Life after retired pro skier?

EastCoast.

EastCoast.

Active member
Pro skiers as we all know it besides a few big names such as Tom Wallisch barely scrape buy and make enough money. Once their career is over now what? It's one thing to be a professional football player and stop at age 30 lets say, and sit on a pile of millions for the majority of their life if they are smart with their money. But then what do pro skiers do? Are they just forgotten as a new generation of young skiers come in? Do they decide to finally get a job besides skiing and just start to pick up and average male life on a 8-5 hour day? They have to start somewhere. Has anyone else thought about this?
 
They usually pick up jobs working with their sponsors, whether it be sales, marketing, management, product development, opening a new store, or managing a park/race course. Some start their own brands, some walk off into the woods and live off the land, and some become legends living in alaska shredding for life.
 
I think about this sometimes as well, the first answer is true to an extent but is there really a job for every single ex-pro that will pay them enough to carry on living?

Would be such a sweet life while you were in it, but nearing the end of a career you must start thinking... shit... am I big time enough to wing living off this forever? haha

Wonder what sagas pension scheme is like...
 
Guys like JF Cusson have moved on to coaching, other guys move onto working for ski companies as well. The majority of "Pro Skiers" will probably work in the industry, but a bunch will move onto different industries as well.
 
The thing I think most of them have going for them is never in their careers do most make tons of money. And therefor they don't acquire an expensive taste. Like others have said, companies and sponsors love hiring retired pro's because it is great PR. Obviously in my opinion pursuing a degree in something would be the most economically smart thing to do but many stay in the industry and work for resorts, production companies, shops, or get jobs and or stakes in manufacturing companies such as the major ski brands or clothing lines.
 
"Lucky" for most pros they don't get paid enough to not have a second (or third) job so they have experience in another field or two. The pros who are okay with bullshit wages stay in the industry, the rest figure out something that actually makes them some money.
 
I'll say it again. I would love to see a video series that would trace retired pros and get a view into their lives now and what they think and have to say about it.
 
I remember hearing that Tom Wallisch is/was really successful in college, he could make major bank into his 80s.
 
Super successful pros probably go into product R&D for their old sponsors, while less successful pros probably coach or work elsewhere in the industry.
 
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