Should I move and be a ski instructor?

Take the break, you deserve it.

Op what’s your degree?

You did the hard part which is getting a degree. Especially if you don’t know if you want to be in that field.

Take 10 months to ski a shit ton, maybe a trip west just for fun, ski tuckermans ravine, and enjoy life.

Your not going to be young for ever.

You can always find work even when your old.

^ What he said. Go for it. Once you get started in the career you will never again have this opportunity. Go for it, and have a great time.

become a stove

Do it, dont do ski school though. Ticket sales would be better than lessons

I agree, enjoy being done with the bullshit of school, but dont be an instructor, at least the ones I've talked to at PC, you dont get to ski much yourself at least during work. Work in tickets, rentals as I do, and other gigs on hill that'll give you a solid hour or sometimes more to ski on your breaks, and I suggest working weekends with weekdays off, just so lines arent as bad when freeskiing all day. Congrats on being done with school, enjoy the young life while you can.

50KalOp what’s your degree?

You did the hard part which is getting a degree. Especially if you don’t know if you want to be in that field.

Take 10 months to ski a shit ton, maybe a trip west just for fun, ski tuckermans ravine, and enjoy life.

Your not going to be young for ever.

You can always find work even when your old.

Bachelor of Science in Marketing, thanks man I think I’m gonna do it

**This post was edited on Sep 6th 2019 at 11:14:17pm

Titus69I agree, enjoy being done with the bullshit of school, but dont be an instructor, at least the ones I've talked to at PC, you dont get to ski much yourself at least during work. Work in tickets, rentals as I do, and other gigs on hill that'll give you a solid hour or sometimes more to ski on your breaks, and I suggest working weekends with weekdays off, just so lines arent as bad when freeskiing all day. Congrats on being done with school, enjoy the young life while you can.

Appreciate the advice greatly, yeah I figured instructing would get me most time on snow but I guess it would get old on the bunnies. The other position is Ticket and pass sales agent, would that be better?

Ajd2700Appreciate the advice greatly, yeah I figured instructing would get me most time on snow but I guess it would get old on the bunnies. The other position is Ticket and pass sales agent, would that be better?

Yeah I assume youd maybe start out with little kids or Jerry's and would kinda suck on bad weather days. My friend worked in tickets and I think he got an hour off to ski, I do rentals in a normal ski/board shop at PC but were not owned by Vail so it may be different but I get an hour to ski and if it's slow sometimes more and on pow days, multiple breaks. Instructing can make you good ass money if you're a private instructor or just do it for a rich family with little kids they dont wanna ski with and will tip well.

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Yes sir, hopefully tickets sales will yield those hours, cuz everyone’s making it seem like ski school is not the move

Ajd2700Marketing degree, thanks man I think I’m gonna do it

That’s a super Versatel degree. You won’t have trouble finding work.

**This post was edited on Sep 7th 2019 at 7:48:50am

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Probably ski as much as possible but not live super poor lol, I feel like working 4 days a week should do the trick and I do have some money saved up. Just don’t want to pick the wrong position really

Most people are unable to get a job in their degree. I would suggest working for the mountain while very actively looking for marketing jobs. Also, working for Vail is very easy to stand out and get a head. Learn the core values and regergitate them. A little enthusiasm goes a long way. Most people go for like a gap year or something and don't take it serious but it's a great way to network. I would also recommend doing guest service if you can. You get to interact with a lot of people and the Vail way is to address issues on the hill and be seen so you get to cruise around all day talking to people. Never know who youll meet or what rich fuck is looking to over pay a skier to run a marketing campaign for their products!!

Honestly i did the instructing gig and got to ski so much more than I thought I would.. especially if you rip theyre going to pair you with people that know how to ski, and fuck it even if you have some slower days with more beginner folks, you’re still out on the mountain with skis on your feet and not sitting inside wishing you were.
ive moved over to coaching now and have a sick team of lil park kids that I get to shred with and that definitely wouldnt have happened if I hadnt been instructing. I definitely might be romanticizing my memory of it a little bit and there are definitely rough days with big groups of kids that cant ski, but at the end of the day id rather be outside n sliding down hill. I truly think you won’t regret taking some time to instruct and ski. Also you will inevitably learn a lot about your own skiing which can be pretty damn fun

Fuck the "graduate college immediately start a career" noise. Their is absolutely no reason too. Doesn't matter what you do as long as the bills are getting paid and you are happy.

