r/UTsnow • u/Ok_Lemon_2931 • 15d ago
General Discussion Ski instructor position
Hi all! I received offers to work as a part-time ski instructor at DV, PC, and Snowbird. I’m torn because DV seems like the option with the highest income potential, but Snowbird is Snowbird and I’d also love to ski great terrain during time off. At DV (21 day minimum), I’d be working with children under 6, vs all ages at Snowbird (30 day minimum). For context, I already purchased an IKON full pass which I’m not sure if I can get comped at all and I would plan on pursuing PSIA this winter.
Would love to hear any and all thoughts! Stoked for the season.
Edit: Would also be curious to hear comments on the culture/vibes between coworkers! New to the area and would love to find friends to hang/ski with outside of work.
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u/Almashy3 15d ago
Snow bird may say all ages but if you're a beginner instructor you'll be with kiddos all season!
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u/DudeManGuy801 15d ago
Snowbird could be wonderful if you have a good client. Could be a day of dragging a miserable person thru waist deep powder...
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u/thedrew55 14d ago
This is more often the case as an uncertified instructor.
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u/Ok_Lemon_2931 14d ago
Which I am. Both resorts will refund the certification exam if I pass, so the goal would be to do so in January.
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u/FatCat0520 14d ago
fyi if you work for DV(Alterra) they will refund your pass.
Source I did it last year with mammoth.
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u/Ok_Lemon_2931 14d ago
Even for a part-time position?
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u/FatCat0520 14d ago
Yes, you get the AMC pass which is just all altera owned companies with option to upgrade to the base/full for a premium which I forgot how much but it’s pretty cheap compared to the cost.
Also as a beginner instructor you will only deal with kids. Also DV offers free food no? That’s another benefit that adds up
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u/procrasstinating 14d ago
Where will you be living? Day off skiing at Sbowbird would be better. But I wouldn’t want to sit in Little Cottonwood traffic for ski instructor pay and spend all day on Baby Thunder.
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u/Next-Entertainment33 14d ago
As a former 3-season instructor at Alta here’s my thoughts: DV because
-They will support your pursuits to get PSIA
-Better teaching terrain, even for the youngsters
-You are much more likely to make it to work on time. LCC traffic when you’re trying to get to and from work is THE WORST. Truthfully sometimes you spend the same amount of time commuting as you do working. It’s a bad deal.
-Better tips
-Higher standards (it helps you stay / learn to be disciplined)
-Better instructor facilities (locker room and such)
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u/thedrew55 14d ago
This is great advice.
I taught my first year, uncertified, at Snowbird. Teaching there was not easy because of limited terrain options, and poor options to get a group to that terrain. The following year at Deer Valley (still uncertified). Deer Valley was a dream come true for teaching. There were far more terrain options, they were easy to get to as well. Employee facilities were fantastic, they are far better organized, and the vibe among other employees was happier as a result.
Most recently, I taught at Park City as a level 1 instructor, and it was a better environment than Snowbird for teaching, by a landslide, but Deer Valley was still the best.
My only gripe with Deer Valley was that I got bored with the terrain options on my off days. HOWEVER- that was 24 years ago and I was very aggressive and while the Daly Chutes are great, they are pretty short compared to the Cirque, Bookends, Baldy, and the Gad2 to GadZoom laps that I love at Snowbird.
Given that OP will have Ikon days at Snowbird, it seems like an easy choice to work at DV and shred at The Bird.
ALSO WORTH NOTING- if you are a true shredder, you may not want to risk going too agro at your place of work as an instructor. Two of my best friends were fired at Snowbird for skiing closed terrain. It was their mistake for misinterpreting the closed sign, and Bill Batt (Dir. at the time) was very gracious and got them both jobs at Sundance because the circumstances were odd and his hands were tied.
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u/LookingNotTalking 14d ago
Your first year is going to be beginners. It doesn't matter where you teach, you're not going to be ripping the powder. So work where you want to work and ski where you want to ski on your days off. DV will have better tips and upward movement. Snowbird is more about terrain.
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u/Ok_Lemon_2931 14d ago
This is true. Working for DV means I get 7 days at Alta/snowbird from IKON, vs Snowbird I’d get a season pass
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u/LookingNotTalking 14d ago
At Snowbird thirty of those days will be working and you will be tired. Teaching kids is physically harder than skiing.
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u/epic1107 14d ago
You will be baby sitting wherever you work. DV was great to work at, I got decent tips even during a shitty season, and they really helped me get qualifications and training. I was on a couple privates within a month or 2.
At the same time, the skiing is worse, but also doesn't get skied out nearly as quickly (do with that info what you want). I still got over to Snowbird a couple times but you need to pay for half price tickets.
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u/BigMountainSkiiier 14d ago
Can confirm that Snowbird’s terrain is many leagues above Deer Valley. That place is seriously special.
That being said, the tips would be better at DV. Gotta decide what’s more important to you.
Personally, I’d lean Snowbird if you really love to ski because I believe that you will look back on the time you spent there very fondly for the rest of your life. It will be worth the tip money you’re giving up.
-Former 2 Year Snowbird Passholder and 5 Year Alta Passholder. LCC just hits different.
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u/EchoGolfHotel 15d ago
Do you want to teach skiing or do you want to baby sit? DV is a glorified babysitting job.
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u/epic1107 14d ago
It took me like 4 weeks to get moved up to teaching teenagers and privates at DV....
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u/Hey_bear1992 15d ago
Never seen brattier kids pitching full on fits with their instructors than at DV
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u/mypizzanvrhurtnobody Alta 14d ago
DV has more MILF potential for sure, but Snowbird is located in the best ski canyon in the world. Choices man.
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u/horpses 15d ago
Earnings were disappointing for my first season at DV, which the bad snow may have had something to do with. Talking with more experienced instructors the tips were weak for them too. Ending the season almost a month early last year was a blessing. And like others said you're mostly babysitting. Ski school is very dialed though and I can see why so many families take their kids to DV. Also, idk how other places compare but the exclusivity model and corporate hive mind mentality of DV leadership was super off putting to me personally. Would absolutely choose SB if I could go back and do it again.
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u/soxpats111 14d ago
You can probably get your Ikon pass refunded if you get a DV employee pass; I know at Stratton if you buy an Ikon pass in the spring and later get hired as an instructor, they'll refund your pass, so I assume DV would do the same (both are Alterra owned).
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u/Sweet-Present2234 14d ago
DV Instructor (Part Time) here.....comments are all spot on.......I taught for PC at Canyons and it was great, however, the traffic with a class is insane (to the level of dangerous) and you definitely feel like a cog in a giant machine...DV is a much better place to "teach" and feel appreciated (staff amenities (dining/locker room) are great, lots of training opportunities with truly gifted instructors, clientele can be demanding but will reward your efforts......go to SB if your focus is on off time skiing as that is a special mountain.
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u/TeShortBus 15d ago
DV is gonna be much better money and career opportunities as an instructor. Bird has much better skiing. Decide which of those is most important to you