink into 40-60k of debt then can't find a job cause they have the same piece of paper as 80% of post secondary grads and then have to go to grad school and finally graduate at age 26 then move back in with mom and dad and work some shitkicker job till fuck knows when

when in doubt earn a trade.



I wish trades were pushed as an even viable option. Instead trades are looked down on massively. Trades are for stupid people who will pretty much be pumping your gas when you and lorenzo are rollin in your benzo with your sick ass degree in something random.

Trades may not be the ticket to the big life, but a lot of people are doing pretty damn well in the trades. Also, a lot of people aren't doing so hot with their 4 year degrees if they are even using them at all.

I wish I had known more about the tech programs offered in highschool and gotten involved in them. It would have been far more valuable to me and what I do.


I don't want to hate on college, but I just hate the way it's pushed. I got so much shit from my family for not going. Never even applied. In the end, I never would have been able to live the way I do if I started out in debt.
Oct 26 2016 6:07PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
theabortionatorI wish trades were pushed as an even viable option. Instead trades are looked down on massively. Trades are for stupid people who will pretty much be pumping your gas when you and lorenzo are rollin in your benzo with your sick ass degree in something random.

Trades may not be the ticket to the big life, but a lot of people are doing pretty damn well in the trades. Also, a lot of people aren't doing so hot with their 4 year degrees if they are even using them at all.

I wish I had known more about the tech programs offered in highschool and gotten involved in them. It would have been far more valuable to me and what I do.


I don't want to hate on college, but I just hate the way it's pushed. I got so much shit from my family for not going. Never even applied. In the end, I never would have been able to live the way I do if I started out in debt.


College is pushed because on the face, it offers the best odds for a financially successful life.

Thing is, a driven, smart person will very likely be successful with or witjout a college degree. But a college degree gives you access to the VAST majority of well paying jobs that are impossible to access otherwise.

I think people should stop placing importance on the school prestige. Cause all it really proves is that you were a really good high school student. College curriculum is the same at a state school as it is at Stanford.
Oct 26 2016 6:40PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51652 - Karma: 162,345
californiagrownCollege is pushed because on the face, it offers the best odds for a financially successful life.

Thing is, a driven, smart person will very likely be successful with or witjout a college degree. But a college degree gives you access to the VAST majority of well paying jobs that are impossible to access otherwise.

I think people should stop placing importance on the school prestige. Cause all it really proves is that you were a really good high school student. College curriculum is the same at a state school as it is at Stanford.


True. You're kind of fucked for a lot of jobs without a degree of any kind. Idk. I just wish they showed other options more.
Oct 26 2016 6:44PM
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dadi
Posts: 449 - Karma: 972
For people in the ski industry, what degree do you have? Was it worth it? Do you love your job? Or would you rather be something else with skiing as a hobby? HELP
Oct 26 2016 9:31PM
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hippystinx
Posts: 937 - Karma: 171
dadiFor people in the ski industry, what degree do you have? Was it worth it? Do you love your job? Or would you rather be something else with skiing as a hobby? HELP


i have been in the ski industry pretty much my entire life up until 2 years ago when i became fortunate enough to free myself from the done of a shitty mountain job...and thats the thing right there 70% of jobs in the ski industry are pretty shitty either because they pay shitty or they are just not really a pleasant jobs....the other 30% are very competitive and from what i have seen usually promoted from within..with more focus on work track record...honestly school doesn't really matter that much in the ski industry because there are not that many technical jobs that really require an education. Like the head mechanic was most likely at some point a mechanic....the head ski patroller at some point was probably a ski patroller...Even the marketing girl use to work in ski school..... I was at my local mountain for 6 years before stuff started to get poopier and poopier for employees...ie the food discount used to be 70% then it was 50% then it was 30%...(then they got an even worse food contractor) .health care used to be a 50 buck a month buy in...then it was 100....then it was 200.....


.....but some places like abasin.....are seeing growth....and its still the same story if you talk to employees...

the ski industry is shrinking......don't stake a future in it seriously......pick another sport if you want an industry to work in....the drone market for example killing it right now.....
Oct 26 2016 9:43PM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,888
hippystinxi have been in the ski industry pretty much my entire life up until 2 years ago when i became fortunate enough to free myself from the done of a shitty mountain job...and thats the thing right there 70% of jobs in the ski industry are pretty shitty either because they pay shitty or they are just not really a pleasant jobs....the other 30% are very competitive and from what i have seen usually promoted from within..with more focus on work track record...honestly school doesn't really matter that much in the ski industry because there are not that many technical jobs that really require an education. Like the head mechanic was most likely at some point a mechanic....the head ski patroller at some point was probably a ski patroller...Even the marketing girl use to work in ski school..... I was at my local mountain for 6 years before stuff started to get poopier and poopier for employees...ie the food discount used to be 70% then it was 50% then it was 30%...(then they got an even worse food contractor) .health care used to be a 50 buck a month buy in...then it was 100....then it was 200.....


