Is this a deal where you present a certificate, or you just know how to do it because somebody showed you how type thing? Im interested in becoming proficient at it. Any ideas/first hand experience here???
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Is this a deal where you present a certificate, or you just know how to do it because somebody showed you how type thing? Im interested in becoming proficient at it. Any ideas/first hand experience here???
Uh a snowcat skoo, duh
#peoplethesedays
They'll let anyone drive those things.
usually having at least some experience on a riding mower to mow your lawn is all you need.
I think it's pretty much like operating any heavy equipment. Just have to convince the boss that you won't tear shit up too badly.
Pretty sure Colorado Mountain College has a program. BA in skibumology.
No idea, but many snow cat drivers also work dozers in the off season.
May be easier to follow the heavy equipment training route.
Many resorts seem hard up for cat drivers. I have found this to be especially true at some smaller resorts. I know up here, Hudson Bay Mountain seems to be looking for someone just about every season. Core Shot makes a good point about heavy equipment training / experience. I've known a couple farm boys who drive combines and other farm machinery in the summer / fall and transition to snow cat driving in the winter.
What I really want to know is where I can go to become a zamboni driver.
Try http://forums.slopegroomer.com
When I worked at a mountain (not as a groomer/cat driver), the snowcat guys worked as excavators, logging machine ops, etc. in the summer. The senior guys trained the newbies who they hired from the pool of local heavy equipment operators. If you weren't in that club, forget it. Years later, one of my brothers worked at a different hill where they trained from scratch - no similar experience required.
Based on that, I'd say it depends on how many applicants vs how many jobs.
PM happy fun ball.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phill
I have been a snocat operator for 4 years now. No I don't operate machinery in the summers however I have in the past. Operating experience does help. Before I started operating a cat operator told bang on the door of a grooming managers door until he gets so pissed he has no other option but to hire you. I started that way. Got a few years under my belt in Colorado then spent a few years at targhee grooming. Hardest part is getting that first few years under you then it's easy to find a job with experience.but targhee is also the kinda place who will probably never hire a first year operator. So find a smaller mountain somewhere and then move to a bigger non corporate mountain. Corporate mountain suck to groom at.
Usually they start as snowmakers around here.
i asked my boss "can i drive a snowcat?" and she said "sure". Watched an outdated video about operating a snowmobile from the 80s and I've been driving at cat at uhhlta for four years.