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May, 2025

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What should I do at 17 to set myself up to be a prosperous ski bum

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zanga
Posts: 57 - Karma: 293
Title says it all, thinking about taking an instructor course to have that as an opportunity, just looking for ideas/input
3 years ago
18 0
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Yukon_Cornelius
Posts: 307 - Karma: 2,664
Prosperous? Go to college somewhere that lets you ski while you're in school. Major in something that lets you work remote after you graduate. Live wherever you want to live and work from a laptop on or near the mountain.
3 years ago
76 1
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swherity
Posts: 248 - Karma: 1,561
jigolo
3 years ago
8 2
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swaggrandpa
Posts: 161 - Karma: 1,847
Weed, and lots of it
3 years ago
51 0
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muffMan.
Posts: 2895 - Karma: 27,641
Fuck no don’t be an instructor.

Start serving pronto, mountain towns are hiring like crazy cause no one wants to be a restarting staff. Work crazy hours in the summer, you’ll get cardio from running around plus free food wherever you work most likely. Live cheap and don’t get a dog, makes renting 10x harder.

Save up and once ski season starts only work weekends and night shifts, you’ll be working less but just enough to stay afloat.

tell your parents you need a gap year to find yourself and you’ll probably keep insurance, phone bill too.
3 years ago
42 0
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TOAST.
Posts: 7749 - Karma: 39,670
Yukon_CorneliusProsperous? Go to college somewhere that lets you ski while you're in school. Major in something that lets you work remote after you graduate. Live wherever you want to live and work from a laptop on or near the mountain.

Might as well ski while you rack up insane debt.
3 years ago
16 0
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Graham0596
Posts: 164 - Karma: 1,263
Coleg55Fuck no don’t be an instructor.

Start serving pronto, mountain towns are hiring like crazy cause no one wants to be a restarting staff. Work crazy hours in the summer, you’ll get cardio from running around plus free food wherever you work most likely. Live cheap and don’t get a dog, makes renting 10x harder.

Save up and once ski season starts only work weekends and night shifts, you’ll be working less but just enough to stay afloat.

tell your parents you need a gap year to find yourself and you’ll probably keep insurance, phone bill too.

^^^
DONT GET A DOG
3 years ago
27 0
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Andi_G
Posts: 3101 - Karma: 15,259
I'd work a serving/ bus boy job through the summer with a few nights during the winter to save enough for a gap year in a ski town. Ideally do it with a few homies to split rent. After that learn to code through a comp sci degree if you want to go to college or do one of those bootcamps. Coding jobs will allow you to work remote and after a job for experience you can freelance.
3 years ago
6 1
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muffMan.
Posts: 2895 - Karma: 27,641
AndrewGravesSVI'd work a serving/ bus boy job through the summer with a few nights during the winter to save enough for a gap year in a ski town. Ideally do it with a few homies to split rent. After that learn to code through a comp sci degree if you want to go to college or do one of those bootcamps. Coding jobs will allow you to work remote and after a job for experience you can freelance.


Yeah this too, I’m a few lessons through the Odin project and a then I’ll take a few classes. Software engineers make bank and goal was to freelance 8 months then be off.

Wifey will get those benefits too
3 years ago
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muffMan.
Posts: 2895 - Karma: 27,641
Graham0596^^^
DONT GET A DOG


Yeah seriously. I love my dog to bits and would never get rid of her. But she definitely puts skiing on hold some days.


I’m happy with what I chose but for a pure ski bum it will take too much time if you’re going for 100+ days
3 years ago
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Yukon_Cornelius
Posts: 307 - Karma: 2,664
TOAST.Might as well ski while you rack up insane debt.


Experiences may vary, I guess!
3 years ago
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maddecipher
Posts: 73 - Karma: 359
move to a remote ski town only accessible via chairlift//gondola. problem solved
3 years ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7961 - Karma: 23,223
Tree planting, construction or landscaping in the summers are good options if you like being outside and active, and having a chill winter with lots of time to ski. Whatever you do, learn as much as you can about it and do good work.
@freestyler540 is an engineer on ships and he gets like half the year off.
3 years ago
12 0
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Shitswitch
Posts: 46 - Karma: 155
Figure out how to make money online and you’ll be set for life. Copywriting, coding, marketing etc whatever the fuck it is you can easily learn it online and do it part time via indeed.


May require some resume fibbing but if ur not retarded it’s easy
zangaTitle says it all, thinking about taking an instructor course to have that as an opportunity, just looking for ideas/input


**This post was edited on May 6th 2022 at 7:24:12pm
3 years ago
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switchlip2
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 25,179
Coleg55Fuck no don’t be an instructor.

