Career Development - Lift Operations

Lift operations is as critical a function for every ski area, as properly maintaining chair lifts is crucial to guest and employee safety. Lift mechanics possess a mix of skills that range from general electrical knowledge, mechanical knowledge, knowledge of PLC and industrial controls, ability to work at heights, to the ability to work in a variety of outdoor mountain weather conditions. 

Check out the My Office: Lift Operations video above to get a sense of a day in the life of a lift mechanic. This career will have you working outside in all weather conditions, as well as in control rooms, in lift terminals, and at times climbing towers. If you love the outdoors, enjoy winter, and are mechanically inclined, the lift mechanic career could be just the thing you’re looking for.

Interested in learning more about this career path? We recommend speaking with some of folks who already do this for a living to get a sense of what’s involved and what kind of skills and education you’ll need to get started. Ski NH can connect you with someone. Email us at Info@SkiNH.com or call 603-745-9396.

Additionally, below we’ve listed local and national educational resources for lift mechanics. We suggest you click around and explore these links to get a sense of what the job entails, what education is available, and the kinds of continuing education that exist (this is a job where you can start small and grow to big heights!).

NSAA/CMC Lift Maintenance Online Education Program

National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and Colorado Mountain College (CMC) are delivering online education for lift mechanics at NSAA member resorts across the country. This new online curriculum is being offered free of charge to help increase the lift maintenance knowledge at your ski area and supplement existing educational opportunities.

Ten online learning modules are available to all NSAA members and their employees. Each class is designed to be completed by individual lift mechanics, allowing them to learn at their own pace and select topics that they need the most.

Courses can be completed on the mechanic's preferred device — a desktop computer, tablet, or phone. Upon successful completion of each module, the learner will receive a certificate validating what was learned, with documentation for the mechanic and their employer.

Email Here FMI (Include student's name and email, ski area, and supervisor's name and email.)

Colorado Mountain College Offers Ropeway Maintenance Technician Certificates

CMC offers opportunities to gain an industry-endorsed Ropeway Maintenance Technician Level 1 Certification in intensive and hybrid formats. The Level 1 Certificate aligns with the NSAA’s Lift Maintenance Resource Guide’s Level 1 Lift Mechanic Guidelines and learning outcomes.

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Gogebic Community College

The Ski Area Management program at Gogebic Community College will be offering its continuing education program in Lift Maintenance which will run May 19, 2025 through June 6, 2025. This program offers the opportunity for Ski Area Lift Maintenance employees to develop the skills necessary for the successful completion of their job responsibilities.

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Lift Maintenance Seminar (LMS)

The first Lift Maintenance Seminar (LMS) was held in 1978 at Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, MA, and was organized by Dave Kenny, who worked for the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety. For more than 40 years LMS has offered a wide variety of ski lift related educational sessions and has trained countless numbers of lift maintenance personnel. Over the past several years seminar topics have expanded to include slope maintenance, snowmaking and grooming. Typically, this in-person event attracts more than 350 attendees from 80 +/- ski areas and supplier companies from across the US.

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Ski New Hampshire Low Voltage Seminar

Students learn to maintain and repair chairlifts, in a training setting with a focus on lift electrical and electronic components. This seminar not only enables seasoned lift mechanics to test and refresh their skills, but it provides an opportunity for those who are interested in becoming a lift mechanic to learn more. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced sessions that provide hands-on experiences along with some limited classroom time. Learn more.