Making friends on the mountain?

dadi

Member
Okay, over the last couple of years I've started skiing much much more than my peers. Sure, on some weekends I'll have friends to shred with but what about those other weekends? weekdays??? Don't get me wrong, It's sick skiing alone, very peaceful and almost meditative but like... I want to ski with some people that push me. I'm usually the 'pusher' in my friend group.

Back to the point

How do you make friends that actually want to ski and are pretty good at it???? On the mountain or what??? Help.
 
topic:dadi said:
Okay, over the last couple of years I've started skiing much much more than my peers. Sure, on some weekends I'll have friends to shred with but what about those other weekends? weekdays??? Don't get me wrong, It's sick skiing alone, very peaceful and almost meditative but like... I want to ski with some people that push me. I'm usually the 'pusher' in my friend group.

Back to the point

How do you make friends that actually want to ski and are pretty good at it???? On the mountain or what??? Help.

Nasty sends under the chairlifs... Always start convos on the lift or by the drop-in area.
 
13775737:Sconnie said:
Nasty sends under the chairlifs... Always start convos on the lift or by the drop-in area.

This. Just start some convos like asking for advice on a trick or talking about the season. Hiking a rail with a few other skiers is a great way to make friends, getting stoaked on eachothers tricks and stuff. Follow up with those people later on. Remember names and stuff, so next time you see them you can be real friendly to them. They'll come to like you and you'll be ski buddies
 
I know this isn't on the mountain but NS regionals is a great place to meet new ski buddies.
 
I'll go skiing with you! I know what you mean, I love going by myself cus it's sort of my time to just re-focus if I have something stressful but there's nothing like a good shred day with friends.

All my gal pals bailed on skiing a long time ago, my usual crew moved back home and decided not to come up for this winter... Even out of them there was only one friend who pushed me and I pushed him, I have one more of that group left but he works a lot so, eh meh...

Come ski with meeee!!!
 
13776043:dadi said:
Where do ya ski???

Tahoe!

I dunno, it is rough finding people to ski with, I'm just used to going by myself at this point but maybe I'll make a serious effort to branch out this winter. I don't see why not!
 
topic:dadi said:
Okay, over the last couple of years I've started skiing much much more than my peers. Sure, on some weekends I'll have friends to shred with but what about those other weekends? weekdays??? Don't get me wrong, It's sick skiing alone, very peaceful and almost meditative but like... I want to ski with some people that push me. I'm usually the 'pusher' in my friend group.

Back to the point

How do you make friends that actually want to ski and are pretty good at it???? On the mountain or what??? Help.

Literally talk to anybody. Even bullshit small talk. What trails are good, hows that 3rd jump today, that was a sick lip blind 2, I dig your skis, whatever.

Hike in the park a bit, maybe take a break and watch some people hike and chat with the folks. IF you see other park kids ask if you can jump on the lift with them.

Idk, Maybe people are just too nice and can't tell me to my face that I suck and am an idiot, and they hang out with me because they feel bad, but I seem to do well for meeting the randoms.

I like people, but some of my friends were lame. Gotta meet people somehow. You don't have to be insta best friends. Sometimes there's the person you casually know of, then maybe you've taken some runs with or hiked a rail, then maybe you chill together or something.

Even if you don't feel terribly social just talk to people. It's good for you. (I think)
 
topic:dadi said:
Okay, over the last couple of years I've started skiing much much more than my peers. Sure, on some weekends I'll have friends to shred with but what about those other weekends? weekdays??? Don't get me wrong, It's sick skiing alone, very peaceful and almost meditative but like... I want to ski with some people that push me. I'm usually the 'pusher' in my friend group.

Back to the point

How do you make friends that actually want to ski and are pretty good at it???? On the mountain or what??? Help.

I mean I always find the most effective tactic is to just say hello on the chair and start up a conversation.

If its a crew of 2-3 and you're on a quad chair, same thing. "Hows your day going?" is my line of choice.

If you're riding park, and you see they're around your ability level / someone you'd like to ski with just say "Mind if I rip a lap with you? If you're riding the rest of the mountain ask them if there's a cool stash you should know about, or if you're the local and they seem good show them a stash.

Its pretty easy to make friends at the hill... just gotta say what's up on the chair and even though not all of them work out, often it does.
 
NS regionals are the GOAT. Me and everyones favorite mod Kretzschmar met through NS and have literally become BFFs since. The power of the interwebs is great, so starting a thread like this puts you on he fast track.
 
