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Jobs in the industry

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ren_asty
Posts: 111 - Karma: 16

Alright so schools really got me thinking about what i'm gonna do with my life.  i wanna go to college, but not for some boring job, i really wanna do something with ski resorts, but i don't know of any majors or degrees that would allow me to do that.  It seems like its too good to be true, majoring with something with skiing, but if there is ANY options, i'm interested.  College isn't an option, its a requirement, my parents rules. so does anybody know of college majors that have to do with skiing?????? What schools, jobs, experience? any info will help greatly!

Thanks a lot everyone!!! + Karma!

Nov 17 2008 8:14PM
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AKoblitz
Posts: 1201 - Karma: 113
Guest service... think hotels

Front desk managers
Accountants
Sales
Marketing
Hell even some waiters make a killing in resort towns
ski school
patrol
TONS OF STUFF
Resort Managment
Nov 17 2008 8:16PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7808 - Karma: 1,414
Resort management would be so killer.  Go to a great school that has a good program for management or hospitality and you will get in with some big resorts.  I'm almost positive they will pay for a nice personal on-site house and you can probably take days off during the week when it's not crowded and work on the weekend when it is crowded.  I'm sure you'll be up on the hill helping too.  Just think out side the box.  Marketing, advertising, risk management.  A ski area isn't simply composed of lifties, patrol, people at the ticket windows, and groomers/park crew.  There's a ton that goes on behind the scenes.
Nov 17 2008 8:27PM
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.jw
Posts: 154 - Karma: 16
Hospitality and Business Management is degree offered that gets you into resorts/hotels and the operations that come with them. Any sort of business knowledge is always a plus, as industry is made up of the companies that support the cause. There is enough offerings within the ski industry that being well rounded and knowledgable, good with people, those sorta cliche things. There isnt one specific thing that would be homerun tho...and networking is prolly the most important no matter what you graduate with. Where do you live/want to go to school? That would help too
Nov 17 2008 8:31PM
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BMskier
Posts: 3363 - Karma: 365

im thinkin of doin the whole management thing/resort management. i kinda wanna work for like a ski company though so who know where il end up. what schools have a good program and good nearby skiing. west coast preferably:)

Nov 17 2008 8:32PM
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.jw
Posts: 154 - Karma: 16
Western Washington (WWU) is close to Mt Baker, plus Stevens and Whistler are within 3 hours
Nov 17 2008 8:36PM
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ren_asty
Posts: 111 - Karma: 16
i live in Green bay WIsconsin, but am definately willing to move away.  i would probably want 4-years of schooling, as just like reassurance for getting a job, but i just wanted to get some ideas of what career will get me close to ski hills.
Nov 17 2008 8:45PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
recreation management and/or civil engineering would be a good choice if you want to do something with a ski resort itself, and materials/mechanical engineering for skis, boots, bindings, lifts, etc. im looking to major in materials engineering because you can work in any industry with it
Nov 17 2008 8:47PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
proximity would only matter if it didn't rain all the time.  check out our 0" base.
Nov 17 2008 8:51PM
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.jw
Posts: 154 - Karma: 16

Where did you take that? Thats sounds dope.

With the ski industry you really have two sides: the service side, and the retail and products side. Once you figure out which of those interest you most youll be better on way too

Nov 17 2008 8:52PM
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GreenStezz
Posts: 3570 - Karma: 720
lift maint, thats what i do...............
Nov 17 2008 8:54PM
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.jw
Posts: 154 - Karma: 16
it does/did hold the record for the most snowfall...lets pray for the best this year. Plus bham is a sweet little town
Nov 17 2008 8:55PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
as a civil grad, i can tell you that the firms that work exclusively with ski resorts are very hard to crack into.  i tried and i failed.

however doing geology could work for either a geotech firm specializing in design in steep slope areas (mountains) or the mere fact that rock science = snow science, which would potentially give you a leg up in patrol work.

and note that here in washington we do have a group of engineers with two M60 tanks doing avalanche control.  hows that for combining engineering and skiing.

that being said, my firm has done some work for stevens pass and mission ridge here in washington, so there is opportunity for a general civil firm to get in on those projects.  and they let me go skiing on pow days.
Nov 17 2008 8:57PM
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ren_asty
Posts: 111 - Karma: 16
i would prolly look into the more management field of the resort, like taking care of planning events for the hill and stuff.  but it would be nice to be able to take off days for skiing and stuff.  and i also wanna get certified to be a ski patrol, because i think that would be awesome too
Nov 17 2008 9:04PM
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
unless i decide to go to montana state, thats what im going to be doing, U of U has a really good recreation and tourism major with some epic internship opportunities
Nov 17 2008 9:09PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe offers the only 4 year ski resort management school around.
small town, but not far from a lot of stuff, and if you wanna get into management i would recommend it
Nov 17 2008 9:12PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
same thing as every major.  a piece of paper with your name on it.
Nov 17 2008 9:15PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
i couldnt tell ya... haha i just grew up in the town the college is in and thats something they took pride in for some reason.
Nov 17 2008 9:16PM
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ren_asty
Posts: 111 - Karma: 16
like do u know if they have a website?? or if its a good school?
Nov 17 2008 9:26PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
yes here too.  but only in your paycheck.
Nov 17 2008 9:28PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
For the US it usually is like this;
2 years = associates
4 years = bachelors