Move west.
Ski a real mountain with good snow.
Get a night time job (serving, busboy, hotel etc.)
Ski everyday till you forget why you went to college in the first place.

50KalOp what’s your degree?

You did the hard part which is getting a degree. Especially if you don’t know if you want to be in that field.

Take 10 months to ski a shit ton, maybe a trip west just for fun, ski tuckermans ravine, and enjoy life.

Your not going to be young for ever.

You can always find work even when your old.

*take 4-5 years

BightLinkerDo it, dont do ski school though. Ticket sales would be better than lessons

I disagree, at least instructing keeps you on snow and keeps your head in skiing all the time. It's often pretty fun too, like you have the opportunity to be on snow getting people stoked on skiing instead of sitting inside dealing with line ups and people who are just impatient to get outside. Sometimes you get tips instructing too. You can get a few runs in on breaks and before and after lessons, and just make sure you have a few days off a week to just ski. Also I don't know about the US but in Canada there's always free professional development for instructors, which will make you at least better at skiing groomers.

skiP.E.I.I disagree, at least instructing keeps you on snow and keeps your head in skiing all the time. It's often pretty fun too, like you have the opportunity to be on snow getting people stoked on skiing instead of sitting inside dealing with line ups and people who are just impatient to get outside. Sometimes you get tips instructing too. You can get a few runs in on breaks and before and after lessons, and just make sure you have a few days off a week to just ski. Also I don't know about the US but in Canada there's always free professional development for instructors, which will make you at least better at skiing groomers.

Also, obviously take at least a year to ski as much a spossible.
You will likely end up working in marketing in the ski industry, and instructing is a good place to start in the industry.

im 10 years out of college and ill tell you to go do it. i did it. it was great.

pro tip... follow the stream life gives you from here on out. when you start fighting shit thinking its "what you SHOULD be doing" is when things get sideways.

you graduated college man, take a little break. If you hadn't graduated it might be a different story

Crust_StationHonestly i did the instructing gig and got to ski so much more than I thought I would.. especially if you rip theyre going to pair you with people that know how to ski, and fuck it even if you have some slower days with more beginner folks, you’re still out on the mountain with skis on your feet and not sitting inside wishing you were.
ive moved over to coaching now and have a sick team of lil park kids that I get to shred with and that definitely wouldnt have happened if I hadnt been instructing. I definitely might be romanticizing my memory of it a little bit and there are definitely rough days with big groups of kids that cant ski, but at the end of the day id rather be outside n sliding down hill. I truly think you won’t regret taking some time to instruct and ski. Also you will inevitably learn a lot about your own skiing which can be pretty damn fun

I second this. I too moved from instructing to coaching. I enjoy working with people and passing the love on whether they are brand new or shred. It would be rough to be caught inside wishing you could be skiing when you're just maintaining a job. A couple questions to ask yourself is do you like people and more importantly do you like/can you stand kids? If both of those are yes, then go instruct.

Come to telluride we got you on 7 days a week ski instructing $$$ unless you’re a snow board instructor

If you want to give it a go. Worth doing for a season. Honestly ski school and lifts aren't even bad. Especially talking about 1 season. Hell being a liftie doesn't seem that fun but they usually go pretty hard at partying and skiing together.

If you want to do another season you can always move deoartments for the next season. If you ever try and get into grooming or terrain parks at a place thats tough, early season snow making can be a good entry. A lot of hours so Id prolly say bum it out furst year if you think youre just doing one. That said I prolly rode more making snow and grooming than park crew etc.

Idk. A bunch of friends also work the early afternoon/night life as waiters/bartenders etc.

If you're only going to do a season possibly I'd aim for the best mtn you can ski, decent vibe for partying(if that's your jam) and just killing it with good times.

A bunch of friends also worked at Goldminers daughter in Alta and live it. Skied a shit ton.

There are also marketing jobs within skiing if you're looking to do something losely related during your ski bum.

