Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a town with a ski area and is was definitely an activity only the rich kids could do. For most of us, the ski area was a good place to work — in the kitchen or rental area— not a place to actually ski. The vast majority of skiers were not locals. So for me, skiing was an activity for the rich.

Thank you. Good to know that there is one person on this board with perspective.

I grew up middle class (real middle class, not DCUM middle class) within driving distance of the Rockies, and I couldn’t afford to go on the “cheap” ski trips for the high school kids.

Anonymous wrote:Please, please stop. "Elitist" is not the right word. You mean UMC and UMC is not elitist.

What DCUM considers to be “UMC” is, in fact, elite. This thread is exhibit A.

Anonymous wrote:Is Africa elitist? Cause it's expensive to get there.

Traveling to Africa for vacation is elitist.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes if you are going most weekends with a season pass and own your skis (yes, many DCers fit this category);
not so much if you're going once in blue moon (costs aren't nearly on same level).

Huh? It's much cheaper with a pass and your own skis, if you go fairly frequently.

Correct if you go frequently, justifies the sunken cost - but many cannot afford this higher, upfront cost - cheaper to go once a year to experience some skiing.

We spend about $10K/year on skiing. (trips, gear, etc) and it is a bit elitist depending on where you live (if you live here it is). It's a ridiculously expensive sport but we love it and it's an area we consciously decide to spend money on. We don't buy fancy cars, designer clothing, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Yes if you are going most weekends with a season pass and own your skis (yes, many DCers fit this category);
not so much if you're going once in blue moon (costs aren't nearly on same level).

Huh? It's much cheaper with a pass and your own skis, if you go fairly frequently.

I grew up in a town with a ski area and is was definitely an activity only the rich kids could do. For most of us, the ski area was a good place to work — in the kitchen or rental area— not a place to actually ski. The vast majority of skiers were not locals. So for me, skiing was an activity for the rich.

I was shocked when my adult son went to Banff with his GF and some other friends for almost two weeks last year. Not elitist, just overindulgent in my opinion because he really couldn't afford it, just put it all on credit.

Anonymous wrote:Skiing elitist? Try Show Jumping (equestrian). My kid’s trainer today just asked me if the kid really wants to be national level if I could afford more than one horse and to pay $50,000 to ship the horse to Europe for the European show season. Ha ha! Guess my kid is not moving up. We already spend close to $50k per year, not including buying the horse and she really isn’t doing that many shows.

True.

Back to skiing (racing). If your MS or HS kid is good & goes to a ski academy (a la Mikaela, Bode, etc.) , you’re shelling out $60k+ a year + trips to South America (in the summer) & Europe and/or out west (in fall) to train.

Skiing elitist? Try Show Jumping (equestrian). My kid’s trainer today just asked me if the kid really wants to be national level if I could afford more than one horse and to pay $50,000 to ship the horse to Europe for the European show season. Ha ha! Guess my kid is not moving up. We already spend close to $50k per year, not including buying the horse and she really isn’t doing that many shows.

Please, please stop. "Elitist" is not the right word. You mean UMC and UMC is not elitist.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is horseback riding elitist?

Golf?

Tennis?

Sailing?

Same thing.

Tennis is pretty cheap if you buy a $50 racquet and use public courts. The rest, ya.

Racquets don't even need to cost that much. Cheap sport, really. Of course, if you want to practice indoors in the winter, you will have to pay for that.

It didn't used to be -- and certainly wasn't for people who lived in ski regions. Growing up in Toronto and montreal in the 80s and 90s, a day at the smaller close by hills (but better than anything within driving distance of DC) was probably $15-$25. I can't remember exactly, but we used to go regularly in high school and i had lots of UMC friends who had skis but whose parents would never have given them money to go skiing -- so it must have been cheap enough for them to use spending money. When i was a little kid in montreal, skiing was everywhere. Starting the winter i turned 3, my mom used to send me off every Saturday on a YMCA bus to a bunny hill with a bunch of HS counselors. I can't imagine them paying more than the equivalent of $100 in today's money for the whole season. My mom was a Sahm and used to do a women's wednesday ski group in the 80s - same thing that i can't imagine her spending more than a couple hundred bucks for the season (in today's dollars). There were also always a couple school ski trips every year, church ski groups, etc etc.

A lot of schools and churches also used to do a ski swap where everyone would bring in their old skis and be able to buy someone else's for $25 or whatever. Like 80% of the school or church would participate, so there were tons and tons of choices -and you knew everyone you were buying from. I don't think i had new skis until i was 14. So the $$ barriers to entry were very very low.

Skiing was omnipresent and cheap back in the day.

It was only when places like mont tremblent and killington started spending beaucoup dollars to make their hills have massive resort amenities (compared with the old dark lodges they had until 1990) with spas, fancy restaurants, outdoor shopping villages, etc that prices started going up.

Yes if you are going most weekends with a season pass and own your skis (yes, many DCers fit this category);
not so much if you're going once in blue moon (costs aren't nearly on same level).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skiing, golf, dressage, polo and sailing are THE most elitist pursuits there are

Luge bobsled curling hockey figure skating. Any ice sport.