b0ss
Member
For the last 9 years I have had the goal of working at a different resort every winter. And I’ve managed to spend at least 5 months in 7 different resorts, skiing 120-250 days a year. I stayed a second winter at 3 different resorts but I feel I am finally at a point where I can go 10 consecutive years skiing year round in a different resort every winter.
so far I have been to:
15/16-16/17 Summit at Snoqualmie
17/18-18/19 Steamboat (Colorado Mountain College)
summer 2019 Mt.Hutt
19/20-20/21 Vail CO
summer 20,21,22 and 21/22 winter Mt hood
22/23 Kirkwood CA
23/24 Squaw
So far its been a blast, 13 seasons in 9 years. I am making this thread because its fun to share info, but also because of an experience I had at the PSIAA western division spring convention. But before all that I wanna rank each of these places in overall difficulty of life 1 being easiest.
1. Kirkwood
2. Steamboat
3. Vail
4. Summit at Snoqualmie
5. Mt. Hutt
6. Mt. Hood
Ok, this all started with Glen Plake in a video on the PSIAA website saying I can work and ski anywhere I want as a ski instructor. Since then I have worked my ass off to make a career out of being a ski instructor for the sole purpose of exploration. Everything I do is to make me a better skier, down to every uncontrolled bad thing that happens to me. Car crashes, being bullied, breaking my back, pushing carts at the home depot, night shifts at fedex, are all either experiences that pay interest or remind me the importance of realized commitment.
There are some hidden benefits to being “the new guy” for 9 years straight. Being in a new environment so often forces me to be humble. To everyone else it just looks like I am learning fast even though its just that I already know a lot. This pushes people to assume I have greater potential than I like to think I have.
All that to say; the ski instruction/coaching side of the industry is full of wonderful and diverse peoples who are either 55, retired early and just moved from the city. Or young adults 16-35 who are there to get by and have fun while they figure out what to do with their lives. This leaves a lot of room for those who convict themselves to life as a coach or instructor from a young age to move up in the industry.
there are a few constants in the industry, a few places I can reconnect with friends personally or professionally…actually just 2; Mt.Hood spring pass and PSIAA spring convention. And I try to make the most of these.
Anyone reading this who is 16-24 and is thinking about doing a season as a ski instructor. Know that ski schools are wildly different from place to place. You may not like the ski school you just worked for but there are over 480 ski schools in america alone. Your decision to do another season instead of quitting should be based on your enjoyment of skiing for yourself, the quality of the people you befriend and not the people you meet. You will meet 100s of people who don’t stick but thats what they are. Non stick. Don't get hung up.
lastly. If you are a young instructor, go to your local convention. the younger you are, the better you represent the future of skiing.
so far I have been to:
15/16-16/17 Summit at Snoqualmie
17/18-18/19 Steamboat (Colorado Mountain College)
summer 2019 Mt.Hutt
19/20-20/21 Vail CO
summer 20,21,22 and 21/22 winter Mt hood
22/23 Kirkwood CA
23/24 Squaw
So far its been a blast, 13 seasons in 9 years. I am making this thread because its fun to share info, but also because of an experience I had at the PSIAA western division spring convention. But before all that I wanna rank each of these places in overall difficulty of life 1 being easiest.
1. Kirkwood
2. Steamboat
3. Vail
4. Summit at Snoqualmie
5. Mt. Hutt
6. Mt. Hood
Ok, this all started with Glen Plake in a video on the PSIAA website saying I can work and ski anywhere I want as a ski instructor. Since then I have worked my ass off to make a career out of being a ski instructor for the sole purpose of exploration. Everything I do is to make me a better skier, down to every uncontrolled bad thing that happens to me. Car crashes, being bullied, breaking my back, pushing carts at the home depot, night shifts at fedex, are all either experiences that pay interest or remind me the importance of realized commitment.
There are some hidden benefits to being “the new guy” for 9 years straight. Being in a new environment so often forces me to be humble. To everyone else it just looks like I am learning fast even though its just that I already know a lot. This pushes people to assume I have greater potential than I like to think I have.
All that to say; the ski instruction/coaching side of the industry is full of wonderful and diverse peoples who are either 55, retired early and just moved from the city. Or young adults 16-35 who are there to get by and have fun while they figure out what to do with their lives. This leaves a lot of room for those who convict themselves to life as a coach or instructor from a young age to move up in the industry.
there are a few constants in the industry, a few places I can reconnect with friends personally or professionally…actually just 2; Mt.Hood spring pass and PSIAA spring convention. And I try to make the most of these.
Anyone reading this who is 16-24 and is thinking about doing a season as a ski instructor. Know that ski schools are wildly different from place to place. You may not like the ski school you just worked for but there are over 480 ski schools in america alone. Your decision to do another season instead of quitting should be based on your enjoyment of skiing for yourself, the quality of the people you befriend and not the people you meet. You will meet 100s of people who don’t stick but thats what they are. Non stick. Don't get hung up.
lastly. If you are a young instructor, go to your local convention. the younger you are, the better you represent the future of skiing.