Start serving pronto, mountain towns are hiring like crazy cause no one wants to be a restarting staff. Work crazy hours in the summer, you’ll get cardio from running around plus free food wherever you work most likely. Live cheap and don’t get a dog, makes renting 10x harder.

Save up and once ski season starts only work weekends and night shifts, you’ll be working less but just enough to stay afloat.

tell your parents you need a gap year to find yourself and you’ll probably keep insurance, phone bill too.

Considering this
3 years ago
1 0
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UBlome
Posts: 418 - Karma: -3,008
Become a grower like me
3 years ago
14 0
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 777 - Karma: 6,776
You gotta define what "prosperous" means to you first.

If your goal is to ski 24/7 and push it as far as it can go, work as much as you can in the summer and consider night jobs like bar-tending/serving/etc. Ski instructing or patrolling keeps you on the mountain constantly but you won't be freeskiing most of the time, and you might be tired/feet hurt in the boots by the time you want to.

If you want a more balanced life, look for careers that tolerate remote work (programming, engineering, marketing, you have to do your research here) or have a large presence in a city with good skiing (slc, seattle, denver, bozeman, santa fe, portland, etc). Don't destroy yourself with student debt though, nothing wrong doing what you have to to keep it cheap (living with parents, community college then transfer, whatever). Another option is full time jobs with considerable time off, like working on ships at sea. I seriously considered this but it is not for everyone, ship is full-time, away from friends and family, for weeks at a time. I was at sea in the Asia-pacific region for two months, trust me, it gets boring. Hope you like lifting weights.

The final thing you should do is TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. Eat well, don't drink too much, do the full rehab for injuries, exercise regularly throughout the year and you can still be skiing at a high level into your 30's.
3 years ago
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Michigan_Sucks
Posts: 525 - Karma: 7,459
Go to a college that allows you to ski a bunch and get a good career at the same time. Good career = a lot of PTO plus the money to spend on gear and trips. Anyone that says the above isn't possible just hasn't done it. Also, if you want to ski when you are 50, go into engineering and dedicate your career to problems that will solve climate issues.
3 years ago
4 1
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Graham0596
Posts: 164 - Karma: 1,263
Coleg55Yeah seriously. I love my dog to bits and would never get rid of her. But she definitely puts skiing on hold some days.


I’m happy with what I chose but for a pure ski bum it will take too much time if you’re going for 100+ days


Dude for real, love my dog. Wouldn’t take a thing back but it’s a definitely a limiting factor.
3 years ago
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Jacobthesadskier
Posts: 503 - Karma: 5,014
Either get a job, work like fuck through the year, save up a LOT, then go skiing as much as you like, or, have rich parents that pay for everything, then pretend you're a poor ski bum like most people on NS.
3 years ago
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LOOK_at_me
Posts: 272 - Karma: 2,315
buy 189’s
3 years ago
11 0
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12028 - Karma: 9,579
I don't do this. But Wildlands firefighter. Work all summer get unemployment in the winter.

Definitely think about the balance of life. And remember. Most girls don't dig stinky van guys. Just saying.
.

I've done the van thing I've done the employee housing thing. Done the live in Leadville and hitchhike to copper for work thing. And now I am a weekend worrier. But thankfully they are gonna open this closed ski area that has night skiing so I can go after work. But as someone who was a ski bum and bummed it really hard and got all sorts of fucked up I do enjoy a nicer place to live. A better car and better gear. And a girlfriend.(she don't ski but it's whatever)


Also. Don't smoke cigs. For real. Don't drive drunk (people will make you do it and then not give a shit if you get a duii). Learn this now. There are tons of fucking toxic people who will steal and use you. Watch for the leaches. And don't become a leach yourself.
3 years ago
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12028 - Karma: 9,579
And be honest with people. Like if you make some freinds and you stay a bunch. Offer to pay rent for a couch. Do the dishes. Clean the house. When I was 18 I moved to government camp and lived in employee housing above the brewpub. I had so many fucks staying over some were awesome. Some scraped my pipes and smoked my resin. Some stole my shit. Some brought me things. The MTN lifestyle can be so much fun and you can just shred. But also it's gross. Scummy and many other things. And don't let the employer fuck with you. They probably can't do it as bad as when I was starting as they don't have tons of people waiting to fill an empty spot.

I know it sounds silly. Make a list of things you want to do and have in the next year and then figure out how to balance it out.

Don't forget to drink water and wear sunscreen ...

