Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 20:02     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:Skiing is for two kinds of people:

1) People who grow up in snowy areas where skiing is really common and the barriers to entry for the sport basically don't exist. If you grow up in Vermont or Canada or certain places out West, you learn to ski as a kid on used equipment that was free or very cheap, on some little hill near town where all the kids learn. You get good quickly and by the time you're buying season passes and your own equipment, you know what you're doing and the investment is worth it because you will be able to go frequently and make the most of it. And you can do it even more cheaply if you want -- take a part time job at a resort for free passes, get your gear through friends for free or on the cheap.

2) Rich people who have the time and money to become competent at a hobby that requires them to spend thousands of dollars literally every time they go.

That's it! If you live in the DMV and don't already know how to ski, it will never make sense to learn because it will just take so much time and effort, and for what? Unless the bragging rights of your weekends at Breckenridge or whatever are worth it to you, there are lots of other really fun hobbies you could take up that make more sense for someone living in this area. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, etc. You are under no obligation to become a skier around here, so don't!


I’m a 1) I love skiing with all of my soul. I think it sucks that lift tickets cost $300 and the barrier to entry is so high. I’m glad I could get my kids on skis but I have to admit that I find the cost absurd.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 19:58     Subject: Re:How is skiing enjoyable?
I joined ski club in middle school, grew up in upstate NY so there wasn't a lot to do in the winter. I'm not particularly coordinated and I'm definitely not sporty but skiing has always come easy to me. Flying down a hill (with control lol)makes me feel completely free and powerful, I walk away from a day of skiing feeling grateful that my body can do that. Watching my kids ski with me and my husband makes me so damn happy. It's my favorite family activity. I can't wait until they're really good and we can take them to some real ski resorts.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 19:28     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:I have only been skiing once but I loved it. It felt very natural to me. I stayed on the bunny slope and my friend gave me lessons in between her blue and black diamond runs.

My parents let me choose between riding and skiing when I was ten, and I chose riding. I think that the two sports translate well to one another.


Ooh lord
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 18:39     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:I have only been skiing once but I loved it. It felt very natural to me. I stayed on the bunny slope and my friend gave me lessons in between her blue and black diamond runs.

My parents let me choose between riding and skiing when I was ten, and I chose riding. I think that the two sports translate well to one another.

This is…interesting. Riding horses translates to skiing in what way?
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 18:36     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
I love skiing and have done it for years, but I don't know if I would start now from scratch. I have wide feet, and switched to snowboarding for a long time until I could afford custom boots.

The appeal of skiing is that it is exciting and allows you to enjoy some nature. Places local to DC (Whitetail and Liberty) do not offer either of these experiences due to crowds.

If you are interested in trying skiing, I would suggest renting some equipment from a ski shop to get better fitting, and going to a less crowded and more natural resort in West Virginia or PA.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 17:36     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Breck isn't really swanky either but I am pretty familiar with Colorado skiiing even though I hate it. The flashiest fakers go to Vail or Aspen though.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 17:31     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Skiing is for two kinds of people:

1) People who grow up in snowy areas where skiing is really common and the barriers to entry for the sport basically don't exist. If you grow up in Vermont or Canada or certain places out West, you learn to ski as a kid on used equipment that was free or very cheap, on some little hill near town where all the kids learn. You get good quickly and by the time you're buying season passes and your own equipment, you know what you're doing and the investment is worth it because you will be able to go frequently and make the most of it. And you can do it even more cheaply if you want -- take a part time job at a resort for free passes, get your gear through friends for free or on the cheap.

2) Rich people who have the time and money to become competent at a hobby that requires them to spend thousands of dollars literally every time they go.

That's it! If you live in the DMV and don't already know how to ski, it will never make sense to learn because it will just take so much time and effort, and for what? Unless the bragging rights of your weekends at Breckenridge or whatever are worth it to you, there are lots of other really fun hobbies you could take up that make more sense for someone living in this area. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, etc. You are under no obligation to become a skier around here, so don't!


This is such a good summary. Most of the people I know who ski fall into category 2 and it seems like half the justification is that it is a flex that they can fly five people to Colorado for a ski trip.


So they only like skiing so they can flex their ski vacation? Would you judge them for their 6k oceanfront beach vacation or Disney trip? Is that also "flexing"? because my ski vacations out west for a family of 4 cost less then these. Sure we could be the people who go to Aspen and spend $30k, but you can also do a ski vacation for under $6k or even less if you really plan it right.


I am not saying that everyone is like that but the people I know who are super into skiing are also super into flashing their money around, and their fancy trips to "Breck" are definitely part of it.


