THE SWITCH From family firm to ski instructor...and car pool up the mountain early to train or ski...
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THE SWITCH From family firm to ski instructor F or Peter Docherty, the family business has always been an option. "Our company has been producing curtains since the 1930s; it's supported our family for three generations," he says. Although he initially took a different path, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder meant the flexibility that came with working for family became more appealing. "I started to be useful wherever I could, managing the paperwork and doing deliveries, [while] managing my illness," he says. Docherty soon discovered his skills improved the family business. "I put in different systems to give my parents a much firmer month- to-month knowledge of financial progress," he says. "They'd always had a reputation for quality and have some very famous clients - but hadn't had the time or expertise to put into that side of it." While family support was his "saving grace" during the worst periods of his illness, when he found the right treatment for him Docherty began to explore old passions again, including skiing. "I realised that doing something I really love helped with my illness and [that] that's where my life needed to be," he says. At age 40, Docherty decided to train as a ski instructor. "I'm what's called a back-to-back ski instructor," he says. "I do the Australian season [at Thredbo] and then one overseas; I've just gotten back from Germany, from a resort called Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the southern border with Austria." He spends nine months a year on the slopes and couldn't be happier. To train for his new career, Docherty headed to Big White, Canada, where an 11-week course helped him pass his first-level exams. "It's exhausting," he says. "I remember falling asleep at the dinner table a couple of times. But you're also having a fantastic time; you're living on the hill but you are working really hard." Aldiough the physical aspect is easier now his muscles are conditioned, the training never stops. "You are constantiy going for the next-level qualification," says Docherty, who is a level 2 instructor. Ski instructors enjoy a blend of work and play. In New South Wales, most live off the slopes in Jindabyne and car pool up the mountain early to train or ski before work. "On training days I leave at 6.30am," Docherty says. "When the hill opens I ski and check the mountain for my clients [before] work at 9.30am." Docherty teaches a series of two-hour classes during the day. "The biggest responsibility is to make sure clients are safe and having fun," he says. "That first lesson is really important to put people at ease, keep them motivated and actually teach them something. I consider [it] one of me most important jobs on the hill." As an older worker in a young person's field, Docherty wasn't sure the age gap would suit him. "I knew most people would be 20 years younger than me. But age is not a factor and some of the dearest friendships I have are with [far younger] people." Although he values the friendships it's the job Docherty enjoys most. "I'm not the best skier in the world but I love teaching so much," he says. "It makes your whole life happier." SUE WHITE SALARY $60,000 WORK-LIFE BALANCE "There was lots of flexibility. I have my own apartment in the house where my parents live but the workroom is attached to it, too." HOURS About 40 hours. "It's difficult because it's at home; you're always there." Cool change... Peter Docherty worked in the family curtain-making business before becoming a ski instructor. SALARY $24.95 an hour (as a level 2 instructor). "You're not making a fortune." WORK-LIFE BALANCE "Fantastic! I travel the world and have a ball, it's just great. I know hundreds of people and have wonderful friends. Most days are an absolute joy." HOURS Six hours a day, six days a week. MISS "I miss my dogs. I miss my family, too, but I speak to them every day - you can't do that with your dogs." CHALLENGES "To always remain physically fit. I've never had a job before where physical fitness is a requirement." LINKS snowskool.com.au MyCareefiD xom.au For salary advice, see mycareer.com.au/salary-centre.
Transcript of THE SWITCH From family firm to ski instructor...and car pool up the mountain early to train or ski...
THE SWITCH
From family firmto ski instructorFor Peter Docherty, the family
business has always been anoption. "Our company has
been producing curtains since the1930s; it's supported our family forthree generations," he says.
Although he initially took adifferent path, a diagnosis ofbipolar disorder meant theflexibility that came with workingfor family became more appealing.
"I started to be useful wherever Icould, managing the paperworkand doing deliveries, [while]managing my illness," he says.
Docherty soon discovered hisskills improved the family business.
"I put in different systems to givemy parents a much firmer month-to-month knowledge of financialprogress," he says. "They'd alwayshad a reputation for quality andhave some very famous clients -but hadn't had the time or expertiseto put into that side of it."
While family support was his"saving grace" during the worstperiods of his illness, when hefound the right treatment for himDocherty began to explore oldpassions again, including skiing.
"I realised that doing somethingI really love helped with my illnessand [that] that's where my lifeneeded to be," he says.
At age 40, Docherty decided totrain as a ski instructor. "I'm what'scalled a back-to-back skiinstructor," he says. "I do theAustralian season [at Thredbo] andthen one overseas; I've just gottenback from Germany, from a resortcalled Garmisch-Partenkirchen onthe southern border with Austria."
He spends nine months a year onthe slopes and couldn't be happier.
To train for his new career,Docherty headed to Big White,Canada, where an 11-week course
helped him pass his first-levelexams. "It's exhausting," he says.
"I remember falling asleep at thedinner table a couple of times. Butyou're also having a fantastic time;you're living on the hill but you areworking really hard."
Aldiough the physical aspect iseasier now his muscles areconditioned, the training neverstops. "You are constantiy going forthe next-level qualification," saysDocherty, who is a level 2 instructor.
Ski instructors enjoy a blend ofwork and play. In New South Wales,most live off the slopes in Jindabyneand car pool up the mountain earlyto train or ski before work.
"On training days I leave at6.30am," Docherty says. "When thehill opens I ski and check themountain for my clients [before]work at 9.30am."
Docherty teaches a series oftwo-hour classes during the day.
"The biggest responsibility is tomake sure clients are safe andhaving fun," he says.
"That first lesson is reallyimportant to put people at ease,keep them motivated and actuallyteach them something. I consider[it] one of me most important jobson the hill."
As an older worker in a youngperson's field, Docherty wasn't surethe age gap would suit him.
"I knew most people would be20 years younger than me. But ageis not a factor and some of thedearest friendships I have are with[far younger] people."
Although he values thefriendships it's the job Dochertyenjoys most. "I'm not the best skierin the world but I love teaching somuch," he says. "It makes yourwhole life happier."
SUE WHITE
SALARY $60,000WORK-LIFE BALANCE "Therewas lots of flexibility. I have myown apartment in the housewhere my parents live but theworkroom is attached to it, too."HOURS About 40 hours. "It'sdifficult because it's at home;you're always there."
Cool change... Peter Docherty workedin the family curtain-making businessbefore becoming a ski instructor.
SALARY $24.95 an hour (as alevel 2 instructor). "You're notmaking a fortune."WORK-LIFE BALANCE"Fantastic! I travel the world andhave a ball, it's just great. I knowhundreds of people and havewonderful friends. Most days arean absolute joy."HOURS Six hours a day, six daysa week.MISS "I miss my dogs. I miss myfamily, too, but I speak to themevery day - you can't do thatwith your dogs."CHALLENGES "To alwaysremain physically fit. I've neverhad a job before where physicalfitness is a requirement."
LINKSsnowskool.com.au
MyCareefiDxom.au
For salary advice, seemycareer.com.au/salary-centre.
