Work A Ski Season at Tyrol Basin

Tyrol Basin Ski and Snowboard area is located in southern Wisconsin, USA, 20 miles from the city of Madison and 3 hours from Chicago, Illinois. It is particularly known for having some of the best terrain parks in the Midwest and attracts a lot of the snowboarders in the area.

http://www.tyrolbasin.com/

Tyrol Basin Vibe

Getting a job at Tyrol Basin provides you the opportunity to work in a quaint country resort atmosphere, which is nonetheless a popular destination for boarders and skiers from around the country. Tyrol Basin hosts many of the area’s most anticipated snowboard and skiing events. It is a big snowboarder area due to its parks.

The Mountain

Tyrol’s 17 tree-lined slopes extend over 40 acres on the 300-foot vertical hill. Easy access to the slopes is provided by three triple chairlifts, a rope tow, and a handle tow. There are three other resorts in the area: Cascade Mountain, Devil’s Mountain and Christmas Mountain. Tyrol is smaller than Cascade and Devil’s Mountain, but larger than Christmas Mountain which is more of a beginner area and for kids.

Terrain Park

The Terrain Park at Tyrol Basin is a huge drawcard for winter season workers. Freestyle skiers and snowboarders have plenty of room to ride and ski in any one of five terrain parks designed for beginners to advanced skiers and boarders which includes an airbag for jumps, and one of the few half-pipes in the Midwest. For three consecutive years, Transworld Snowboarding Magazine readers have voted Tyrol Basin Ski and Snowboard Area to have one of the top 3 terrain parks in the Midwest.

Getting a Job at at Tyrol Basin

Tyrol Basin employs approximately 175 staff members each season. Positions available include: in the ticket office providing customer service, as a ski or snowboard instructor, in the rental shop, in the retail/gift shop or food services/café and bar, and in outdoor operations including snowmaking/grooming, terrain park, and as a lift operator. Many of Tyrol’s seasonal employees return each winter and only a few opportunities open up in some of the smaller departments. The majority of open positions are as instructors, food service employees and as lift operators.

Interviews begin the first week of November and the ski and snowboard season usually starts in late November. Employment applications can be found at www.tyrolbasin.com. Tyrol Basin requires face-to-face interviews to be considered for a position.

For instructors, Tyrol Basin may train new applicants so it is not necessary to have an instructing certificate before applying.

International Applicants

International applicants may be considered by Tyrol Basin and would apply for a job at Tyrol Basin in the normal manner. For further advice on visas to the US, see Work a Snow Season in the USA.

Perks of Working at Tyrol Basin

Tyrol Basin offers competitive compensation with flexible schedules along with skiing/snowboarding privileges, meal discounts, and gift shop discounts. Reciprocal deals with other mountains vary from year to year.

Renting and accommodation

Although resort housing is not available at Tyrol Basin, there are plenty of rental options in the area. The City of Madison, the State’s Capital, is just 20 minutes away and offers all the amenities of a major metropolitan area. There are also rental options in the small community town of Mt. Horeb and surrounding area.

The best way to find local apartment rentals in Mt. Horeb is through the Chamber of Commerce. For the city of Madison, Craigslist is well utilized and internet searches are useful, http://madison.craigslist.org/apa/

The Township at Tyrol

The “Chalet” is a renovated barn that has been on the property since the early 1900’s and offers a relaxed atmosphere in the Double Diamond Bar and the Tyrol Café. The Snowthings gift shop provides customers with an opportunity to purchase items including ski and snowboard apparel, accessories and souvenirs. Tyrol Basin’s Ski School offers lessons for all ages including a preschool program and beginner lessons are available for older children and adults daily.

Outside Work

Tyrol Basin Ski and Snowboard Area is located just 5 miles from the village of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, known as the Troll Capital of the World! This reflects Mount Horeb’s largely Norwegian heritage. Tucked among the deep valleys and rolling hills and farmland of southern Wisconsin, Mt. Horeb hosts thousands of travelers from all over the world every year. Distinctive shops and antique malls, in authentic restored buildings and Victorian homes, line its historic Main Street, known as the Trollway. Also located on the Trollway are several quaint eateries and wonderful restaurants including Fisher King Winery and the Grumpy Troll Brew Pub, an award winning brewery, restaurant/pizzeria. Check out trollway.com for more information on Mt Horeb.

Madison is home to the University of Wisconsin Madison campus and a very active social scene. The population of Mt. Horeb is 7,124 and median age is only 35, due partly to the easy commute to Madison. Working a season at Tyrol Basin can be pretty fun as you can tap into the younger crowd at Madison and enjoy the good nightlife in addition to the riding.