.....but some places like abasin.....are seeing growth....and its still the same story if you talk to employees...

the ski industry is shrinking......don't stake a future in it seriously......pick another sport if you want an industry to work in....the drone market for example killing it right now.....


This is spot on. Full quote for emphasis.
tl;dr - A degree will help, but is not required. Promtions come from within the company
(you most likely won't get the job you want fresh out of college)
Oct 26 2016 10:07PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
dadiFor people in the ski industry, what degree do you have? Was it worth it? Do you love your job? Or would you rather be something else with skiing as a hobby? HELP


I am 5 years out of college. I make a very good living in a stable (read not sales) industry in which I have tremendous opportunity for career advancement. Through my chosen career field I moved 45 mins away from world class skiing and 20 mins from a world class metropolitan city. I didn't miss a single pow day last year, and got in about 40 total days.

I am about to buy a home as a single 20 something year old in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country and never have to pinch pennies. I work hard, but never more than 45 hrs a week.

Skiing is my winter and spring hobby that I love. MTB is my summer and fall hobby that I really enjoy.


I'd suggest going to college, studying a worthwhile major, graduating nearly debt free, and then taking advantage of that opportunity and freedom.
Oct 26 2016 11:06PM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
Might as well just be a lifty for the rest of ur life cuz ur never gonna have any money and youll be balls deep in debt. I'll bring you a green pass when im skiing on weekends and holidays with the rest of the everyday assholes
Oct 27 2016 7:19AM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18221 - Karma: 12,323
PaleCeleryMight as well just be a lifty for the rest of ur life cuz ur never gonna have any money and youll be balls deep in debt. I'll bring you a green pass when im skiing on weekends and holidays with the rest of the everyday assholes


having a winter job as a lifty was prob one of my favorite jobs ever, you just bump your radio, bump lifts, and do random manual labor and drive quads n shit
Oct 27 2016 8:01AM
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hippystinx
Posts: 937 - Karma: 171
.frenchyhaving a winter job as a lifty was prob one of my favorite jobs ever, you just bump your radio, bump lifts, and do random manual labor and drive quads n shit


Me too... being a Lifty is awesome, I loved saying what up to people all day.... then one day I woke up and realized I needed a new car, and I realized my body might need regular health insurance.....so many companies up in the mountains try to pay minimum wage, no health care, and what used to be the standard of buying season passes for most employees..... I can't wait for the min wage to go up and employeers have to start giving out that 12 dollar an hour wage.... lol fuck being a "professional" boot fitter and being paid minimum wage..
Oct 27 2016 7:50PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
dadiFor people in the ski industry, what degree do you have? Was it worth it? Do you love your job? Or would you rather be something else with skiing as a hobby? HELP


BA in computer network management. yes it was worth it, I have so many options for employment. i love my job. ski as much as i want in the winter, ride bike park as much as i want in the summer. the only thing i'd rather be doing is be a traveling IT consultant.
Oct 28 2016 1:53PM
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3451 - Karma: 11,683
howlongcanausernive worked in IT for the ski inudstry for the past 6 years. i would not recommend going to college for ski area management.

learn a valuable skill - IT, HR, marketing, Finance, and then get into the ski industry that way. you'll be easier to hire and actually bring something to the table besides 'i went to school to run this place'.

there are several people i know who make 6 figures in the ski industry. they went this route.


yeah but what if you don't want a house cat job?

obviously if you want to make money you get a real job like what you suggested, but some people just want to be outside.
Oct 28 2016 3:29PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
GORILLAWALLACEust want to be outside.

then don't go to college and adjust your career expectations accordingly.
Oct 28 2016 6:07PM
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TowRopeCalvin
Posts: 138 - Karma: 361
I know this is a little out bit I'm currently going to GCC in ironwood Michigan Jimmy V really know what he his doing as you get hand on experience with make snow with old and brand new snow guns as well as how lifts run. They also do grooming in the program where you are required to get 20 hour in a stick cat and 20 hours in wheel cat. This program is great for anybody that loves working in or around skiing and you can do anything from being a lifty to a mountain manager after going thru this program
Jan 24 2018 9:20AM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
Calvin_Da_VizeI know this is a little out bit I'm currently going to GCC in ironwood Michigan Jimmy V really know what he his doing as you get hand on experience with make snow with old and brand new snow guns as well as how lifts run. They also do grooming in the program where you are required to get 20 hour in a stick cat and 20 hours in wheel cat. This program is great for anybody that loves working in or around skiing and you can do anything from being a lifty to a mountain manager after going thru this program


