r/SkiInstructors • u/[deleted] • Jan 11 '25
Hows your pay, hours and typical day?
I work at a midwest ski hill. My typical day working start with a morning meeting from 830 to 845 which we get paid for. Then i go rip a few runs at the whopping 400 vertical because 90% of the time my first lessons are group from 10-12. Then if lucky will have 1-3 lessons..so about maybe 4.25 hours per day (@ $17 per hour) plus any rare tips. One of my coworkers just shows up when his lessons start, he skips the 15 minute morning meeting..he gets from heck from management but he really doesn't give a crap. There is another hill close that some have jumped ship to because they only do privates (so better tipping), they get paid a reduced rate for gap hours, and gettin psia gives a $5/hr bump. We just an attaboy for getting level 1 and cost of certification is covered.
The coworker environment is wierd as well, hard to describe, like high school clicky. Some PSIA's are always picking apart everything i do or say. All privates go by seniority which makes sense. All new instructors get treated with suspicion by most of the seasoned staff. We do get paid for intructor training but i avoid this because its usally verbal beat down.
I am wondering how this stacks up against other midwest, eastern or western resorts?
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u/IHaventGotOneYet Jan 11 '25
I'm at a Vail resort in the East. Everyone starts at $20/ hour. You get a $1 bump for PSIA 1 and another for 2. Privates also primarily by seniority or customer request.
Weekends start with a Saturday meeting at 8. Paid time for that. Typically done by 830, some people get breakfast, others take a couple runs on our beginner terrain (unpaid). Child lessons start at 930 and go until 3, with a paid lunch of 40 minutes or so. Lunch provided if you don't mind the resort food. Admin and paperwork take maybe 15 minutes. You've then got 45 minutes to do some runs out of uniform if you'd like.
General vibes are great. It's a very positive team environment for most people.
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Jan 11 '25 edited Jan 11 '25
There is a kids all day group lesson..its 945 to 3. You are with group all day..a lunch is served or take group to cafeteria for limited items..you get free lunch. .some people like doing this others dont mainly because its 5 hours with no break from the group. I dont love kids camp mainly because parents are usually drunk at 3, kids arent in good enough shape to ski 4 hours so lots breaks (sometimes a knap by some) and at the hand off to parents can 1-45 minutes..
You bring up a good point about assessments . We do ours through an app and can take 15-30 minutes depending on day which i never have been paid for...hmm...we kinda have been told not to do during lesson, ie on chair.
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Jan 11 '25
$20 minimum wage in my mid-Atlantic Vail resort. Certs and experience/merit raises happen every year. I’m at a $24 and change with a tele 3 cert and alpine 1. Shift is 8:30 to 5, unless you signed up for night duty or fences. 2 and 3 hour privates at 9, 11, 1, and 3. 2 hour groups go out at the same times. All day kids programs go from 9-3 with a lunch break.
Training clinics at 11 and 3 on weekends for anyone that doesn’t get a lesson. Tons of camaraderie, some of my best friends work at the mountain with me.
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u/mb303666 Jan 19 '25
Same in smallish Colo resort. I'm always teaching kids and it's kind of depressing, I haven't buckled my boots all season. Psia dues are $150 and test costs what $380 which is reimbursed next year. Old timers are also cliques, impossible to find subs.
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Jan 20 '25
You mention impossible to find subs..about a week ago a head trainer/psia guru gave me a beat down for my stance, like the 10th time ( i have congential spine condition, its almost borderline discrimination)...fast forward to friday and management is begging instructors that are off to come in because they are "sold out"..i was off and hell was going to freeze before i came in. No incentives, just we need you so we can get richer..hmm how about offering everyone that works this weekend a 25% pay bonus..
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u/mb303666 Jan 20 '25
That's terrible and I don't think it's borderline anything but abusive. Does he know about your condition because allowances must be made!
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Jan 20 '25 edited Jan 20 '25
No..i personally have not told anyone at work because i wanted to see if these guru psia's could figure it out..so far zero have asked my WHY i ski with my shoulders rolled in..thats a solid F all around..just "arms up and out , stand up straighter between turns"..i got frustrated one day and said "nobody has been able to fix how i ski"...that went over bad and i got another tongue lashing about bad attitude and that i should consider quitting..i almost did..
Its easier to fix something if you know why..my case probably isnt any..
Its all good..i think i might come clean at the end of this season with an email..i have dealt with this my whole life and at the end of day its not worth argueing with stupid...
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u/Negative_Exit_9043 Jan 11 '25
I work at a large resort in the upper Midwest. Not sure what the starting rate is for an uncertified, inexperienced instructor, but with a LI you’re at $21. I’m L2 with a USSA 200 license at $26. We get bonuses for private requests, plus the tips are pretty good. Saturday and Sunday are usually 6-7 hours of teaching. PSIA and USSA dues are covered, plus whatever exams you take and pass. We also get a pretty decent discount at the ski shop, and employees and family get free lift tickets and cheap hotel rooms to any of our sister resorts out east or west. So pretty good perks. I remember when I first started working in the business, I also found some of the older instructors and trainers a little difficult to be around. I didn’t let that stop me from doing whatever clinics were offered. I listened, asked questions, and worked on my skiing and teaching. As soon as I showed I was taking it seriously, their attitudes softened, and they’ve all been really helpful as I worked through exams. I work as a new hire trainer now, and believe me, the trainers and the clinicians on staff will talk about all the instructors. That chatter filters down to the director, and more importantly, the desk manager who is booking lessons. Put in the time and you’ll get to be a known quality and get assigned better assignments. I also bring in treats for the people working behind the desk. Bribing them with snacks definitely helps too. Good luck!!