There are a lot of different jobs required to keep a ski resort functioning, from the food & beverage staff to the snow makers, the hotel staff to the ski patrollers. Some are more visible than others, but it’s all vital.
You don’t see lift mechanics on the mountain too often, and most people only recognize that they exist if they messed something up, but they are easily among the most important cogs in the ski resort machine. Without them, a chairlift breakdown could take weeks to fix, and they’d be happening a lot more often. Ski Utah followed Snowbasin Resort lift mechanic Robby Fullmer through a day on the mountain, discussing his work and life at a ski resort.
Ski resort staff work hard to ensure that we get to enjoy the mountains and the snow safely and without requiring uphill effort, so make sure to stay grateful for their hard work, even when something might be going wrong. Chairlifts are hardcore machines that function in brutal weather conditions, so mechanical issues are bound to happen. Just be glad that there’s a lift mechanic there to fix it when they do.
If lift maintenance is something that interests you, there are several colleges around the country that offer programs specifically on the subject. Colorado Mountain College offers a Ropeway Maintenance Technician certification course, while Salt Lake Community College offers a Ski Lift Maintenance course.
