It was one of the only things that got me through school. Didn't really help me with school, as I'd be at the mountain every night till close and 8:30-10 on weekends instead of doing homework. It kept me sane though.
I met a lot of great people through skiing and the mountains. Still very good friends with many of them. I learned some new skills through working in the parks over the years. Skiing and park work was my first reason for traveling outside of north america. And my reason for spending a year/ year of the last 3 years abroad.
It's the reason I don't have a "good" decent paying job. At the same time it's also a reason I know that I can always find work.
It's the reason my body is thrashed and my brain is fucked, but it's also been one of the things that gets me out of bed when I'm tired, motivates me to push myself, or even just bringing a much needed smile to my face in good times or bad. It's helped me put things into perspective. The mountains have been a place where I go to think about life, or to escape it all.
All in all I think my life is a hell of a lot better with skiing and the mountains.
I don't get out as much as I used to. I don't really push myself anymore. I don't have the same drive to get out to the hill as I did. But there are always days, like some mellow but solid "feelin it" type park laps I had today, a mostly solo powder day I had a few weeks ago, ripping steeps or hard low carves on groomers with friends. Days like that where I see that spark and remember why I chose to live this way, and why I'll never do anything else.
The older and more beat I get the more I really find joy in watching others have a good time. I could spend days, weeks building features, setting them in snow and getting it all ready. If I look around and see people having a good time seshing it with their friends, that's enough for me, even if I never touched a rail or jump myself. I think that's sort of brought it full circle for me. If you're into something to the point where being involved in some tiny piece, or even just thinking about it makes you happy, you're probably doing the right thing.
I just bought a bunch of new split gear. I've been moving more into that as I've slowed in the parks. I'm hoping that will keep me stoked on the mountains and keeping me doing this until I'm old as shit. When that day comes, whenever wherever, if I have time to look back and reflect I think I'll say it was all worth it, and I wouldn't have changed a thing.
Life is a crazy journey. There are a lot of us that probably have no idea how we ended up skiing, what brought us there and drew us in, hooked us, and kept us coming back for more. But we're all here. For whatever reason. Whatever strange factors that led us to strap things in our feet and spend endless days in the cold blasting around in the snow, we're here. That's good enough for me.
Now can we get some motherfucking snow already