Check out indeed, vail careers, mtn website employment pages and see whats around.

I also recommended instructing. Sure any job where you work daytime is gonna hold you back from shredding pow or park all day but I almost always get a couple of laps in everyday and instructing can be really fun. Even beginner lessons in shitty weather can be really fun when you see how stoked the guest is after doing their first pizza turn or nailing the button lift for the first time. When you start doing more advanced lessons or park lessons you obviously get allot more proper skiing in and its often a good time to improve your own technique to, especially if your a typical park rat its a good chance to focus on your technique on the groomers too.

bro just start doing cocaine. before you know it, youll be selling snow yourself to support your habit.

8 years in da game Im never lookin back

ski_steeMove west.
Ski a real mountain with good snow.
Get a night time job (serving, busboy, hotel etc.)
Ski everyday till you forget why you went to college in the first place.

Stowe hangs bro there aren't that many lifts as good as 4 runner out West. Lots of mountains you honestly can't ski down from the top to the bottom without hitting serious flats and losing momentum. He'll be teaching when its crowded and ripping when its not. OP would be playing Russian Roullette with regards to snow if he moves to Tahoe during a bad season hes fucked etc. My guess is Stowe employee housing might be a little better than high profile Vail hills as well.

Live it up for a bit before getting a job related to your degree
Definitely do something in skiing but maybe not ski instructing as it's not that many hours
Maybe drive a cat at night and ski all day

Hell yea ya should

I did my rookie year instructing last year. Yes you gotta do your time. the first season and especially the first month or so will be pretty lame.

Soon as my team lead/manager noticed my personal, ethic and potential I started getting better lessons and honestly some days- if I had paid for a day pass and skied with my group I would've said it was an awesome day, but instead I got paid for it. Those days made up for everything else.

End of the day, any day outside on skis is a good day.

Do it

skiP.E.I.I disagree, at least instructing keeps you on snow and keeps your head in skiing all the time. It's often pretty fun too, like you have the opportunity to be on snow getting people stoked on skiing instead of sitting inside dealing with line ups and people who are just impatient to get outside. Sometimes you get tips instructing too. You can get a few runs in on breaks and before and after lessons, and just make sure you have a few days off a week to just ski. Also I don't know about the US but in Canada there's always free professional development for instructors, which will make you at least better at skiing groomers.

Sounds nice, US instructors are generally glorified magic carpet ops.

Crust_StationHonestly i did the instructing gig and got to ski so much more than I thought I would.. especially if you rip theyre going to pair you with people that know how to ski, and fuck it even if you have some slower days with more beginner folks, you’re still out on the mountain with skis on your feet and not sitting inside wishing you were.
ive moved over to coaching now and have a sick team of lil park kids that I get to shred with and that definitely wouldnt have happened if I hadnt been instructing. I definitely might be romanticizing my memory of it a little bit and there are definitely rough days with big groups of kids that cant ski, but at the end of the day id rather be outside n sliding down hill. I truly think you won’t regret taking some time to instruct and ski. Also you will inevitably learn a lot about your own skiing which can be pretty damn fun

Hey, after get the instructor certificate did you teach straight away during the same season ? Im keen to get into it but wondering if its easy to get a job then.

Somalia has some insane vert

**This post was edited on Sep 10th 2019 at 1:54:55pm

Op you gonna puss out or do it?

PeppermillRenoOp you gonna puss out or do it?

In the process of finding an apartment around Stowe right now. I’m going for it boys, appreciate all the advice greatly🙏🏼 I already changed my position to ticket sales instead of instructing. Also convinced a buddy to come up with me too which is huge. Anyone up near Stowe looking to shred this season hmu🤙🏼

Ajd2700In the process of finding an apartment around Stowe right now. I’m going for it boys, appreciate all the advice greatly🙏🏼 I already changed my position to ticket sales instead of instructing. Also convinced a buddy to come up with me too which is huge. Anyone up near Stowe looking to shred this season hmu🤙🏼

Hell yeah dude hopefully you'll find some solid time on the hill up there, skied stowe once but it's such a sick mountain to explore. Have a fun season up there!

