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Show | Page 14-Wasarca CANYON REPORTER, November 9-22, 1994 . a place to live. , If you have ever skied Vail you know _ might be true for the average big. _ recreational joe or jane who skis 11.9 days per year. But . the hard core ski bum is far from average or recreational. The true ski bums of today - live for skiing and base their ultimate ski experience. As a seasoned ski bum, I feel my search is over. The | Cottonwood Canyons provide the ski bum’s quintessential paradise. As a University of _ that it is sarily better. Vail has plenty United States. What has not Skier - steeps. Utah has the | ~ been in their best interest, Salt Flats and Colorado has although it should be, is to | the winter. Like many first but it lacks the key ingredient that challenges the expert Other than the. and community needs such as Cornice, Vail does not have - parking and traffic control, any sustained, adrenaline pumping expert ski terrain. and affordable housing. Vail Anyone who claims to be a. will always have seasonal ski bums tofill their needs. But true expert skier will become it will always. lack the feeling of a close-knit community _ its residents and the strained relationship between the locals and the ski corporation. If skiing is your passion, if skiing is in your has the --Dave Doherty. Utah. Moving to Utah represents the transition from ski worked in the resort industry, do. If you don’t become can experience the best snow on earth but you do not have to live like a bum. There are two _ I have come that it is best to work in a position where meals are provided for free. One can only © lifestyles that one can strive live on cafeteria crackers and ~ to achieve while ski living i in _ ramen noodles for so long. My next order of business was figuring out how I could get around the © pass restrictions for first year _ employees. I was appalled | probably find yourself hurt from launching cliffs with flat, hardpack landings. I found myself constantly - weaseling out of work and Utah. The first is a lifestyle planning trips to other areas _ pay $500 per bedroom in a Crested Butte, and Squaw that revolves around working and skiing everyday up ata ski area in the canyons. The Valley. If you are looking to second is a lifestyle that has such as Jackson Hole, Alta, Soon I you'll realize that the girl- friend or boyfriend that you really can’t stand anymore © might be a potential person to share a room with to keep expenses down. You will also find out that-you have no rights as a tenant. If there is have a problem, the derelict landlord’s response will be elevate your skiing tothe skiing in the forefront but has level of the world’s best a secondary component such extreme skiers, you will not as attending school or owning a business in the city. Asa find Vail to be a suitable training ground. something with which you | “Tf you don’t like it, then Not everything is hard to come by for the ski — bum trying to make it in Vail. Fortunately, job opportunities . are ample because you will | ees . Another problem typ- ical of ski towns such as Vail At the beginning of the ski season it is advised to scout The most common but P Watson's Cafe Open 9:15 47 - 4:39 PM everyday. Serving BREAKFAST & LUNCH At Alta you don’t have to leave the slopes for reat food. Watson’s to the conclusion afe offers a deli bar with huge sandwiches and two salads with— every order. All food — _ made fresh daily! Always available ae cappuccino. _ Alsovsit our SKI & GIFT SHOP All when I learned that I would- aang - the base GERMANIA n’t be able to ski the epic terrain and powder of Snowbird seven days a week. How LIFT ALTA (801) 742-3037 3 1 market that remains almost untouched by all other print media. tain operations, retail, and We have designed this newspaper from the beginning with the small lodging positions. The real money-making jobs are the — business in mind. ability to epee , If _ you don’t, you will find yourself hanging out at bars over $300 a night. Unfortunately, these positions referred to as “The All Dudes — open up as often as a 30 inch | female you will have the lux-_ 4 Our economical rates allow your advertising message to reach a lowest paying are the moun- ments. Some bartenders have been known to walk with Club” or “Dick’s.” If you are 84092, 84093, and 84121 zip codes. | Five thousand i issues hand delivered to over 100 prominent local busi| of being a nice place to visit but somewhere that you almost as difficult as finding — would not want to live. The nesses and places of great public congress, among them: Snowbird, Canyon Inn, Solitude, Carl’s Cafe, Alta, etc Vail has a reputation ury of being selective in choosing a mate. But if you are male, the process is We provide flexible rates and payments, and the the difficult but desirable canyon and east bench areas. Circulation 10,000. Five thousand delivered by U.S. mail.to selected routes in the powder day in Vail - almost never. » a — NE men ing at Snowbird. The lift WASATCH CANYON REPORTER ‘upscale dining establish- the new local talent early and — much more besides just ski- - WITH THE tipped positions such as bar- _ tending and food service in is the male to female ratio. privileges at Snowbird. But after pondering my dilemma, I remembered that the - Cottonwood Canyons offer | pay your rent and your bar tab. _ the meager 4 days a week ski — need at least two of them to leave.” They know if you do they will have a line of people waiting to take your night position to cover expenses incurred in moving — and my lack of working in the off season. Having bumming to “ski living.” You bored with Vail , you will question. You can expect to Snowbird as my skiing and working destination. The job positions offered are typical — every day as most ski bums out a few important details. able housing is out of the be living in Utah. Ski bumming is redefined in bored with Vail if they: ski _ Some of my friends have been steered towards other areas such as Squaw Valley -and Crested Butte because of still in search of a part time — blood, if you live to ski, then you should chose could they do this to me? _ of most ski resorts. I had .ticket prices at Alta, Brighton several years experience in and Solitude are so inexpenski retailing so I stuck with sive that one can afford to what I know how to do best. explore these other areas. _ Within a few days I was — - But if you have an aversion offered a position at one of - toward purchasing even these cheap lift tickets, the back the base area shops. Easy _ enough. country guarantees to stir The starting wage for some excitement in your most jobs is less than I anticieyes. For some of the best pated, but so is the cost of skiing, you really have to living. Nevertheless, I am due to the transient nature of — perfect except that I had left begin laying groundwork. provide for controlled growth Vail flats.” Unless your mommy or daddy owns a condo, afford- year residents, short pitches of Prima Coton One of these being housing. Utah was to secure a job for _ flatsand tion base was in their younger years. It was almost as if I could still be in college | except that I would be skiing instead of studying. The picture I had painted in my mind seemed « My first order of - business after relocating to Bonneville Salt good and most of the popula- new resident of Utah, I will explain my experiences in working towards attaining ite first lifestyle. increase skier-visits and make the biggest ski area in the - “Utah has the Vail seemed like an easy transition for me from the college world to the ski bum world. The night life seemed pretty place. — _ est has continually been to to offer as far as variety goes Colorado graduate, moving to house or condominium. best interest. Their best inter- But bigger is not neces- the Vail Flats. existence on searching for the town is more or less controlled by Vail Associates and is dictated by what is to their tere entreeie Patan by Peicd Doherty ~ “Vail- there’s no comparison.” Vail’s slogan - Paha There’s No Comparison AIL VS. a COTTONWOOD CANYONS A SKI BUM’S PERSPECTIVE The Wasatch Canyon Reporter is printed on only the most absorbent | BeRADSm ideal for lining the dogs cage or SaAEp ING fish! | |