While that type of hands on experience is great, I hope no one is paying for that. It's simple useless skills that don't make much of a difference. You're still getting hired as a bottom line groomer or snowmaker for $12/hr with or without that minor experience. You don't need any experience to make snow or groom right now. You can walk into a western resort and get a grooming or snowmaking job.
Jan 24 2018 10:37AM
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Pancake_Fucker
Posts: 1843 - Karma: 1,917
Gods_FatherDo you believe that co2 is the main driver of climate?


It' actually methane if we are getting into that. Animal agriculture is the cause if 52% of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and methane is way worse for the ozone than co2.
Jan 24 2018 10:59AM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
dadiFor people in the ski industry, what degree do you have? Was it worth it? Do you love your job? Or would you rather be something else with skiing as a hobby? HELP


I know this things old, but I probably have the most first hand advice and experience in this so I want to chime in.

I went to college and got a BS in resort management. I worked my way up to mid management and then upper management at some of the "biggest/best" ski areas. I loved my job, the pay was decent for my age. The hours sucked, the stress sucked, winter and ski business suck. Summers are not much better.

I'm out of the ski business now. I ski a handful of times a year. I work "normal" hours in a related field of work for more money then ski areas.

It was fun. I liked it. But now that I'm older, settled down, family, etc...I would never want the shit winters, stress, hours, work BS as I did before.

Go get a real degree. Ski on the weekends. Take ski trips with the real money you will have and the real time off and holidays.
Jan 24 2018 1:39PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51652 - Karma: 162,345
Calvin_Da_VizeI know this is a little out bit I'm currently going to GCC in ironwood Michigan Jimmy V really know what he his doing as you get hand on experience with make snow with old and brand new snow guns as well as how lifts run. They also do grooming in the program where you are required to get 20 hour in a stick cat and 20 hours in wheel cat. This program is great for anybody that loves working in or around skiing and you can do anything from being a lifty to a mountain manager after going thru this program



Honestly you could apply for a job as a snowmaker, then transfer into a cat in january. Or do snowmaker lifty 1 season then snowmaker grooming the next and learn a lot of those things. I know some people that have done really well that went to school for that, but for a lot of people, getting a job in the field and experience and references might be a better bet imo.

Also you're not going to be crushing the grooming scene with 40 hours of seat time.

If you're working at a resort, there are always departments that need help or people that are down to teach things. Can pick up some welding etc if you're in mtn ops and friendly pretty easily. I would say if welding is offered in the resort mgmt that's probably the most valuable skill.

The biggest thing for moving up in a mountain, is doing well at your job, being responsible, being somewhat able to interact with other humans, and willing to learn new things. It's not that hard to move around departments and learn a bunch of stuff. Plus you're getting paid for that training instead of paying. I mean, you aren't getting paid well generally, but it beats college debt.

You're very very likely not going to get a job as a mtn manager simply because you have a degree in resort mgmt. That could be helpful, but generally you need some solid experience as well.

Not hating on the major, just saying don't forget about/discount real work experience. If you're keen to learn, you can pick up quite a bit.
Jan 24 2018 3:08PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37393 - Karma: 120,189
you might want to dabble with other areas of resorts, not just the mountain operations side of it.


Hospitality is a tough business but one that has given me some pretty incredible experiences. Its a lot of hard work, I will be honest, but it certainly pays off. Last season during one of the best years in our recent history, I worked at a property that was basically at upper mountain near the best lifts at the whole resort and skied ungodly amounts of pow, made some really damn good money, and still got by.

