viewfinder: Job Search

Job Search
One morning, when the alarm was blaring at an obscenely early hour, I cursed work. It's not a phenomenon. Rarely does one wake up and think of going to work as fun. Responsibility, yes. Necessity, of course. Fun, not really.

As a photographer, my job does allow for a broader spectrum of fun than most careers. Every day I'm thrust into different situations and blessed with the challenge of making a picture. Some days are amazing, others are barely sub par. On a recent sub par day, I began searching for someone who goes to fun for work. I found them in the Sandias.

Steve Malavolta is a ski patroller at Sandia Peak Ski Area. For the last 17 years, he's donned the red jacket with the red cross on the back and hit the slopes.

"This job is about being out in the weather you love," said Malavolta. "And to have fun and help people."

Jim Franklin, a five-year veteran of ski patrol concurs with Malavolta's opinion of the work. In near white out conditions, he spoke through the ice crusted on his face. "We have people up here who need help at all times. You never know what to expect."

As Malavolta, on a snowboard (above right) and Franklin, on skis (above left) rode off into the snow, in search of someone to help and some fresh powder, it was clear they were in for some fun.

Lower on the mountain, two snowboard instructors shoveled snow off of the board walk near the ski school offices. Not exactly glamorous, but they didn't complain.

"This is definitely something I don't ever want to stop doing," said Grant Roberts, referring to being an instructor, not the shoveling. Roberts has worked at Sandia since he was in high school. "I've gotten better at snowboarding and I have a good time up here."

Fellow instructor Braden Anderson leaned on his shovel and grinned. "I'm surprised I haven't been doing this longer. Going from riding 10 days a year to 75 really improves your riding."

Seventy-five days snowboarding – wicked fun.