Just came in here to say a job offer as a ski instructor is basically just a standing offer to any member of the public that can kind of ski and isn’t a murderer. Although I am pretty sure they don’t check for felonies if you aren’t annoying.

GyreBasesHey, after get the instructor certificate did you teach straight away during the same season ? Im keen to get into it but wondering if its easy to get a job then.

At least in Norway it common to apply and get the job first, then take the course at the start of the season before you start working. I would suggest applying for jobs now and see what they say. Here most places are already hiring and the application deadline for some places have already expired.

Ajd2700In the process of finding an apartment around Stowe right now. I’m going for it boys, appreciate all the advice greatly🙏🏼 I already changed my position to ticket sales instead of instructing. Also convinced a buddy to come up with me too which is huge. Anyone up near Stowe looking to shred this season hmu🤙🏼

Word good stuff.



I'll be at Disco Biscuits in Burlington the 2 nights before and hitting opening day Friday Nov 22nd. Would be great if they opened sooner but since Vail bought the place the Friday before Thanksgiving is pretty set in stone as the opener. Hope Vail buying Peak doesn't change Wildcats recent early openings they've had great top to bottom groomers in October/November last few years (weekend only) when Killington is still making you download on the gondi.

I don’t know how it’s in the US but I did my first year as a ski instructor in Switzerland last year, so maybe it still can give you an idea…

I finished my apprenticeship/education in august and I had the same decision to take as you. Starting in the «real» world, like all of my friends did, or spend a season in the mountains, the thing my heart desired the most. I couldn’t imagine myself sitting one day longer in an office starring into a computer screen for 8.5h/day. So, I decided to become a ski instructor for one winter season.

It is the best decision I could have taken; it was the first 100+ ski days season for me, I met so many awesome dudes/girls there, woke up every morning seeing the sunrise on mountain peaks and I finally felt free in a long time.

The job really helped me to get in touch with a lot of people there, just because you go drinking beers with all the ski instructors after work every day (yeah you’ll probably become an alcoholic there). It really helped me to make lot of new awesome friends and I never felt alone, which sometimes is little scary moving to a new place. (This will probably be the case whatever job you take at a ski resort)

What made ski instructor such a great experience for me, was that I discovered that I like to work with children. At first, I was sceptical about working with children. I’m the kind of guy who used to be like, is there some rohypnol or duct tape we can use?, as soon as I heard a child crying in an airplane or bus. As I started working at the ski school, I found out that I love to work with children. The smiles they have on their faces at the end of a ski day with you is so satisfying. Also it was really fun to tell them stories, playing snowball fights with them or build a snowman. It allows you to keep your inner child somehow ^^
Most of all you can teach something you personally think is something really important in life. Damn I was stoked seeing my 3y old student throwing his first 180 ^^

Of course, there is also a downside to be a ski instructor. You don’t have guaranteed working hours (and max. 6h a day). So, there is a big financial insecurity. During main season you might work 20 days in a row (yes also hangoverd af on 1. January) while the rest of the season you’ll have maybe no income for a week or two. Moreover, we only knew like the evening before if we had to work the next day. So, you had to be super flexible.

A risk I only thought about at the beginning of the season and never thought about later (luckily never had to): As a skier you probably get injured sometimes… Normally it just sucks to be injured but as a ski instructor in such a case you don’t have a job no more and still need to pay rent, taxes, insurances( don’t know if that’s a thing in the US) .
I went working in a office for 2.5 month before ski season, so I had some money left if there wouldn’t be enough work or I got Injured during the season. Luckily there was enough work and I could go skiing for myself the last 1.5 month of the season with the money I had left over.

For sure at some point it got me frustrated working like 20 days in a row with children on blue slope while my friends would go hit the perfect shaped park. On the other side over the whole season I had still enough time to hit the park being every day on the mountain.

If you want to ski as much as possible for yourself, I would recommend an other job in the ski town but if you think you would like to call the snowy mountains your office go for it, it’s an awesome experience!

In terms of getting a «real» job or go to a ski town… as said above, if you don’t do it now you’ll probably never do it. It’s not like you can’t search a “real” job/get a career next year, and a break as a ski instructor might also help you to figure out what you’re expecting from life/work for the future.