Industry News
Working at a ski resort might sound like the dream job for all the winter enthusiasts who love to ski or ride all winter. Ski resorts typically offer employees free lift passes, discounted prices, and employee housing. It is one of those jobs that keeps you on the mountain all season long. Finding the right job at the ski resort is vital to enjoying working there, and there are plenty of options, from lift attendants to food and beverage workers, guest services employees, and many more. However, what if you had the opportunity to be the General Manager of a ski resort? That is the position Shawn Taylor will be in for this upcoming season.
King Pine Ski Area, New Hampshire, announced the appointment of Shawn Taylor as its new General Manager last month. Taylor, who has been a member of the King Pine team since 1986, brings over three decades of hands-on experience to his leadership role. Taylor began as a seasonal employee in 1986 and has worked there year-round since 1996. Over the years, he has contributed to nearly every aspect of the ski area, from ski and snowboard instruction to working in lift maintenance and snowmaking.
Taylor has worked at King Pine Ski Area for almost half his life and is well-informed about the mountain and community. Officially being named the resort’s general manager this season allows Taylor to change the mountain. However, locals do not have to worry about the new GM making massive changes. “One of my biggest hopes is to continue running the company the way it has since its inception and make some improvements,” Taylor said in a phone interview.
One new feature at King Pine is the opportunity for skiers to join the New England Uphill Multi-Pass. Taylor added, “Uphill will grow even more because we are small. People just getting into the sport will find it is not an extreme hike uphill before you ski down. Younger people or those just getting into it might not have the endurance to get to the top of a larger hill. Just as with alpine skiing, we are a good starter mountain.” The Uphill New England multi-mountain uphill membership pass provides access to 12+ ski resorts across Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine with a single purchase.
The ski industry faces many challenges, and King Pine is not exempt. Climate change, warmer weather, rising costs, and other factors have made running a ski resort challenging. Taylor understands this and considers the future to ensure King Pine’s success. “The vision for the future is sustainability, reducing power usage, and continuing to operate functionally,” Taylor said.
As an independently owned ski area, King Pine is committed to offering affordable family pricing. It offers a hard-to-beat Tuesday night package from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. Lift tickets cost $20, rentals cost $20, and you can grab a couple of slices of pizza and a beer for $20. So, you could spend a night on the slopes and grab some food for $60. That is something a lot of ski resorts around the country can’t match.
King Pines has 17 trails and offers alpine, Nordic, and uphill skiing. It also has an outdoor ice skating rink and slope-side lodging, which is unique for a mountain of its size. Most independently owned resorts have that vibe and atmosphere that larger resorts do not. “King Pine is very special because it is more of an old school ski area with narrower trails, our customer service, and our affordability,” Taylor said. From bunny hills to black diamonds and natural snowshoe trails to a snow tubing hill, King Pine Ski Area offers just about everyone in the family would enjoy.
Taylor looks forward to leading King Pine, focusing on community, accessibility, and maintaining the family-friendly values that make the mountain a cherished destination for locals and visitors alike. King Pine Ski Area might not be the biggest ski resort, but that does not mean you cannot have much fun there. Taylor agrees and has that classic small New Hampshire ski resort charm about him. “Come visit us, give us a try, and let us know what you think,” Taylor said at the end of the interview.
King Pine is part of the Indy Allied Program. Indy Passholders receive 25% off lift tickets on weekends and holidays between December 23 through March 10 and 50% off all other days in the season.
For more information about King Pine Ski Area, visit its website.
