Recruitment

People who work at an outdoors job are an interesting mix. Typically they fall into two crowds, those who do this for a living and those who do this because they enjoy the outdoor nature of the work but have a regular job the rest of the time.

In the area of snow sport instructing you have a further breakdown of those who enjoy teaching and passing on the knowledge of the sport vs those who are in it for the free lift ticket. I didn't take part in the recruiting process this year, but the free lift ticket is certainly one of the more heavily pushed options to lure in new recruits. Added a little gravy to the mix, the prospect of having the chance of free runs throughout the day just makes this seem like a no brainier. I was promised both at the start too.

What they don't tell you in this process is that while you may receive a free lift ticket on the day you work, your ability to enjoy the ticket is directly tied to number of other instructors the resort was able to employ this season. In other words, if the school is lacking instructors, you'll be booked all day long, teaching classes, while looking up longingly at the mountain remembering what it felt like to ride on your own.

By the end of the day, your legs are typically shot and your knees tired. Rope tows are the worst invention ever, I'm fairly convinced of that.

The odd outcome from all of this though is when you do get a chance to free ride on the mountain. Your skills are amazingly in tune. You find your own stance and ability have increased dramatically from having to demonstrate these forms all day long.

I got a good night of riding in last night, maybe that's what brought this revelation on. Few classes, lots of free rides. I could stand a few more days like that.