The snowboarder stands at the top of the mountain looking down over mounds of powdery, untracked snow. She shoves off and carves a turn and then another into the feathery powder. It's a snowboarder's heaven.
She swoops down the slope, but suddenly her board catches, and she falls and tumbles to a stop. When she looks down, she sees deep scratches in her board, and her binding has broken.
She patches up the board as best she can to get down the hill, and then swings into the ski shop for repairs. Jason James, a snowboard technician in Washington, can probably help out.
"It's great when someone comes in, and you can really help them out," says James. "A lot of this is dealing with customers. I like working with people. It helps shape yourself as a person."
Of course, dealing with people can also be difficult. "It can be negative at times when people come in and the snow is no good or their snowboard is broken," he says. "If you don't have the right thing available to fix up their board, they can get upset."
But James says you just have to approach people in the right manner. "You just try to help as best you can, and people generally appreciate that."
Leah Wahl is a ski technician. She says that people also expect technicians to know all about the equipment. "It's like computers," she says. "Things are always changing and you have to keep up. You have to explain to someone who is coming in looking for straight skis that they just aren't going to find them."
As ski and board equipment changes, technicians have to keep up. "The machinery changes every year and you have to keep learning on the job," says Sean Harris, a ski technician.
The main way to keep customers happy is by doing a good job. "On the technical side, you have to be accurate," says Wahl. "You've got to know how to set the bindings. They change with the brands, so you need to memorize the differences."
"You figure out the stance of the snowboard, what angles the feet should be at, and how far apart they should be spaced," adds James.
When a customer hits the slope, the ski technician wants them to forget about the equipment and just enjoy the snow. "Your reputation is on the line," says Wahl. "You need to do a good job."
And the skier's life may be at risk if a technician improperly adjusts the equipment. "The ski technician is responsible, and you can get sued if you don't adjust the bindings properly," adds Wahl.
In order to become an adept ski technician, James advises apprenticing under another technician. "I worked with a technician for a few years, learned from him and picked up from hands-on experience," he says.
Being interested in repairs and fine craftsmanship also helps. "I'm handy myself," says James. "I enjoy woodworking and learning new techniques in metal and in wood. That crosses over into this work. You could consider this a trade."
Waxing skis and boards is an art form. The type of wax used changes with snow and weather conditions. For serious skiers, the waxing job can make or break a race. "Waxing is a huge area. Everyone has their own ideas and techniques," says James.
Wahl agrees, and says that there is a lot of information that can be learned about preparing skis. "It isn't hard work, but the amount of effort you put into it can make the difference."
Are ski and snowboard technicians stuck in the ski shop repairing and waxing other people's equipment, instead of getting out and enjoying the snow?
"It can get pretty busy, especially when the ski season is just starting and people all come in with their equipment. They need it tuned up right away because they are going up the hill on the weekend," says Wahl.
Even still, she can find time to slip on some skis. "If I have a four- or five-hour break in the middle of the day, I'll head up to the local mountain for a few runs," she says. Luckily, the mountain is only 15 minutes from downtown. "It stays open until 10 p.m., so I can get in runs after work as well."
James works in a snowboard shop at the ski hill, so it is a bit easier for him to slip away for a few runs. "I'm not living in the lap of luxury or anything, but it's the lifestyle that counts," he says. "I get discounts on lift tickets and on equipment. I can work on my board and my friends' boards whenever I want. It's a cool way to spend the winter."