College students willing to sacrifice a few days of their spring break directing traffic or flipping burgers can earn themselves a few days of free skiing at several Colorado resorts.
Winter Park, Copper Mountain and Steamboat are seeking students from U.S. colleges to help with the expected surge in crowds during next month’s peak spring-break season.
“It’s an awesome deal,” said Winter Park spokesman Darcy Morse. “They’re on break, they’re looking to ski, and we could certainly use their help.”
Many Colorado ski resorts rely on foreign students who come under a U.S. government cultural-exchange program to work for the season. These temporary student jobs include ticket scanners, housekeepers, child-care workers and parking-lot attendants.
“Part of the advantage of pulling in college students is they’re able to pick up on the nuances a little more quickly,” said Copper spokesman Carlos Garcia. “It’s not the really technical jobs. It’s more a matter of needing the manpower.”
Spring-break compensation at Winter Park and Copper – the two Colorado resorts run by Intrawest Corp. – will start at $8.25 per hour, plus a free lift ticket for each day worked. Other perks include free lessons, discounts on food and retail and temporary employee housing.
Copper is seeking roughly 80 student workers; Winter Park plans to hire about 40.
Students must commit to working at least four days over a one-week period in March.
Steamboat is looking to hire 20 students to work between March 11 and March 26, offering a free lift ticket for every five hours worked.
“It’s a great incentive,” said Steamboat spokeswoman Heidi Thomsen. “We’re offering great snow, free lift tickets and money in their pockets.”
Many Colorado resorts are gearing up for a busier March than usual, thanks to record snowfall levels at many areas.
But Copper and Winter Park, which have offered this type of program in the past, said they would need the extra employees regardless.
“It’s more about dealing with the fluctuations in business,” Garcia said. “It’s definitely busier during spring break, and it’s always a challenge from a human-resources standpoint to cover that need.”
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
