Skiing as a job: yes or no?

[perma-grin]

jesse.says.that lol!!!!!! True all true! I'm fortunate that I have been very blessed in that the finacial thing has seldom been an issue, and that I loved what I learned during my certification process!

 

[SnowHot]

It's funny...I think it really does depend on the individual. For some people, certification processes and being up at the hill every day really wear on them. I never had this experience. For me, though I loved teaching full time, what was difficult were the financial aspects and the consequences of doing hard labor (at my mountain, we helped ski patrol with fences, shoveling, etc., on top of the obligatory skate-skiing up hill, picking up and carrying 3 and 4 year olds, etc.)

I started teaching on weekends last season, but after about a month of it, quit my 9-5 job to instruct full time. I've coached and taught swimming for a long time, and teaching is something I love, so it was a natural choice. It was more fun than I've ever had in my life. I figured, I'm young, no kids, no mortgage, no debt... there will always be office jobs there (this was of course before the job market was truly as terrible as it is now).

So, I took the big plunge and started living up on the mountain full time. There was not a day that I regretted my decision (during the season at least...now it's summer and I'm looking for a more professional job again)... days were filled with laughter, singing, comradiere, and face shots, and I worked on a smaller regional mountain (albeit with some sick terrain), so we'd often have the place to ourselves on a midweek powder day.

But, I think if you're going to instruct, be a liftie, etc. you should go into it with eyes wide open... realize that you'll be broke, that you will get tired, that it will be a very different lifestyle... before the season, I had never chopped wood, helped haul a car out of a snowbank, or shopped at a discount grocery store. I'd never lived with or been around people who primarily didn't have college educations, or people who considered not having health insurance to be normal. So, culturally, too, it was a little bit of a shock.

Buuut...that being said, I got to ski a ton. And I spent my time with amazing people who became like a second family to me. And skiing never got old. Of course, after being up at the resort 25 days in a row, you say to yourself, okay, today I'm going to use my day off to do something other than ski, because if I don't go into town and do laundry and hydrate today, I'm really gonna regret it... so then you go and sit in the laundromat and read and drink lots of hot tea and watch the snow fall and convince some boy to give you massages so that your back will feel less compressed and you maybe will get to huck something tomorrow, and wish that you could be up there, but you remind yourself that your knees and ankles and shins will thank you. And some days your body is so tired that you need to go to sleep at 7 pm. Literally.

For me, I would never take that experience back. It's one of the best things I've done with my life, ever. And, it's a lot of fun. But it's financially difficult, and you have to give things up. You've got to realize that organic produce is not the norm, and that you just might have to eat instant oatmeal a lot of days in a row... and that you will be tired, and broke. And that you may or may not get sick of skiing (because, as people noted above, some people do get sick of it.)

This post should not be buried at the bottom of page one.....
Nice post!

 

[skieuse]

jessie.says.that, your post is very timely for me: I'm beginning to think of committing to a season in the french alps and have been considering all these things you mention!

I'm in my mid-30s, married with no kids and thinking of doing an instructors course. Not because I necessarily want to teach (at least not full-time), rather it would be my 'excuse' to do said season. I can do my part-time freelance work anywhere and would love to improve my french.

The hurdle that would stop me from realising this dream is that of lifestyle. I'm not a kid anymore (*sigh*) and can't live the partying lifestyle that is associated with being a seasonnaire. And I'm definitely waaay passed slumming it wrt accommodations or sharing rooms. What are the odds of finding like-minded people so far from home? What if I'm miserable?

I worry about not meeting people and being lonely. The current plan is to have DH come up every few weekends/a week here or there. And I'm sure I'd have no shortage of visitors from home if I so wanted. But still...

I envy those of you who live near to snowfields and can integrate skiing and the snow lifestyles into your everyday life!

 

[Jilly]

I have my CSIA II instructors and am a work in progress on the 3. I've always taught part time. The first was with a travelling ski club. After I moved back to central Ontario I started working at the local bump. I love teaching ladies night. Most of the ski hills around Ottawa were doing an evening of dinner, lessons and skiing for a cheap price. I suggested that the local bump think about it. Well next to Saturday morning, its the next largest group. The weekends required a committment that I wasn't prepared to give them. So I'd fill in if someone was sick, away etc.

Then I took my first Level 3 course. At that time DH and I were thinking about a seasonal rental at Tremblant. In my sessions was one of the supervisors from the Tremblant snow school. "If you find a rental, call me, we always need more instructors". Well that was the year of the strike, so I didn't call. But the next year they were looking for "presidents week". I did teach. Loved working with the other instructors, but like all work places, upper management and the fact that there was a union were the usual problems. This past Feb I had 4 different people, including our landlord ask if I was available. Well that didn't happen with my father in the hospital, but this coming year, I'm going to work again I think, if asked.

