It’s the same dream that attracts so many people to the mountains—a season of ski-bumming, working at a resort and hitting the slopes at every opportunity. Of course, more people dream about it than actually do it, worried about the realities of life in a mountain town. But Utah’s Deer Valley Resort has worked to create an atmosphere that offers an excellent balance between career and lifestyle. With lodging, restaurants, childcare centers, non-skiing activities, and a range of other guest service and administrative jobs, you can take almost any skill set, pair it with skiing, and make a fun resort experience of it.

Deer Valley has developed a strong reputation for retaining employees—more than a thousand have been employed there for five or more years. The resort regularly wins awards as a ski destination, but the trick, it seems, is to keep its employees exceptionally happy with a good work environment and frequent doses of Utah powder. The happy employees provide guests with great service, keeping many coming back each year.

Deer Valley gave us a peek at its list of most-fun jobs—and what type of personality tends to gravitate toward each.

1. For the Diehard Skier: Slope Groomer or Snowmaker

If powder turns are even more precious than a conventional ski schedule—and if you get a kick out of large machinery—these jobs could be perfect for you. Many snowmakers and groomers come back year after year. Grooming in particular happens during off hours, so you can finish your shift and score some fresh tracks when the lifts open.

2. For the Culinary Type: Chef

Prefer to stay warm until ski time? As a chef, cook, or baker, you can work in any kind of restaurant within the resort to fine-tune your skills a variety of dining settings—whether you’re in a five-star kitchen, cooking over a fire, or baking wedding cakes. You’ll gain valuable and marketable experience—along with sunny ski days.

3. For the Teacher Type: Ski Instructor

If you love teaching, skiing, and being outside, this one’s for you. It’s a way to share your love of a sport with people who are excited to learn—and you’ll spend the whole day on a mountain playground. Rewarding? Check. Fun? Check. Perfect goggle-tan recipe? Check.

4. For the Gear Junkie: Rental Shop Technician

If you geek out on outdoor gear, you can put your knowledge to use helping resort guests get set up on just the right equipment for their day on the mountain. As a natural bonus, you’ll enjoy plenty of “product research sessions” (ski breaks) outside. But during the work day, you’ll stay warm as can be.

5. For the People People: Guest Service Attendant

If you’re outgoing enough that you could make a job out of greeting people, you’re in luck. There is such a job. You’ll keep warm by staying on your toes, welcoming guests to the resort, helping to clear their paths of snow, organizing their skis in the storage corral, and making sure everyone has a good time.

6. For the Problem-Solver: Lodging Operations Staff

If you work in lodging, your full-time task is to find little ways to make guests’ trips special. So you can expect to get creative: Maybe you run to the store to replace a child’s lost stuffed animal, or maybe you save the day by helping a couple book a hard-to-get anniversary dinner reservation.

7. For the Child at Heart: Children’s Program Staff

Let the ski instructors cruise the slopes with kids when they’re outside, while you entertain little ones of all ages during their non-ski time indoors. The agenda includes a lot of singing, dancing, art projects and play. Staff can stick to the age group they feel very-most comfortable caring for, whether it’s babies, older kids, or anyone in between.

8. For the Classic Ski-Bum Type: Lift Operator

Hey, you can’t discount the life of a liftie—the job comes with frequent ski breaks, lots of fresh air, and the chance to interact with visitors all day long. While safety and protocol are tip-top priority, the team has its share of amusement, including participating in (somewhat silly but extremely fun) sporting competitions.

Sound like fun? Find out more about Deer Valley employment opportunities here, and discover why so many people keep coming back year after year.

Originally written by RootsRated for Deer Valley.

Featured image provided by Deer Valley Resort