And one day. Please leave. You don't want to be a 36 year old guy partying with 18 year olds.
3 years ago
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lucasbruh
Posts: 20 - Karma: 78
Don't be an instructor or any sort of on-hill job. Look for a restaurant job (preferably serving) where you'll make twice as much and only have to work in the afternoons. This allows you to ski literally every day if you want and you end up making more money. I did this for a year and got about 200 days of skiing, way better than being an instructor or lifty or any sort of on hill job.
3 years ago
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8095 - Karma: 64,484
Have rich parents that pay for u to go to the U of U and pay for ur apartment and skiing
3 years ago
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Abomber22
Posts: 3053 - Karma: 5,254
prosperous ski bum/ oxymoron
3 years ago
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Colingarnes
Posts: 610 - Karma: 2,646
You want to be the bartender of the locals bar, not an instructor. That is how you will both prosper and ruin your life at the same time. Enjoy!
3 years ago
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Static
Posts: 8588 - Karma: 4,099
Learn Spanish so you can run a crew of cleaning ladies. Tourists can bring their own skis, they can bring their food, they can skip lessons, they can drive themselvesn; But someone's gotta change the sheets.
3 years ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7961 - Karma: 23,223
Being a part time instructor isn't bad, because you get pro deals on gear and a free pass wherever you work. Doing it full time takes a lot of energy and sucks up too much skiing time.
3 years ago
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JustBen
Posts: 21 - Karma: 174
Being an instructor is great but it takes 2 seasons to get a level 2 certified. Before that the pay is shit and you get all the worst work.
3 years ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13231 - Karma: 20,388
skiP.E.I.Tree planting, construction or landscaping in the summers are good options if you like being outside and active, and having a chill winter with lots of time to ski. Whatever you do, learn as much as you can about it and do good work.
@freestyler540 is an engineer on ships and he gets like half the year off.

There are 2 paths to lifelong skiing; being a minimum wage “gig” worker at the hill, or take a career that is well paying and seasonal. Im going to focus on not being caught in the minimum wage trap in my post.
Sailing is a dope job, if you can stand being away from everthing and everyone for 4-5 months straight. The pay off is 5-6 months of vacation to ski, covered by unemployement! Its a 3-4 year college level trade. From there, starting salary was 60,000$ for 8 months work. I live 25mins away from the ski resort and my company pays for all my travelling around the country.

OP, get a post secondary education first and use your parents money to invest in your future. We all heard that school is dumb and its nothing but debt, but thats not true; they just did the minimum effort, then complain when they dont like the jobs offered. The secret is to find a career that has demand and you dont mind doing until something better shows up. Go to school to get the certificates and compentancy related to the field, then commit to the job while remembering that when the snow falls, you are out of here.

Skiing at this time of your life is a luxury. I still skied, taught skiing and rock climbing, but only on my time, like 2hrs a week. You should sacrifice the next 4-6 years for the highest education possible.

Its a far better life to make a bunch of money, then ski without worrying about losing your roof, or skipping supper due to being broke.
3 years ago
11 0
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teamdummy
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,607
A smart friend of mine is trying this path. Hes an accountant whose been able to work remotely and does pretty well. He lives in Frisco CO down the road from Breck. He says it’s super rad being there and riding tons. But the rent just keeps getting heavier every year. To the point where he’s questioning if 100 days in CO are worth it compared to somewhere cheaper/ maybe not as good of skiing? The ski-bum life is a tough go these days.
3 years ago
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Lots of anti instructing sentiment, which is fair because in general US resorts treat their instructors really poorly.

But, I have been an instructor for a scarily long time now and if you can find somewhere where you can work for yourself (Europe/Japan) it's epic. Also not many other jobs let you move around so much, I have instructed in the US, Chile, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Japan and NZ. Sure I have missed out on some pow days teaching beginners, but I have also got paid really well to go heliskiing, so there's ups and downs.
3 years ago
4 0
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5469 - Karma: 12,381
Yukon_CorneliusProsperous? Go to college somewhere that lets you ski while you're in school. Major in something that lets you work remote after you graduate. Live wherever you want to live and work from a laptop on or near the mountain.


