Lifty profile- Vance

Name: Vance

What department do you work in? Lift ops

How long have you worked at Alyeska Resort? 3 months

What brought you to Girdwood/ Alyeska? Passion for skiing

What is your favorite thing about Girdwood? Friendly people who love the outdoors

Do you ski or snowboard? Ski

What other recreational activities do you enjoy? Hunting, fishing, camping

Any other resorts you'd like to give a shout out to? Lost Trail & Powder mountain in Montana/Idaho 

What piece of advice would you give to our guests? Be safe and enjoy life to the fullest!

Lifty profile- Michael Rhue

What department do you work in?  Lift Operations

How long have you worked at Alyeska Resort? 1 year

What other departments have you worked in? F&B

What other resorts have you worked at? Sheraton & Lexington

What brought you to Girdwood/ Alyeska? Snowboarding

What is your favorite thing about Girdwood? The views

Do you ski or snowboard? Board 

What other recreational activities do you enjoy locally? Hiking

What piece of advice would you give to our guests? Do as much as possible

704" at Alyeska Resort, so far...

Matt S. and Jesse take control of the tools at the top of 6.

Ben and I hustled some snow at the top of Tanaka.

Gotta love the million dollar view from the top.

Jen D., Events Co-odinator for the mountainside, took me on a North Face rally.

"Cat skiing"

Meet some of the Summer Crew members

Tony has worked in various departments (tram, events, lift ops) for almost a year now.

Cheyenne has worked lift ops for about 5 years now; and has worked at the tram, Spa at Alyeska, and Tramway cafe as well. She gives an awesome pedi!

Austin is the winter night lift ops supervisor, and enjoys camping in the freezing cold on mountain tops.

Ali has rocked lift ops with her great attitude and giggles for almost a year now.

Foz has been on lift ops for 3 years, and enjoys "living the dream,"

Jeff G. has been on lift maintenance for about 15 years and can tell you more than you'd ever want to know about most lifts, but especially lift 6.

Watching the tram sail by in the distance.

Pretty much the best view from an office, ever.

Thanks to all the awesome employees and gung-ho guests for getting after it this summer!  I see next summer as being even better, and busier.

Steve

Name: Steve (on left in photo)

What department do you work in?
Mountain Operations Manager

How long have you worked at Alyeska Resort?  What other departments have you worked in?
6 years.  Grounds, Facilites.

What brought you to Girdwood/ Alyeska?
The mountains, the snow, the people

What is your favorite thing about Girdwood/ Alyeska?
The mountains, the snow, the people

Do you ski or snowboard? What other recreational activities do you enjoy?
Old school telemark, snowboarding when it's soft.  I hike, ski and enjoy Alaska.

What piece of advice would you give to our guests?
Dress for the weather, smile.

Di

Name: Di

What department do you work in: Ski Area GM

How long have you worked at Alyeska Resort? What other departments have you worked in?
Since 1994. I have been a lift operator, snowmaker, trail crew, ski patrol, night ski patrol supervisor, mountain host supervisor, mountain services manager. I have also helped out at the rental shop, ticket offices, mountain events when needed and drove the shuttle bus.

Have you worked at other resorts; what did you do there?
Crested Butte mountain resort in the late 80's during college at Western State, where I was a children's ski school instructor and a cashier at the upper mountain restuarant.

What brought you to Girdwood/ Alyeska?
I was raised in Anchorage and grew up skiing at Alyeska. After college I decided to move to Girdwood to be a ski bum for a season and never left.

What is your favorite thing about Girdwood/ Alyeska?
Powder, of course. As well as all the really great people that live in this community.

Do you ski or snowboard? What other recreational activites do you enjoy in the local area?
I am a former snowboarder and telemark skier too, but I prefer to ski. I also like to whitewater kayak and raft, fly fish, camp, DH bike at Alyeska, hike and run. And hang with my family.

Any other resorts you'd like to give a shout out to?
I really enjoyed Mammoth Mountain when I went there, but of course they were in a crazy storm cycle with lots of powder.  Super fun and the people there were really friendly.

What piece of advice would you give to our guests?
Winter: Don't be discouraged if it's raining at the base- it means it dumping up top and epic & bring your fat skis. 
Summer: Be responsible with your trash so the bears don't have to be shot. Give all wildlife plenty of space.

Jen

Name: Jen

Department: Administration and Events

Length of employment at Alyeska Resort: 3 years

Other depts you've worked in at Alyeska: Front desk

What brought you to Girdwood/ Alyeska: I came to join a friend. I stayed because I love it!

What is your favorite thing about Girdwood/ Alyeska: The people, the scenery and the way of life.

Ski or snowboard? What other recreational activites do you enjoy in the local area: I started skiing when I moved up here. I also love hiking and backpacking, yoga and camping.

What advice would you give to our guests: Take the road less travelled. It's always better than the places tour busses take you.

Michelle

I am excited to bring you a new feature on the Alyeska Lift Crew blog: Employee interviews! I hope to bring you a new profile every week or so. I hope you enjoy! Please leave comments, if you feel like it.
Name: Michelle

Department: Lift Operations

Span of employment at Alyeska/ Other depts: 10 years on both lift and tram crew

Other Resorts: Alta 99/00 in the TKO and 00/01 on Lift Ops

Why Girdwood/ Alyeska: Spent the summer of 2001 in Moose Pass and heard about Alyeska and all the snow here. Came up for a Ween concert and met some fun folks in this beautiful town. The quality of in Girdwood is through the roof. One ride up the tram and it was on, I knew I wanted to live here!

Ski or snowboard/ other recreational activities: Alpine ski, although I'd like to try tele-skiing and snowboarding. I also enjoy dogwalking, yoga and rolling down the Gird to Bird path on my bike or rollerblades.

Any advice for the guests? Summer guests: get a travel guide and read some of it before you come up; it will make your trip SO much more enjoyable. Winter guests: have fun, but play by the rules; they are there for your (and others') safety.