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All I'm saying is that IMHO they should get a family pass and prevailing wage for their work hours.
I suppose that's why I'm never in charge of anything though...I'm one of those people who tend to think supply and demand isn't always an appropriate tool for deciding compensation for public service.
I liked working with the voly, they usually earn their keep. The couple mountains I worked at they were dedicated and "lifers".Quote:
Originally Posted by schindlerpiste
they don't run routes but help with the rest of the duties and run wrecks, and if I was to ever patrol again it would be in that capacity.
it's an interesting thought; how much does the voly program effect the living wages of the pros?Quote:
Originally Posted by YetiMan
I always thought the pay was ludicrous when weighted against the personal safety, and responsibility.
Senior management does have to take the test (i think). they dont have to do a few of the things that do not relate to their job like lifting stuff over their head.Quote:
Originally Posted by L7
They do offer subsidized gym memberships for all full time employees. They told employees almost a year ago about this so it was not sprung on anyone. All of the employees had plenty of time to get ready for it.
and as far as the test goes, it is REAALLLLLY easy. fat out of shape people can definitely pass it. the people that will struggle with it will have previous injuries and the few old farts still trying to work.
absofuckingloutly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzworthy
This is all about determining pre-exisiting conditions and denying anything that you mentioned in the pre-screen.
Knees and shoulders are what instructors and 'trollers fuck up.
Vail is self insured, so this is about reducing what they pay out. And Occupational Physician is fancy wording for "dirty whore for insurance money" and "soul less asshole".Quote:
Baseline medical tests are only given to applicants seeking employment at Colorado Resorts. The medical professional uses the completed medical questionnaire to establish and record the applicant's baseline functional abilities and/or limitations. The baseline information collected will consist of knee and shoulder range of motion but may also include other physical assessments based on the Occupational Physician's review of the medical questionnaire and/or test results as it relates to the covered position.
This is whats happening where I work. We have to jump through some fitness hoops or pay an extra 35% on our premium. Its not mandatory and many people are not happy that their spouse will have to participate as well. Because we are such a high risk group it was the only way to keep our insurance plan intact.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzworthy
i had to do the baseline testing at heavenly like 12 years ago as an instructor.
Do you think that this may have been prompted, at least in part, by Big Bob Tara?
Heavenly ski patroller for 20+ years. 60 years old. Well over 300 pounds. Very much alive when he loaded onto the Mott Canyon chair, he had a heart attack while riding the chair. He was dead by the time the chair arrived at the top station.
ding ding dingQuote:
Originally Posted by MTT
Could well be a way to get old people (like me) off the mountain and only have twenty yo's out there.
"Power to the correct people"
I was away last year so I didn't hear about it til I went through the interview process for Breck.Quote:
Originally Posted by catfishjon
How many pounds do you lift over your head? Can you describe it in detail please?
I've been doing crunches and pushups and squats like crazy lately. Been riding my bike hard all summer, but I still wonder how it will be going from sea level to 10k and testing almost immediately as a condition for being hired.
Yeah, they also offer one free yoga class a week and one fitness class a week. Not a lot, but maybe fun.
As for the motivation, of course it's about the bottom line. They have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholder's, yes? I've sat in meeting before and had it explained how workmen's comp claims can completely wreck profits, for ski school anyway.
Old people can be fit too. Puleeeze.
Having the test on the mountain with patrolers lifting boo and instructors lifting overweight guests that fell down and can't get up might be cute. Some kind of special olympics. But it's a hiring condition for these seasonal spots and has to be done preseason. And those exercises do look like a decent standard to my eye. We all learned them one time or another. You can practice them without a gym membership. You can measure at any clinic.
Like so many things/places, it depends.Quote:
Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat
For my program I use a mix of ex-pros and some locals as my Voly staff. It allows for my paid folks the option to take a day off and the remainder of the crew to not run short. It also helps us cover the really busy times (X-mas, Presidents week, special events like Headwaters Spring Runoff) without adding to the budget.
