A J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows people from other countries to participate in temporary work and education programs in the U.S., with the purpose of promoting cultural exchanges.
What does working a ski lift or serving burgers in a local restaurant have to do with "cultural exchanges?"
Exactly. Again, cheaper wages. Hire American. It's not like these resorts can't afford it. I've never been skiing but what do these people charge? $300 or so a head?
$300? Thats like a cheap room for one night. Thats only the room, you have ~$250/DAY in lift tickets.. then you may have equipment rentals if you don't have your own skis/boots and whatever other gear you may want like gloves, helmet/goggles, etc.
Thats the bare minimum. You can easily spend 1k per day staying at a resort on the mountain.
Damn I had no idea. So they can afford to hire Americans.
It’s BS for “I can pay J-1s $3 less per hour than local workers”, multiply that by 5 months of ski season and hundreds of employees and you’ll see it’s simply more profit at the expense of the local economy and local residents.
And the safety of the guests. When I see white guys running the chair lifts, I have zero worry or even thoughts about anything bad happening to me on that lift. If I saw pakis running it...I'd rather walk up the mountain. You know what? Fuck that even. They would also have pakis grooming the runs and doing the avalanche lookouts, so no, that is asking to die.