It seems like all eyes are on the ski industry, and not necessarily in a good way. The resorts are struggling with the effects of COVID-19, and as a result, there have been major losses in profit. This year has been particularly tough, with several big name resorts going bankrupt. But despite the economic hardships, the ski industry has still found a way to make money – apart from the obvious gambling aspect – by means of sponsorships and corporate partnerships.
It is well known that ski reps get paid big bucks to help get you and your family into the slopes. But just how much do they get paid? Let’s take a look.
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The 2020 Ski Season
After one of the most turbulent offseasons in modern history, the world’s best ski resorts are back, and they’re open for business. In fact, the ski industry grew its profits by 18% in 2020, despite the pandemic. This uptick is largely thanks to the lucrative corporate and merchandising deals that the resorts have been able to pull off.
That said, the ski season in North America was far from normal. Due to the pandemic, most resorts were unable to operate at full capacity, and thus, struggled to make ends meet. Summit County, which is headquartered in Colorado and includes Colorado Springs and some of the most well-known ski resorts in North America, saw a 47% decline in winter sports visitors in 2020. As a result of the decreased attendance, the annual income of the county’s main industry – gaming – dropped by 43% in 2020. While these numbers are a reflection of the turmoil surrounding the pandemic, the ski industry itself still managed to pull in more revenue than ever before.
Ski Club Reps
Ski club reps are the individuals and companies that the biggest ski resorts turn to for retail and distribution services. They act as the representatives of the resorts, attending events, distributing media, and selling merchandise, among other things. In most cases, ski club reps are paid on a commission basis, so their income is directly tied to how much product they can sell.
It is quite a lucrative job, as one of the world’s best ski resorts, Andi Lang, who was previously stationed at Heavenly Mountain Resort, attested to in an interview with Forbes. Lang stated:
“Skiing is a lifestyle that almost everyone enjoys at least once in their lifetime. Due to this fact, there will always be a demand for people wanting to participate in this sport. As a result, the industry will continue to grow as long as more people are willing to try it out. It doesn’t hurt that the pay is fantastic, either.”
The vast majority of recreational skiers and snowboarders that we spoke to said that they would be interested in participating in the 2021 ski season. The question is: will the resorts be able to afford to hire all of the new reps that they’re going to need?
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a stable source of income, a job in the ski industry could be a worthwhile endeavor. The perks are incredible, and it won’t take long to understand why so many people are attracted to this line of work. Plus, the industry is always looking for new talent, so it’s a never-ending source of opportunities. However, in a time of economic uncertainty, it is vital that we look for ways to ensure that we do our part to minimize the impact that the pandemic has had on our personal finances.
The bottom line is that the pandemic reduced the demand for recreational skiing and snowboarding. With the world emerging from this pandemic, we are likely to see a decrease in the number of individuals taking up this lifestyle. This, in turn, could have a major impact on the demand for ski club reps, and thus, their income.
So, what can we do to make sure that our finances are prepared for the coming ski season? Firstly, we can look to increase our income through side jobs or venture-capital investments. Secondly, we can try to save more, so that we can maximize our income during this time of uncertainty. Thirdly, we can look for cheaper alternatives to buying ski equipment and apparel, as the demand has decreased as a result of the pandemic. Finally, we can reduce our spending, so that we do not rely on expensive hobbies that we can’t afford. While the last point is obvious, it’s still worth reiterating.
With everyone’s finances being effected by the pandemic, it is essential that we look for ways to protect our finances. One way is to make sure that our savings are high enough to cover our living costs for at least six months. If we do not have enough savings to cover our basic living expenses, then it is likely that we will have to take on a second job to make ends meet. This is something that we should all be willing to do, as the alternative is certainly not a desirable situation.
In this article, we have discussed how much do ski reps get paid. Now it’s time for you to do some research and find out for yourself how much money you can make as a ski rep. You can also use this information to aid you in deciding whether or not this is the right line of work for you, and how much effort you should expect to have to put in, if you decide to pursue this career.