If you are about to work your first ski season, there are things you should know that will help you prepare. You can find resort specific tips on employee facebook pages. However, no matter what your job is at a ski resort, the general tips in this post will set you up for success. Below are 10 tips I wish I knew before I started working at a ski resort.
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Tips for Working at a Ski Resort
1. Don’t Buy All Your Equipment Before You Go
If you don’t already have your own ski gear, there are some reasons you should wait to make all your purchases.
First, as an employee you can get discounts on gear, either online or around town. Second, the ski town you are going to most likely has thrift stores that sell used ski equipment at a good price. Lastly, you might have co-workers who have extra gear they will let you borrow for the season.
In order to find the gear you like best, see if you can borrow some equipment or use your employee discount at the rental shop first. This way you will know what you like and can buy the correct equipment.
2. Search for Housing as Early as Possible
The moment you receive a job offer, start looking at housing options!
Many ski resorts offer employee housing but it can fill up fast, so mark your calendar for when employee housing applications open.
If employee housing is not for you, then you will be looking for housing in a resort town. This means rent will be expensive and options will fill up fast. This is because resort employees, other seasonal workers, and people who like to live in the mountains during winter are all trying to find a place to live.
Check out facebook groups for ‘roommate wanted’ adds, as well as possibly leasing a place for the full season.
3. Ask About Hidden Employee Perks
During your training you should get an idea of what discounts and perks you will get as an employee and how to use them. When I say “hidden perks” I mean the ones that no one talks about. For example, a lot of resorts will offer their employees free buss passes to get to and from work and around town. Yet, they may forget to mention this perk to those who live on property.
Then, you have the perks that are more word of mouth than written on paper. While I don’t want to be the one to give those secrets away, I encourage you to ask around about employee perks; like how to get free rental gear or jump to the front of the lift line. Long time employees are usually the ones that have the best secrets hidden up their sleeves.
4. Create a Financial Plan
Ski towns are expensive! Your employee discount may not get you as far as you think, and I don’t know of any ski resorts that provide employees with meals or offer free housing.
As a seasonal employee your paycheck may not be as much as you would like it to be. With all this in mind, it will help to come up with an idea of how much money you will need to spend on rent and groceries, put towards savings, and use for fun when you are off the clock.
If you are not cautious of this from the start, you may end up spending more than you make.
5. Take Your Car With You
Do you need a car to work at a ski resort? No. Will it make life way easier? Yes.
Even if you have access to the public bus, it can be frustrating working around the bus schedule, having to wait in the cold for it to show up, and lugging anything you buy from the bus stop to your housing. If you have your own car you can come and go as you please and escape the resort on your own time.
6. Know how to Drive in the Winter
This is for those of you who are not used to driving in the snow. There may be days when you will wake up and your car will be completely snowed in. If the plow has not come through yet and you need to get to work, a shovel will come in handy to dig your way out.
Of course, there are other things to note when driving in the snowy mountains. Depending on where you are going, you may also need: snow tires, snow chains, emergency supplies, etc… Be sure do your research on winter driving before you go.
7. Carry Sunglasses & a Water Bottle
With the bright white of the snow reflecting off the sun, driving to and from work or just walking around the resort, can be a bit blinding. Bring some shades to protect your eyes for when you are not on the slopes.
When it’s cold outside it can be easy to get dehydrated because you wont feel like you need to be drinking as much water as you would on a hot day. If you are working in the mountains, odds are you are also at a higher elevation and your body will need more water. Make sure you have one on you to keep hydrated.
8. Invest in Boots that are Warm & Waterproof
If you invest in anything, let it be a warm winter jacket and a sturdy pair of boots. The walk to and from work may have you trekking through the snow or over ice. Having waterproof boots with good traction will keep you safe from slipping and insure that your feet stay warm and dry throughout the day.
Pro Tip: If you are a ski instructor, get custom footbeds for your ski boots.
9. Understand the Effects of Altitude
Moving to the mountains can be a lot harder on your body than you realize. Altitude effects everyone differently but the most common symptoms of altitude sickness are shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, trouble sleeping, strange dreams, dizziness, and nausea. The best thing to do is allow your body to acclimate by taking things slow at first and staying hydrated.
10. Look Into Your Resort’s Employee Facebook Pages & Reviews
To find resort specific tips, check out the employee facebook pages and reviews for resort specific information. If you have not taken the job yet, it is important to view the reviews beforehand. But, if you do, remember that experiences differ from person to person, season to season, the specific department, what the initial expectations were, etc…
Conclusion
I hope these 10 tips will help you prepare for your first time working at a ski resort. Have you worked at a ski resort? What tips do you have? Please let me know in the comments below.