I've met so many neat people teaching both with the travelling club (ah DH!), at the local bump and also through Tremblant. But as has been mentioned there are many draw backs. Part time is great as I have a job that pays for my lifestyle. Teaching would not be able to do that I think. A good teacher will teach alot and some schools have a reward program for referrals etc. But you are at the whims of weather, economy, competition from other instructors and the bosses. (Sounds almost like any other job)

For those who are thinking about it, take your courses, certifications and try part time for year. If you think you can make it work go full time. I'm looking at retirement for full time!!

 

[perma-grin]

skieuse, are you an American seeking to be certified in France? That's can be a tough very expensive go round! It's bad enough here but the European courses are very costly. I would look into it carefully for cost versus value if this is a lark job. I did my level 3 PSIA with a Instructor that had extensive certification in Austria,(alot of our Instructors in SV were dual Austrian and PSIA) she said PSIA certification were far less costly than the certification she had taken in Austria.

 

[Jilly]

And to add to what perm-agrin is saying, quite often you have to certified in more than one discipline, XC, snowboard etc. I've heard of this at our international seminars at the CSIA conventions.

As for partying - I won't say its a thing of the past, but many of the instructors at Tremblant don't! There are few that go for beer after teaching, but most just go home. It's work and there are things to be done at home.

 

[pinto]

skieuse, are you an American seeking to be certified in France?....

Doesn't appear to be American, as she uses "realising," "seasonnaire," and "snowfields" and is fairly close to home. English? I've had great UK ski guides in the Alps ...

And I say go for it, skieuse. It's only one season, right?

 

[Jenn]

Hi J,

I know what you mean about ski pests. I used to patrol when I lived near a hill too. My most successful method of dealing with these guys is to begin by telling them I'd been watching them ski and complemented them on their style. Then I'd get into how others look up to and try to model themselves after skiers like them. Kind of sick I know, BUT, they appreciated the complements and they appeared to listen and react to my request.

 

[perma-grin]

Hey Jilly we still party! Sometimes we kill a whole pitcher! Between 6 of us!!!! But most of the time it's soda! LOL!

 

[Ski-dreamer_Diva]

MMMMmmmmm many wise points to ponder.

I am super-keen to work in the industry. After raising my family and being the main provider for all those years I have little financial backing. I understand the poverty possibility working on the hill but the desire in me is so strong to make it happen.

I came very,very close this current season in Aust. and actually was successful in securing a position but had to let it go as my role of 'Mum' just had to take 1st place... until the end of this year, when my youngest son will be able to drive and get himself to work...

AAhhh ski dreams...

 

[skieuse]

Doesn't appear to be American, as she uses "realising," "seasonnaire," and "snowfields" and is fairly close to home. English? I've had great UK ski guides in the Alps ...

And I say go for it, skieuse. It's only one season, right?

LOL, I didn't notice that these were non-international terms (s vs. z excepted)! I do indeed live in London.

perma-grin, I hope you don't think I consider it a 'lark' — I have the utmost respect for instructors and would consider it more seriously if I lived within commuting distance! (unless this is another language difference...)

A quiet pint/glass of wine (or two or three) at the end of the day is right up my alley, but not what I understand to be the 'culture' of the seasonnaires/instructors-in-training.

You see, the problem with the larger resorts in Europe (France especially) is that they are invaded by the english (and english-speakers). There's not the same local vibe, and all-year-round residents as in NA. The locals are either farmers, or cater to the tourist trade. (And before you need to ask, these larger resorts are home to the instructor courses!) The seasonnaires are people who have had to up and leave their own lives to work the fields. As opposed to (what I imagine it's like in) NA where people can hop into their cars, work on the slopes and then come home to their families at the end of the day. Hence their appeal to youngsters.

 

[snowball16]

Choosing to become a ski instructor was the best thing I ever did! I met so many new people who love skiing just as much as I do. I get to ski so much more than if I wasn't an instructor. Teaching is fun but I still get plenty of time to go free skiing. Having a free season pass doesn't hurt either. I don't have to feel bad about only taking a few runs. It takes up most of my time in the winter but who wouldnt want their time to be taken up by skiing : )

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Guess I'll go with the aforementioned, "it depends." Around here, the snowsports school at our resort of choice requires a minimum 45 day seasonal commitment from part-timers. Do the math. Couple that with a full-time Mon-Fri 50+ hr/wk regular job, and.....it can quickly become a burn-out. Especially with a weekly 7:30 a.m. safety meeting and rarely (unless an all-day private) more than 4 hours of pay (2 2-hour groups per day).