This is the smart 'long term' decision. But don't underestimate the value in being a broke ass dirtbag for a few years in your early 20's. I was a lifty for 3 years before getting my engineering degree. I make good money now and can still ski like 50 days a year and skip work on powder mornings but I wouldn't trade anything for those 3 years I spent working and living at alta. Remember, any degree that's worth getting will require a level of commitment that would disqualify you as a real ski bum. Go tree plant or firefight or landscape for a few years and ski your face off during the winter. You have the rest of your life to think about a career.
3 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52611 - Karma: 174,447
Marry somebody rich
3 years ago
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1773 - Karma: 2,969
don't be an instructor. nothing sucks the joy out of skiing quite like PSIA, crying 4 year olds, fat tourists, and wearing your knees out doing wedge turns on a powder day.
3 years ago
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snomaster
Posts: 3348 - Karma: 5,783
There are many paths ... I think Scott Gaffney is someone to look up to as a model at the highest level...
For me, ski bumming starts as a lifestyle, and then continues as a mindset. I agree to get your secondary education wrapped up first. Choose a major you can tease along but don't have to fully commit to until you're closer to 30. Finance management would be an example. Mine was environmental studies and policy. I'm probably pretty lucky but besides a state education, I started with jack. I went from -$5k in leftover med bills when I was done ski bumming full time to owning 2 decent houses in 7 years (in Breck and Lakewood CO).
Ski during school but get your shit done. Then go full on into bumming not just on lifts, but learning backcountry. Start humble and grow. Having the freedom to ski anything you want because you have the knowledge, experience and skills is the jam for the rest of your life.
So many jobs can get you there as a ski bum. I was server, hotel night auditor, bellman, tram operator, liftie, mover, media logger, painter... And I had volunteer shit that kept my resume relevant until I moved to Denver and dove into aggressively building wealth. Helpful hint: Choose the raddest partner to crush with during your next chapter before you leave the ski town.
3 years ago
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 777 - Karma: 6,776
snomasterThere are many paths ... I think Scott Gaffney is someone to look up to as a model at the highest level...
For me, ski bumming starts as a lifestyle, and then continues as a mindset. I agree to get your secondary education wrapped up first. Choose a major you can tease along but don't have to fully commit to until you're closer to 30. Finance management would be an example. Mine was environmental studies and policy. I'm probably pretty lucky but besides a state education, I started with jack. I went from -$5k in leftover med bills when I was done ski bumming full time to owning 2 decent houses in 7 years (in Breck and Lakewood CO).
Ski during school but get your shit done. Then go full on into bumming not just on lifts, but learning backcountry. Start humble and grow. Having the freedom to ski anything you want because you have the knowledge, experience and skills is the jam for the rest of your life.
So many jobs can get you there as a ski bum. I was server, hotel night auditor, bellman, tram operator, liftie, mover, media logger, painter... And I had volunteer shit that kept my resume relevant until I moved to Denver and dove into aggressively building wealth. Helpful hint: Choose the raddest partner to crush with during your next chapter before you leave the ski town.


I agree with this, but I feel the need to point out how significantly the housing market has changed in the last 5-10 years. Remote work is here to stay, and ski town housing costs reflect that accurately (among other driving factors). We can debate fruitlessly on thin evidence what the housing market will do in another 10 years, but I'm just here to say that what worked 5-10 years ago could have totally different results now.

People (like me) with white collar STEM jobs can afford ski town rents/mortgage payments on surprisingly thin margins, I honestly have zero idea how the ski bums can afford it nowadays
3 years ago
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maddecipher
Posts: 73 - Karma: 359
17 is pretty young. i'm 30



i think i could offer a couple warnings about the ski bum path.

i got a couple significant concussions at 20. which slowed my progress in finishing my college degree ( eventually finished my 4 year in 2019: ba humanities)

if you're talking about being a strict ski bum, be prepared for a very competitive environment: ski bumming is all about the experience of being in the mountains and having the freedom to ski as much as you'd like.

i did an 80 season back in 2012, and i realize now, that my pre-planning was missing a more longterm perspective.

so, you should ask yourself:

how can i ski 50 days minimum for the next 10 consecutive winters? by that time, you will be 27, and facing a new set of life choices. also, the glamour of professional skiing will be tempered by years of dealing with prepubescent ranting on newschoolers. and you may be so jaded by the world at large, that skiing no longer provides you with that same freedom you once would sacrifice everything in order to be a part of.

otherwise, invest in some camp time and work on that dub 10 and tha' switch 14 to be prepared for the next olympics
3 years ago
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jstern
Posts: 33 - Karma: 268
Something I haven't seen yet here is getting IT certificates. It's waaay easier than comp sci/software engineering and where I'm at in California you can get a cushy job for the county doing sysadmin stuff counts as being a CA state employee (meaning wicked pension, paid vacation etc.) and in Mammoth you'll be able to afford to live, not just survive.

