This conversation is why I always give people the side eye when they try to claim that access to nature (mountains / ocean) is a perk of living in DC. For people who grew up being able to hit the slopes or surf after school, the idea of having to take an expensive weekend trip every time you want to do these things sucks so much. Skiing is elitist for this region because the barrier to entry and repetition is too high.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an administrator (low level) and my team is always insisting that we “connect” and get to know each other. But, I have a rich husband, and my family likes to do things like skiing.

I do my best to keep it neutral and not talk about our vacations or expensive things we do, but, also, I love skiing and it’s our family’s main activity during the winter. But, I just keep my mouth shut because of coworkers who say things like this...

I just wish work wasn’t so “pseudo-friendly”. They want us all to be buddy buddy, but my coworkers are not into the same stuff I’m into.

I am sure your colleagues hate every moment of pretending to be friends with you, I know I would, and I am wealthy and ski.

Well, I don’t like hearing about the strip clubs they went to that weekend, or the random men who don’t call them back after they slept with them, or their baby daddy drama. So, the feeling is MUTUAL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can drive an hour and a half and go skiing for the day with rented gear for under $100, including gas.

That’s not elitist.

MAYBE — although adding in round trip for gas, is pushing it — IF you can get a package for a non-weekend day. So, for someone who has $100 to spare for a one-day activity who happens to not have something like a job that requires their presence on a weekday, AND who happened to grow up skiing, so they don’t need expensive lessons, it’s great. Who also don’t have any other kids or family members they need to pay for.

That’s still a small minority of people who are — you got it — elite.

Lots of people have weekly bar tabs that are more than that. Or spend that much on lottery tickets. Or new shoes every week.

Are they elite too?

If they spend $100 a week on new shoes? Yes.

Most people around here don’t do ski trips every week. But I have lots of lower income/SES students that have new shoes every week.

They’re elite then.

Got it.

Really? EVERY week new shoes? Liar.

You REALLY don’t understand lower income kids if you doubt this. I’ve had students who get $200+ Jordan’s or Timberlands every week.

Anonymous wrote:I’m an administrator (low level) and my team is always insisting that we “connect” and get to know each other. But, I have a rich husband, and my family likes to do things like skiing.

I do my best to keep it neutral and not talk about our vacations or expensive things we do, but, also, I love skiing and it’s our family’s main activity during the winter. But, I just keep my mouth shut because of coworkers who say things like this...

I just wish work wasn’t so “pseudo-friendly”. They want us all to be buddy buddy, but my coworkers are not into the same stuff I’m into.

OP, does this answer your question?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skiing is definitely for rich people.

This is such BS! We are not rich, we save a portion of our paycheck for a vacation each year, and yes it is skiing. We cannot afford ski in/ski out, brown paper bag our lunches (as we do everyday for work and school, which is how we save money) and we buy used equipment at ski swaps when we need something. Most of the time we drive to our destinations, especially if the kids school vacation is between two weekends giving us ten days of vacation. We are not rich, probably never will be, but it's how we choose to spend our vacations with our children. And we are certainly not elitists.

Will you relax and stop getting so emotional!? You’re an outlier. Skiing is pretty much for the upper middle class and rich people. And yes, I too notice that you never see black people or Hispanics partaking in it.

I did research and it’s expensive..

So, I'm another (former) New Englander who grew up with the afterschool ski lessons at the local ski area (no overnights, they don't have it). It was in a small town next to our more urban city. You DID see Black and Brown people-my classmates-skiing. And same for my kids who grew up there too. It was not expensive, the rentals were included-and we didn't wear fancy outdoor gear, just the stuff kids have to live in that climate.

I can't speak to the fancy out west places. But the ski areas in places like NY, CT, MA, are accessible to most folks.

Anonymous wrote:With few exceptions, people who ski come from families with some disposable income and parents who are free on the weekends.

Skiing (like a lot of activities) seems to attract a special class of people who try their hardest to make it elite. See: anyone on the East Coast who yammers ad nauseam about shitty East Coast skiing conditions and how much better it is to ski out west every.damn.time the topic of skiing comes up. Oh my gaaaassssh, you just don't even know what good skiing is until you've been out west! Poor thing.

Lol I live in NYC and this is sooo true!! Lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I think the PP is a jerk but I also agree that if you only go once a year, you're not really a skiier. Skiiers are people who have season passes and go most weekends in the winter to their local resort plus travel to do it somewhere new on vacations.

