Meet PistenBully Operator Couple Jeff & Whitney
For Valentine's Day, we're highlighting this operator duo from Park City, Utah.
PistenBully brings people together from all walks of life, and that often includes couples as well. For Park City, Utah operators Jeff and Whitney, their shared love for PistenBully and for operating is a cornerstone of their relationship. We caught up with them for Valentine's Day to hear more about their love story.
Whitney Osborn-Doran is a Grooming Lead and Jeff Doran, better known in the industry by his nickname "Doorhole," is a Grooming Specialist, as well as an Official Operator for PistenBully North America. Both of them work at Park City mountain in Utah. The couple have been together for 2.5 years, and got married this past June.
How long have you each been running PistenBullys?
Whitney: 2 years running red!
Jeff: 13 years, but I've been operating for 15.
How did you meet?
Whitney: We worked at the same mountain long before we actually met in person. I had heard the legend of “Doorhole,” but I had never seen the man behind the nickname. When he finally slid into my DMs and asked me out, I said yes — despite the fact that his Instagram was nothing but snowcats. No selfies. No evidence of a human face. Just diesel engines and a shared love of pop punk music. I figured if he loved machines and KennyHoopla that much he had to be interesting and I was definitely right.
Jeff: It's true, I slid into her DMs. We had known of each other from being in the industry and from both being at Park City. She posted to her story being at a KennyHoopla concert and I couldn't help but respond. She was a cute goth snowboarder chick and we shared the same music taste. I knew she was somebody I needed to get to know more. A week later we finally went on a date and became inseparable ever since.
Photo: Jeff and Whitney with the famous pink PistenBully at SheGrooms last year.
What's your favorite thing about working together?
Whitney: Some couples have date night. We have 12-hour graveyard shifts and hydraulic fluid. Turns out, that’s our love language. We both work graveyard, generally working different parts of the mountain. I’m a lead, and Jeff’s a specialist. He’s incredibly technical — he’ll break down technique, mechanics, and machine feel like it’s second nature. He’s been my biggest mentor out there.
But what I love most is that we still make it fun. We’ll compare lines, leave a surprise turn around out of love, and quietly compete. I fully plan on being better than him someday — and he knows it.
There’s definitely something powerful about growing your skills alongside the person you love.
Jeff: Running snowcats is normally a labor of love that can sometimes require sacrifice because of the odd hours and schedules that it takes place. Working together allows us to see each other all the time and be on the same schedule. Many couples want a break from each other, but Whitney is my best friend who I never get sick of. I enjoy her enthusiasm to learn as much and as fast as possible about all aspects of grooming and it feels wonderful watching her succeed.
What's something you’ve learned from one another?
Whitney: I’ve learned from Jeff that effort isn’t negotiable. He doesn’t believe in cutting corners, and he doesn’t make excuses. That mindset has shaped the way I lead. If you’re going to put tracks on the mountain, they should be the best you can lay down. His standard has pushed me to demand more from myself and to enforce that same level of commitment with my team.
Jeff: I've learned how to be a better teacher, especially on how to explain techniques to somebody who doesn't come from an equipment background and coaching through problems over the phone.
Tell us about how PistenBully was incorporated into your wedding!
Because snowcats are such a big part of our story, we wanted them woven into our wedding day. We had a RC PistenBully winch bring our rings down the aisle and we also included PistenBully-themed décor and wedding favors as a nod to the industry and the machines that have been such a staple of our relationship. PisteBullys brought us together, so it only felt right they played a part in saying “I do.”
