Resort Work / Life - Seeking Beta / Advice

[C.Fuzzy]

My nephew has been working at his small hometown hill (midwest) for a number of years. He's 18 now and thinking he'd like to go west and get to ride actual mountains and perhaps even experience what actual powder is like. His idea is to get a job at a large resort, which I expect includes the whole employee housing / indentured servant package.

First, I know in a general sense the sardine can housing issues, and whatnot. But I also expect that there are some resorts that are better than others? Some jobs that are better than others? Some ways to navigate this situation for better results?

Anyone care to share any inside info or have thoughts and experience to consider?

Second is a consideration in this equation is that he's been homeschooled in a pretty conservative family, boy scouts leader and all that, and is probably much more adept as surviving a week in the wilderness by himself than navigating the social complexities of compromised morals, party culture, and substances. He's a smart, teachable, honest, and hardworking kid, but how big of a consideration do y'all reckon the culture shock might be? It's perhaps unavoidable in any sense, but maybe should we look at off-hill options, or smaller resorts?

All thoughts or considerations welcome

[McK21]

A quick suggestion: avoid big resorts, better found a smaller less known place, there's the possibility to find better job conditions and accomodation....but this is what I know about European resorts ( actually we have the larger resorts in the world), here it works like that.....but then it depends also what he will focus on, career or snowboarding?

[jclinares]

Depends on what he wants to prioritize, I'd say.

Honestly, from the people I've met during my trips to the mountains, the ones that seem to enjoy the mountain the most are the ones that work weekend and/or evenings in shops, restaurants, bars, etc., and get to ride midweek days. They make better money, too, and they still get to share a tiny living space with 7 other people, just like resort housing, lol.

homeschooled in a pretty conservative family, boy scouts leader and all that, and is probably much more adept as surviving a week in the wilderness by himself than navigating the social complexities of compromised morals, party culture, and substances

Oh boy Look, I was never a "cool guy" in school, but by the time I moved out for college, I'd had my fair share of experiences drinking and partying. And even then, getting to a college dorm was a bit of a culture shock.

I don't have much advice in that regard, other than maybe he should make friends with the people who are out there for the love of the mountains, instead of the ones mostly trying to hook up with the weekend tourists?

[SJF_NH]

I don't have any useful advice to give, but I would guess that he'll be fine in most places out west. I'd stay clear of places like Aspen where the asshole factor is off the charts, but I don't feel that most resorts at least in CO or UT have a particularly monolithic culture. There are plenty of high net worth people, also people with narrow political views, but there are still remnants of the old west out there (lots of ranchers in CO for example) and of course tons of blue-collar people and people that work with their hands. My guess is that he'll find like-minded kids and have no problems. But I do think you're right to be concerned about the party, booze, weed subculture that seems to exsist within every mountain community. But he sounds like a well-grounded kid, so hopefully he'll be able to navigate that well enough that he'll have friends without needing to conform to that lifestyle. If he's a hard-working, smart kid as you say, he'll be like gold to any employer that spots those traits (all too rare these days). With those kinds of personal attributes, my guess is that the sky will be the limit for him if he wants continue to work in mountain/resort operations. Best of luck to him!

[benjinyc]

my 2¢, three of my friends moved from nyc to slc and have no regrets. housing will be easier to find there compared to a resort town. As for employment, more options as well. You're not restricted to resort jobs.

[SJF_NH]

Excellent call by @benjinyc.

[benjinyc]

the common SLC criticisms (no party scene, lack of nightlife, drugs illegal) will work in your nephew's favor given your concerns

[Jabilitation]

What was he doing at the local hill? Killington has a program in resort management, 3 years and leave with a bachelors. A friend of my wife went through there and is now a director level employee in his 30s.
I moved to Snowmass, Colorado in my 20s and knew very little about resort jobs beyond lifty, bartender or instructor. If I were to do it again a maintenance job overnight in a hotel or rental complex would be a fun gig. Fix shit at night and ride all day. Snowcat operator was always something I thought would be awesome. Anything that keeps your days/mornings free for riding.
When I made the move I was fortunate to have a friend already out there. I couch surfed until I found a room to rent. My second season I got into a house with some other ski bums and it was pretty rowdy. There’s always somebody with a Friday and never a shortage of ways to party. It takes plenty of discipline to keep your shit together, but not impossible. Being in a house with 8-10 roommates was fun but could get overwhelming at times. Lots of people coming and going and if I wanted quiet I had to get out and find it.

[SJF_NH]

About 10-12 years ago, a friend of mine moved from the east to Park City to work a job as a patroller. But he said that the money was terrible, so he somehow ended up driving a cat doing the grooming overnight, which paid much better, and skiing/riding during the day. While that was going on, he eventually went to tech school for welding, now he's making mad money welding rails and resort infrastructure/lifts, while still living in the SLC area and skiing/riding his ass off.

There are apparently a lot of ways for a young dude to make his way while staying close to the snow that we all love.

[eleveneightnate]

About 10-12 years ago, a friend of mine moved from the east to Park City to work a job as a patroller. But he said that the money was terrible, so he somehow ended up driving a cat doing the grooming overnight, which paid much better, and skiing/riding during the day. While that was going on, he eventually went to tech school for welding, now he's making mad money welding rails and resort infrastructure/lifts, while still living in the SLC area and skiing/riding his ass off.

There are apparently a lot of ways for a young dude to make his way while staying close to the snow that we all love.

This is the move. When I was a lifty at Breck, my roommate drove cats at night doing beer deliveries and grooming. He'd be off by midnight and have the entire day to ride, work a second job, and go to school.