Ski Resort High: Cliques 101
/When I tell people I used to work at a ski resort, the most common reaction is, “Oh! Were you a ski instructor?” As I find myself cringing and offended, I have to remind myself that people who have never worked as a lifty are unaware of the insult they have just thrown at me. As inexcusable as calling an Aussie a Kiwi, lifties are their own breed and don’t you forget it.
Living and working at a resort is a once in a life time experience, a non-stop party, and a lot of hard work, but just as in most places there is a pseudo-hierarchy of jobs, employees, and cliques. For those of you who have not lived or worked at a ski resort, I will break down the 3 major on-mountain high school cliques for you. In the Mean Girls world, who’s lunch table are you sitting at?
1. Ski Instructors: As far as they are concerned, Gods amongst peasants. As far as the rest of resort employees are concerned, pompous babysitters who are continually jamming lift lines, taking kids on chairs they can’t get themselves on to while they don’t assist, and moving obstacles as they zigzag their customers down the narrowest of trails. They think they get the most riding time in, but it doesn’t really count when you are on bunny hills or chained to guests all day. Every now and then, one is worth befriending. We all had the hots for one when we took lessons as a kid. And don’t get them confused with coaches.
2. Lifties and Lift Maintenance: The often overlooked heart and soul of the ski resort. You can buy your kid lessons, you can call ski patrol when you break yourself, but you wouldn’t even be in action if it weren’t for these early risers. Lift maintenance are generally year round workers who get things running in the morning and fix the chairs you find yourself stuck on as they zip around the mountain. Lifties (aka lift operators) are who set up baracades and rope lines, start and stop chairs when guests have trouble getting off or on, and pick up chubby kids to throw them on chairs (often while their instructor stands there and watches). This clique often gets the most riding time in, or at least the most good riding time in (and lots of first tracks). They get ride breaks throughout the day and many of the maintenance crew is on skis or boards instead of snowmobiles. Often included in this clique is the terrain park crew. And everyone knows lifties throw the best parties.
3. Ski Patrol: The knights and shining armors of the resort world. Ski patrollers work hard and are the first ones in and the last ones out each day. They throw avalanche bombs, clear lifts and runs for safety, put you on a snowmobile or in one of those caskets when you get hurt, and sometimes even have the cutest and most obedient dogs with them. They are generally good people; they work hard, for some reason are good at darts, but seem to be above lifty parties, casinos and all-nighters. Probably because if they did party as hard as lifties and park crew, they wouldn’t be able to save you the next day.
Picture from SquawDogs Facebook
Of course, this is all coming from a former lifty’s point of view, so if you’ve worked in one of these other positions, my observations might sound a bit bias. All in all, each position has their own purposes and responsibilities on the hill and in the social scheme of things. I hope this helps the general public understand the inner social lives of their favorite resort workers and maybe even guides some of those looking into working the ski resort life. And next time you’re getting turns in, high five some employees because some of them are probably working through a hangover.
Love, Your Favorite Lifty