I don't understand skiing as a leisure activity

[Anonymous]

I like activities that require a lot of physical exertion, but otherwise agree OP. And I also grew up in a place where skiing is common (out west).

Actually, I understand better why people who live in Vermont or Utah take up skiing as a hobby. While it's not for me, people from my home town can be at a ski resort in 30-40 minutes. The proximity makes it a lot more affordable too-- ski passes get used at least once a week, gear will get heavy use over it's lifetime. I never thought it was weird that friends and neighbors back home made skiing their main hobby.

I don't understand skiing when you have to travel far for it. I'd just pick a different vigorous outdoor hobby -- sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, whatever. Something you can do locally with fewer obstacles.

Otherwise, if skiing was my passion I'd try to live somewhere mountainous and snowy, at least for a few winter months a year. Especially since it's not a great sport for older people, so it's not like you can postpone until retirement.

[Anonymous]

Why do people go out to eat when you can have unsalted unsweetened cold oatmeal at home? Who can know these things

[Anonymous]

Np, I went once as a teen and found it boring and dangerous. It's definitely on my list of things I don't care about doing again this lifetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like activities that require a lot of physical exertion, but otherwise agree OP. And I also grew up in a place where skiing is common (out west).

Actually, I understand better why people who live in Vermont or Utah take up skiing as a hobby. While it's not for me, people from my home town can be at a ski resort in 30-40 minutes. The proximity makes it a lot more affordable too-- ski passes get used at least once a week, gear will get heavy use over it's lifetime. I never thought it was weird that friends and neighbors back home made skiing their main hobby.

I don't understand skiing when you have to travel far for it. I'd just pick a different vigorous outdoor hobby -- sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, whatever. Something you can do locally with fewer obstacles.

Otherwise, if skiing was my passion I'd try to live somewhere mountainous and snowy, at least for a few winter months a year. Especially since it's not a great sport for older people, so it's not like you can postpone until retirement.

I agree with the last part but I cannot move. It's just a pipe dream and we hope to after retirement, like I hope our bodies will still be up for it. We can go twice a year for now. I do Kayak but skiing is still way more fun and uses the whole body versus just your upper half. There isn't much comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe don't do it then?!

Why come here and ask people to defend why they enjoy something? Such a strange post.

OP is expressing an opinion. There's no requirement you come and "defend" skiing. You can if you want to.

You could also view this as OP seeking to understand something that doesn't make sense to them. OP could simply go through life thinking skiing is stupid and silently judging, but instead decided to initiate a conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people go out to eat when you can have unsalted unsweetened cold oatmeal at home? Who can know these things

Why would someone living in Tokyo insist on flying to LA for tacos instead of just enjoying great sushi and ramen in Tokyo? That's a more apt comparison to people who spend 10s of thousands on ski trips a couple times a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like activities that require a lot of physical exertion, but otherwise agree OP. And I also grew up in a place where skiing is common (out west).

Actually, I understand better why people who live in Vermont or Utah take up skiing as a hobby. While it's not for me, people from my home town can be at a ski resort in 30-40 minutes. The proximity makes it a lot more affordable too-- ski passes get used at least once a week, gear will get heavy use over it's lifetime. I never thought it was weird that friends and neighbors back home made skiing their main hobby.

I don't understand skiing when you have to travel far for it. I'd just pick a different vigorous outdoor hobby -- sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, whatever. Something you can do locally with fewer obstacles.

Otherwise, if skiing was my passion I'd try to live somewhere mountainous and snowy, at least for a few winter months a year. Especially since it's not a great sport for older people, so it's not like you can postpone until retirement.

I agree with the last part but I cannot move. It's just a pipe dream and we hope to after retirement, like I hope our bodies will still be up for it. We can go twice a year for now. I do Kayak but skiing is still way more fun and uses the whole body versus just your upper half. There isn't much comparison.

People should like what they like but I vastly prefer kayaking to skiing. I disagree skiing is more full body -- great for the lower body but I don't get nearly the upper body workout I do with kayaking. And both sports require a lot of cute strength and engage stabilizer muscles. But way less risk if injury with kayaking.