If you only rode a horse once a year, would you call yourself an equestrian?

+1 same

+2

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skiing is definitely for rich people.

This is such BS! We are not rich, we save a portion of our paycheck for a vacation each year, and yes it is skiing. We cannot afford ski in/ski out, brown paper bag our lunches (as we do everyday for work and school, which is how we save money) and we buy used equipment at ski swaps when we need something. Most of the time we drive to our destinations, especially if the kids school vacation is between two weekends giving us ten days of vacation. We are not rich, probably never will be, but it's how we choose to spend our vacations with our children. And we are certainly not elitists.

Will you relax and stop getting so emotional!? You’re an outlier. Skiing is pretty much for the upper middle class and rich people. And yes, I too notice that you never see black people or Hispanics partaking in it.

I did research and it’s expensive..

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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.

NP. Elite is not the same as elitist.

DCUM is addicted to using “ist” words and most people don’t seem to know what they mean. It’s not racist to notice that someone is a different race or to make factual statements about differences. It’s not elitist to do an elite activity, no matter how expensive it is.

But it is elitist to not understand that the majority of Americans don’t have a spare $300, plus money to buy gear, to spare on a weekend activity. And that seems to describe the majority of people on this thread.

No, that’s not elitist either. It’s just ignorant. Which I’d agree describes most of DCUM, but it’s a different word.

This.

Anonymous wrote:I’m an administrator (low level) and my team is always insisting that we “connect” and get to know each other. But, I have a rich husband, and my family likes to do things like skiing.

I do my best to keep it neutral and not talk about our vacations or expensive things we do, but, also, I love skiing and it’s our family’s main activity during the winter. But, I just keep my mouth shut because of coworkers who say things like this...

I just wish work wasn’t so “pseudo-friendly”. They want us all to be buddy buddy, but my coworkers are not into the same stuff I’m into.

I am sure your colleagues hate every moment of pretending to be friends with you, I know I would, and I am wealthy and ski.

I’m an administrator (low level) and my team is always insisting that we “connect” and get to know each other. But, I have a rich husband, and my family likes to do things like skiing.

I do my best to keep it neutral and not talk about our vacations or expensive things we do, but, also, I love skiing and it’s our family’s main activity during the winter. But, I just keep my mouth shut because of coworkers who say things like this...

I just wish work wasn’t so “pseudo-friendly”. They want us all to be buddy buddy, but my coworkers are not into the same stuff I’m into.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP. Elite is not the same as elitist.

DCUM is addicted to using “ist” words and most people don’t seem to know what they mean. It’s not racist to notice that someone is a different race or to make factual statements about differences. It’s not elitist to do an elite activity, no matter how expensive it is.

But it is elitist to not understand that the majority of Americans don’t have a spare $300, plus money to buy gear, to spare on a weekend activity. And that seems to describe the majority of people on this thread.

No, that’s not elitist either. It’s just ignorant. Which I’d agree describes most of DCUM, but it’s a different word.

Anonymous wrote:I think around here it is, because it’s expensive and more difficult to do. There are a lot more options in New England, ranging from cheap to expensive. Some have a rental program for kids where you pay a flat fee for used gear and can just trade in for a different set when you outgrow them. Makes it way more accessible for families. Cross country is more common too.

Yeah I am from New England and my school ran a used ski sale each year as a fundraiser. We would buy used equipment there and resell it the next year. We also skied locally and stayed in motels. It was pretty cheap. Also lift tickets have increased in price quite a bit and the Epic/ikon passes are great for people who ski a lot - but they make it harder for people who just want to try the sport. Plus it is so much easier to learn as a kid - so basically if your parents weren't in a position to help you learn (eitehr because of money or because where you grew up), it is much harder to get good enough to really enjoy it.

Anonymous wrote:Ice hockey is super expensive to pursue as a sport/hobby. So, hockey players are elites too. And figure skaters. But we already know that because of their fancy outfits.

There are tiers. Playing in a house team or rec team is far less than a travel team.

I think around here it is, because it’s expensive and more difficult to do. There are a lot more options in New England, ranging from cheap to expensive. Some have a rental program for kids where you pay a flat fee for used gear and can just trade in for a different set when you outgrow them. Makes it way more accessible for families. Cross country is more common too.