I had a rough weekend and was hit with an awful head cold that made it difficult to teach. More truthfully it wasn't too bad, but I just didn't have the focus or energy to pick children up off the ground, help them up the learning hill, etc etc. So I went to help out in the pro shop where I spent the day waxing boards, sharpening edges, fixing broken bindings as best as possible and demo'ing out equipment.
I did get to learn how to mount bindings on skis without the proper jig (someone brought in a pair of K2 Pontoons without bindings on them). It takes an extremely long time and a lot of careful calculations which makes you appreciate the jig usage.
It's interesting being the "new guy" in the pro shop. Everyone who comes in expects the best quality possible. Just like teaching there are regulars, who are extremely leery of letting someone else work on their boards. Because the pro shop pools it's tips together things go alright, but I had never expected such a protected response to the work.
I guess I did a pretty good job on one or two of them as they've come back looking for me the next few days. I agree with Justin's post on tipping the gear folks. It's not hard work to wax or sharpen, but to do a great job takes time. Plus some of the creative ways to fix broken snowboard bindings should be a relief, it'd just suck to have your day ruined by a broken toe strap on the first run.
[EDIT: Updated link to Ski-Blog. Apparently Blogger doesn't like to use Trackback Links at all. Now updated to use the static link which may last, or may not. ]
Stories from the front line of the snowsport industry
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I tip damned near everyone on the mountain. I have a couple of lunch places that I eat at Brian Head and go in to see Tony at Pizano's Pizza every trip. About half the time when we go in there, we will get a pitcher of beer or just something to drink and Tony will give us a couple of slices. We are locals and we are in there every time we are up. We tip well and talk skiing, baseball, and football with the owner (who is the only guy that has most of the games on TV). Last summer when we were up there, we would go in to watch baseball games.
You tip well and hang out with the locals, they treat you well back. Tony pulled out his powder skis and was talking shop with me last time. He would send me to so and so who works over here and has a gear deal.
I know most folks spend their one week per year somewhere and don't get to know the Tony's or Sky's of the world that run the restaurants around town. Most don't know the guys in the gear shop. But pay attention, call folks by name, and treat people right. Tip well. If you can afford to ski (which is insanely expensive to begin with), you can afford to tip.
I worked for Dominos while I was going to Junior College and Jake was still an infant. The nights when someone would tip me $5 for an order would make my evening. That $5 would buy my baby formula on the way home. Hell, I tipped the electrician and plumber that came up to the condo and worked on my loft.
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