I started waiting tables cause that gives you the most ski time by far, but if you want something stable and cushy, IT or realty (I've heard dope things about real estate photography) is probably the ticket. Also fuck everyone who works remote and lives in town and eats up the housing supply with 6+ figure salaries. If you wanna work it tech in a mountain town at least do it IN TOWN.
3 years ago
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5095 - Karma: 18,658
I did not read through all these responses but I'd say learn to code if you are at all adept. Learn a few languages and get certified. If you're good you can dictate the terms of your employment to work wherever whenever as long as you produce and you can earn a strong salary right out of the gate.
3 years ago
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mcswizzle
Posts: 842 - Karma: 2,298
Learn a trade. Lots of veteran ski bums make a living as electricians and carpenters.
3 years ago
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Another option is get a trade. 4 years, only have to school for 2 months a year. work super hard in the summer and then take dec-april off every year. At your age you may think that the next 4 years are going to be the end all of skiing, but they aren't. Once you are a J-man you can make great money in the summers and ski all winter. I suggest industrial because it usually pays the highest. Plus you have something to fall back on and you never know what you can achieve with your skill.....
3 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52611 - Karma: 174,447
mcswizzleLearn a trade. Lots of veteran ski bums make a living as electricians and carpenters.


Also easy to find sodework or a real job. Even if you work a different job, having skills you can fall back on is great. And there are options everywhere.

Also for people wanting to ski bum, be careful if you go to college. Nothing makes ski bumming less possible than massive student loan debt. It csn be one of the most crippling things. Not saying don't go to college, but if you do, do it for a good reason, learn something. Also going to a cheaper school can be a great option.

It's hard enough to afford to live in many ski towns. If you're paying off student loan debt forever It's going to be nearly impossible unless you have a high paying job.
3 years ago
3 0
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Manskimac
Posts: 108 - Karma: 232
Just started the process of bumming it got forklift certified asap worked insane hours in the summer.I live with my parents in the summer to save money, then I ski from November to may 100+ days.
3 years ago
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,428
Coleg55Fuck no don’t be an instructor.

Start serving pronto, mountain towns are hiring like crazy cause no one wants to be a restarting staff. Work crazy hours in the summer, you’ll get cardio from running around plus free food wherever you work most likely. Live cheap and don’t get a dog, makes renting 10x harder.

Save up and once ski season starts only work weekends and night shifts, you’ll be working less but just enough to stay afloat.

tell your parents you need a gap year to find yourself and you’ll probably keep insurance, phone bill too.


The dog part is actually such good advice. My GF and I have 3 cats and it makes trying to find a rental a nightmare. We love our pets and I’m not saying don’t ever get one, but it absolutely does make renting a fever dream sometimes. That, or pay to get that bitch support certified and you can say fuck you to anyone and bring that homie everywhere.
3 years ago
2 1
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edai
Posts: 4995 - Karma: 4,705
few friends and i have have found remote work to be pretty fucking tight. you can basically live a degenerate lifestyle sleeping on couches and skiing while also having money. then when you're sick of a couch you can pay rent wherever.
3 years ago
2 0
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cndr
Posts: 163 - Karma: 880
I wanna like this but it currently has 69 likes so...
Yukon_CorneliusProsperous? Go to college somewhere that lets you ski while you're in school. Major in something that lets you work remote after you graduate. Live wherever you want to live and work from a laptop on or near the mountain.
3 years ago
1 0
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Schoess
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 25,537
Yukon_CorneliusProsperous? Go to college somewhere that lets you ski while you're in school. Major in something that lets you work remote after you graduate. Live wherever you want to live and work from a laptop on or near the mountain.

THIS>>>>

I am currently doing this and absolutely loving life at 27 going on 28. Skiing now more than ever, having more fun than ever and contrary to what @skierman fantasizes about at night, it's allowed me to be in great shape and hit a lot of jumps

**This post was edited on May 11th 2022 at 11:26:12am
3 years ago
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RobKatz
Posts: 28 - Karma: 1,046
Here at Vail Resorts, we strive for excellence in our premium products. This includes our legendary Epic Pass which will allow unlimited skiing to more than 40 different properties across the United States, Canada, and Australia. We now offer near year round skiing with our offerings which will be perfect for the aspiring skier like yourself. Flights, lodging, and food not included.
3 years ago
3 2
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UBlome
Posts: 418 - Karma: -3,008
RobKatzHere at Vail Resorts, we strive for excellence in our premium products. This includes our legendary Epic Pass which will allow unlimited skiing to more than 40 different properties across the United States, Canada, and Australia. We now offer near year round skiing with our offerings which will be perfect for the aspiring skier like yourself. Flights, lodging, and food not included.


Ill smack the fuck outa you
3 years ago
3 0
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