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Ski Instructor Dress Code

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BraydenJohnson
Posts: 35 - Karma: 305
I'm working as a Ski Instructor for a resort owned by Vail. They said they require black pants. I have dark brown pants, will they let this fly or no? Has anyone been in a similar situation?
Nov 9 2022 1:00PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37572 - Karma: 122,099
They don't supply you with your own uniforms? Do they give you an allowance for one at least? I'd ask them first before spending your own money out of pocket for a uniform without being compensated for it. Uniforms being issued to employees at no cost is a standard everywhere else. Resorts should make it a standard also to provide allowances for workers that work on the hill. Your gear gets beat up and put through the ringer /rant.

**This post was edited on Nov 9th 2022 at 1:04:07pm
Nov 9 2022 1:02PM
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kalle.
Posts: 765 - Karma: 4,848
well if they require black pants you wear black pants.

also a good idea to have separate pants for teaching, they’ll get beat up. that way you’ll have nice pants for skiing in your free time!
Nov 9 2022 1:02PM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7078 - Karma: 61,994
They gave me pants when I instructed for a Vail resort. We wore all blue.

Didn't vail get sued for not providing equipment for instructors years ago?
I know they got sued for something recently regarding instructors but I think there was a class action about equipment too.
Nov 9 2022 1:06PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37572 - Karma: 122,099
BradFiAusNzCoCaThey gave me pants when I instructed for a Vail resort. We wore all blue.

Didn't vail get sued for not providing equipment for instructors years ago?
I know they got sued for something recently regarding instructors but I think there was a class action about equipment too.

They did IIRC. They also got in trouble for not paying lost wages or something, at least at their CA properties.
Nov 9 2022 1:11PM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7078 - Karma: 61,994
Yeah I got a few texts and emails urging me to sign up. I think it was regarding pay during getting ready for the day or something
DeebieSkeebiesThey did IIRC. They also got in trouble for not paying lost wages or something, at least at their CA properties.
Nov 9 2022 1:16PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6435 - Karma: 74,263
Same thing at corporate ass springs before they got sold to vail anyways. They at least gave us black (but shitty) pants. They’ll probably just say next shift wear black ones, just like when I would teach without gloves and my one supervisor bitched at me because it could be a safety hazard.


going on a tangent here but I think that’s where I picked up the habit of not wearing gloves while skiing unless it’s bitch cold out
Nov 9 2022 2:57PM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1703 - Karma: 11,037
aside from the fact they should've supplied you with some you'll stick out like sore thumb when with other instructors with the dark brown
Nov 9 2022 3:43PM
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ajbski
Posts: 1309 - Karma: 5,355
you could always rit dye them like the good old days
Nov 9 2022 4:38PM
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Goretex_Vidal
Posts: 810 - Karma: 11,325
If the cost of the pants is on you Vail’s in violation of labor laws. If they’re deducting a set rate per pay period for the uniform Vail’s in violation of labor laws if it drops your hourly rate below minimum wage.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/16-flsa-wage-deductions
Nov 9 2022 5:03PM
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Raf.Diaz.
Posts: 682 - Karma: 10,108
weatcoastSame thing at corporate ass springs before they got sold to vail anyways. They at least gave us black (but shitty) pants. They’ll probably just say next shift wear black ones, just like when I would teach without gloves and my one supervisor bitched at me because it could be a safety hazard.


going on a tangent here but I think that’s where I picked up the habit of not wearing gloves while skiing unless it’s bitch cold out


Wear glove. You make me paranoid
Nov 9 2022 5:40PM
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b_in_subtle
Posts: 142 - Karma: 824
Only if you choose not the wear the blue kit they give you…
Nov 9 2022 5:55PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37572 - Karma: 122,099
BradFiAusNzCoCaYeah I got a few texts and emails urging me to sign up. I think it was regarding pay during getting ready for the day or something

They also have equipment check-off processes for liability and I think workers comp stuff making sure that employees gear is "Safe" enough to be used for work, so if it isn't passed-off you either don't get to work until you get a new pair of skis and yes, it is out of your own pocket even with gear deals. My best friends have been lifties for a number of seasons now and have to deal with that shit every season.
Nov 9 2022 6:23PM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7078 - Karma: 61,994
Oh yeah, I remember the stickers they put under your boot between the bindings for the “okay”
DeebieSkeebiesThey also have equipment check-off processes for liability and I think workers comp stuff making sure that employees gear is "Safe" enough to be used for work, so if it isn't passed-off you either don't get to work until you get a new pair of skis and yes, it is out of your own pocket even with gear deals. My best friends have been lifties for a number of seasons now and have to deal with that shit every season.
Nov 9 2022 6:30PM
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versacelettuce
Posts: 20 - Karma: 65
Usually you wear the standard blue pants they give you. The instructors that wore black pants were the ones that taught teams.
Later on in the season, if your instructor was more lax, you got away with it. A handful of us opted to wear our own pants anyway bc they vented better and had better proofing. After so many seasons of use, the standard Helly Hansen pants wouldn’t wick water as well.
Nov 9 2022 6:57PM
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
Depends on the individual in charge of ski school. They really should be buying/reimbursing you for work gear, and as someone else stated they may actually be required to with labor laws, but there are plenty of managers who blatantly violate labor laws and will continue to do so until they get sued, if they get sued, which most don't. For example when I worked at Pats Peak in NH they blatantly violated labor laws, and I had a friend who worked at Pine Knob in Michigan have similar problems.
Nov 9 2022 8:26PM
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
actually I think you can also file a complaint with the department of labor to report violations, not sure
Nov 9 2022 8:27PM
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bogust
Posts: 694 - Karma: 7,197
As a ski instructor you are an "industry professional" and you qualify for expertvoice and other pro deals so you get 50% almost all major outwear companies along with a bunch of others. If vail wont buy you pants you can get some cheap
Nov 9 2022 8:58PM
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Casey
Posts: 7881 - Karma: 24,742
IsaacNW82actually I think you can also file a complaint with the department of labor to report violations, not sure


