One reason that prospective students consider Colorado Mountain College is the access to outdoor activities including rock and ice climbing, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding.

For those with concerns about their success upon graduation from CMC, you will be delighted to know that Colorado Mountain College is listed by CNN/Money in the top 20 nationally for student success at two-year colleges. The college is also ranked #1 among Colorado’s two-year colleges for graduation plus transfer rates.

Programs at CMC include:

  • Ski & Snowboard Business
  • Ski Area Operations
  • Resort Management
  • Culinary Arts
  • Professional Photography
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Outdoor Recreation Leadership
  • Outdoor Education

Graduates of these program are employed at companies such as:

  • Swix
  • Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
  • Vail
  • Alpine Meadows
  • Snowbasin Resort
  • Keystone Conference Center
  • Birmingham Magazine
  • Sports Illustrated
  • National Geographic Adventure Magazine
  • Pike & San Isabel National Forest Service
  • Vail Youth Foundation
  • American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education
  • Flight for Life
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)

Maybe all that sounds great, but you’re still a bit unsure about what you might like to do as a career.  SkiNet, SkiersRealm, and Outside Magazine have a few suggestions.

SkiNet has developed a list of the “10 Best Jobs in the Ski Industry” which includes positions such as:

  • Boutique Ski Maker
  • Heli-Ski Guide
  • Ski Photographer
  • Product Designer
  • Ski Resort Social Media Manager
  • Ski Shop Employee
  • Marketing Manager

Those interested in any of the above 7 careers may want to consider the following programs from CMC:

A little over 2 years ago, SkiersRealm posted an article about jobs in the ski industry.

If you’re reading this, chances are at one time or another you’ve probably caught yourself day dreaming about being able to ski for a living. You’ve had those thoughts of how amazing life would be if you could somehow just get paid to ski. If you’re still in your younger years, those dreams are probably centered around becoming a pro. You know, the free gear, traveling paid for, deepest powder, and private filming sessions in perfect parks. Definitely sounds like tha life eh?

But what if I was to tell you there’s another way to live it up in the Ski Industry and get paid to do so? And I’m not talking about flippin’ burgers, checking tickets or chasing after toddlers at the local resort. I’m talking about real world big boy/big girl jobs that bring home the cash. Because even though working in the Ski Industry does have its similarities to the classic movie Ski School, it’s still an industry that makes millions of dollars every year. Therefore, there are all kinds of different paths into a position with the industry that you have a passion for. You just have to realize, it takes all kinds of people in all kinds doing all kinds of different work to make the Ski Industry go round. Which is something that probably wasn’t dancing around your head when you were deep in Lala land getting paid to rip around the hill.

The first job that the author mentions is that of a “Ski Resort Staff Accountant”.  While I have no aspirations of such a job due to my dislike of anything involving math, there are bound to be other people who would get a kick out of such a job.

Next the author highlights the job of a “Ski Magazine Editor” which he describes as “Basically it sounds like there are two different times of the year when you’re working for a ski magazine. There is the production cycle which happens May-December and is filled with editorial planning, assigning stories to freelancers, editing copy, fact checking, managing the website, social media, and getting freelancers paid. Then once the pages come in, it’s intense editing of every word, from photo captions to cover blurbs to contact details. And then there is the off season (which really isn’t an off season), where you might find yourself traveling for stories, researching and following contests, events and industry tradeshows.”
As far as education for such a position…
“When it comes to school, my two interviewees had similar opinions, both agreeing that you definitely need a degree to even be considered. And when the question was asked if internships were a necessity the answers again coincided. One saying that they are a must and to do as many as possible and the other saying ‘Internships are valuable because you get a peek into what working for your dream job is really like, whether that’s at a magazine, ski company or whatever. But just interning isn’t going to get you where you want to go…. you’ve gotta want it, and you’ve gotta show that you want it if you want to get hired.'”

Mentioned again is Heli-Ski Guide.  I’m perfectly content to ski in-bounds where my chances of getting caught in an avalanche are reduced (although not eliminated) and I have a severe dislike of powder, so this is not my ideal job by any means, although I know many people who would love to get paid to take people skiing in the backcountry in exotic locations.
“The ski/busy season in Alaska is about 3 months, from mid February through the beginning of May. But it’s not just 3 months of flying around in heli’s and skiing big lines. There is a lot that goes into running a guide business and making sure that your high paying customers are having the experience of a lifetime. Expect to stay busy with just about anything. There’s setting up pre-season training, managing the guide team and conducting guide meetings, managing the helicopters and their fuel contracts, overseeing the permitting process for flights, along with opening and closing regions and runs that get skied.  Not only all that but you’re also constantly analyzing snow, weather, and terrain in order to determine when the skiing can take place. And don’t forget that you’re also entertaining skiers who are paying big $$$ to ski lines that most only dream about. The hours are long (10-16 hour days) during this time of year, but that’s what it takes to keep everyone safe, happy and in business.”

