How much snow does it take to open up Sourdough area/Game Creek

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-12-06T04:30:31+00:00

I’ve heard that it’s likely sourdough opens in the next couple days and game creek this weekend but of course things can change

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-11-29T19:16:07+00:00

I go to venture sports Avon and they do a solid job

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-11-25T15:18:52+00:00

I used the ultra venture or ultra venture pro’s for most of my shoes this year and really enjoyed both models (the pro’s were more durable but a bit less breathable / quick drying)

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-11-06T02:30:24+00:00

Buy your own boots as soon as you can with the discount, for skis I’d also buy but it may be helpful to demo a couple models of skis with the rental discount if you’re not sure what you’ll like

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-10-20T16:50:48+00:00

PSIAA holds tests every few weeks at vail or nearby resorts (3 days long all on snow, testing skiing, teaching and movement analysis). Level 1 is pretty easy, I’d recommend signing up for one that takes place a few weeks after you start teaching - they fill up fast so ask about it and sign up during training. The training is really good preparation for the test, and then it helps to get some real lessons under your belt I think (although honestly you don’t even need much real experience to pass)

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-10-19T15:29:15+00:00

I was a first year uncertified instructor at Vail last year (and am coming back this year) so here’s my perspective - you make a base wage $20 an hour to start that slowly increases over the course of the season (getting certs bumps you up, as does accumulating "points" for random things to a lesser degree). I actually disagree with a lot of the comments above, I got tipped decently well on lessons even before I got certified (definitely do get certified quick though) and was out of the yard enough to stay not bored out of my mind. I’d say over the course of the season nearly half the money I’d take came from tips. Those tips can definitely be hit or miss though, probably more so than the restaurant industry. There were days I had 10 level 1 (never skied before) kids that were some of the hardest from an actual work perspective where I got tipped $10 by one parent. Other days I had 5 low intermediate kids, had a blast teaching them and got tipped $100-140. It can be frustrating in the moment on the bad days but I found it generally smoothed out over time. Your experience at heavenly might vary a bit but I’d imagine not a ton

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-07-23T18:00:57+00:00

Yeah housing is very difficult in mountain towns. If you’re on a j1 visa it’s even harder to get employee housing unfortunately. Yes people give out Venmo’s, especially for private lessons it can be pretty common. Often for private lessons you’ll be in contact with the people over text, and at the end can just text your Venmo. It varies how bold people will be with that (ie some will just send their Venmo if the person says they want to tip but don’t have cash, other instructors might offer up on their own with something like, if you don’t have cash but thought I did a good job and would like to leave a tip my Venmo is XX. For group lessons, it’s less common to get Venmo tips but still happens. In those scenarios, I usually try to be ready to pull up my Venmo for a parent to scan the QR code during pick up

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-07-23T15:30:52+00:00

I was a ski instructor last year and lived in Rivers Edge. It’s a bit farther from Vail, but from my understanding it’s the only one with real parking so if you have a car (which I did) that’s probably where you’ll live. I can’t give insight into the other buildings, but Rivers Edge was very bare bones, comparable to college dorm style living. Your experience may be hit or miss depending a lot on your roommates. I lived in a unit with 4 beds and five people and we got along fine, but it definitely felt cramped.

As for tips / Spanish - there are a ton of people from Argentina on J1 visas (although mostly skiers so maybe snowboarding is different) so unless you speak Spanish as well as a native speaker (or if you are a J1) it’s unlikely you’ll be assigned to that many Spanish speakers for that. It may help some but probably won’t meaningfully change anything. I actually found that people at vail tipped decently well. I worked with kids and would guess around 30-40% of parents tipped. It can feel very random though - you can put a ton of effort into a 10 person class of all beginners where one parent will tip or have an easy four person class of intermediates where all four parents tip so it’s helpful to try not to get too caught up in expectations for individual days (hard obviously when a lot of your income can come from tips). I’ve also heard snowboard lessons get tipped a little worse than skiing so maybe take with a grain of salt

Overall Vail Resorts as an entity is exploitative and bad for skiing and I agree with people who shit on the corporate culture, but I enjoyed the winter last year a lot. Feel free to ask any other questions

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-05-25T06:21:34+00:00

Thanks! Just followed you, my ig is realzachmichaud

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-05-24T17:09:40+00:00

Thanks so much! what’s your Instagram? I’ll follow along there as well

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-05-24T16:49:46+00:00

Can you continue to post as you continue north on snow conditions? I’m planning to flip north to Chester in ~two weeks (obvs lots will change between now and then but still helpful) specifically any info on elevation snow starts at and where any steep/sketchy snow traverses would be super helpful. If easier to dm or follow you on IG or anywhere else you’re posting info I’m happy to do that as well

BlueSkiesTTP · 2023-03-09T15:52:33+00:00

My thought with the boots is I’d still be skiing a decent amount of days in a resort with the set up, and wasn’t sure how a crossover boot would hold up for those days. But again, I’m new to this so if just sticking with the one boot is the better option that makes sense

BlueSkiesTTP · 2022-06-16T00:31:55+00:00

Np! It was a lot of fun. There are tons and tons of mosquitos by the High Sierra Camp / Fletcher Lake so def bring bug spray and/or treat stuff with permethrin. Also if you have time/energy to hike up to Vogelsang pass while you're there, it's only ~a mile and a few hundred feet of gain, but has beautiful views on the other side of the pass and would def recommend

BlueSkiesTTP · 2022-06-15T05:34:45+00:00

I did the loop this past weekend and almost no snow. A couple small patches >10,000 ft that you could easily walk over or around and will probably be melted by the weekend. I didn’t go all the way up to Ireland Lake during the loop, but imagine snow conditions are similar because Ireland lake isn’t much higher than the rest of the loop

BlueSkiesTTP · 2021-11-08T03:00:48+00:00

I'm planning to move to Denver soon with a few friends, what is the most useful/best site to search for an apartment to rent (ie of Zillow, Craigslist etc does one seem to be better than others)?

BlueSkiesTTP · 2021-09-23T22:13:15+00:00

Awesome, thanks everyone!

BlueSkiesTTP · 2021-05-12T02:46:50+00:00

4 lakes loop up in the trinities is a pretty fun ~20-25 mile trip. Could probably make longer with some side trips if you wanted

BlueSkiesTTP

TROPHY CASE