Resort Job Lowdown
Add to Del.icio.usResort Job Lowdown
by Justin MoolWe’re stoked to say that it is officially “that time of year” again—when we can dust off our ski and snowboard gear and get prepared for another epic season. It’s also the time of year to decide on a season pass. Early bird specials are everywhere, but before you do the “if I ride at least XX days this season, it’ll be worth it” calculations, consider your options. Your home mountain might have volunteer opportunities where you can earn a season pass. Then again, you could just quit your day job and become a lifty.
Here is our resort employment guide. For the working crowd, you’ll find a list of job fairs at resorts around the country. If you don’t want to work all winter, but you’re too poor for a pass, we sprinkled in some creative ways to score a pass. Pray for snow!
Table of Contents
CaliforniaOregon
Washington
Montana / Wyoming
Utah
Colorado
Midwest
Vermont / Maine
California
Winter Job Fair:
Contact: (800) 472-3160 or (760) 934-0654
Get Creative: Volunteer as a Naturalist Guide
When: Ongoing throughout season
Duties: Lead naturalist tours at resort and surrounding areas.
Reward: 1 Day work = transferable voucher ($79 value), 200 hours worked = season pass.
Contact: Those with volunteer experience in good standing contact Maya Schwartz at (760) 934-2571 x3357.
Winter Job Fair: October 20th (9am-3pm), November 3rd (9am-3pm)
Contact: (530) 581-7112 – personnel@squaw.com
Winter Job Fair: October 20th (10am-3pm)
Contact: HR: (530) 426-6731
Get Creative: Mountain Safety Volunteer
When: Ongoing throughout season
Duties: Work 1 day/week, helping guests on the mountain, makingsure people are safe.
Reward: Season pass
Oregon
Job Fair: October 20th (9am-3pm)
Contact: (800) 829-2442 (main); (541) 382-2442 (corpo)
Winter Job Fair: October 26th-27th
Contact: (503) 337-2222 x225
Washington
Winter Job Fair: October 20th (10am-2pm)
Contact: (360) 663-2265
Winter Job Fair: [Central Washington Campus] October 10th [Issaquah] October 16th; [On mountain] November 3rd - 4th
Contact: (425) 434-7669 ext. 6724.
Montana / Wyoming
Winter Job Fair: October 6th
Contact: (406) 995-5820
Contact: (307) 353-2300 x1304
Winter Job Fair: October 26th (9am-5pm); October 27th (9am-12pm)
Contact: HR (307) 739-2728
Utah
Winter Job Fair: TBD – probably first or second week in October
Get Creative: Work Trail Crew
When: Preseason
Duties: General maintenance (cleaning, trail work) for 14 days (unpaid).
Reward: 1 season pass ($929 value). Now is an especially good time
since Brighton just put in a new high-speed quad.
Contact: 1-800-874-5512 or 801-532-4731, dial 0 to talk to operator
and ask which department needs help OR just drive up Big Cottonwood
Canyon, stop by the maintenance desk and see what you can do.
Winter Job Fair: September 26th (4:30pm - 6pm) November 1st (2pm - 6pm), November 8th (4:30pm - 6pm)
Contact: jobs@thecanyons.com
Get Creative: Early Season Snowmaking
When: Early season (November – TBD)
Duties: Help crew make snow, work a modest amount of hours/week
Reward: Season pass
Contact: (435) 615-2216
Get Creative: Mountain Host Volunteer
When: 1 day/week for 20 weeks during season
Duties: Assist guests on the mountain.
