How the Ski Business Got Too Big for Its Boots

[mahatmakanejeeves]

IDEAS
How the Ski Business Got Too Big for Its Boots

A recent strike at a major resort has put the spotlight on what a bad deal both workers and visitors are getting.

By Daniel Block

{snip illustration}

JANUARY 12, 2025, 10 AM ET
Updated at 2:08 p.m. ET on January 12, 2025

In 2016, I was hired to teach skiing at the Park City resort, in Utah. The ultimate fun job: For one winter, I would get paid to do and share my favorite activity.

But I soon realized that although the piste conditions might be great, the working conditions were poor. An early clue was a training video that Vail Resorts, Park City’s owner, showed to employees. It bragged about how the company’s charity organization was helping local residents. The only problem: One of the charity cases was a Vail employee. In other words, the company was obliviously broadcasting how underpaid its own workers were.

That video came to mind last month when I heard that, starting December 27, Park City’s ski patrollers were going on strike to demand higher wages and better treatment. “We are asking all of you to show your support by halting spending at Vail Resorts properties for the duration of this strike,” the union said in an Instagram post. “Do not use Vail-owned rental shops or retail stores. Do not stay in Vail-owned hotels.”

For those unfamiliar with the industry, the union’s decision may have seemed puzzling. People who work on skis tend to love skiing, so why would they want to stop? They’re called ski bums, after all, not ski laborers. But for anyone who has been employed by Vail—and navigated the housing crises that plague resort communities—the union’s pleas are entirely comprehensible. The Park City strike illustrates just how distorted the American ski business has become, both for workers and for visitors. Central to the malaise is one trend: monopolization.

{snip}

[FirstLight]

1. I don't know much about the sport ...but Vail

Has ruined Tahoe...

And their safety standards are shit. We've had several incidences over the last couple years of failures with chair lifts falling apart and one person who was stranded overnight in the gondola 🚠 in sun freezing temps.

Not to mention the horrible parking and traffic and overcrowded conditions that spill over to a city not built for this many people...

But then again, ever since covid it seems like there's tens of thousands more people visiting here all year round. We are so over touristed its awful 😞

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Oh how i love Tahoe

I was in the snow making business in the late 90's. But prior to that - visiting my mom's parents as a kid.

Yeah they had a place in La Jolla - but to me? California is that certain "light" in late afternoon shining on the Lake.

And me saying "It's so cuuute" and Grampa taking 4 steps at a time to the pier deck and saying "but its mother is not!" 😄

The house (log cabin) he built for 16/17K in 1961 burned down in the 2006 fire. Sad.

[erronis]

2. Saw this happening in Stowe, VT - cancerous growth killing the experience

And only the filthy rich can afford to live/stay anywhere near the resorts.

Vulture Capitalism. Soon we'll all be the carrion.

[snowybirdie]

3. Terrible

But it is a sport for mostly the wealthy. Lots of other jobs available I'm sure.

[hlthe2b]

4. I remember when skiing, while expensive, was "doable..." at least with resident season passes and

locals' day skiing discounts.

Whew... has that changed. Greed is destroying everything.

[WestMichRad]

6. The outrageous costs associated with downhill skiing...

… we’re a primary reason why I decided many years ago to pursue cross country skiing as my preferred winter recreation. After the initial investment in equipment (less expensive than all the downhill gear, unless you want top line stuff), trail fees are modest for groomed trails, and ther are many parks and other places to ski for free. Plus the peace and serenity of outdoors in the forest in winter.

Eat the rich!

[surfered]

7. A lift ticket at Vail, purchased at the day of skiing, is $250.

But it is an amazing place to ski. I always bought a season pass and there was a discount for veterans. I can offer no insight as to the economics of the business..

[GreatGazoo]

8. When jobs came with rooms

When I worked for a major resort in California, many of the instructors and patrollers were Australians. The resort would fill the lift op and general hospitality positions with kids from Orange County but the more specific pro skiing positions need people who ski as a career. BUT the need is seasonal so they hire Australians during what is the off-season down under. By going back and forth the Australians could work on snow year-round. They also had some employees from so cal theme parks during what were the lighter months for theme parks and heavy for skiing, eg February through Easter.

The resort had hundreds of hotel rooms right across the street from the main lodge that were only used for seasonal employees. Your job and the rooming were tied. If you quit or were fired you lost your room also. Rent came out of your check. One rowdy wing of the hotel was nothing but lift ops and food service workers.

I haven't looked at any numbers recently but skiing visits were in decline from the 1980s onward. Skiing has always skewed toward the upper middle class and the wealthy. My sense is the contraction in business and the decreasing numbers for total ski days per season have led to the obvious split in business models: 1) small local resorts are going under or barely hanging on and afraid to raise ticket prices, or 2) big brand resorts are going more exclusive and trying to get more revenue per visitor. eg do the same or higher dollars even as total customers decrease.