In terms of whether or not I can cut positions by having Volunteers, I can't.
In terms of paying less because I have volunteers, I can't.
For recruiting future paid staff? This is where a lot of them start out.
Yep, we don't do it for the money, most of my folks do it because they enjoy the lifestyle and spending 5 months working with each other.Quote:
I always thought the pay was ludicrous when weighted against the personal safety, and responsibility.
Thinly-veiled age discrimination. I wouldn't be surprised if this program only lasts one season.
@SheaRa
I do not think ski school instructors have to lift anything above their head. You have to lift something like 50lbs to your waist and 25lbs to your shoulders. Other than that there is a pushup test (11 in 1 minute), a sit up test (not sure of the numbers), and agility test (jumping around a box), and a balance test (standing on 1 foot). There is also a sit and reach. You have to be able to reach to about the top of where your ski boot would be.
If you are a new hire there is a physical I believe. Im not really sure about that though.
It's a job where you need to be fit, I think it's defensible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoova
Back when I worked in Vail they had a knee test for instructors.
I was 21 and never had knee issues so it was never a problem for me, but for the people who had previously had operations etc it showed them up.
I had a knee test last year at Snowbird for prehire. I think they were testing laxity in the acl? I had like 1mm in my right knee and left was perfect. Still far within their spec (up to 4mm?). I don't really remember.
I had a ski coach when I was a kid, herman, he was austrian, and well into his 70s, he could have done this test no problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoova
We had a SL race at howelson hill at steamboat once. Tons of ski clubs from all over the state. Each was allowed to set up a practice course, but it was first come first serve as to where you got to set up your course. Obviously the lane right next to the race course was the most similar and going to be the most sought after. Before dawn, while my 20something and 30something coaches were sleeping most likely hung over, Herman put a bunch of gates on his back, hiked up, and set part of our course before the lifts opened. Everyone, including the other coaches were a bit surprised when we got up there, but herman couldnt understand what the big deal was, he just went for a little stroll is all.
Test has nothing to do with age.
I agree. How your body functions as you age is something that you have a lot of control over. It's a choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by leroy jenkins
how is this age discrimination. either you're fit enough to do the job, or you're not. i'm in the best shape of my life. coincidentally i'm older than i've ever been. go figure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoova
Cool thanks. For the lifting - is it like a deadlift with a bar to the waist? And to the shoulders, is it like a snatch with a bar? I think those are the terms...just trying to form an image in my mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by catfishjon
to the waist is like a deadlift but i think they use some sort of box with handles, not a barbell. the shoulder one would be considered a high pull i guess (a snatch is above the head). but imagine holding a milk crate at your waist and lifting it to touch your chin.
Instructors should have to stoop down and help up a 9 year old every ten minutes for 2 hours.
i am sure it has been said, but this shit is one step away from drug testing.
For patrol, I fucking hope to god they are getting tested for on the job shit, but for instructors...let them smoke that fatty!
i'm ok with patrol being high when they get to me. and they better not be out either.Quote:
Originally Posted by DasBlunt
one step short of drug testing? i don't think so. i think with drug testing the resorts understand they would save on insurance, but have to pay a higher wage. this is more like an alternative to drug testing.
and if you're concerned about marijuana and safety, then having your kid ride a chairlift for the first time with a pot smoking poodle should concern you just as much as patrol being high when they scrape your bloody carcass off a lift tower. that last bit is related to the words of a patrol who had burned just prior to receiving a call about a guy hitting a tower at a tahoe resort. he was a little freaked on the ski down but went into auto upon arrival. me, i was the pot smoking poodle. nobody died in either case.
Anyone else feel like they should do a "We recognize you have a "winning personality" but can you actually ski parallel" test for instructors? Seriously, second day on the job this chick falls off the side of a green run, everyone was thinking, wait, being able to ski greens helps you teach people to ski greens.
Quote:
Originally Posted by edmoloco
FTFY....