Do you want to work on the snow? If yes, then there’s no better place for you to work than a ski mountain.
Here at ASO Mammoth we can tell you about all the benefits of working in a ski shop next to a great mountain like Mammoth, but if your main priority is being on the snow then you can’t go wrong working for a ski mountain. Just because you work for a mountain resort doesn’t mean you’ll be skiing or snowboarding on your lunch break though. To help out, we’ve made a list of a few of the jobs ski mountains offer and what you can expect if you land one. Check it out below!
Rental Tech
While working in a resort’s rental shop may not be what you thought of when you said that you wanted to work on the snow, the proximity to the slopes, customer interactions, and employee discounts on lift tickets, tune-ups, and other gear makes it all worth it.
Like most of the jobs on a ski mountain, working in the rental shop means you’ll be dealing with customers every day. You’ll have good and bad customers, but for the most part you’ll be helping people who are excited to experience skiing and snowboarding for the first time. Plus, by working inside a warm rental shop you get to enjoy all the snow on the mountain once you’re off without freezing outside as it all falls.
Instructor
There are several jobs on ski mountains that require little to no experience, but a ski instructor is not one of them. Ski and snowboard instructors must be excellent at riding as well as patient, knowledgeable, and responsible.
Being all of these things typically requires certifications that match different levels of skill, but if you’re qualified to do the job then you have an excellent chance to be getting paid to be on the snow. Once you have the proper qualifications to be a ski instructor, you’ll have the ability to work wherever there is snow and a language you speak.
Lift Operator
You can argue about who has the best jobs on the mountain, but no one can argue about who has the best commute. Unless they’re working at the base of the mountain, most lift operators begin their day by riding up the lift and then making the first turns of the day as they ski or snowboard to their assigned lift.
Being a lift operator requires little experience which makes it a great entry level job. Lift operators also get to spend all day outside on the snow with incredible views and guests who are typically having a blast skiing and snowboarding. Most important of all though, lift operators have the best access to the mountain since they literally work on it. As a result, no one can make a few turns on their lunch break or before their shift as easily as a lift operator can.
Snowmaker
Snowmakers are some of the most important but least visible workers on the mountain. However, just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they don’t get to enjoy the mountain like other jobs on this list.
Although shifts depend on the mountain and the weather, many snowmakers work at night to replenish the mountain’s base so you should be open to irregular hours if you’re going to blow snow. Snowmaking is also a surprisingly dangerous job due to the cold temperatures, heavy machinery and water under high pressure, and the terrain. However, snowmaking is one of the most rewarding jobs on the mountain!