But what I love most about kayaking or rowing is how simple it is. You get in the boat and go. And once you are out, it's all you are doing. No standing in line or waiting. And no discovering "oh this run isn't that fun, I need to try a different one" when visiting a new resort. Also the equipment is so much less fussy and there's less if it.

Different strokes fur different folks but I reject the idea that kayaking is less if a workout or less fun. It depends on what you like. I personally like kayaking a lot more, but I'm not a cold weather person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people go out to eat when you can have unsalted unsweetened cold oatmeal at home? Who can know these things

Why would someone living in Tokyo insist on flying to LA for tacos instead of just enjoying great sushi and ramen in Tokyo? That's a more apt comparison to people who spend 10s of thousands on ski trips a couple times a year.

Sure, and some of us think the delicious tacos are worth the trip but golf is still cold oatmeal, not Ramen and sushi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand it either. It's definitely an aspirational sport. People who do it either are rich or want to appear so. My husband grew up skiing and likes it so he made sure our two kids learned to ski. One likes it as much as DH does and the other one hangs out on the greens with me. If I never ski again its totally fine with me. I've mostly just put up with it to appease DH.

I agree that you are supposed to like it if you're wealthy enough. No one pressures you to like table tennis or open water swimming or hiking, but you are expected to like skiing. I've been to some of the best ski fields in the world and usually seek out the rec center and swimming pool because I really dislike skiing. I'm happier spending $10 to swim than hundreds to be cold, scared and bruised. The rest of my family seems to like skiing.

[Anonymous]

It’s not for everyone. I grew up skiing and still enjoy it in my 50s, but it can be a hassle to get on the mountain.

[Anonymous]

I love skiing and kayaking, hate golf.

I wish I could ski more frequently, but it's a once or twice-a-year treat. It really is too expensive.

I hope to try western skiing before I get too old!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Np, I went once as a teen and found it boring and dangerous. It's definitely on my list of things I don't care about doing again this lifetime.

Nothing is fun when you’re just starting to learn how to do it. Things only become fun when you become somewhat competent.

Novice skiers often don’t have good equipment or adequate clothing. Their boots don’t fit & they are falling a lot.

Fast-forward a year or so & they often have better equipment & clothing, & they are rarely falling—it’s MUCH more fun & easier to stay warm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe don't do it then?!

Why come here and ask people to defend why they enjoy something? Such a strange post.

OP is expressing an opinion. There's no requirement you come and "defend" skiing. You can if you want to.

You could also view this as OP seeking to understand something that doesn't make sense to them. OP could simply go through life thinking skiing is stupid and silently judging, but instead decided to initiate a conversation.

There's no hint in OP's post that she's looking to understand or seek opinions of skiers -- she just came, said her piece, and left it at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in New England, where a big part of the culture was going skiing on weekends/vacations. I skiied a few times throughout middle school/high school, and I didn't really enjoy it; it always felt very physically tiring, lots of exposure to the cold weather, etc, so I never really pursued it after that.

Thinking back on it as a adult, I understand the appeal as a lesiure activity even less. Coupled with the drawbacks I mentioned earlier, it's expensive (something I didn't have an appreciation for as a kid obviously), inconvenient (you have to drive several hours to get to get to a resort, depending on where you live), doesn't really lend itself that well to socializing as you can't really chat with someone while you're skiing down a mountain, and the safety/physical danger aspect.

Compare with golf (which I don't, but DH does), golfing:

- Has a lower barrier to entry (many more golf courses around vs ski mountains)
- Lends itself well to socalizing
- Less physically taxing (my guess is that many more 70 year olds are able to golf vs go skiing)

Skiing is fking awesome. This thread is stupid.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with you, although I actually enjoy skiing. However, the expense, travel, etc makes it a ridiculous choice. My family still does it occasionally because there's not much else that's fun to do outside in the winter. I'd much rather spend the money and time on going to the beach, though.