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My dad is a yellow jacket AMA

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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,532
My dad is a mountain host at a medium sized, non-vail-affiliated mountain. Mountain hosts are kinda a joke in the skiing community, and I wanted to see if anyone on here wanted to any more about what they do, and why they seem so up their own ass. If you ask a question, I'll go ask him and put his response here.
Feb 3 2020 1:45PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12506 - Karma: 116,129
is it true you and your wife only do missionary every night
Feb 3 2020 1:47PM
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,532
TRVP_ANGELis it true you and your wife only do missionary every night

"Yes, except when your mom comes by."

**This post was edited on Feb 3rd 2020 at 2:00:15pm
Feb 3 2020 1:52PM
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skiitsbetter
Posts: 133 - Karma: 309
I mean it's one way to get a free pass. Volunteer gig right aside from the free pass? So do you have to put in a certain number of days to get the free pass? or do you only get a free pass on days where you put in a couple of hours pointing people in the right direction?
Feb 3 2020 2:00PM
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,532
skiitsbetterI mean it's one way to get a free pass. Volunteer gig right aside from the free pass? So do you have to put in a certain number of days to get the free pass? or do you only get a free pass on days where you put in a couple of hours pointing people in the right direction?


So he gets a free season pass for himself as long as he hosts for 16 days a year. every year he does it, he gets another free pass for a family member, which makes sense for my family as I have three sibilings. He also gets 50% off every purchase on the mountain, as well all the other perks a normal employee would have.
Feb 3 2020 2:04PM
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,532
The referenced post has been removed.


approx. 4,000 in ski passes a year and half off cafeteria fries/ski mounts. pretty sure he gets proForm as well.

**This post was edited on Feb 3rd 2020 at 2:30:37pm
Feb 3 2020 2:27PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 43,008
Honestly, mountain hosts sort of have it figured out. IDK about the terrible mall cop Vail ones, because I don't ski there, but at smaller hills they're generally nice, stoked on skiing, and have figured out a smart way to make an expensive thing they love more affordable. Have a friend who hosts at Targhee, it's nice.
Feb 3 2020 2:33PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6891 - Karma: 24,559
IdahoeSo he gets a free season pass for himself as long as he hosts for 16 days a year. every year he does it, he gets another free pass for a family member, which makes sense for my family as I have three sibilings. He also gets 50% off every purchase on the mountain, as well all the other perks a normal employee would have.

only 16 days/ year? how long is the season though?
The referenced post has been removed.

OP said not Vail so maybe he got to keep his soul or perhaps sold it for something else unrelated to the yellow jacket gig


OP does your dad actually have any authority and responsibility to enforce rules? Hosts at my mountain are only really just there to look yellow and be visible like a traffic cone. For example they had one stationed in front of a giant hole they were digging yesterday with little backhoe. They are asked to smile and answer questions but that is all just secondary and really they can say or make up whatever they want within reason
Feb 3 2020 2:37PM
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CatdickBojangles
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 62,949
Whats it like to have 2 dads?
Feb 3 2020 3:31PM
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,532
OregonDeadonly 16 days/ year? how long is the season though?

OP said not Vail so maybe he got to keep his soul or perhaps sold it for something else unrelated to the yellow jacket gig


OP does your dad actually have any authority and responsibility to enforce rules? Hosts at my mountain are only really just there to look yellow and be visible like a traffic cone. For example they had one stationed in front of a giant hole they were digging yesterday with little backhoe. They are asked to smile and answer questions but that is all just secondary and really they can say or make up whatever they want within reason

Our season is a normal west coast November to March/April season. Catch is that hosts only work on weekends or touristy days like MLK and Christmas, so they can't just bust out their 16 days the first month and chill the rest of the season.

As far as being able to enforce rules, until recently they could only yell at you or call ski patrol on you. As of this season, they are now able to have passes blacklisted for a week or two . So far I've only see that happen once, and they kid cussed out a host and then tried to fight him, so maybe he deserved it. You are definitely right that their job is mostly to smile and answer questions.
Feb 3 2020 3:43PM
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Casey
Posts: 7849 - Karma: 24,317
Mountain ambassador is the most gravy job there is. Lodge is that way! I’m skiing powder for free all year.
Feb 3 2020 6:10PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51644 - Karma: 162,266
Radio was tuned in while I was in the snowmaking trailer at a vail resort on Saturday. Hilarious wanna be cops that couldn't land mall security gig action. "I got a guy blue jacket black pants, coming down main, grab him" "Snowboarder with red tshirt flying diwn, hell tske priority vet him!!!" Stuff none stop. Shit was blowing up.
Feb 3 2020 6:23PM
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GrandThings
Posts: 3128 - Karma: 31,572
My one Yellow Jacket interaction (non-vail)...

"Hey son, I know you were handling it out there, but you need to slow down at the intersection. One of those Dad's just chewed me out for not stopping you so now I'm here to say something. There's better snow on the next peak anyways."

Pretty chill tbh...
Feb 4 2020 3:51PM
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SKIINGISEASY
Posts: 1552 - Karma: 2,198
Have never had much prejudice against yellow jaks until this weekend... I was riding with my homie at keystone when he realized he left his pass in his jacket he took off at the park. We were on another run where the only way to get to the park is to duck a heavily guarded rope. We cruise up to the yellow jacket and explain the situation and immediately realize we are dealing with an absolute boner. I asked if there's anyway he could grab his pass and the dude says nah you should've thought about that. My friend and I looked at each other in disbelief. He then goes on to tell us that people like us are why they have the rope up, skiing recklessly on the greens and such. He continues to talk about how we should try riding the otherside of the mountain and that's we just skied off mid conversation. I couldn't believe how poor of an interaction it was.
Feb 4 2020 6:11PM
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Kretzschmar
Posts: 6707 - Karma: 98,280
Was at Winter Park the past 3 days. The mountain hosts there were all super chill boomers that genuinely just wanted to help you get around. The couple I interacted with cracked jokes and didn't seem like they were trying to enforce anything. 10/10 time
Feb 4 2020 6:23PM
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,532
KretzschmarWas at Winter Park the past 3 days. The mountain hosts there were all super chill boomers that genuinely just wanted to help you get around. The couple I interacted with cracked jokes and didn't seem like they were trying to enforce anything. 10/10 time

Seems like this is the prevailing opinion. Probably just a few dicks that give yellow jackets a bad name.
Feb 4 2020 6:26PM
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,753
And there’s a special place at the center of vail for them all
#fuckvail
IdahoeSeems like this is the prevailing opinion. Probably just a few dicks that give yellow jackets a bad name.
Feb 4 2020 7:52PM
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bogust
Posts: 688 - Karma: 7,076
how many passes has he cut for people blowing past slow signs
Feb 4 2020 7:56PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,435
My mom was a mountain ambassador or something (whatever the red jackets do) at keystone when I was in high school so I would wear her jacket all the time and fuck with people. I stopped a kid in the middle of the run once and told him I was gonna take his pass for skiing switch. He looked like he was gonna cry until I said, “I’ll let you keep it if you hit this blunt”.
Feb 4 2020 9:20PM
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