What is it like working at a ski resort?
i_like_to_ski asked:
What is it like working at a ski resort (as an instructor or as ski patrol)?
What is the pay like?
What are the requirements/qualifications?
Any other info will be gladly accepted, including any stories etc… Thanks!
What is it like working at a ski resort (as an instructor or as ski patrol)?
What is the pay like?
What are the requirements/qualifications?
Any other info will be gladly accepted, including any stories etc… Thanks!
Its is really fun you get to go on your skiis and patrol watever post u are looking at jubjub
Patrollers are normally volunteers. While every resort has a few paid patrollers, only a handful of resorts have a fully professional ski patrol. Requirements are usually that you complete the Outdoor Emergency Care course offered by the NSP or you have a Wilderness First Responder, EMT or higher medical training and then test out of the course. You have to have a current CPR certification as well. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t even have to be able to ski in order to be on Ski Patrol. You can be an Auxiliary Patroller who works in the medical building and never skis. Basic skiing patrollers need to be a fairly strong skier capable of skiing down the mountain while towing a toboggan loaded with a patient. To advance in level a patroller needs to be able to ski a toboggan down moguls, steep terrain, and conduct search and rescue operations. The NSP requires patrollers to work 10 days a year to keep current but most resorts have higher minimum amounts. (Killington is something like 23 days.) Paid patrollers are also paid based on the resort’s standard for that area as well as by experience and certification level. Work can be busy on weekends since there are more skiers and riders to get hurt. Sometimes during the mid-week you may not even respond to a call, especially at smaller resorts.
Most instructors are hired with little experience and are trained by the local PSIA certified instructors. To advance most will take certification classes. This can mean more pay or preferential scheduling. You have to be strong skier with the ability to work with children because that’s who you will usually be teaching. Most places pay by the lesson. So on slow days, don’t expect to make a lot of cash. What you make per lesson varies greatly from resort to resort. Some have flat pay rates and others sometimes will pay you more if you are requested. Then there are also tips. Don’t expect to make a lot on tips if you are teaching group lessons, but you can get some good tips if you are teaching a private lesson. The downside is a lot of noobs don’t tip because they don’t know it’s customary to tip the instructor.
Both jobs require you to be friendly and outgoing. They are service related jobs. You normally get a free pass where you work and industry discounts at other places. There are pro-deals for dues paid NSP and PSIA members, so you can get some sweet deals on skis, gear, and other things. Both have different levels of qualification and offer clinics and testing for members to advance. In both cases there can be a lot of down time. You can spend this time skiing or catching up on homework, reading a novel, watching TV, or whatever. Similarly, both jobs require you to be able to work outside in the cold and snow and maintain a positive attitude.
Most people do not do these jobs for the pay. They tend to be seasonal and only a few instructors world wide travel from hemisphere to hemisphere looking for work when the seasons change. Most do it for the free skiing. Willie D
working at a ski resort is sweet. pay where im at isnt great but still i get a free pass for me and someone else. i can teach what i love to do. the requirements usually differ between different resorts. i mean, you need to know how to ski/board and should be able to talk to people easily. once in a while, theres that crazy parent who freaks out about the most ridiculous stuff. but working with kids is always fun. many kids are excited to be out there so they help make lessons go by quick and make it fun. ally
Willie has it right… You are gonna be lucky to make a little bit more than minimum wage if your an instructor and most patrollers are volunteers. If you are gonna be an instructor or be on ski patrol you need to be able to deal with people, and have a lot of patience because when your an instructor you start out giving lessons to beginners and/or people that have never been on the mountain before. Also if you want to be an instructor you obviously have to have advanced skills in either skiing or snowboarding EastCoastRider