Before working at a ski resort, I had a lot of ideas in my head of how things would be. Some of these assumptions fit the bill, but a lot turned out to be misconceptions. So, to help you navigate the slopes, here are some things people get wrong about working at a ski resort.
Photo Credits: Matt 214
1. You Need to Know How to Ski.
Yes, you are working at a ski resort, but unless you are doing a job where skiing is
needed, such as a ski instructor or ski patrol, you don't actually need to know how to ski. I had no idea how to ski or snowboard before I started working at a ski resort, and that was part of the reason I took the job... so I could learn how to snowboard for free! You have an entire season to hit the slopes, fall down, and get up again. You will also most likely meet some friends who are avid skiers and will help you learn.
2. It is the Only Way to Get a Free Ski Pass.
When you work at a ski resort, you get to ski for free! In fact, the free ski pass is a big reason many people apply for the job. However, you don't always need to work at the resort itself to get this perk. There are different businesses in and around ski towns that provide their employees with season passes.
You will need to do your research to find which jobs offer this perk because not all of them do. However, this option may be a better one for you. I had a friend who did this and it saved her time and money on having to commute to the mountain every day for work. She also felt her job was less stressful than the one she previously had at the resort.
Photo Credits: Benjamin Hayward
3. You Wont Make, or Save, a lot of Money. This one is one of those, "it depends" type of things. Obviously living in a resort town is not not cheap and seasonal pay is not always the best. However, if you are smart about the job you pick you can make a good amount of money. This also means taking jobs that bring in tips, such as a ski instructor or restaurant server. A crazy busy day could bring in an extra $200-$300 in tips.
Of course, you can also be super careful with your spending by making your own meals, borrowing ski equipment, not being too picky about your housing situation, etc... This way you can save up a good chunk of money. It really all depends on job you have and the type of lifestyle you want to live during your ski season.
4. It's a Job for the "Younger Crowd".
There is no age limit to work at a ski resort! Yes, you will find a ton of workers in their early 20s who are taking a gap year or a break from school. Naturally, the job and lifestyle attracts lots of people who are happy to live the ski bum life. But the early 20s crowd will not be the only people you will find.
At the resort I worked at there were employees who were well into their late 30s and 40s. Some of them utilized employee housing as well. I also had someone on my team who was in their 50s and retired from their "day job" to come out and try something new. You will be surprised at the age range of ski resort employees. Everyone is welcome and you wont stick out as much as you think.
Photo Credits: Mason Jones
5. It's Only Good for a Gap Year.
Is it a good gap year? Sure! But it does not have to be just that? Nope!
While it feels like this is a place only good for a one and done seasonal job, you can make it into a permanent career. You will find that most of your managers and higher ups at the resort, have been there for several years and have no plans to leave anytime soon. And, to get to where they are now, they had to start somewhere! There are people who go to school to study hospitality and it is their goal to work at a ski resort. Maybe they want to live in the mountains, love the lifestyle, or just never want to stop skiing. So if it is your dream to work at a ski resort long term, then go for it! You can make it whatever you want it to be.
6. Ski Resorts Only Run in the Winter.
Ski resorts are obviously known for skiing and for that you need snow. But when the winter turns to spring and all the snow melts not all of them just close down for the remainder of the year. Ski resorts are open in the summer months too! A lot of resorts will still book their hotels, keep their restaurants open, or offer summer activities such as hiking, scenic lift rides, or alpine slides. And with these things still open, they need workers to keep the resort running.
One things to know, is that most resorts will downsize their staff greatly during the summer season. So if you are looking to work in the summer, apply early for a better chance at getting the job.
Photo Credits: Patrick Robert Doyle
7. You Spend all of Your Time on the Slopes.
While this may be the dream, and you might be in a position where you do need to ski everyday, it is not the reality of the job. If you have a job where you work during daylight hours, and do not have a ski break, by the time you get off work for the day, get dinner, suit up, and make it to lift line... the lifts may be closed for the day. While some locations offer night skiing, a lot of lifts don't run at night. Even if you can make it on time to get in a few runs, you may not want to because you will be too tired afterwork to put in all that effort.
8. You Get to Travel.
Here is the thing... this job does allow you to travel to the ski resort and resort town. But, there is no guarantee you are going to be able to get anywhere else during your season. If it is a rough winter, the routes and passes that take you to the nearest national parks or other towns may be cut off. Being so far up in the mountains, it may be hard to get many places and things can be very far away. If you don't have a car, there also may not be a close bus station that will take you to these places. If the goal is to travel, I recommend planning a set amount of time before you start work, or after your ski season ends, to see the places that you want to see.
Conclusion
So there you have it, not everything is as it seems. There are a lot of misconceptions about working at a ski resort. Hopefully I was able to clear up some of those misconceptions for you and you will be more prepared for your ski season.
Credits
The photos in this post are not mine. Thank you to the photographers who uploaded their photos for free use on Unsplash. They have been credited under their respective photographs.