Ugo Brousseau – Outdoor Guest Services Manager at FAR

Every time I ski down to the Haul Back I always pause to consider the job of the FAR lifties. And my first thought is usually, “Poor guys!” Whether it’s a powder day or -20 on the hill, I am enjoying myself and relying on these guys to get me up the mountain so I can squeeze another run in.

I caught up with Ugo Brousseau, Outdoor Guest Services Manager at FAR, to find out what a typical day looks like for our lifties and ticket checkers.

The morning routine starts at 6:30am with a meeting, followed by morning check-ups at lift stations and clearing snow around the lifts. The main chairs have to start running early so that they can upload the ski patrol, then they set out the corrals and get the lifts open to public at 9am.

FAR has 55 lifties, 20 ticket collectors and four terrain park attendants. Typically a chair will have two lift operators and two ticket checkers, but when it’s busy this increases and on an average day there will be 35-50 people working on the hill in Ugo’s department.

“My day ends when the last guy on shift gets back to base, which is usually the Haul Back lifties around 5pm. I like to make sure everyone gets off the mountain safely before I leave at the end of the day.”

I asked Ugo if the Haul Back was the coldest spot on the mountain.

“Actually I think the coldest spot is probably the top of the White Pass Chair”

“The great thing about the Haul Back lift is that it is super fun to get to in the morning, with a run down North Ridge. But yeah, the sun doesn’t reach the haul back until Mid-March. It’s a beautiful spot. You’re surrounded by huge cedars and get to stay warm because you’re always moving, putting people on the T-bar. Powder days are fun, everyone is happy after skiing Cedar Bowl.”

Ugo came to Fernie with his snowboard in 1999 and started out as a FAR lifty. Over the years he was promoted through the ranks and has been running the department since 2002.

“I have a great crew of supervisors working with me, which makes life much easier! Mark McQaurrie is my Lift Ups Supervisor and works my opposite shift. He’s the one responsible for the beautiful terrain park we have this year!”

“And every day someone is in charge of supervising the ticker checkers, so I have Johanna Wilson and Andrea Gignac helping me with that.”

Ugo has a huge amount of respect for his team and acknowledged that these guys work hard.

“We are really involved in the operation of the mountain and it’s a tough job. For some it’s the cold that’s a challenge, for others it’s the hard physical work. Ticket checkers get ignored a lot and everyone is challenged by a powder day when they’re not riding.”

“One of the hardest things about this job is high turn over of people from season to season. Typically 90% of people only work one season, so every year we create a great crew and they move on, so we have to retrain new people the following season.”

Ugo is in his 11th season in Fernie and said the craziest thing he’s seen was the year it snowed so much that the Face Lift got buried in snow. They had to get 12 guys to shovel the line out before they could open it.

After talking with Ugo I’ve taken to stuffing my pockets with small chocolate bars to hand out to lifties, especially on the cold days. And I’m going to make an effort to have a smile and ticket ready for the ticket checkers! After all, without these guys and gals working the hill it’s a long hike to the top of the mountain.

Unsung heroes is an acknowledgement of those guys and girls who carry out jobs that make our life in Fernie easier, cleaner, safer and FUN! Please email any suggestions to info@clarismedia.com.