Say "how's your day going?" On the chairlift. If the aren't super quiet giving off that don't talk to me vibe, go ahead and ask if they want to take a lap.

It might come off as annoying, but hey, you gotta put it out there.
 
13777811:Mr.Bishop said:
I mean I always find the most effective tactic is to just say hello on the chair and start up a conversation.

If its a crew of 2-3 and you're on a quad chair, same thing. "Hows your day going?" is my line of choice.

If you're riding park, and you see they're around your ability level / someone you'd like to ski with just say "Mind if I rip a lap with you? If you're riding the rest of the mountain ask them if there's a cool stash you should know about, or if you're the local and they seem good show them a stash.

Its pretty easy to make friends at the hill... just gotta say what's up on the chair and even though not all of them work out, often it does.

Pretty much this.

Discuss the expert terrain if you want to know if someone is a gaper or not.

Both people are often testing each other to make sure the other person doesn't suck and isn't going to slow them down don't take it personally if you get left in the dust and don't feel like an asshole if you ditch a skiier who isn't that good they are less likely to hurt themselves if you are gone and they are in tough terrain they aren't comfortable with b/c of you.

Honestly its somewhat harder to do when you know the mountain inside and out but very easy if you are a newbie. I mean I'd plain old feel weird asking someone to show me around Kwood, Squaw, or Stowe the mountains I know very well but each definitely has locals who know the nooks and crannies better than me. Would feel like a tool asking someone to show me around. And if its a day with shit snow you can't really be shown around you just gotta be like lets do laps.

And don't wuss out if its a girl wearing headphones and listening to music she'll probably still do a lap with you and sometimes will be a rad skiier.
 
I have noticed that when you are skiing it is way easier to start a conversation with a stranger than you would on a normal day of your life. (if it is not skiing) Once, I skied at the same time with this one snowboarder girl for a couple of times to the lift section and she asked if I wanted to come with her. She was nice and comfortable with talking to me. Since then I have become more comfortable so talk with strangers at the mountain. Like everyone said, just start talking about the big jump of your park and ask him/her if you could ski behind him/her to the jump and shit. It all goes from there. Good luck with with it bro!

And, yes I ski alone too because my friends live at different places than me or they ski only 2-5 times a season..
 
I've made a bunch of friends in this exact scenario...

"You like park skiing and Smoking weed?"

"Yeah"

"Hey, me too. Let's be Friends"

"Sick"
 
13778362:SEABURN said:
I've made a bunch of friends in this exact scenario...

"You like park skiing and Smoking weed?"

"Yeah"

"Hey, me too. Let's be Friends"

"Sick"

What if you don't like park?
 
throw something that will start conversation. you will be sure to make some new friends if you can do some dope tricks
 
Hey if you're thinking it's hard to make friends, you got it easy in the US. The best parks around here are in Germany, and I don't really speak German well yet I've still had some laps with other skiers without really talking much. Haven't really become huge friends with them though but still had some good laps/hike sessions.

People are just happy to be on the mountain, so they'll naturally be more open. And if you find it awesome to ski with other people, remember that they also do, so don't be affraid.
 
I chat with people the the lift lines have actually met some pretty rad people.. some of which invited me to stay with them all weekend an shred which is awesome because the i 70 is fucked on an entirely new level im not used to yet..... new goal every time i ski make friends an find a couch .....

PSA if you like beer ill bring a case to crash on your couch thanks haha
 
Challenge them to a trick. Before the drop say " i'll do a 5 if you do a 7".

Even if your not in the market for skis, ask them how they like theirs.

Get hype and compliment when they do something cool.
 
a lot of people have been saying how to meet and talk with someone on the chair, which is great, but alot of times in my experience, you get a "have a nice day" as you get off the chair and you both go your own way. If the person on the chair seems cool you have GOT TO ask if you want to ski together. its pretty crucial and if you get a yes and shred the whole day you might have just made a kick ass friend.

hang loose
 
Always meeting people in not necessarily a lift line, but a tram line. I am living in Jackson, WY so if you are familiar with any tram line, they tend to be a bit longer and more staggered of a wait than a traditional lift or gondola line. It leaves a lot of opportunities to talk so someone in close proximity without moving for 10-15 minutes. I also find that the stoke level and general vibe in a tram line naturally radiates easily.

going huge works too
 
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