What should I know about being a lift operator?

I would say you should probably know how to operate a lift.

Nah, but for real, it's a pretty easy and boring job. You'll be fine, just pay attention to what your coworkers or whoever is training you tell you to do.
 
I always thought it was a really fun job, lots of cool people and really funny crashes.

Best advice is to dress warm and bring layers with you. It gets cold just standing there and you can't rake the ramp all the time.
 
Make friends with the people you work with because if you don't it can be really boring. And be friendly with the skiers that are using the lift.
 
practice saying "STAY DOWN!!!" countless times. When the gapers fall trying to get off the lift and then immediately hit their heads on the lift chair, it isn't fun to get yelled at. also your button pushing reflex for when you have to stop the chair at the bottom because that one little kid keeps falling from the chair 5ft up.
 
i have friends that have been lifties, they have got into situations where someone didnt get on correctly and would end up hanging from the lift. they called these guys "hangers" so, the biggest piece of advice is to glance uphill every load and make sure you dont have a hanger...

have fun good luck
 
I was a lifty in CO for a year.

1.) If someone starts to fall off the lift while you are putting them on it and they start to make their way out of the terminal, run back and hit the STOP button as soon as possible. DO NOT try and keep putting them back on the chair while the chair is on its way out of the loading area. I had a natural inclination to keep trying to get them on the chair instead of stopping the lift. Hilarity ensued.

2.) Don't go to work on acid. It's intense.
 
They'll show you everything you need to know. Common sense is a must but other than that it's not that hard. It's not that exciting but it's still nice to be at the hill getting paid. If your coworkers don't suck you can have a good time.

And NEVER underestimate the stupidity of people riding the lift. People will blow your mind so be careful.
 
if you get bored,put some shiny change on the ground right where you get off the lift. Some dumbass will come along and try to stop and pick up the money and will get rhino raped by the chair coming around.
 
COFFEE, also accept all drugs/alcohol if you can still operate safely. I once took a few to many shots and let ski patrol ride up forgetting to flip the chair back down. I owed him a few drinks at the bar later that night.
 
I was a liftie in Park City for a year. It was a fun job- most of my fellow lifties were really cool, got to ski every day, we pranked each other a lot (marking 15 or so chairs in a row was always entertaining). The only days it really sucked were days like today. It's currently minus 15 degrees in town, good luck to anyone working today.
 
There's a class you should take: Stuffing Butt 101

It will provide you with all the info you need.
 
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