Nov 17 2008 9:29PM
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,124

Iv'e been ski bumming for over a decade now.

My input

 If you want to ski a lot you need to work nights; Food service, concierge, grooming, Ski teching, night auditer, maintanence etc. None of these gigs really require any degree. Resort management and degree jobs; marketing and supervisor etc gigs are mostly 9-5 and you may get to ski some ,but not that much. They do pay more. Ski patrol is a good gig you get to ski however it certainly isn't going to be when, where and with who you want and you kind of need to be able to ski good all mountain good. A snow safety degree would be a  good degree, but once again you would need to work up the patrol ladder before getting a guide or snow safety job.

Consider a tech or trade school bust ass and make your cash in the summer ski bum winters

Or be a trophy husband it works for me

Nov 17 2008 9:33PM
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ren_asty
Posts: 111 - Karma: 16
one problem with the "trophy husband"...i'm a girl. lol i could find one so i didn't have to work, but thats not my style.
Nov 17 2008 9:38PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,217
friends in the industry can and will take you a very long way
Nov 17 2008 10:37PM
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BMskier
Posts: 3363 - Karma: 365

if you have friends in the industry i bet my friends are better than your friends.

yea im friend claimin

Nov 17 2008 10:53PM
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
digi dave went to assumption college in mass. I don't know what he majored in but now hes a big dog at freeskier. Basically it's all drive. you can make it if you try as hard as you can and invest everything it takes. If you want to work for a film company, start small, look for companies doing shoots and ask to be an intern.
Nov 17 2008 11:29PM
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thefrush
Posts: 108 - Karma: 10
I'm getting a marketing degree and if I can land a job in the industry that would be awesome. My Step-Dad's buddy was director of marketing at Mammoth. That would be a sick job right there.
Nov 18 2008 12:14AM
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Pwn.Mode
Posts: 1061 - Karma: 10
depends on what you wanna do. everyone i know out here has gotten the position from working there long enough not cuz they got a degree. so you should probably look into what you wanna do and school might not be the best idea, but it is always a good reason to get outta where you're at and get to someplace you wanna be especially if your parents are flippin the bill.
Nov 18 2008 2:51AM
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49rider
Posts: 161 - Karma: 10

here is my tentative plan

i will be graduating in the spring with a degree in civil engineering, (like V said, it can be hard to crack into a ski specific engineering firm).

my plan is to find a field engineering job and work during construction season when field engineers are needed (not sure where yet, looking into wyoming oil and gas fields or possibly for the state/feds/county public works dept. (did this this summer)).  hopefully i will make enough bank in the summer with a good paying inspection or field engineering job to take the winters off and do the ski bum thing. 

this may be one option for you, there are aspects to civil engineering that apply to ski areas (chairlift design, on hill structures like lodges, hotels, etc, roads, stormwater management and runoff, environmental aspects and probably some more i cannot think of).

i went the civil engineering route because i am interested in building and designing things, and generally solving problems which is what we do.  if i ever get tired of skiing i will always have my degree to fall back on if i need to get a "real" job.

hope this gives you at least a little direction in you search, good luck in whatever you pick though. 

Nov 18 2008 3:10AM
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benk
Posts: 1342 - Karma: 988
Oregon State has a good recreation resource management. I was required to take one class as part of my forest management degree. The professor did his thesis in Whistler and I guess its a good degree if your wanting to work for a resort. but talking to students who are in the program I guess its boring and there are not a lot of jobs in it
Nov 18 2008 3:30AM
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TimmyK
Posts: 779 - Karma: 15
This site will definately help, it tells you bout industry jobs and how people got into them. 

http://www.jobmonkey.com/ski/
Nov 18 2008 9:45AM
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WIllW
Posts: 4578 - Karma: 2,512
Don't choose a resort focused major unless you are positive you know what you want to do with it. Any management job at a ski area will let you ski once in a while or maybe a few runs a day max. A job where you look out the window on a sunny day and see people skiing while you do paper work can be torture. Sometimes it's easyier to separate work and play.
Nov 18 2008 10:28AM
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king.tubby
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 122
msu, bozeman. snow science.    http://www.montana.edu/wwwes/programs/snow.htm
Nov 18 2008 10:50AM
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urbanjib
Posts: 1801 - Karma: 255
TimmyK, i just spent my entire web design class on that site...THANK YOU

