About to head off to work your first ski season? Not sure if you are completely prepared? While I can't help you anticipate every jump in your path, here are a few tips I wish I knew before working at a ski resort.
Photo Credits: Erik Odiin
1. Don't Buy Ski Equipment Just Yet.
If you do not already have your own ski gear, I would suggest holding off on buying equipment until you arrive. There are a few reasons for this. First, as an employee of a ski resort you probably get discounts on gear, either online or around town, and these discounts may not apply until you start work. Second, now that you are living in a ski town, there are most likely a couple of thrift stores that sell used ski equipment at a good price. Lastly, you might have co-workers who have extra gear they may let you borrow when you hit the slopes, or utilize for the full season.
Pro Tip: If have not done much ski or snowboarding, in order to find the gear that you like best, see if you can borrow some equipment or use your employee discount at the rental shop before buying anything. This way you will know what you like and can buy the correct equipment.
2. Look Into Housing as Early as Possible.
The moment you receive a job offer, start looking at housing options! Many ski resorts offer employee housing. If you want to go this route I suggest marking your calendar for when employee housing applications open. This way you are the first one in line because rooms are usually first come first serve.
If employee housing is not for you, that is fine. Just know that 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. I recommend checking out facebook groups for 'roommate wanted' adds, as well as possibly leasing a place for the full season.
Photo Credits: Nicolas Michot
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 in Advance.
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. Also, 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.
Photo Credits: Michael Heuser
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. Keep a Snow Shovel & Brush in Your Car.
This is for those of you who are not used to driving in the snow or are not usually the ones shoveling out the driveway in the morning. 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.
Photo Credits: Andy Holmes
7. Carry Sunglasses & a Reusable Water Bottle.
If you are an avid skier or spend a lot of time in the snowy mountains, you know these things to be more important than some people realize. With the bright white of the snow reflecting off the sun, driving to and from work and even walking around, 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. Instead of buying expensive water bottles from the convenient store, help out your wallet and the environment by taking a reusable bottle with you.
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. If you do not have the means to do this, bring a pair of extra socks and shoes to change into once you get to work. Of course, if you are working on the slopes, or outside all day, good boots are the way to go.
Pro Tip: If you are a ski instructor, get custom footbeds for your ski boots.
Photo Credits: Benjamin Howard
9. Understand the Effects of Altitude.
It is easy to say you are moving to the mountains but it can 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 a first and staying hydrated.
10. Look Into Your Resort's Employee Facebook Pages & Reviews.
While the tips I gave are general ones, there will be information and other tips that apply specifically to the resort you are working at. To find these, 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
There you have it, some tips to help you prepare for your first time working at a ski resort. Hopefully this helps you feel a bit more prepared and you will be ready for the winter season. Whatever comes your way this winter, good luck in the mountains and see you on the slopes!