Youll start off like any job as an hourly employee, mostly seasonal, but if you kick ass youll definitely be called upon next year. Its just a series of getting your foot in the door at the same or multiple lodging/hotel properties till they eventually cave and give you something. Im still hourly, but compared to most resort positions, im more than thankful to be making the wage that I do. I also help drive shuttles for our guests/homeowners and the tip money is just absurd, we basically live off of that shit.

the all-inclusive "high end" ski in/out residence properties take the absolute cake in my opinion. its a really intricate and personal environment, you get to meet some really fucking cool people who are absurdly wealthy, the benefits where I work are top-notch including health and dental (rated #1 out of all the resorts in the US in terms of benefits), you still get to ski if that's your main concern. You put up with tons of shit at times, wages for the most part are low and barely livable, but there is a way to figure it out.
Jan 24 2018 7:28PM
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Fuckthefuckoff
Posts: 651 - Karma: 891
any college that offers a aski management program is a “degree mill”. Also usually the ppl that are in those programs are into hard drugs and do a lot of weed.
Jan 25 2018 3:16PM
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Fuckthefuckoff
Posts: 651 - Karma: 891
Pancake_FuckerIt' actually methane if we are getting into that. Animal agriculture is the cause if 52% of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and methane is way worse for the ozone than co2.


No, it’s all these filthy whores that wear yoghurt pants and are on all these juice cleanses and high protein diets. All these ppl do is fart and shit there pants 24/7. Have you ever been around these type of girls? They literally reek of farts and run around crop dusting all over the place. It is disgusting.
Jan 25 2018 3:22PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
I feel like theres way too many people in ski area management already.
Jan 25 2018 6:02PM
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Fuckthefuckoff
Posts: 651 - Karma: 891
The ski industry is very hard to get into and competitive. I started out as a cocksucker mainly giving bare back blow jobs to guys in the hotel bathrooms, and I got a lot of tips if I swallowed. I eventually got promoted to head cocksucker in the hotel, and I mainly gave out blowjobs to the more higher paying clients. After that experience I got a reputation for being a hard worker and I was able to get my foot in the door per se into the ski industry. One of my clients from the hotel that I worked at gave me a recommendation to the kitchen staff and I am now a dish washer, I’m slowly but steadily working my way up in the industry. Im trying to become a lifty, but that’s a hard sector. All u pretty boys want ur fruity little degrees or whatever. U gotta work ur way up
Jan 25 2018 7:38PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
theabortionatorHonestly you could apply for a job as a snowmaker, then transfer into a cat in january. Or do snowmaker lifty 1 season then snowmaker grooming the next and learn a lot of those things. I know some people that have done really well that went to school for that, but for a lot of people, getting a job in the field and experience and references might be a better bet imo.

Also you're not going to be crushing the grooming scene with 40 hours of seat time.

If you're working at a resort, there are always departments that need help or people that are down to teach things. Can pick up some welding etc if you're in mtn ops and friendly pretty easily. I would say if welding is offered in the resort mgmt that's probably the most valuable skill.

The biggest thing for moving up in a mountain, is doing well at your job, being responsible, being somewhat able to interact with other humans, and willing to learn new things. It's not that hard to move around departments and learn a bunch of stuff. Plus you're getting paid for that training instead of paying. I mean, you aren't getting paid well generally, but it beats college debt.

You're very very likely not going to get a job as a mtn manager simply because you have a degree in resort mgmt. That could be helpful, but generally you need some solid experience as well.

Not hating on the major, just saying don't forget about/discount real work experience. If you're keen to learn, you can pick up quite a bit.


What he said. A degree isn't going to get you a manager job. It WILL get you beyond entry level in nearly any department though. Beyond that it is all about paying your dues/putting in years/who you know. Also, past entry level at a ski resort is still seasonal and likely less that 14 an hour. Will not be benefits and even if you work there year round, it will likely be in multiple seasonal gigs, not salary year round etc. This was my experience at least entering industry with SAM degree.

If you can do things that are relevant cross departmentally (operate a cat) that is hugely relevant as often managers in some deptartments will need these skills. Snowmaking, events, ski patrol all places where this could be relevant.

Hard to say if you should do it because I won't lie, you get different opportunities based on having it. You could get these opps through paying dues but this ends up giving you a leg up for sure. That being said, it may not be a 60K in debt leg up.. Happy to answer questions if you have any. I went to LSC.
Jan 29 2018 5:15PM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
Go into the trades or get a degree in a field that is not as narrow as ski area management. You said being manager of the rental shop is something you could do with a degree? That's something that you can do without a degree. Living the ski lifestyle is great and all when you're in your teens and twenties, but at some point making a few bucks over minimum wage with shit benefits (if you get them) isn't going to be hacking it. Go to school and get a business or some sort of a STEM degree and make good money. Could always go into hospitality and work for hotels in ski destinations.
Jan 29 2018 5:57PM
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JASTEW206
Posts: 568 - Karma: 117
Gods_FatherDo you believe that co2 is the main driver of climate?


YES. It is the main driver of climate c02:02 ratio. fucking child. look up : Mass extinctions or ice age 02
Jan 30 2018 10:30PM
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