21 replies to this topic

[liftmech]

For the lift monkeys, but the rest of you might find it interesting as well...

What is a chairlift mechanic?
-a machinist
-a welder
-a pipefitter
-a structural engineer
-an inspector
-an auto mechanic
-an electrician
-an electronics repairman
-a heavy equipment operator
-a public relations person
-a hydraulic repairman
-a chairlift operator
A lift mechanic must also be:
-a skier
-a ski bum
-a snowmobiler
-an off-roader
-a hiker
-a climber
-a first responder
-a secretary
-a research student
and...
-good at managing time
-able to multitask
-able to prioritise
-able to function on little sleep
-able to work long hours
-able to withstand the urge to move to a higher-paying job
-able to drink copious quatities of coffee and beer
IN SHORT- there is no such thing as a lift mechanic, only a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none...

(this came to me whilst (and at the same time) I was working on my eighth straight hour of welding the same parts again and again)
With all this, it's a wonder we've got enough people to keep these high-tech things operating!

[Kicking Horse]

i disagree with theses two

-able to withstand the urge to move to a higher-paying job (i think the pay is good from what i have found.)

-able to drink copious quatities of coffee and beer ( i don't drink coffee or beer)

[edmontonguy]

It think it's more of a love for what you do than the pay

[Allan]

coski, on May 18 2004, 07:24 PM, said:

i disagree with theses two

-able to withstand the urge to move to a higher-paying job (i think the pay is good from what i have found.)

-able to drink copious quatities of coffee and beer  ( i don't drink coffee or beer)

Ski resorts do NOT pay anywhere near what you would get if you worked at your trade specifically. One guy was working for us getting $20/hr - he left to get paid $30/hr at a different company. I don't drink coffee either... but the beer goes hand in hand - you'll learn, especially when you screw up and owe it to the rest of the crew :)

Good list John!

[Kicking Horse]

i think 20 bucks an hour is more then enough.

(i'll buy the beer but won't drink it)

[SkiBachelor]

Jeff, this is the Canada, mkay. The Canadian dollar is worth less than the U.S. dollar, mkay. So that's about $13 to 14 an hour in U.S., mkay.

[Bill]

Not in my game, I want more than that.

[KZ]

Just depends what you want to do. Its probably fun casue it sounds different every day, not some monotone crap

[liftmech]

It's definitely fun. I don't know that I could be a machinist, say, and do the same thing day in and day out. This way I get to dabble in all those trades without having to commit to any one of them. Pay- it's less than I'd like, but since it's enough to pay the bills and have a bit left over, I'm happy with that. But to add to Allan's example: Lift Electricial- $25-$30/hour at the top levels; Journeyman (especially one in a union)- $30-$40/hour, in US dollars.
I didn't mean to offend anyone by the part about the coffee and beer- this list isn't an actual job description. Only one of our mechanics doesn't drink either of those; the rest including yours truly drink one or the other so I put that line in.

[crazyskier91]

Sounds like a good job to me. Maybe that is what I will become when I am older.

[Bill]

Hell ya, Coffee in the day and beer at night, especially in the cold snowy weather that ski areas get.

[liftmech]

I'm glad someone understands :D

[Bill]

Oh yeah, I understand, I used my Crystal Mountain Coffee Cup all the time, working chair 4 it was a short walk to the cafeteria and Tokyo Tommy (Lift Lead year 1) didn't care as long as I brought back his cup too.

[liftmech]

There's a guy whom I haven't thought of in a while... He was still there when I went back to visit in '99, still foreman of chair 4...
Now that Bill and I have turned this into a reminiscence thread :---:

[crazyskier91]

I could get used to coffee all night!

[Bill]

John, Did you ever know Eric Wunderlich?

[poloxskier]

NWS, on May 19 2004, 04:07 PM, said:

Hell ya, Coffee in the day and beer at night, especially in the cold snowy weather that ski areas get.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In my experience thats anything having to do with skiing, work or pleasure.

[liftmech]

You are correct, sir. Otherwise there wouldn't be any apres at the resorts :---:
Bill, I do remember Eric. I just sent you a PM about him .

[Durrrant]

liftmech / Allan, : would you have any advice for those of us who think that they might enjoy working in this field one day?

I feel that i would like it, since i love the being in the outdoors, working on meachines, am naturally mecahnical, and already consume copious amounts of coffee and *soda*. As a junior in High School, I am looking into colleges. I am thinking about either Mechanical or Civil Engenerring.

What do you guys think?

[liftmech]

If you go into mechanical engineering, you may be able to go to work for one of the (admittedly few) lift companies. Otherwise, becoming a lift mechanic does not require any schooling that you can't get on the job.