Park Crew?
- Thread starter veng_m
- Start date
Both vary from mountain to mountain, but wages are usually minimum wage or a dollar or so above, minimum age is usually 18 or 21 (this is for liability reasons usually). That being said, you don't get into working in the park crew for the money (or any part of the ski industry for that matter), you get into it because you love the job and you love skiing. Being on the park crew is REALLY hard work, and usually really shitty hours, you have to really like the job, like working hard, and like the people you work with if you're going to make it through the season, no amount of money will help if you don't love it.
brett_fisher
Active member
i have a little hill in idaho with one jump and A FEW rails i help the 2 guys who do park i don't get pay i just do it for the benefit of new fetters
TACO-DOG.exe
Active member
13142428:brett_fisher said:
gotta love that benefit of new fetters. feels so good man.
perryhunter
Member
topic:veng_m said:
Oh well, you're lucky enough if you'll find a park that's really hiring for a park crew 'coz as I knew about it, they don't usually directly hire you should be a volunteer first.
13142801:ChubbyBoy said:
13142802:ChubbyBoy said:
13142804:ChubbyBoy said:
13142805:ChubbyBoy said:
Everything was already answered though. Most places especially larger mountains it's 18 minimum age across the board. Some places you can get in as young as 14.
The pay is nothing epic ever really, and definitely not that much at the start. Usually minimum to a dollar over.
As Bwalmer mentioned you don't wanna do it for the money. When you're freezing your ass off shoveling on a build late night that 8 an hour prolly isn't going to get you stoked if you don't like the job itself.
If you're into it AND A HARD WORKER, it's a great gig though. It's nice to be involved in the park, making things proper, getting things set up how you want, watching people have fun on things you built.
Idk, I get more stoked watching people have fun on something I built than riding sometimes.
If it ends up being something you like it can be an awesome job. Having a good work ethic and a passion for terrain parks is pretty much essential but everything else is on the job training.
Also if your park sucks, you can get in there and make it better so yourself and everyone who rides there has something better to shred. In those cases it doesn't take that much, a lot of work yeah, but totally doable and worth it.
I love my job and would do it for free so for me it's worth it. Only way to find out is to give it a shot.
13142839:veng_m said:
13142840:veng_m said:
Hang out in the park, meet the crew, talk to the manager. If they know who you are it gives you a a much better shot of getting the job generally. Talk to the owners of the mountain, express your interest. Find out if your mountain has a job fair. If they do it's probably coming up soon. Most places do that type of thing mid october. If it's a big mountain check the employment section of the website.
If you talk to the park manager or the owners and they say the crew is full or they don't want to hire you see if you can volunteer for a pass.
Getting your foot in the door is the most important thing. Any experience is helpful but getting that first break can be tough. If you get a shot make sure to work your ass off and do a good job. Even if you don't stay at the same mtn for that long, experience and a good reference can go a long way toward getting other jobs.
Everyone wants to be park crew, but a lot of people suck at it when given the chance. Park crew sounds great but people don't want to do work when the time comes. This is why it's tough to get that first shot. It's a crap shoot for the manager.
IF you're a hard worker stress that when talking to them. If you have any relevant experience such as construction, welding, marketing etc make sure to let them know that. Just do what ever it takes to get your foot in the door. Sometimes the only way in might be through another job. Maybe work as a ski instructor but express an interest in working in the park. See if you can help with builds when they need an extra hand. Hang out in the park and get to know the crew, offer to help if they're moving some rails around or whatever.
If you're at a small hill that doesn't really have a crew offer to maintain the park for them, see if you can make it a job, if not offer to do it for a pass.
If you're in an area where you have multiple mtns, hit up all of them. Sometimes it's a real tough job to get. Mtns can go a few seasons without hiring any new park crew if they have a good crew and people come back. At the same time people can get injured or fired, and sometimes a whole crew will get the boot or leave end of season. It's pretty hit or miss honestly.
If you're under 18, unable to drive to different mtns and still trying to get on the park crew definitely push the volunteer aspect if park crew is 18+. If that doesn't pan out you can work as an instructor at 14 many places(sometimes 16) but that's a good way to get your foot in the door. When you get old enough or if an opportunity arises, you're already employed there at the hill.
Sorry for the length. I tend to ramble and I just want to cover everything as well as I could. If you really want to work park crew stay at it and you'll get your shot. Good luck!
270on420out
Active member
13142840:veng_m said:
I'm guessing your looking to become park crew at 7springs. I believe you have to be 18 but my friend got on when he was 16 or 17, but that was back in '09. Anyway, if you go to the employment office at springs, you can fill out an application form.
^ If so 7 springs is hiring this year.
https://apps.7springs.com/page/hrJobs.description/ID/130/Terrain-Park-Staff.html
https://apps.7springs.com/page/hrJobs.description/ID/130/Terrain-Park-Staff.html
TOAST.
Active member
13142840:veng_m said:
Abortionator already covered this pretty well, but I'll add a few things. Like he said the best, and probably easiest way in, is through knowing the crew/manager. Get to know them just by talking to them or riding with them. Don't be annoying though, there is such a thing as stupid questions.
Work another position at the mountain and work you ass off at that position as well, if you are under 18 chances are you can't work park crew anyways. Then when you try switching to Park Crew the manager will give you a good recommendation. My boss will hire people that worked in other departments before he hires somebody that has never worked at the mountain, unless he knows them.
13143112:YoungDaph said:
What are you? A litfy, park crew, maintenance? I love you babe but you need to make up your mind if this is gonna work out.
PS If you're still park crewin around someday I hope I can work with you.
Filet-O-Fish
Member
Im 16, do most of the park shit, other then the groomer dude.
No pay
No pay
brotherdad
Active member
At my mountain, the minimum age is the standard 16, and we make $10/hour because of new rich French investors.
c'est la vie!
c'est la vie!
Daph
Active member
13146943:theabortionator said:
I quit liftying to do park crew for most of last winter and now i'm full time year round maintenance. It pays better and is a more lucritave career choice. Plus mechanical stuff is more rewarding to me than shoveling. I loved park crew though, I'll miss it
T.L.
Active member
13173345:Mr.Mitten said:
High school was always tricky. In my state minors weren't allowed to work past 11pm so most of the time unless there was stuff to do immediately after we closed at 10 I would only ask the older guys to stay. That's also one of the big reasons I transitioned to a mostly college age crew.
As far as class and stuff the next day... it's fucking brutal if it's a late build. I remember once I turned 18 I would stay and help with builds and pretty much go right to school in the AM. Followed by sleeping all of homeroom and 4th period study hall.