Reward: Season pass
Winter Job Fair: October 13th, October 25th
Contact: (801) 947-8240
Get Creative: Volunteer opportunities are available for committed applicants
When: Ongoing
Duties: Various
Reward: TBD
Contact: (801) 947-8240
Colorado
Winter Job Fair: None
Contact: (888) 272-7246, ext. 6 or (970) 513-5732 – courtneyd@a-basin.net
Get Creative: Volunteer in Guest Services
When: Weekends, holidays, and other busy times
Duties: Help guests on the mountain
Reward: Season pass (A-Basin only)
Contact: courtneyd@a-basin.net
Get Creative: Patrol Help
When: Throughout season
Duties: Assist ski patrol
Reward: Season pass
Contact: courtneyd@a-basin.net
Winter Job Fair: October 24th (3pm - 7pm)
Contact: Tina Brudzinski (970) 349-4050 – jobs@chmr.com
Get Creative: Snow Packers
When: Early Season
Duties: Manually pack down snow on gnarly runs – where Snow Cats can’t go. Must work 80 hours (and be a good skier).
Reward: Crested Butte Mountain Resort Gold Pass ($1,274 value)
Get Creative: Bubba and Betty Bear
When: Ongoing through season
Duties: Work 1-2 days/week dressed up in a bear costume, entertaining kids and guests.
Reward: Crested Butte Employee Pass ($1,349+ value)
Get Creative: Guest Services
When: Ongoing through season
Duties: Work 1 day/week at the front desk, helping guests, maintaining lost and found
Reward: Crested Butte Employee Pass ($1,349+ value)
Winter Job Fair: Early October, check website
Contact: (888) SKIJOB1
Get Creative: Race Crew Volunteer
When: Ongoing throughout season
Duties: Work 1 day/week at the Nastar race course on the mountain.
Reward: Unrestricted season pass
Get Creative: Star Riders Volunteer
When: Ongoing throughout season
Duties: Work 1 day/week, helping kids get on/off the beginner lift.
Reward: Unrestricted season pass
Get Creative: Community Guest Services Volunteer
When: Ongoing throughout season
Duties: Work 1 day/week, helping guests on the mountain.
Reward: Unrestricted season pass
Midwest
Winter Job Fair: November 6th & 8th (3:30pm-7:30pm)
Winter Job Fair: November 7th-8th (3pm - 7pm)
Contact: (218) 624-8505 – dvalure@spiritmt.com
Get Creative: Guest Services Volunteer
When: Ongoing throughout season
Duties: Help guests on the mountain.
Reward: Season pass
Get Creative: Ski Patrol Volunteer
When: Ongoing throughout season
Duties: Work with ski patrol on mountain.
Reward: Season pass
Vermont / Maine
Winter Job Fair: Numerous from October through December. Check website.
Contact: (800) 300-9095
Winter Job Fair: No info available
Contact: Individual departments. See website.
Get Creative: Summer Mowing Crew
When: Every summer, 2nd week in August for 2 weeks (so check back next year)
Duties: Spend two weeks doing manual work, mainly consisting of mowing trails with a scythe, grim-reaper style.
Reward: Upon completion of the program, you get a season pass ($899 value) and a small paycheck.
Contact: (802) 496-3551 ext. 115, talk to the Mountain Manager, Nathan Martin
Winter Job Fair: October 20th (10am-2pm); November 10th (10am-2pm)
Contact: (800) 253-4754
Winter Job Fair: October 20th (10am-2pm)
Contact: (207) 237-2000
Winter Job Fair: No info
Contact: (877) 4-SNOW-JOB – jobs@sundayriver.com
Get Creative: Volunteer as Events Staff
When: Season-long
Duties: Help at ski/snowboard events. Need to work 20 days + 1
orientation day. Reward: Upon
completion, receive Full Season Pass including food and beverage discounts
($799+ value). If you do not complete, you earn 1 lift ticket for each day of
work ($67 value) and 2 lift tickets ($124 value) for each holiday worked.
Contact: Abby Blackburn – ablackburn@sundayriver.com
Get Creative: Volunteer in Ambassador Program
When: Season-long
Duties: Greet guests, assist Welcome Center, Ski Patrol, and more. Must work 20 days + 2 days orientation.
Reward: Upon completion, receive Full Season Pass including food
and beverage discounts ($799+ value). If you do not complete, you earn 1 lift
ticket for each day of work ($67 value) and 2 lift tickets ($124 value) for
each holiday worked.
Contact: Tara White (207) 824-5228 – twhite@sundayriver.com