Employers have to pay for uniforms, there is like a whole legal section of what a uniform is vs a dress code.
Nov 9 2022 10:09PM
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GloryHoleGary
Posts: 178 - Karma: 1,758
I have an extra pair of Burton AK Cyclic pants in black that im not going to use. I’d sell em to ya.
Nov 10 2022 12:18AM
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bennwithtwons
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 12,192
When I coached at northstar back in the day, we got pants, jacket, fleece, puffy jacket, helmets and even base layers. All Helly Hansen gear and smith helmets. The jacket and pants were decent as far as waterproofing goes but they were heavy, stiff, and cold and definitely didn’t give you a feeling of being able to ski well in a loose or comfortable way

my first year they didn’t have those uniforms yet though and I got to wear my own stuff. XL saga just with a name tag =)

**This post was edited on Nov 10th 2022 at 12:59:05am
Nov 10 2022 12:58AM
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 5985 - Karma: 3,606
In BC, they would only have to pay for your uniform if they required a specific black pant. If it were any black pant they don't have to buy it for you.
Nov 10 2022 1:02AM
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BraydenJohnson
Posts: 35 - Karma: 305
I’ll see what the head of our ski school says about them providing pants, if they don’t I might go for that.
GloryHoleGaryI have an extra pair of Burton AK Cyclic pants in black that im not going to use. I’d sell em to ya.
Nov 10 2022 8:05AM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9339 - Karma: 61,334
CaseyEmployers have to pay for uniforms, there is like a whole legal section of what a uniform is vs a dress code.


and if your boss has you wear cat ears and a tail, is that a uniform or a dress code? asking for a friend
Nov 10 2022 9:15AM
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GrandThings
Posts: 3166 - Karma: 31,948
SofaKingSickand if your boss has you wear cat ears and a tail, is that a uniform or a dress code? asking for a friend


I'm the friend. Sign me up baby
Nov 10 2022 9:50AM
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BraydenJohnson
Posts: 35 - Karma: 305
I’m taking it your talking about 7Springs. They just said they wont supply pants this year. I’m just gonna keep my brown pants and they can deal with it.
weatcoastSame thing at corporate ass springs before they got sold to vail anyways. They at least gave us black (but shitty) pants. They’ll probably just say next shift wear black ones, just like when I would teach without gloves and my one supervisor bitched at me because it could be a safety hazard.


going on a tangent here but I think that’s where I picked up the habit of not wearing gloves while skiing unless it’s bitch cold out
Nov 10 2022 12:29PM
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,973
good fuckin question i wonder if theyd tell you
Nov 10 2022 1:49PM
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olddirty
Posts: 722 - Karma: 2,795
icedgood fuckin question i wonder if theyd tell you


hahah thats a fact. Might as well ask them instead of a bunch of yagoons on Newschoolers
Nov 11 2022 11:22AM
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BraydenJohnson
Posts: 35 - Karma: 305
They finally did the other day, it took them weeks to get back to me, so I thought I’d ask. And this post is more about even if a certain color is required if they’ll let other colors slide.
olddirtyhahah thats a fact. Might as well ask them instead of a bunch of yagoons on Newschoolers
Nov 11 2022 12:11PM
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switchlip2
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 25,111
Get some r3s for instructing duh
Nov 11 2022 12:33PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,990
Yeah, I had to get my own black pants for instructing as well way back when.

Just find some cheap beater bib with some insulation (youll probably be standing around for a while with little kids from time to time) I got some cheap snow bibs for like 25$ that ended up actually lasting me most of the season before I found a late season deal on some good north face pantaloons. Worked out well.
Nov 14 2022 6:45PM
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EvanMeyer
Posts: 3822 - Karma: 3,459
Interesting a vail owned resort can’t even do the bare minimum to supply black pants. Do they not have a contract with any outerwear companies? I worked for powdr for awhile in a few different positions and they at least supplied a full kit to anyone working on hill at each mountain. Shit I think all the food and bev people even got the shells atleast.

**This post was edited on Nov 14th 2022 at 8:36:28pm
Nov 14 2022 8:31PM
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Skiblade420
Posts: 1001 - Karma: 16,474
Just don’t have ur balls out trust me
Nov 15 2022 1:30AM
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BraydenJohnson
Posts: 35 - Karma: 305
They don’t provide anything but new to me as of 2 days ago is that we got 60% discount on HH. Not my favorite brand but it’s good stuff and hey, 60% is a pretty damn great deal.
EvanMeyerInteresting a vail owned resort can’t even do the bare minimum to supply black pants. Do they not have a contract with any outerwear companies? I worked for powdr for awhile in a few different positions and they at least supplied a full kit to anyone working on hill at each mountain. Shit I think all the food and bev people even got the shells atleast.

**This post was edited on Nov 14th 2022 at 8:36:28pm
Nov 15 2022 7:50AM
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b_in_subtle
Posts: 142 - Karma: 824
BraydenJohnsonThey don’t provide anything but new to me as of 2 days ago is that we got 60% discount on HH. Not my favorite brand but it’s good stuff and hey, 60% is a pretty damn great deal.


You can also use your expert city access to to get 40% pro deal at 686 and get some dojo’s for $100
Nov 15 2022 11:32AM
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