+++++karma
Nov 18 2008 11:10AM
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mnjib
Posts: 5592 - Karma: 357
there is a school in michigan that has ski area managment. PM if you want some people to talk to that go there.
Nov 18 2008 11:18AM
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dirtyswede
Posts: 180 - Karma: 10
i'm majoring in communication studies here in the midwest (st. cloud state university, mn) comm studies is a good major cuz its very broad, jobs ranging from public relations (your interest in running/organizing reosrt events) communications director (same type of duties) even marketing techniques. very cliche but no matter what, every place you go you NEED to be good at gettin your point across and communicating with ppl
Nov 18 2008 12:01PM
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Breezy
Posts: 143 - Karma: 10
You said college is a must because its your parents rules, from expericence you wont make it if your not into it and motivated and if your living in a mountain town theres no way in hell your gonna sit in a classroom listening to BS that you dont even truly care about while its dumping outside. Do what you want to do, school isnt everything, dont let your parents deciede your future casue you have to live it. Just my little rant.
Nov 18 2008 12:11PM
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SteezeNutz
Posts: 293 - Karma: 10
Fuck yeah. I go here and its epic. You can also go to Sierra Nevada in Tahoe and major in ski business
Nov 18 2008 12:13PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
or be a mech engineer and go work for Doppelmayr or something.  then when you show up at the mountain and the liftie asks to see your pass you'd be all "bitch i designed this lift"
Nov 18 2008 12:25PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,217
yeh dont go to college unless you're ready and really want to learn the subject. i failed out last year because business just really is not my thing and now i'm exactly where i want to be at this point in my life, skiing every day in utah. i plan on eventually going back and majoring in anthropology because thats what really interests me.

have a talk with your parents about it. like said before any sort of major thats ski related is just going to be pencil pushing all day while you stare out at the people having the times of their life. i'd rather be the one outside the window
Nov 18 2008 12:29PM
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agustinco
Posts: 72 - Karma: 19
thats sick, I was just thinking on moveing to bc next year, where did you live during those 2 years?, I did 3 years of tourism I didnt really liked it and with all my travelling to the states(I live in Argentina) it was imposible to finish in time so as Im canadian thats a great idea.
Nov 18 2008 1:17PM
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klimp
Posts: 933 - Karma: 18
Pretty much every ski company has a careers section on their website. Check out the very bottom of the page and usually there is a link that says careers, if you can't find it just ctl+f and search careers, pretty much every major company has a careers section on their website, it's a good place to start if your applying or just looking at what kinds of opportunities are available in your area and around the country(world maybe?).
Nov 18 2008 1:27PM
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OneLove_skier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 135
marketing/ design for ski companies.

My friends mom is a rep for Smith
he said that she got some degree in design in college.
Nov 18 2008 1:53PM
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ren_asty
Posts: 111 - Karma: 16
my parents are pushing college, but i still want to go on my own.  i think its good to do college just for a fallback to have a college degree.  i know it would stink to watch people ski while i'm in an office, but i love winter and skiing and just being around that would be sick.  management or mountain operation would allow me to work with my favorite thing to do. i hear there is a ton of employment opportunities in utah.
Nov 18 2008 2:32PM
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
especially with foreign work visas being harder to get, there are less foreign workers available, and more jobs available to americans
Nov 18 2008 4:31PM
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Wibby
Posts: 292 - Karma: 157
if you have interest in the brand side, look into Marketing and Design.  Keep in mind internships and who you know are great ways to get through the door. 
Nov 18 2008 7:44PM
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Dub_Digital
Posts: 2792 - Karma: 627
Sorry to steer off topic, and sorry if someone already said this, but does anyone have experience grooming? and if so, what do you need to do to become a groomer? Do you just need to talk to the resort or what?
Nov 18 2008 7:51PM
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4frnt_4_life
Posts: 183 - Karma: 10
resort jobs are over rated be a dentist some only work 4 days a week and you make triple most resort jobs. also you would probably get to ski more than any full time job.
Nov 18 2008 10:12PM
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ZachRyan
Posts: 332 - Karma: 2,276
a lot of colleges have ski resort managment
Nov 18 2008 10:24PM
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
so true
Nov 18 2008 10:46PM
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CraigAK
Posts: 1871 - Karma: 320
this is a great thread, i need to start thinking about this stuff, this is going in my threads for later....
Nov 18 2008 11:09PM
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