Seems like you need better friends. My favorite ski resort is Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah - not nearly as crowded as other places. Swanky it ain't.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 16:26     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Skiing is for two kinds of people:

1) People who grow up in snowy areas where skiing is really common and the barriers to entry for the sport basically don't exist. If you grow up in Vermont or Canada or certain places out West, you learn to ski as a kid on used equipment that was free or very cheap, on some little hill near town where all the kids learn. You get good quickly and by the time you're buying season passes and your own equipment, you know what you're doing and the investment is worth it because you will be able to go frequently and make the most of it. And you can do it even more cheaply if you want -- take a part time job at a resort for free passes, get your gear through friends for free or on the cheap.

2) Rich people who have the time and money to become competent at a hobby that requires them to spend thousands of dollars literally every time they go.

That's it! If you live in the DMV and don't already know how to ski, it will never make sense to learn because it will just take so much time and effort, and for what? Unless the bragging rights of your weekends at Breckenridge or whatever are worth it to you, there are lots of other really fun hobbies you could take up that make more sense for someone living in this area. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, etc. You are under no obligation to become a skier around here, so don't!


This is such a good summary. Most of the people I know who ski fall into category 2 and it seems like half the justification is that it is a flex that they can fly five people to Colorado for a ski trip.


So they only like skiing so they can flex their ski vacation? Would you judge them for their 6k oceanfront beach vacation or Disney trip? Is that also "flexing"? because my ski vacations out west for a family of 4 cost less then these. Sure we could be the people who go to Aspen and spend $30k, but you can also do a ski vacation for under $6k or even less if you really plan it right.


I am not saying that everyone is like that but the people I know who are super into skiing are also super into flashing their money around, and their fancy trips to "Breck" are definitely part of it.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 15:38     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It coats me about $75 each time I go for a day pass. I have my own skies which I've had for 30 plus years. It's not that expensive.

Day pass in Utah resorts are $250 per day


Yes, but only fools buy day passes. Those who plan ahead, ski locally and get an unlimited pass pay closer to $32/day. Or at least I do. Ski 20 days a year (14 locally, 6 out west) epic local pass is around $650.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 15:16     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Skiing is for two kinds of people:

1) People who grow up in snowy areas where skiing is really common and the barriers to entry for the sport basically don't exist. If you grow up in Vermont or Canada or certain places out West, you learn to ski as a kid on used equipment that was free or very cheap, on some little hill near town where all the kids learn. You get good quickly and by the time you're buying season passes and your own equipment, you know what you're doing and the investment is worth it because you will be able to go frequently and make the most of it. And you can do it even more cheaply if you want -- take a part time job at a resort for free passes, get your gear through friends for free or on the cheap.

2) Rich people who have the time and money to become competent at a hobby that requires them to spend thousands of dollars literally every time they go.

That's it! If you live in the DMV and don't already know how to ski, it will never make sense to learn because it will just take so much time and effort, and for what? Unless the bragging rights of your weekends at Breckenridge or whatever are worth it to you, there are lots of other really fun hobbies you could take up that make more sense for someone living in this area. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, etc. You are under no obligation to become a skier around here, so don't!


This is such a good summary. Most of the people I know who ski fall into category 2 and it seems like half the justification is that it is a flex that they can fly five people to Colorado for a ski trip.


So they only like skiing so they can flex their ski vacation? Would you judge them for their 6k oceanfront beach vacation or Disney trip? Is that also "flexing"? because my ski vacations out west for a family of 4 cost less then these. Sure we could be the people who go to Aspen and spend $30k, but you can also do a ski vacation for under $6k or even less if you really plan it right.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 15:05     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
Anonymous wrote:Skiing is for two kinds of people:

1) People who grow up in snowy areas where skiing is really common and the barriers to entry for the sport basically don't exist. If you grow up in Vermont or Canada or certain places out West, you learn to ski as a kid on used equipment that was free or very cheap, on some little hill near town where all the kids learn. You get good quickly and by the time you're buying season passes and your own equipment, you know what you're doing and the investment is worth it because you will be able to go frequently and make the most of it. And you can do it even more cheaply if you want -- take a part time job at a resort for free passes, get your gear through friends for free or on the cheap.

2) Rich people who have the time and money to become competent at a hobby that requires them to spend thousands of dollars literally every time they go.

That's it! If you live in the DMV and don't already know how to ski, it will never make sense to learn because it will just take so much time and effort, and for what? Unless the bragging rights of your weekends at Breckenridge or whatever are worth it to you, there are lots of other really fun hobbies you could take up that make more sense for someone living in this area. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, etc. You are under no obligation to become a skier around here, so don't!


This is such a good summary. Most of the people I know who ski fall into category 2 and it seems like half the justification is that it is a flex that they can fly five people to Colorado for a ski trip.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2024 15:04     Subject: How is skiing enjoyable?
I have only been skiing once but I loved it. It felt very natural to me. I stayed on the bunny slope and my friend gave me lessons in between her blue and black diamond runs.

My parents let me choose between riding and skiing when I was ten, and I chose riding. I think that the two sports translate well to one another.