Said commitment would include an employee pass (not family pass), but no snowsports employees were allowed "free" ski days. If you show up at the resort, you must report for duty and be available (at least that was the policy then, not sure about now). If caught "out there" skiing on your employee pass and not signed in for duty? Terminated, on the spot.

It was just too much for DH, who lasted 2 seasons (and had 26 under his belt prior). Both years, he took a week's vacation (of all of 2) to teach during Presidents' Week. He loved teaching but just couldn't meet their minimum commitment - and most days never got as much as one free run. :(

 

[SkiBam]

It was just too much for DH, who lasted 2 seasons (and had 26 under his belt prior). Both years, he took a week's vacation (of all of 2) to teach during Presidents' Week. He loved teaching but just couldn't meet their minimum commitment - and most days never got as much as one free run. :(

And with these kinds of policies, I'm sure the resort has lost a lot of good instructors (such as your DH). Very short sighted of them, I'd say.

 

[pollittcl]

It depends - I love the teaching, and the 'family' at ski school, but I could do without the egos, competitiveness, and stress of certification! And that's not taking into account the lack of money (peanut butter sandwiches, anyone) and the politics surrounding ranking, senority, and who gets which lesson first! Oh, and being wet, cold and tired.
But there's just something about it that has grabbed me and I wouldn't change it for the world!

Skieuse - I think you'd fit right in with the group I socialise with at work. We like to go for a glass of wine after work, on the condition that we leave for home by about 5:30, thus ensuring that we can be in bed by about 7:30 if necessary! Or have fallen asleep on the couch by 7pm . There's whole discussions on various forums about the NA certifications vs European and how to go about getting certified from the UK. The other way to go could be by teaching on a dry slope or in one of the 'fridges', I suppose?

 

[skimomma24]

I have only been teaching one season. And only on a part-time basis. But I recently revisited this conversation with my husband, about whether or not I would continue once I am "back in the work force" full-time. I truly loved teaching this past season. And for me, that's big! I am not a patient person, never considered myself a 'teacher'. But put me on skis, with a group that does not know how to ski, and I am all over it! And I think - right now - that I would still continue teaching w/e's even when I go back to working F/T. That could change depending on the job/hours, but I hope not!!

So for me, skiing as a job, did not change how much I love to ski.

 

[Elangirl]

I have been teaching full time for the past 10 years. I love the family of ski school and the benefits to my own skiing----hate all the back biting and the competition.

I love teaching and also the clinics we have where I have learned to be a good teacher and skier. But . . . I hate all of the ego stuff and the stupidvisors at work who can be both sexist and unreasonable.

Most of the time, I am tired and cold at the end of the day--I often have a beer with friends, but then go right home for rest!!! Lots of the younger ski instructors party all night--come in still smelling like a bar and they seem to be having a great time of it.

So many folks just work for one season--taking a year off from their jobs and career path. In some ways, that is one reason the pay is so low---lots of people want to be ski instructors. for those of us who do it as a job--i think that skiing and the love of skiing is still very much a part of our lives. We talk skiing and teaching with great intensity!! For me, I still love my job and do get to ski quite a lot of the time. Last year, for the first time, though, I started seeing friends taking a day to ski only powder . . . and then lots of girl friends laughing and having fun in a big group---and I started wanting more time off.

So, this year, I am going to work three days per week and will take more time to have fun. I will still clinic with ski school and still work harder on my skiing--I have been thinking of training for my Level III---and that is at age 65!!! I think ski instructing is the best job ever---but, the pay is terrible--we are only paid when we teach if no lesson, no pay. Most of the younger instructors are trust fund kids, have wives who work full time on a career path or they work full time and more at more than one job.

It is hard work, but very rewarding!!!

 

[snoWYmonkey]

Feel very fortunate

I dreamt of teaching and have been doing so full time now for 7 of the past 8 seasons and it has not even begun to take the fun out of skiing.
Sure are there powder days when I cringe to teach an intermediate with a bad attitude, of course, but all things told as a job, it is a fantastic job. When I factor in the massive savings of not having to buy two season passes, my earnings for four months are actually pretty decent.
I somtimes wonder if it would be fun to take a winter "off" and work the restaurant jobs, but it is hard to say goodbye to the amazing camaraderie of over 400 colleagues that are there on both the good the bad and the horrible days!

 

[SkiBee]

I think the novelty would be exciting. It would fade quickly when the realities set in though. Kudos to those who make it all happen.