Best Ski Town to Live In?

[Kat1996]

Just my .02--I would seriously look at Durango. Beautiful area and not as touristy as some of the others. Also Pagosa has always been able to maintain the small town feel. (No Walmart and 1 stoplight).

[Robin.Short]

Just some words of encouragement, DO IT! I was a snowboarding bum for a season in the Lake Tahoe area. It was the lowest paying job but the best job I have ever had, slept in my friends living room or in her bed (i.e., sort of couch surfed) now I am a college graduate and gratefully working in the field I studied which is rare. I carry those snowboarding bum days with me close to my heart! I think sunsprit said it well, I have a friend who would go out to Colorado every winter for snowboarding/working. He drove busses so this means he had a different class license but if you are responsible and a good driver, you may look into this!

[Vinegaroon]

There is no better place than living in Salt Lake City or outside of it and working at one of the many resorts. You will find abundant work and skiing. Of course, it is not really a "ski town", but it is a town with a lot of skiing and many employment opportunities...cheap housing too.

[borborygmi]

Originally Posted by Kat1996

Just my .02--I would seriously look at Durango. Beautiful area and not as touristy as some of the others. Also Pagosa has always been able to maintain the small town feel. (No Walmart and 1 stoplight).

Durango not touristy? Seriously? If Durango's not the absolute most frequently visited tourist trap town in the entire state, it's certainly got to be up there near the top. It's also not really a ski town, in the true sense of the word. Purgatory (or DMR, whichever they're calling it these days) is a 30 minute drive north, and compared with numerous other options in the state, it's not very big, very interesting or very challenging terrain-wise where the actual skiing's concerned. Durango is and will always be a cycling town first and foremost.

I'd go with Gunnison, Steamboat, or Pagosa. Those are the most genuine, down-to-earth, least touristy ski towns in the state. If you want ritzy, obnoxious, overbuilt and expensive, go for Vail, Breck, Aspen or Telluride.