Next comes working in a ski resort’s marketing department, also mentioned in SkiNet’s article.  Compared to working as a heli-ski guide in Alaska, a marketing career is probably easier to receive training for (as in many colleges offer some sort of marketing program) and your hours may follow a more regular schedule.
“You’re the go to person for everyone who wants something from the mountain. This means athletes, local shops, companies who want to advertise, event organizers…the whole shebang. There’s going to be contracts that have to be written, on-hill events that have to organized, ski shows that have to be worked, tweets that need to be twittered…“

I’ll let you read about the remaining 3 careers detailed along with guiding you towards 2 CMC programs that would coincide nicely with those careers:

As far as careers that Outside Magazine ranks as being desirable

  • Resort Host.
    “Depending on the resort and your precise title—adventure concierge or director of outdoor pursuits, for example—responsibilities can include arranging trips through local guides, testing said trips, leading activities, and maintaining equipment.”
    A Resort Management degree from CMC may help you get that extra edge over others competing for a job like this one.
  • Sustainability Director
    “WHAT YOU DO: Green up your employer by whatever means necessary. “You’re half MacGyver, half Bill Nye the Science Guy,” explains Luke Cartin, environmental manager for Vail Resorts. For Jill Dumain, director of environmental analysis at Patagonia, tasks have included installing solar panels and helping the cafeteria serve more organic foods. The sweetest positions allow for numerous hours outside. “A lot of things I go to check out are on my mountains,” says Cartin.”
    There are several schools that offer M.B.A.s in Sustainability.  CMC’s Bachelors of Arts in Sustainability Studies is a great place to start.
  • Gear Designer
    “The outdoor-gear industry has matured into a $46 billion juggernaut, with hot sectors—like kayaking and trail running—growing more than 25 percent in the past three years.”
    Look into CMC’s Ski Business degree.

Outside Magazine also offers a page providing guidance on becoming a ski patroller, explaining that now you may want to start taking classes from NSP (National Ski Patrol) instead of as a lift operator working on earning a first aid card.  A Ski Patrol Ops certificate from Colorado Mountain College is also a good first step.

CMC’s OE (Outdoor Education) and ORL (Outdoor Recreation Leadership) programs may be a good first step towards becoming a park ranger.
“According to National Park Service communications director Kathy Kupper, people usually start off as seasonal volunteers—or working concessions, pumping gas, or cleaning park bathrooms—while simultaneously loading up on EMT, whitewater-rescue, and fire-management courses. It may take upwards of five years to secure a permanent position at a smaller park. Before landing your dream job at Yosemite, you’ll need to take recertification classes and expand your skill set to include things like helicopter and rappelling rescues.”
EMT-B Classes at CMC
Wilderness EMS
Fire Science Technology at CMC
Fire Academy I & II at CMC

Lastly, companies that Outside Magazine ranked as “Best Places to Work” in varying years:

  • Strava
  • BOA Technology
  • Camelbak Products
  • Smartwool
  • Eddie Bauer
  • Deckers Outdoor
  • Brooks Sports
  • Keen
  • Timberland
  • Patagonia
  • Smith Optics
  • Osprey Packs
  • Mountain Hardwear
  • Amer Sports Winter and Outdoor
  • Oakley Inc.

Outside also recommends NOLS and Aspen Skiing Company as good places to work.  A program like Ski & Snowboard Business is likely to help you take a step in the right direction for a career with a majority of these companies.  Those interested in a career with NOLS might want to consider Outdoor Education or Outdoor Recreation Leadership to aid them in progressing towards the career of their choice.

Last, but certainly not least, those wanting to work at a company like Aspen or Vail should look into the Ski Area Operations program.  There are several other programs covering aspects of the hospitality, tourism, ski industry, and resort management offered by CMC.

Hopefully this post has helped you in one way or another.  If you have any questions, feel free to email me at bthompson18620@mail.coloradomtn.edu or contact a representative from the campus and/or program that you are considering.