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Ski Area Management Education


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#1 Callao

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Posted 26 September 2006 - 10:48 AM

Until last season, I didn't even know there was such a thing as ski area management programs, at any school. I found Lyndon State College, Vermont, by accident. Recently I heard about Gogebic Community College in Michigan. Can someone tell me if there are other programs like this at other schools? After this heaven-sent discovery, I'm beginning to think geology is not for me.

Me, on a geology field trip, Alta, Utah:

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This post has been edited by Callao: 26 September 2006 - 10:51 AM


#2 poloxskier

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Posted 26 September 2006 - 12:04 PM

There is also a Ski Area Operations/Management Degree available at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville. They do have a program in place With Western State so that you can complete a Bachelors Degree there since the CMC degree is an associates.
-Bryan

Theres a place for all of God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.

"You could say that a mountain is alot like a woman, once you think you know every inch of her and you're about to dip your skis into some soft, deep powder...Bam, you've got two broken legs, cracked ribs and you pay your $20 just to let her punch your lift ticket all over again"

#3 spunkyskier01

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Posted 26 September 2006 - 01:40 PM

well i sorta have a bias with gogebic, but both prgrams here and at colorado are worth a look. i chose this program over colorado's mainly because we have our own ski area here, and their seems to be much more hands on traning here. but i have only visited colorado, and i dont know what they do compared to here.
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#4 poloxskier

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Posted 26 September 2006 - 03:52 PM

I'll be able to tell you more about CMCs program in the spring. :thumbsup:
-Bryan

Theres a place for all of God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.

"You could say that a mountain is alot like a woman, once you think you know every inch of her and you're about to dip your skis into some soft, deep powder...Bam, you've got two broken legs, cracked ribs and you pay your $20 just to let her punch your lift ticket all over again"

#5 Jonni

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Posted 26 September 2006 - 05:50 PM

I don't really know all that much about Lyndon's Ski Area Management program, but I can ask around for you if you'd like. I'm here at Lyndon for Web Design & Development rather than SAM.
Chairlift n. A transportation system found at most ski areas in which a series of chairs suspended from a cable rapidly conveys anywhere from one to eight skiers from the front of one line to the back of another.

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#6 skier691

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Posted 26 September 2006 - 05:54 PM

At Gogebic there is a small area that the students get to operate, everything from making snow, rental, to lessons, besides regular college type classes. Out west there's CMC and a school in Tahoe(incline area). Can't say much about them, but they are located much closer to more modern technology(Automated snow systems, HS lifts etc) if youre intrested in that part of it. If you think like, "Man, I love skiing, so..." or "Driving a snowcat everyday would be cool" or "I will be working at a ski area, so I'll get to ski everyday", better run the other way, go get a geology degree first, make the big bucks chipin' rocks, and get to actually go skiing when you want. If not at least you'll have something to fall back on after you realize the ski life is the just making her by type of life.

#7 Callao

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Posted 27 September 2006 - 07:58 AM

I'm not talking about working for existing ski resorts. I see, in some areas, unsatisfied ski markets that should be tapped. I'm talking about launching new resorts. That's what I mean when I say I want to know the industry.

#8 spunkyskier01

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Posted 27 September 2006 - 09:47 AM

well the current classes im taking right now are all about how to get finacing, measure and layout trails read maps and everything thats realy involved in starting up a ski resort, so it would be be helpfull if your thinking of starting from scratch
Everything is just loop-de-loops and flibertyjibbit

#9 towertop

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Posted 27 September 2006 - 10:16 AM

Selkirk collage in BC. teachers name is Peter Wood. Full 4 yr program
What now?

#10 maplevalleymaster

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Posted 27 September 2006 - 11:32 AM

I believe University of Vermont has a ski area management program.

#11 andyh1962

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Posted 27 September 2006 - 12:10 PM

View Posttowertop, on Sep 27 2006, 12:16 PM, said:

Selkirk collage in BC. teachers name is Peter Wood. Full 4 yr program



Another Ski Resort Operations program is offered in Canada at Georgian College in Barrie Ontario.



2 year program with 2 coop work terms.

details at

http://www.georgianc.../srodetails.php

#12 skiersage

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Posted 27 September 2006 - 12:35 PM

View PostCallao, on Sep 27 2006, 10:58 AM, said:

I'm not talking about working for existing ski resorts. I see, in some areas, unsatisfied ski markets that should be tapped. I'm talking about launching new resorts. That's what I mean when I say I want to know the industry.


From what I have been told, the programs at Gogebic and at Colorado Mtn College are the most comprehensive as far as training is concerned. I know that Gogebic's program covers both managment and operations as well as how to layout a ski area, etc. If you want to start new areas this would be a good program to consider although the instructor would probably discourage the idea as it costs millions of $s to do so. As for CMC, I am not sure what theirs is like exactly but I do know that it covers aspects of managment and operations. The only bad thing about it is that they do not have a ski hill.
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#13 spunkyskier01

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Posted 27 September 2006 - 12:43 PM

i dont beleive University of vermont provides a full sam program anymore, at least its not printed in any of their brochures, and their is no offices for the program on their campus.
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