Skateworks in Santa Cruz all full-time employees make seven to nine dollars an hour and manager usually work on salary. According to Wynona Conlisk, sales associate, there’s a low turn-over rate at the shop. "We get a lot of perks working here," she says. "We get discounts and deals from reps. It’s a great family atmosphere here and the owners treat the employees really well." At the Santa Cruz shop there are six full-time workers and between seven and eight working at the Redwood City store.

A family atmosphere is also a plus at Cool World in San Francisco. "Our employees stay with us on average two seasons," says Owner Chris Mccutcheon. "Our atmosphere here tends to bring people back." Employees don’t work on commission and the average hourly wage is $7.75. "We don’t offer incentives specifically for sales, but we give [employees] free lift tickets and pro deals on product." Cool World staff, which typically totals five employees, can get tickets to ride anywhere in Tahoe, except Squaw Valley.

Circle Ski and Snowboards in Thousand Oaks has a full time crew of approximately five employees, with a few extra hands hired on during the holiday rush. The average starting wage is six dollars an hour, with the long-time employees making an upwards of eight dollars an hour. "We try to reward the employee who sells the most with some kind of bonus," says John Warren, assistant manager. "Whoever sells the most boards will get a pair of boots or something like that. Just something to stoke them out."

Employees make approximately seven dollars an hour at Eternal Snowboards in Mountain View. On average, the store has a small staff of between two and three employees plus a manager. "We’ll hire maybe one more person during the holiday season," says Manager Mike Elias. Staff does get discounts on merchandise, usually wholesale prices on products. "They can also run a tab on what they want to buy," Elias adds.

At Five Points Skate and Snowboard in Ventura, Owner Brad Spann has been able to keep his employees happy and loyal. "They’ve been with me for at least eleven years," he says about his three member staff. Each makes an average of ten dollars an hour and can purchase anything in the store at wholesale. What keeps them enthusiastic about working at Five Points? "Its a really relaxed atmosphere," Spann says. "I’m not like a boss to them, I’m more like a friend or a brother." It’s not unlikely to see the staff on the hill together or partying together.